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We offer easy, convenient returns with at least one free return option: no shipping charges. All returns must comply with our returns policy.
Learn more about free returns.We offer easy, convenient returns with at least one free return option: no shipping charges. All returns must comply with our returns policy.
Learn more about free returns.| Brand | Sony |
| Color | Black |
| Ear Placement | Over Ear |
| Form Factor | Over Ear |
| Noise Control | Active Noise Cancellation |
| 1000X THE COLLEXION | WH-1000XM6 | WH-1000XM5 |
|---|---|---|
| Noise Cancelling Immersive Noise Canceling (12mics) | Noise Cancelling The Best Noise Cancelling (12 mics) | Noise Cancelling Premium Noise Cancellation (8 mics) |
| Battery Life Up to 24 Hrs, Quick charging: 5 Min charge for up to 1.5 Hrs playback | Battery Life Up to 30 Hrs, Quick charging: 3 Min charge for up to 3 Hrs playback | Battery Life Up to 30 Hrs, Quick charging: 3 Min charge for up to 3 Hrs playback |
| Calling features AI Beamforming(6mics) + AI noise reduction, Multi device connection | Calling features AI Beamforming(6mics) + AI noise reduction, Multi device connection | Calling features Beamforming(4mics)+ AI noise reduction, Multi device connection |
| Audio features Spatial audio upmix, Hi-Res audio compatible, AI base audio upscaling | Audio features Spatial audio upmix, Hi-Res audio compatible | Audio features Hi-Res audio compatible |
| Special Features Luxury crafted materials, Adaptive NC Optimizer, Carrying Case, Touch control | Special Features Adaptive NC Optimizer, Foldable design, Carrying Case, Touch control | Special Features Auto NC Optimizer, Carrying Case, Wearing detection, Touch Control |
Sony is a creative entertainment company with a portfolio that encompasses electronics, music, motion pictures, mobile, gaming, and more.
For over 70 years, imagination has been the fuel of everything we do. From how people listen to music, to how they play games, to how they watch TV, our big imaginations have led us to create products that innovate and inspire generations.
| Brand Name | Sony |
|---|---|
| Model Number | WH-1000XX/B |
| Model Name | 1000X THE COLLEXION |
| Built-In Media | Headphone cable, Headphones, Protective Case |
| Warranty Description | 1 year |
| Number of Items | 1 |
| Manufacturer | Sony |
| Best Sellers Rank |
|
| ASIN | B0GW9MBZJ9 |
| Customer Reviews |
4.1 out of 5 stars |
| Headphones Ear Placement | Over Ear |
|---|---|
| Headphone Folding Features | Over Ear |
| Earpiece Shape | Oval |
| Color | Black |
|---|---|
| Carrying Case Color | Black |
Sony 1000X THE COLLEXION Wireless Noise Cancelling Headphones, Luxury Comfort with Curated Materials, HD NC Processor QN3, 12 Microphones, Spatial Audio, Mastered by Engineers, 24-Hour Battery, Black
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| Noise Control | Active Noise Cancellation |
|---|---|
| Audio Driver Type | Dynamic Driver |
| Enclosure Material | Faux Leather |
|---|---|
| Specific Uses For Product | Business, Entertainment, Travel |
| Antenna Location | Calling, Office Meetings |
| Compatible Devices | Cellphones, Desktops, Laptops, Portable Media Player, Smart Speaker, Tablets |
| Cable Features | Detachable |
| Additional Features | Adjustable Headband, Detachable Cable, Lightweight, Microphone Included, Multipoint Pairing, Noise Cancellation, Premium materials, Rechargeable Battery, Spatial Audio with 360 Upmix, Studio-grade sound quality, Touch Control, Volume Control |
| Headphone Jack | 3.5 mm Jack |
|---|---|
| Connectivity Technology | Wireless |
| Wireless Technology | Bluetooth |
| Bluetooth Range | 10 Meters |
| Bluetooth Version | 6 |
| Control Method | Touch |
|---|
| Item Weight | 320 Grams |
|---|---|
| Unit Count | 1.0 Count |
1000X THE COLLEXION headphones are crafted with curated materials for luxury comfort and a refined fit. A bespoke driver, co tuned with renowned mastering engineers, reveals exceptionally detailed, studio grade sound with precise separation. Advanced 1000X Series noise cancelling keeps distractions out, while spatial upmix expands sound into immersive listening.
Customer Reviews, including Product Star Ratings help customers to learn more about the product and decide whether it is the right product for them.
To calculate the overall star rating and percentage breakdown by star, we don’t use a simple average. Instead, our system considers things like how recent a review is and if the reviewer bought the item on Amazon. It also analyzed reviews to verify trustworthiness.
