Sony’s 1000 Series wireless headphones are turning 10, which is one of those “wait, how old am I now?” moments that sneaks up and punches you in the ribs. A decade after Sony turned the ANC headphone category into a street fight with Bose, the WH-1000XM6 now sits at the top of the line as the company’s most advanced active noise cancelling model yet. But Sony clearly wants to tilt the table again with the new 1000X The ColleXion, a 10th anniversary release aimed at reminding everyone who helped make premium ANC headphones a daily travel essential.
The market is blood sport at the very top, with Sony, Bose, Apple, Beats, and Sennheiser all fighting for a massive slice of a category worth billions. Hop on any flight, walk through any airport lounge, or sit in a crowded coffee shop, and you will see the evidence clamped to people’s heads. ANC is no longer a luxury feature. It is the battlefield.
But for some of us, noise cancelling is not the only box that matters. The Sony WH-1000XM6 took a hit in my review for comfort and style, even if it still ranked near the top for sound quality and ANC performance. That tradeoff matters at this level, especially when you are wearing them for hours and not just trying to silence a crying baby at 35,000 feet.
I pointed readers toward alternatives in the same price range that give up some noise cancelling for better ergonomics and design. Brands like Focal, Master & Dynamic, and Bowers & Wilkins, along with the ever-present Apple AirPods Max, all play in this space. They do not match Sony on ANC, but they counter with better materials, stronger visual identity, and in some cases, better long-term comfort. At this price, that is not a minor detail. That is the whole argument.
Sony 1000X The ColleXion Takes the Fight Above the XM6
Today’s release of the Sony 1000X The ColleXion moves the 1000 Series into more premium territory, with Sony clearly aiming beyond noise cancellation alone. The ColleXion starts with a more substantial physical design. Sony has specified stainless steel for the headband, yokes, buttons, and jack housing, along with leather ear cups and bands that are wider and deeper than the XM6 while still keeping the ear cups relatively compact.
The headband is designed to distribute its 320 gram weight for longer listening sessions, while the pads are intended to improve passive isolation without turning comfort into a parole hearing. Available in platinum white or black, the stainless trim gives the headphone a more upscale visual identity than the XM6 without turning it into jewelry with Bluetooth.
This is not just an XM6 in a nicer shell. Sony has reworked the internals with thicker copper circuit boards, fewer board layers to help reduce resistance, a new V3 chipset, and a redesigned 40mm unidirectional carbon fiber diaphragm driver. The goal is lower distortion, faster transient response, and more DSP headroom than Sony has previously offered in a wireless headphone.
The added processing power brings DSEE Ultimate support, along with new music and gaming spatial modes in addition to the cinema mode already associated with the 1000 Series. Bluetooth 6.0 support adds LC3 and LDAC connectivity, while battery life lands at a claimed 24 hours, which is down from the XM6 but still enough for a full day of use unless your travel schedule was planned by someone who thinks Newark is a personality test.
Even the case has been rethought, with a new carry handle and magnetic closures designed to feel more secure and convenient. The style is more befitting to the fashion accessory that some will inevitably see it as. At launch, the ColleXion will be available in Black and Platinum (off-white) colorways.
Sony has not provided impedance, sensitivity, or frequency response specs, so anyone looking for those numbers will have to wait. What is clear is that The ColleXion is Sony’s attempt to answer the premium build and style argument without giving up the ANC DNA that made the 1000 Series such a force in the first place.
The Bottom Line
At $649, the Sony 1000X The ColleXion becomes Sony’s new wireless headphone flagship and moves directly into the path of Apple, Focal, Bowers & Wilkins, Master & Dynamic, and every other brand selling premium materials with premium attitude. What makes it different is that Sony is not walking away from the 1000 Series formula. It is adding stainless steel, leather, a new 40mm carbon fiber driver, V3 processing, DSEE Ultimate, Bluetooth 6.0, LC3, LDAC, a uniquely styled carry case and new spatial modes to a platform already known for elite ANC.
What is missing? Sony has not provided impedance, sensitivity, or frequency response specs, and the claimed 24 hour battery life is lower than the XM6. At 320 grams, comfort also needs to be proven over longer sessions. Shipping has begun, with store availability starting May 19, 2026, and we hope to have a review sample in the next few weeks for a more complete evaluation. If The ColleXion really does push the XM6 formula forward in comfort, style, and performance, it could become an early Editors’ Choice favorite for 2026. Sony clearly wants the crown back polished, heavier, and more expensive.
Where to buy: $649 at Amazon | Crutchfield | Best Buy | Sony
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