Sony 1000X THE COLLEXION Headphones Review: Sony's Boldest Wireless Design Yet
Read Time: Approx. 12 min.
TL;DR:
- Sony's anniversary-edition 1000X headphones mark a complete design departure with vegan leather, metal accents, and a totally reworked headband system.
- Sound is refined and studio-grade, building on the WH-1000XM6's audiophile-leaning tuning with smoother treble and better balance.
- ANC is powered by dual QN3 + V3 processors and 12 adaptive microphones, delivering some of the best noise cancellation on the market.
- Battery life dips to 24 hours (down from the XM6's 30-hour battery life), with a 5-minute quick charge yielding 1.5 hours of playback.
- At roughly $200 more than the XM6, the 1000X THE COLLEXION is a premium anniversary-edition built for listeners who want the best Sony has ever made.
The Anniversary Edition That Perfects a Decade of Wireless Sound
The wireless headphone consumer market is saturated with options, from earbuds to full-size over-ear headphones, but among that sea of options, there is one brand that continues to reign supreme. Sony has spent nearly a decade perfecting its closed-back wireless headphone line, and with the newest over-ear release, the 1000X THE COLLEXION, they didn't just refine the formula–they rewrote it. The 1000X THE COLLEXION marks a complete departure from the brand's familiar design and fun, V-shaped sound signature. Smooth plastic ear cups are swapped for vegan leather, metal accents, and a redesigned headband system. That warm, colorful sound is replaced with a more refined, articulate tonality characteristic of audiophile-grade headphones.
The 1000X showcases everything Sony has learned across generations of wireless headphones–from the MDR-1000X to the WH-1000X lineage we know today–distilling years of customer feedback and engineering expertise into a single hi-fi product. It's a bold reinvention of a classic that carries a roughly $200 premium over the WH-1000XM6 Wireless Noise-Cancelling Headphones, and after spending real time living with these cans, the question worth answering is simple: does the luxury upgrade actually deliver real sonic results, or is it simply style over substance?
PROS
- Refined, studio-grade sound that's more polished than the XM6
- Wider, more cushioned headband and incredibly ergonomic carrying case
- Best-in-class ANC once again with some extra sonic features
CONS
- Shorter battery life than the XM6, with a longer quick-charging time
- Vegan leather ear cups may be prone to scratches over time
Design
Take what you know about Sony wireless headphones and throw it out the window, because the 1000X is the company's most daring model yet. The 1000X THE COLLEXION Headphones are a complete redesign of Sony's previous wireless models. Up to this point, the company's wireless headphone line followed a minimalist look with a thin headband, smooth plastic ear cups, and a bespoke headband tensioning system. With each new model, there were subtle tweaks, but the 1000X steps out as a complete departure with a blend of leather and metal accents–including stainless steel trim–a plush headband, leather ear cups, and a distinct headband system. The overall build quality is a step up from previous generations.
So let's start with the ear cups. The ear cup finish on the previous generations was a matte polished plastic of some sort that quickly became a fingerprint magnet, especially with greasy or sweaty paws. I own a pair of the WH-1000XM5 Wireless Headphones, and while the finish doesn't bother me, I do appreciate the material change on the 1000X, but it's not entirely foolproof. The 1000X's ear cups are finished in vegan faux leather, so while they're no longer fingerprint magnets, I fear they're not scratch-resistant. Historically, this type of textured, grippy leather gets scratched up easily, so I'll be interested to see if they acquire any marks as time goes on.
That same vegan leather also appears to be used on the headband and ear pads. The ear pads are plush and comfortable without being overly thick or fatiguing, while the headband is noticeably padded more than on previous models. The headband has always been a point of contention, with many feeling like it wasn't padded enough for long listening sessions. Sony spent two years designing the perfect headband, reshaping it to be wider for better weight distribution, and adding even more cushion to ensure you're getting long-lasting comfort, better passive isolation, and a relaxed, stable fit.