Learn more how customers reviews work on AmazonThese headphones feel premium right away. The noise cancelling is very strong, the sound is clean and detailed, and they are comfortable enough for longer listening sessions. The controls are easy to use and the battery life has been great for everyday use. Expensive, but the overall quality feels worth it.
Fits great, sounds excellent and pairs quickly. Very comfortable for long wear times. Says 24 hours of use per charge with ANC on but I get much closer to 30. Has never lost a connection. Noise cancellation is excellent. And they just look great as well.
I had big hopes for these headphones. So much so that I rushed to order them. My initial take on them was "Wow!" nice finishes, well made, solid build but not too heavy. I could easily see comfortable wear on my multi hour flights for work. HOWEVER, when I fired them up and listened my Wow shifted to "Meh". The sound is not as great as it has been suggested. Yes, the AI enhanced modes help but expensive headphones should sound great out of the box. Also, they should sound better than their next level down models. Not so in this case. Sadly, they just aren't worth the money and are going back.
It's crazy how comfortable the Collexion is! The earcups let your ears sync in without touching any fabric inside. The build quality is fantastic and a huge step up over the cheap and fingerprint magnets xm6 or the other Sony headphones.
Sound-wise they sound incredible especially when you use the 360 upmix modes, I keep switching between them depending on the type of content that I am listening to: music, tv show / movie, game... The controls are easy to learn but I still do most stuff on device since I am used to that (volume changing).
Battery life is okay, I prefer to have the battery limited to 80% charging and to not let it go below 20% which means I have to charge it every other day.
Compared to other headphones, this one is an all-rounder, it's at the top fighting them for first place and whether it wins in each category or not is up to personal taste, you can be sure it won't leave without a fight though.
Haven't dived into the 10 band eq yet since I am so happy with the 360 upmix modes but you can be sure that with custom eq, it's a very versatile headphones.
Pros:
• The most comfortable pair of headphones Ive ever worn.
• The best noise canceling headphones Ive ever owned.
• The noise canceling is something you can toggle on and off easily.
• They are made to last and you can tell. The product looks and feels like a premium product.
Now for the Cons:
• They are fairly expensive for headphones.
• The audio is just high end modern headphone quality. It’s not going to blow your mind.
• Although they can hold a charge quite well they are not the best headphones Ive owned in that aspect.
• They can charge quickly but they are not the fastest charging headphones I own right now.
It may seem like Im being nit-picky but for the cost of these headphones I did expect them to be better than they are. That being said they are worth it in my opinion and are now my favorite pair of headphones and I expect they will remain my favorites for quite some time.
Others have pontificated in more detail on the sound. I’m no audiophile, so I won’t get into specifics. What I will say is that I’ve tried nearly all the mainstream consumer options in the sub $1000 options and these are my favorite. I returned the HDB 630s because the build quality was crap and they’re bulky (particularly in the case—couldn’t even fit that in my backpack). I returned the AirPods Max 2 because no EQ, heavy and jaw tightness, and I wanted more flexibility with non-Apple products. I returned the B&W Px8s2 because while the sound was great, they were $200 more than even the 1000Xs and didn’t have a lot of the QoL features of the Sony sound connect app and the ANC was terrible. I returned the Bose qc ultra 2 because they were so creaky (if it weren’t for that, I probably would have gone with those ones). I returned the xm6s because, while I loved the QoL features and ANC, the earcup depth and headband made them not very comfortable.
The 1000Xs are like if you combined the best qualities of the Bose QC Ultra gen 2s, B&W Px8s2, and XM6s. The only thing they’re missing in the sound department form the HDB 630s is the PEQ, but IMO they make up for that with the 360 upmixing options which I absolutely love (esp. the cinema and background music modes) and a 10 band EQ is sufficient for most people I think. The soundstage is also wider than the 630s and more akin to the Px8s2s. I do think the Px8s2s edge out the 1000X in sound but only just and the app features and ANC of the 1000X more than make up for it.
Finally, I absolutely love the case. I knew I’d like the metal clasp as it’s so much more convenient than the zipper of the other options, but on top of that the handle is so wonderful. It’s so easy to grab it out of your bag real quick. I love it. It’s also the thinnest case of all the options and that makes up for the slightly larger footprint than those of folding headphones. The fact that they don’t fold also make them quicker to put in and get out of the case.
I summary, my long search for good sounding ANC headphones that check all of the QoL features is finally over. I’m very glad Sony came out with these.
Quality of the sound is very cheap. One of the bad product from music giant Sony. XM4, XM5 and XM6 are far and far better than this heavy priced product.
These fix everything wrong with the XM6!