As for the headband tensioning system itself, that also got a makeover. Sony retrofitted the old tension rods, making them skinnier and a little stiffer so they stay on your head without moving around, while adding sleek, matte accents on the side with Sony's logo cleverly hidden. Sony ditched the folding headphone design they did for the XM6 release and went back to the low-profile, flat-facing design of the XM5 that allows the headphones to be stored easily in their designated case.
I like to think I have a pretty average-sized head for a female of my age, so comfort has never been too much of a problem for me. Wearing the 1000X, I noticed two things. First: they felt incredibly lightweight on my head, despite being technically heavier than the XM6 model. Second: they fit like a glove. I barely had to adjust the tension rod once it was on my head, and the headband's wider frame translated to a looser, more comfortable clamping force than my personal pair of XM5's.
Despite being more ergonomic than previous models, the 1000X has a shorter battery life than the XM6. On a single charge, the 1000X delivers up to 24 hours of playback, which is roughly 6 hours less than the XM6, and a 5-minute quick charge yields 1.5 hours of playback. Charging is handled through the USB-C port on the right ear cup, but it does not come with a USB cable, so USB-C audio and charging cables you already own will work just fine. Sony doesn't dive into the details of why the battery life has changed, but given the amount of technology packed in the headphones, it makes sense. Nonetheless, an entire day of playback is incredibly impressive. I've been listening to them for two full workdays and haven't had to charge them yet.
Believe it or not, one of my favorite design features isn't the headphones, but the carrying case it comes with. I've touched on this in previous Sony reviews, but I got my entire family hooked on the WH-1000XM5 the day I came home with a pair. My brother quickly ran out to snag a pair, and it wasn't long after that the zipper on the carrying case broke. So now he has a pair of Sony Wireless Headphones, but no case to safely transport them. Sony must have read my qualms, because they ditched the zipper closure on the XM6 and opted for a magnetic clasp closure instead. The 1000X uses that same magnetic clasp closure, but they took the case's design to a new level, building a handle directly into the case's shape–not just slapped on top with a piece of fabric.
It's incredibly ergonomic, and dare I say, ingenious. I've yet to see another hi-fi headphone manufacturer–wireless or wired–create a case this awesome. The headphones nestle snugly into the sunken-in grooves, and the included 3.5mm to 3.5mm single-ended cable has a dedicated slot–not a loose flap like previous models.
The 1000X is packed with features, and between the touch controls on the ear cups and the Sony | Sound Connect App, learning the ropes and reaping those benefits is incredibly easy. On the left ear cup, you'll find a 3.5mm headphone jack and three physical buttons: a round power on/off button, a dedicated ANC/Ambient Sound Mode button, and a dedicated Listening Mode button to toggle between the 360 Upmix modes. The touch controls are accessible on either ear cup–customizable in the Sony | Sound Connect App–with a variety of swipes and presses to adjust volume, skip tracks, answer/reject calls, and launch voice assist functions.
The 1000X Headphones are a clear reflection of product development perfected over many years of trial and error. Sony listened to customer feedback, accounted for every pitfall and poor design choice, and rectified them with these headphones. Anniversary edition products are supposed to be special, and the 1000X is just that.
Sound
Historically, Sony's wireless headphones have stood out as the top choice for listeners seeking a fun, V-shaped sound signature that's full of dynamics, warmth, and energy. The WH-1000XM6 Wireless Headphones were the first model to stray from that mold, honing in on a more "audiophile-friendly" sound that's cleaner, natural, and focused more on accuracy over fun. It seemed to be a collective industry shift when Sennheiser released several wireless products sporting a similar sound. The 1000X continues the XM6's "studio-grade" tuning, with help from the industry's top studio mastering engineers. I am a big fan of that fun, V-shaped sound, so I feared Sony's wireless headphones may no longer be right for me–but boy was I wrong.
As a Sony user, I already had access to the Sony | Sound Connect App and was familiar with pairing a new device. While the app has been finicky in the past, it seems like they've solved any kinks because it took me less than a minute to pair the headphones for the first time. I wanted to get the full experience, testing every feature and function these headphones offer. My first stop was a YouTube podcast–the perfect way to test out spoken word. Crystal clear vocals, great experience. Then I enabled 360 Upmix's cinema mode and gave that a whirl with a few minutes of Tobey Maguire's Spider-Man, curious how it would stack up against Dolby Atmos content on other platforms. The effects were immediate and unreal for a pair of wireless headphones. The dialogue was presented up front and center, while the sound effects in the background were dimensional as if I was listening to a surround sound experience at a movie theater.