- Deeper earcups - my ears finally don’t touch the drivers and have alot more space to breathe.
- Clamp Force - these have a way more relaxed clamp force. On day 1 they feel more relaxed than my broken in XM6
- Hinges + Overall build quality - No Creaks Everytime u adjust the headphones.
- Sound Quality - The sound wasn’t bad on the xm6 but these are a level above. The bass is less muddy and the soundstage is a lot wider overall. 360 up is is also sooo good. I expected to be a gimmick but I was wrong.
Cons
Battery life - down to 24 hours - this doesn’t bother me but might be something to consider
Price - these are 200$ more than the xm6. I see it as as worth it for comfort alone. However if u find xm6s comfortable then it probably isn’t worth the upgrade.
These fix everything wrong with the XM6!
- Deeper earcups - my ears finally don’t touch the drivers and have alot more space to breathe.
- Clamp Force - these have a way more relaxed clamp force. On day 1 they feel more relaxed than my broken in XM6
- Hinges + Overall build quality - No Creaks Everytime u adjust the headphones.
- Sound Quality - The sound wasn’t bad on the xm6 but these are a level above. The bass is less muddy and the soundstage is a lot wider overall. 360 up is is also sooo good. I expected to be a gimmick but I was wrong.
Cons
Battery life - down to 24 hours - this doesn’t bother me but might be something to consider
Price - these are 200$ more than the xm6. I see it as as worth it for comfort alone. However if u find xm6s comfortable then it probably isn’t worth the upgrade.
Son unos audífonos sobresalientes, aunque hay que ser honesto en algunos puntos.
Relación calidad-precio
Respecto a los XM6, las mejoras no son tan evidentes como para justificar la diferencia de precio por sí solas. Dicho esto, sí existen diferencias notables: el sonido sin ecualizar es considerablemente más neutro, lo cual agradecerán quienes prefieran una respuesta de frecuencia más plana y fiel. En cuanto al DSEE Ultimate, personalmente no he percibido una diferencia significativa, por lo que su impacto podría ser muy sutil o dependiente del material de audio.
Punto negativo a considerar
Si tienes varios dispositivos y experimentas problemas de estática con la conexión Bluetooth, vale la pena saber que estos audífonos no cuentan con entrada de audio USB-C. La única opción de conexión cableada es el jack de 3.5 mm.
Comodidad: aquí es donde brillan
Este es, para mí, el mayor punto a favor frente a los XM6. Al tener orejas grandes, con los XM6 las orejas chocaban con el fondo de las copas, lo que generaba molestia después de un rato y me impedía usarlos por períodos prolongados. Con este diseño eso ya no ocurre. Las almohadillas son más profundas y el arco superior está muy bien acolchado, lo que permite sesiones largas sin ninguna incomodidad.
Modos de escucha
Los distintos modos de audio son un gran plus. Para música funcionan muy bien y aportan profundidad. Sin embargo, donde realmente destacan —al menos para mí— es en el modo cine: ver series y películas con él activado es una experiencia notablemente mejor. Un adicional que no esperaba disfrutar tanto.
DAC externo y micrófono
Adquirí el Questyle QCC Pro como DAC/amplificador y sí noté una mejora perceptible respecto a conectarlos directamente al iPhone. El micrófono también cumple muy bien, especialmente en videollamadas por Microsoft Teams.
Conclusión
Si buscas unos audífonos versátiles, con acabados elegantes, sonido sólido y excelentes modos para consumir contenido multimedia, estos son una muy buena elección. Si tu uso es exclusivamente escuchar música y priorizas la relación calidad-precio por encima de todo, vale la pena evaluar otras opciones antes de decidir.
I'm not an audiophile, but I grew up around one. My late dad was the real deal, the type who fine-tunes speaker placement by millimeters and treats the listening room like a sacred space. What I do have is a long-standing fascination with sound devices and whether they actually deliver what they promise.
Hands down, this is easily one of the best headphones I've ever used. Sony really went all in with this Collexion model, and it shows the moment you take it out of the box. The materials feel premium, the metal accents look refined, and the soft vegan leather makes the whole thing feel like a luxury item. The earcups are generously sized and the headband has a wider cushion, so the comfort is excellent even during long listening sessions. I can wear these for hours without any pressure points or heat buildup.
SOUND QUALITY
Sound quality is where THE COLLEXION really won me over. The new drivers and LDAC support give the audio a clean, detailed character that works across different genres. I noticed the bass has real depth and impact, but it stays controlled and never spills into the mids. The mids keep vocals and instruments natural without being pushed forward artificially. The treble stays crisp and clear without drifting into harshness, even during long sessions.
What impressed me most is the layering and separation. In busy tracks with lots of instruments or background textures, I can pick out individual elements without losing the overall feel of the song. It creates a sense of space that feels more like listening in a room than inside a pair of headphones.
Across acoustic, electronic, and vocal-heavy tracks, the sound stayed balanced, spacious, and genuinely enjoyable. It has that "studio grade" character Sony is advertising, and yes, the marketing matches the experience.
MICROPHONE SYSTEM AND ADAPTIVE NOISE CANCELLATION
The microphone system was one of my biggest surprises. Sony did not just add more mics for the sake of a spec sheet. All twelve microphones work together with the QN3 processor to create fast, adaptive noise cancellation that reacts instantly to changes in your environment.
When I move from a quiet room to a busy street or a café, the ANC adjusts on its own without me needing to switch modes. It reads the environment and responds in real time, which makes the experience feel seamless and intelligent.
The second mic array, powered by the V3 processor, handles calls with a level of clarity that feels almost unfair compared to other headphones. It locks onto my voice and filters out background noise so effectively that people on the other end hear me clearly even in less-than-ideal conditions.
CALL QUALITY
Call quality is excellent. I tested calls indoors, outdoors, and in rooms with background noise, and the feedback was always the same: crystal clear. The six-mic beamforming system isolates my voice so well that people on the other end hear me without effort.
COMFORT
The wider headband distributes the weight evenly, and the cushions mold gently to my ears without creating heat buildup. The only trade-off is portability. The earcups swivel flat but do not fold, so the case takes up more space. Not a deal breaker, but worth knowing.
SEAMLESS MULTI DEVICE CONNECTION
One of the features I appreciate the most is the seamless multi device connection. I switch between my mini-PC and my cellphone constantly, and the transition is smooth and automatic. I can be listening to music on my mini-PC, get a call on my phone, and the headphones switch over instantly without any manual input. After the call ends, the audio returns to the mini PC without delay or confusion. No repairing, no stutter, no fighting with Bluetooth settings. It behaves like a premium device that understands how people actually use headphones in real life. This alone makes THE COLLEXION feel like a step above many other models I have tried.
BATTERY LIFE
I understand the Sony XM6 delivers 30 hours of battery life on ANC while THE COLLEXION delivers 24, yes, it is a real difference, especially for multi-day trips, but I am completely happy with 24 hours. Quick charge helps by giving several hours of playback from a ten-minute charge. For daily use, I never came close to draining the battery in a single day.
FINAL VERDICT
For me, THE COLLEXION is absolutely worth it. The materials, sound quality, ANC performance, call clarity, and overall comfort make it a premium experience from the moment you unbox it. The battery life is a step back, and the non-folding design affects portability, but everything else feels elevated and intentional.
This is Sony's tenth anniversary statement piece for the flagship 1000X series, and it shows. If you value premium craftsmanship, balanced and spacious sound, and a headphone that feels great to use every day, THE COLLEXION delivers at every level that matters.
I am giving it five stars, no doubt and no hesitation. Six stars if I could haha.
I'm not an audiophile, but I grew up around one. My late dad was the real deal, the type who fine-tunes speaker placement by millimeters and treats the listening room like a sacred space. What I do have is a long-standing fascination with sound devices and whether they actually deliver what they promise.
Hands down, this is easily one of the best headphones I've ever used. Sony really went all in with this Collexion model, and it shows the moment you take it out of the box. The materials feel premium, the metal accents look refined, and the soft vegan leather makes the whole thing feel like a luxury item. The earcups are generously sized and the headband has a wider cushion, so the comfort is excellent even during long listening sessions. I can wear these for hours without any pressure points or heat buildup.
SOUND QUALITY
Sound quality is where THE COLLEXION really won me over. The new drivers and LDAC support give the audio a clean, detailed character that works across different genres. I noticed the bass has real depth and impact, but it stays controlled and never spills into the mids. The mids keep vocals and instruments natural without being pushed forward artificially. The treble stays crisp and clear without drifting into harshness, even during long sessions.
What impressed me most is the layering and separation. In busy tracks with lots of instruments or background textures, I can pick out individual elements without losing the overall feel of the song. It creates a sense of space that feels more like listening in a room than inside a pair of headphones.
Across acoustic, electronic, and vocal-heavy tracks, the sound stayed balanced, spacious, and genuinely enjoyable. It has that "studio grade" character Sony is advertising, and yes, the marketing matches the experience.
MICROPHONE SYSTEM AND ADAPTIVE NOISE CANCELLATION
The microphone system was one of my biggest surprises. Sony did not just add more mics for the sake of a spec sheet. All twelve microphones work together with the QN3 processor to create fast, adaptive noise cancellation that reacts instantly to changes in your environment.