Now for the music. The main event. The overall presentation can be best described as natural, almost neutral-leaning, with a smooth treble and tight, punchy low-end powered by the 30mm driver. It's naturally dynamic throughout the midrange. Vocals are emotive but not in an overly lush way. Listening to Sade's top hits, the 1000X showcases its ability to balance rich dynamics with clarity and detail. An old but new-to-me track, "Somebody Already Broke My Heart," is the quintessential blend of soul and smooth jazz with a melody that's hard not to melt into.
The rhythmic backing track hits with authority and depth. It becomes the focal point of the song until Sade's voice comes into the picture and takes center stage. The 1000X does a great job of balancing the two. One doesn't overshadow the other. The melodic low-end on the backing track doesn't muffle the midrange, and Sade's vocals come across rich and detailed.
The XM5 got a bad rep for being too muddy or muffled, with an excessive bass that obscured vocals and a lack of top-end detail. The XM6 addressed those concerns, and the 1000X perfected it. Compared to the XM6, it shares the same neutral, articulate sound quality but feels more refined and polished. A treble that leaned slightly sibilant with Frank Sinatra on the XM6 is much smoother.
For those who doubted that audiophile-grade wireless headphones could deliver audiophile-grade sound, the 1000X proves otherwise. You can indeed have a pair of wireless headphones that deliver qualities of your favorite audiophile cans: detail, clarity, and realism. The presentation is lifelike, detailed, and immersive. Tracks across all genres shine, and movies and TV shows just got a major upgrade.
Way Back
By Travis Scott
(Birds in the Trap Sing McKnight)
Somebody Already Broke My Heart
By Sade
(Lovers Rock)
Purple
By Olivia Rodrigo
(You Seem Pretty Sad for a Girl So in Love)
Blue Moon
By Zara Larsson
(Midnight Sun)
Features
- Bespoke driver unit with a unidirectional carbon composite dome for spacious soundstage, precise instrument separation, and delicate high-frequency detail
- First Sony headphone to feature DSEE Ultimate, using Edge-AI to upscale compressed audio in real time and restore lost detail and dynamic range
- 12-microphone adaptive noise canceling powered by dual QN3 + V3 processors for environment-aware ANC performance
- 360 Reality Audio Upmix with three dedicated modes — Music, Cinema, and Game — for immersive spatial audio experiences
- Sound tuned in collaboration with GRAMMY Award–winning and nominated mastering engineers from Battery Studios, Sterling Sound, and Coast Mastering
- Premium metal accents with sandblasted matte and hand-polished gloss finishes, individually completed by skilled artisans
- Soft, refined vegan leather cushioning developed over two years for long-lasting comfort and a relaxed, stable fit
- Wider, ergonomically designed headband distributes weight more evenly for extended listening sessions
- Adaptive Sound Control, Speak-to-Chat, and head-gesture call accept/reject for intuitive, hands-free operation
- Bluetooth 6.0 connectivity for improved range and stability
So what does roughly $200 more get you with the 1000X that it doesn't with the XM6? Well, a lot actually. The 1000X THE COLLEXION Headphones have several upgrades that the XM6 and previous models don't, as well as some drawbacks, which we'll mention too. The 1000X features dual QN3 + V3 Chip Processors, responsible for its active noise cancellation and D/A conversion.
Sony has been the appointed champion of active noise cancellation technology for some time now, and I'd be hard-pressed to find anyone worthy of taking their place. I've listened to my fair share of ANC headphones, and I keep coming back to Sony for the pure immersion and isolation these headphones deliver. 12 adaptive microphones support that ANC technology in real time, cancelling out any external noise around you. That translates into exceptionally clear call quality where you can be on a busy train, take a call, and not have to worry about the person on the other end of the line struggling to hear you.