When I move from a quiet room to a busy street or a café, the ANC adjusts on its own without me needing to switch modes. It reads the environment and responds in real time, which makes the experience feel seamless and intelligent.
The second mic array, powered by the V3 processor, handles calls with a level of clarity that feels almost unfair compared to other headphones. It locks onto my voice and filters out background noise so effectively that people on the other end hear me clearly even in less-than-ideal conditions.
CALL QUALITY
Call quality is excellent. I tested calls indoors, outdoors, and in rooms with background noise, and the feedback was always the same: crystal clear. The six-mic beamforming system isolates my voice so well that people on the other end hear me without effort.
COMFORT
The wider headband distributes the weight evenly, and the cushions mold gently to my ears without creating heat buildup. The only trade-off is portability. The earcups swivel flat but do not fold, so the case takes up more space. Not a deal breaker, but worth knowing.
SEAMLESS MULTI DEVICE CONNECTION
One of the features I appreciate the most is the seamless multi device connection. I switch between my mini-PC and my cellphone constantly, and the transition is smooth and automatic. I can be listening to music on my mini-PC, get a call on my phone, and the headphones switch over instantly without any manual input. After the call ends, the audio returns to the mini PC without delay or confusion. No repairing, no stutter, no fighting with Bluetooth settings. It behaves like a premium device that understands how people actually use headphones in real life. This alone makes THE COLLEXION feel like a step above many other models I have tried.
BATTERY LIFE
I understand the Sony XM6 delivers 30 hours of battery life on ANC while THE COLLEXION delivers 24, yes, it is a real difference, especially for multi-day trips, but I am completely happy with 24 hours. Quick charge helps by giving several hours of playback from a ten-minute charge. For daily use, I never came close to draining the battery in a single day.
FINAL VERDICT
For me, THE COLLEXION is absolutely worth it. The materials, sound quality, ANC performance, call clarity, and overall comfort make it a premium experience from the moment you unbox it. The battery life is a step back, and the non-folding design affects portability, but everything else feels elevated and intentional.
This is Sony's tenth anniversary statement piece for the flagship 1000X series, and it shows. If you value premium craftsmanship, balanced and spacious sound, and a headphone that feels great to use every day, THE COLLEXION delivers at every level that matters.
I am giving it five stars, no doubt and no hesitation. Six stars if I could haha.
Los mejores audífonos que he tenido. Después de los bose quiet confort ii, me compré los sonos ace, porque los 1000xm5 se me hicieron muy de plástico, espere y los 1000xm6 tampoco me llamaron la atención, cua fo ya me decidí por esos, en ese momento salieron estos, y que maravilla, super cómodos, materiales de calidad, la aplicación excelente, mil cosas nuevas en la aplicación, estos audífonos haces de todo, y la piel de los audífonos hacen que el touch funcione excelente, definitivamente la mejor compra que he hecho en audífonos desde hace mucho tiempo, si tienen pensado comprar audífonos, definitivamente se los recomendó, no se van a arrepentir
I have tested and owned many premium headphones over the years, including multiple models from Sony's legendary 1000X series. When I saw THE COLLEXION edition, I was intrigued by the promise of luxury comfort with curated materials. After using these headphones daily for a few weeks, I can say with confidence that Sony's engineers have outdone themselves. This is a five star product through and through.
Let me start with the noise cancellation because that is what Sony is famous for. The HD Noise Cancelling Processor QN3 is an absolute beast. I wore these headphones on a cross country flight, and the moment I turned on the noise cancellation, the world simply disappeared. The drone of the airplane engines became a barely audible whisper. A baby crying three rows behind me faded into nothing. I could not hear the drink cart rolling down the aisle or the passengers chatting around me. I put on a quiet acoustic playlist at low volume, and I was completely isolated in my own peaceful bubble. For office use, the QN3 processor obliterates keyboard clatter, HVAC hum, and distant conversations. Sony remains the king of noise cancellation.
The 12 microphones are not just for show. They work together to analyze ambient sound in real time and adjust the noise cancellation dynamically. I walked from a quiet library into a busy street, and the headphones seamlessly increased the cancellation intensity without any input from me. The adaptive sound control feature is smart enough to learn my routines. It knows that I want maximum cancellation on the subway and ambient mode when I am walking near traffic. It is like having a personal audio assistant.
Now let me talk about the luxury comfort because that is the headline feature of THE COLLEXION edition. Sony used curated materials that feel genuinely premium. The headband padding is plush but firm enough to distribute weight evenly. The ear cushions are wrapped in a soft, breathable material that feels like high end upholstery. I wore these headphones for an entire workday, about eight hours with a few short breaks, and my ears never felt hot or sore. The clamping force is perfect. They stay securely on my head during a brisk walk, but they never feel tight or压迫感. The black color scheme is elegant and understated. These look and feel like headphones that belong in a design museum.
The curated materials also extend to the hinges and adjustment sliders. Everything moves with a satisfying smoothness. There are no creaks or squeaks. The headphones fold neatly into a compact carrying case that is lined with soft fabric. Sony clearly paid attention to every tiny detail.
Spatial audio is another highlight. The engineers at Sony have mastered the art of creating a three dimensional soundstage. When I listened to a live jazz recording, I could pinpoint exactly where each musician was standing. The piano was slightly to my left, the double bass was centered, the drums were behind me, and the trumpet was off to the right. It felt like being in the front row of a small club. For movies and games, the spatial audio adds a level of immersion that standard stereo headphones cannot touch. Explosions have depth. Voices come from specific directions. I rewatched a few scenes from my favorite action movie, and I heard details I had never noticed before.
The 24 hour battery life is generous and accurate. I charged the headphones fully on a Sunday night. I used them for about four hours each day during my commute and at work, plus a few hours of evening listening. I did not need to charge again until Friday morning. When the battery does run low, a quick 10 minute charge via USB C gives me several more hours of playback. For anyone who travels frequently or forgets to charge their devices, this battery performance is a lifesaver.
Sound quality, of course, is exceptional. The bass is deep and controlled without being boomy. The mids are rich and natural, which makes vocals sound lifelike. The highs are crisp and detailed without any harshness. I listened to everything from classical orchestras to heavy metal to podcast dialogue. Every genre sounded exactly as the artist intended. The headphones handle complex passages with multiple instruments playing simultaneously without any muddiness. You can hear the separation between each instrument clearly.
Connectivity is rock solid with Bluetooth. Pairing was instantaneous with my phone and my laptop. The multipoint connection allows me to switch between devices seamlessly. I can be watching a video on my tablet, answer a call on my phone, and the headphones automatically switch over without any manual intervention. The range is excellent as well. I walked to the other side of my apartment, about 40 feet away with several walls in between, and the audio never stuttered or disconnected.
The Sony 1000X THE COLLEXION also works beautifully wired via the included audio cable. For high resolution audio sources or for use on airplanes that require wired connections, this is a welcome option. The headphones sound just as amazing in passive mode, though the noise cancellation does require battery power.
I have tested and owned many premium headphones over the years, including multiple models from Sony's legendary 1000X series. When I saw THE COLLEXION edition, I was intrigued by the promise of luxury comfort with curated materials. After using these headphones daily for a few weeks, I can say with confidence that Sony's engineers have outdone themselves. This is a five star product through and through.
Let me start with the noise cancellation because that is what Sony is famous for. The HD Noise Cancelling Processor QN3 is an absolute beast. I wore these headphones on a cross country flight, and the moment I turned on the noise cancellation, the world simply disappeared. The drone of the airplane engines became a barely audible whisper. A baby crying three rows behind me faded into nothing. I could not hear the drink cart rolling down the aisle or the passengers chatting around me. I put on a quiet acoustic playlist at low volume, and I was completely isolated in my own peaceful bubble. For office use, the QN3 processor obliterates keyboard clatter, HVAC hum, and distant conversations. Sony remains the king of noise cancellation.
The 12 microphones are not just for show. They work together to analyze ambient sound in real time and adjust the noise cancellation dynamically. I walked from a quiet library into a busy street, and the headphones seamlessly increased the cancellation intensity without any input from me. The adaptive sound control feature is smart enough to learn my routines. It knows that I want maximum cancellation on the subway and ambient mode when I am walking near traffic. It is like having a personal audio assistant.
Now let me talk about the luxury comfort because that is the headline feature of THE COLLEXION edition. Sony used curated materials that feel genuinely premium. The headband padding is plush but firm enough to distribute weight evenly. The ear cushions are wrapped in a soft, breathable material that feels like high end upholstery. I wore these headphones for an entire workday, about eight hours with a few short breaks, and my ears never felt hot or sore. The clamping force is perfect. They stay securely on my head during a brisk walk, but they never feel tight or压迫感. The black color scheme is elegant and understated. These look and feel like headphones that belong in a design museum.
The curated materials also extend to the hinges and adjustment sliders. Everything moves with a satisfying smoothness. There are no creaks or squeaks. The headphones fold neatly into a compact carrying case that is lined with soft fabric. Sony clearly paid attention to every tiny detail.