Complementing the ANC is Sony's Adaptive NC Optimizer, which adjusts in real time to external noise, air pressure, and your fit. Throw in ambient sound mode, and there's really not much the 1000X can do. I find Ambient Sound Mode particularly useful in the workplace. Using the dedicated ANC/AMB button on the left ear cup, I quickly toggled between the two modes–ANC when I needed complete immersion, and Ambient Sound Mode in the afternoon when my colleague and I got chatty. I was able to focus on my work and still hear my colleague if she needed something.
The driver has been redesigned and upgraded to bring out airy highs and a wide, open soundstage. The soft edge and uniquely designed high-rigidity dome made with unidirectional carbon composite deliver more delicate high-frequency extension and more accurate reproduction.
Effortlessly Intuitive: Features for the Everyday Listener
Beyond ANC and Ambient Sound Mode, the 1000X's newest feature, 360 Upmix, elevates how you listen, expanding stereo music, movies, and games into an immersive spatial sound experience. You can select one of the three 360 Upmix modes using the Listening Mode button on the left ear cup. 360 Upmix for music brings more space and realism with natural depth and an open atmosphere. 360 Upmix for cinema turns stereo movies into a more cinematic experience, keeping dialogue clear, effects more directional, and bass with more impact. 360 Upmix for games enhances SFX with vivid impact, expands BGM into a 3D soundscape, and improves voice clarity.
Naturally, there was no way I would review these headphones without testing one of their most alluring features, cinema mode. For the last 30 minutes of my workday, I turned on Tobey Maguire's Spider-Man, a movie I started over the weekend but fell asleep with around 30 minutes remaining. I used the dedicated listening mode button on the back of the left ear cup to cycle through the modes until I reached cinema. I enabled cinema mode and pressed play on the movie, and WOW, the sonic results were immediate. The vocals that were once up close and immersive felt pushed back as if I was listening in a movie theater or a surround-sound setup at home in my living room. In one specific scene, when Peter Parker visits the newspaper Editor and Chief at his office, you could hear the background sounds of reporters talking, typing away on keyboards, and shuffling through the office. Then the Green Goblin busted through the office windows with such vigor that it actually startled me, and I turned down the volume just a smidge.
I unfortunately don't play video games, so I can't comment on the game listening mode, but if it's anything like Cinema mode, I have zero doubts that you won't be winning tournament after tournament.
Some additional notable features include new sensors and spatial audio technology for AR gaming, head tracking via 360 Reality Audio to keep sound aligned as you move, Bluetooth multipoint connection, swift pair to easily connect your headphones with laptops and computers, and voice assist via Google Gemini.
The 1000X is packed to the brim with useful features and functionalities, so many that it's too long to list them all off, but if I had to sum it up as plainly as possible, I'd say this: The Sony 1000X THE COLLEXION Wireless Headphones are designed to blend seamlessly into your lifestyle. Whether you're using them on your daily commute, at work, or those times when you need to escape, the 1000X THE COLLEXION learns your listening habits and lifestyle, and adapts to suit you, not the other way around.
Dragon Cables
[Bronze Dragon Portable Headphone Cable]
There are a lot of reasons why you need to make sure your audio cables are not afterthoughts.
Our HiFi Audio Dragon Cables bring out more of what you love in your music and audio gear. If you love your headphones but wish they had a bit more top-end sparkle - a Silver Dragon Headphone Cable would be a great option. If your USB cables keep dying - as many stock cables do - then check out our quality USB Audio Cables. We say time and time again that materials matter, and our audio cables and custom geometries actually help to bring out those desired properties in your gear and music. We make tons of custom options for our customers so that you can get the right HiFi Audio cable for your exact needs. If you have any questions feel free to Contact Us and we'll be more than happy to help.