Spatial audio is another highlight. The engineers at Sony have mastered the art of creating a three dimensional soundstage. When I listened to a live jazz recording, I could pinpoint exactly where each musician was standing. The piano was slightly to my left, the double bass was centered, the drums were behind me, and the trumpet was off to the right. It felt like being in the front row of a small club. For movies and games, the spatial audio adds a level of immersion that standard stereo headphones cannot touch. Explosions have depth. Voices come from specific directions. I rewatched a few scenes from my favorite action movie, and I heard details I had never noticed before.
The 24 hour battery life is generous and accurate. I charged the headphones fully on a Sunday night. I used them for about four hours each day during my commute and at work, plus a few hours of evening listening. I did not need to charge again until Friday morning. When the battery does run low, a quick 10 minute charge via USB C gives me several more hours of playback. For anyone who travels frequently or forgets to charge their devices, this battery performance is a lifesaver.
Sound quality, of course, is exceptional. The bass is deep and controlled without being boomy. The mids are rich and natural, which makes vocals sound lifelike. The highs are crisp and detailed without any harshness. I listened to everything from classical orchestras to heavy metal to podcast dialogue. Every genre sounded exactly as the artist intended. The headphones handle complex passages with multiple instruments playing simultaneously without any muddiness. You can hear the separation between each instrument clearly.
Connectivity is rock solid with Bluetooth. Pairing was instantaneous with my phone and my laptop. The multipoint connection allows me to switch between devices seamlessly. I can be watching a video on my tablet, answer a call on my phone, and the headphones automatically switch over without any manual intervention. The range is excellent as well. I walked to the other side of my apartment, about 40 feet away with several walls in between, and the audio never stuttered or disconnected.
The Sony 1000X THE COLLEXION also works beautifully wired via the included audio cable. For high resolution audio sources or for use on airplanes that require wired connections, this is a welcome option. The headphones sound just as amazing in passive mode, though the noise cancellation does require battery power.
At $849.99 CAD, the 1000X Collexion are a hard sell as a 'premium' Sony headphone. There are features that are missing from these headphones that are present in others, like USB-C audio, and reduced battery life from 24h to 30h, but I'm largely able to overlook those in favor of the (subjectively) aesthetically pleasing design, better band, and improved sound quality over the XM6 and older XM4.
I've owned the XM4 for 6 months before getting these, and I've compared these directly side-by-side to the Sony XM6, XM4, and the B&W Px7 S3, here are my thoughts:
Pros:
- Better sound quality compared to the XM6: With the same EQ, the audio difference is noticeable. Compared to the XM4, the 1000X blow them out of the water; the sheer detail and sound stage compared to the older-generation headphones was evident from the start. Especially testing with the LDAC codec on a proper PC, the 1000X sound detailed, and there's a good amount of seperation between instruments while still retaining the Sony sound signature. The XM6 on the other hand sound a bit muddy, with the bass somewhat overtaking other instruments and drowining them in the background, even after playing around with the EQ. The Px7 S3 felt more 'real', as opposed to the Sony's more 'digital' sound, but I found the Px7s sound signature a bit more fatiguing over longer periods, and the sound overall was a bit more distant.
- Better comfort: The 1000X beat out the XM6 in comfort by far. Roomier earcups and a looser fit feel much better than the tight clamping force of the XM6. One caveat; many claim that the 1000X have worse ANC than the XM6. When sitting/standing still, I noticed very little difference. However, when moving my head side-to-side, the seal on the 1000X can come off a bit due to the looser fit, causing some additional sound to come through. Compared to the Px7 S3, the clamp of the Px7 on my ears was a bit too tight for long-term comfort, but still better than the XM6. The Px7 S3 had noticeable worse ANC, especially when I tested on a bus & train over a typical commute.
- Materials + aesthetics: The XM6 look cheap compared to the 1000X; they are a fingerprint magnet, overly bulky and almost look like a plastic toy in comparison. The 1000X on the other hand look significantly more premium, with a sleeker build, incredible metal headband, and a vegan leather exterior. Many say that the vegan leather will deteriorate in a few years, but I'll cross that bridge when I get there. The build quality competes with the Px7 S3 and even the Px8 series; aesthetics are subjective, I personally prefer the 'minimalist tech' looks of the 1000X compared to the more 'classic luxury' look of Bowers & Wilkins headphones.
Cons:
- Reduced battery life: These are rated at 24h with ANC on. Personally, this doesn't bother me much, as I'm always near a charger and never in a situation where I'd go over a day without charging my headphones. Even compared to the Airpods Max 1/2 at 20h, these headphones still beat them.
- No USB-C audio: Again, another feature that I can overlook. I always use 3.5mm on my headphones anyways, but for some, this may be a dealbreaker, especially at this price point.
- Not foldable: Again, not something that bothers me. Many headphones at this price point, notably the Px7/Px8 and APM don't fold. The carrying case has a handle that improves portability, which I think is much better than the Airpods Max case.
Summary:
Although these are objectively an improvement over the XM6 in all aspects, except for the reduced battery life, the high price these demand make these a bit harder to justify at this price, especially for some of the missing features that not everyone can look past. However, even at this price point, it's hard to find a singular headphone that does comfort, ANC, design, and sound quality all well at this price point. I've looked at the Bose QC Ultra 2s in comparison, but the lacking EQ, cheaper build quality, and removed features drew me away from them.
Overall, if all you want is good ANC and decent sound, and are fine with the potentially reduced comfort, the XM6 should be fine. For pure sound quality with USB-C audio and passable but inferior ANC, the B&W Px7/Px8 series do well in that regard. But for a headphone that does everything well overall, the 1000X are the ones to get.
At $849.99 CAD, the 1000X Collexion are a hard sell as a 'premium' Sony headphone. There are features that are missing from these headphones that are present in others, like USB-C audio, and reduced battery life from 24h to 30h, but I'm largely able to overlook those in favor of the (subjectively) aesthetically pleasing design, better band, and improved sound quality over the XM6 and older XM4.
I've owned the XM4 for 6 months before getting these, and I've compared these directly side-by-side to the Sony XM6, XM4, and the B&W Px7 S3, here are my thoughts:
Pros:
- Better sound quality compared to the XM6: With the same EQ, the audio difference is noticeable. Compared to the XM4, the 1000X blow them out of the water; the sheer detail and sound stage compared to the older-generation headphones was evident from the start. Especially testing with the LDAC codec on a proper PC, the 1000X sound detailed, and there's a good amount of seperation between instruments while still retaining the Sony sound signature. The XM6 on the other hand sound a bit muddy, with the bass somewhat overtaking other instruments and drowining them in the background, even after playing around with the EQ. The Px7 S3 felt more 'real', as opposed to the Sony's more 'digital' sound, but I found the Px7s sound signature a bit more fatiguing over longer periods, and the sound overall was a bit more distant.
- Better comfort: The 1000X beat out the XM6 in comfort by far. Roomier earcups and a looser fit feel much better than the tight clamping force of the XM6. One caveat; many claim that the 1000X have worse ANC than the XM6. When sitting/standing still, I noticed very little difference. However, when moving my head side-to-side, the seal on the 1000X can come off a bit due to the looser fit, causing some additional sound to come through. Compared to the Px7 S3, the clamp of the Px7 on my ears was a bit too tight for long-term comfort, but still better than the XM6. The Px7 S3 had noticeable worse ANC, especially when I tested on a bus & train over a typical commute.
- Materials + aesthetics: The XM6 look cheap compared to the 1000X; they are a fingerprint magnet, overly bulky and almost look like a plastic toy in comparison. The 1000X on the other hand look significantly more premium, with a sleeker build, incredible metal headband, and a vegan leather exterior. Many say that the vegan leather will deteriorate in a few years, but I'll cross that bridge when I get there. The build quality competes with the Px7 S3 and even the Px8 series; aesthetics are subjective, I personally prefer the 'minimalist tech' looks of the 1000X compared to the more 'classic luxury' look of Bowers & Wilkins headphones.
Cons:
- Reduced battery life: These are rated at 24h with ANC on. Personally, this doesn't bother me much, as I'm always near a charger and never in a situation where I'd go over a day without charging my headphones. Even compared to the Airpods Max 1/2 at 20h, these headphones still beat them.
- No USB-C audio: Again, another feature that I can overlook. I always use 3.5mm on my headphones anyways, but for some, this may be a dealbreaker, especially at this price point.
- Not foldable: Again, not something that bothers me. Many headphones at this price point, notably the Px7/Px8 and APM don't fold. The carrying case has a handle that improves portability, which I think is much better than the Airpods Max case.
Summary:
Although these are objectively an improvement over the XM6 in all aspects, except for the reduced battery life, the high price these demand make these a bit harder to justify at this price, especially for some of the missing features that not everyone can look past. However, even at this price point, it's hard to find a singular headphone that does comfort, ANC, design, and sound quality all well at this price point. I've looked at the Bose QC Ultra 2s in comparison, but the lacking EQ, cheaper build quality, and removed features drew me away from them.
Overall, if all you want is good ANC and decent sound, and are fine with the potentially reduced comfort, the XM6 should be fine. For pure sound quality with USB-C audio and passable but inferior ANC, the B&W Px7/Px8 series do well in that regard. But for a headphone that does everything well overall, the 1000X are the ones to get.
From Sony
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