Generally, stock audio cables are manufactured with subpar materials, metals with impurities, poor geometries, and an overabundance of layers to make them look and feel like a fire hose. Inconsistency and lack of quality control in stock cables can lead to poor sound quality and a veiled sound vs. what the musician intended for you to hear and feel from the music. Dragon Audio Cables are handcrafted with the highest standards and made to order according to your specific needs. At Moon Audio, we create a custom cable for you using the highest quality UP-OCC silver or copper conductors that can be manufactured. UP-OCC metals are void of impurities and are optimized for signal transfer and sound quality. We have one of the largest collections of audio and headphone connection options available online and we create limitless audio cable options depending on your specific gear and needs.
Why Dragon Cables?
You’ve heard the saying that a chain is only as strong as its weakest link, right? Well, the same applies to your brand new audiophile-grade headphone or other audio components. The weakest link, in this case, is your stock audio cable or the cheap interconnects the manufacturer threw in the box just to get you up and running. Why is the audio cable always an afterthought, when it’s just as important as the rest of your system? At Moon Audio, we use the purest and best raw materials in our cables to unveil your music. We believe that materials matter and your audio cables should have the same care and craftsmanship that manufacturers put into their audio components and headphones. Audio cables are ultimately the connection to your music. The fact remains that cabling is often considered the last priority to that of the main product and a means to cut down the overall production costs. It’s as simple as that. Dragon Cables elevate every note - as if you were hearing your favorite music for the very first time.
Verdict
At $649.99, the 1000X THE COLLEXION Wireless Noise-Cancelling Headphones aren't just an anniversary edition for the sake of celebration; they're the clearest sign yet that Sony has been listening to our feedback and taking notes. Every design gripe, every sonic complaint, every awkward case zipper from generations past has been addressed and refined here. What you're left with is a pair of wireless headphones that fit alongside true audiophile cans with its detailed, natural, and immersive audio quality. All of the convenience features that make wireless headphones so coveted are maximized to their fullest potential with an ANC processor that's seven times more powerful than previous generations, carefully placed microphones, and 360 Upmix for more than just music listening. Want to get even more out of that detachable cable? Pairing the 1000X with a Dragon Audio Cable like the Bronze Dragon Portable Headphone Cable is a simple way to unlock cleaner signal transfer and squeeze every last bit of detail and dynamics these headphones were built to deliver.
Sure, the trade-offs are there. A slightly shorter battery life, a heftier price tag, but for anyone chasing the best all-around wireless listening experience Sony has ever built, the 1000X THE COLLEXION earns its place at the top.
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What's in the Box
- Sony 1000X The Collexion headphones
- 1.2m (approx. 4 ft) 3.5mm audio cable
- Sculpted carry case with integrated handle and magnetic closure
Specifications
Headphone Type: Closed
Driver Type: 30 mm
Weight (Approx): Approx. 320 g
Cable Length: Approx 1.2 m
Cable Type: Single-sided (detachable)
Plug: Gold-plated L-shaped stereo mini plug
Frequency Response: 4 Hz - 40,000 Hz (IEC) (when connecting via the headphone cable with the unit turned on)
Frequency Response (Bluetooth): 20 Hz - 20,000 Hz (44.1 kHz sampling), 20 Hz - 40,000 Hz (LDAC 96 kHz sampling 990 kbps)
Impedance: 48 ohms (1kHz) (when connecting via the headphone cable with the unit turned on)
Sensitivity: 103 dB/mW (when connecting via the headphone cable with the unit turned on)
Noise Canceling: Yes
Ambient Sound Mode: Yes
Quick Attention: Yes
Bluetooth Version: Bluetooth Specification Version 6.0
Effective Range: Approx. 10m
Frequency Range: 2.4 GHz band (2.4000 GHz - 2.4835 GHz)
Profile: A2DP, AVRCP, HFP, HSP, TMAP, PBP
Supported Audio Formats: SBC, AAC, LDAC, LC3
Supported Content Protection: SCMS-T
Battery Charge Method: USB
Battery Life (Continuous Communication): Max. 16 hours (NC ON), Max. 20 hours (NC OFF)
Battery Life (General Features): Max. 24 hours (NC ON), Max. 32 hours (NC OFF)
Lithium Battery: Yes
Battery Chemistry: Lithium-ion (Li-ion)
Battery Form: Rechargeable
