Sony Marks Ten Years of 1000X With $649 Collexion Headphones Built From Vegan Leather and Metal
Sony's 1000X THE COLLEXION launches at $649.99 on the series' 10th anniversary, featuring 12-mic ANC, Edge-AI audio upscaling, and luxury materials.
Overview
Sony launched the 1000X THE COLLEXION on May 19, 2026, pricing its most expensive wireless headphones to date at $649.99 in the United States. The model is positioned as a luxury tier above the WH-1000XM6 and is timed to mark ten years since the original MDR-1000X debuted in 2016, according to Sony Electronics.
What We Know
The 1000X THE COLLEXION is available immediately in Platinum and Black at Sony, Best Buy, and Amazon, priced at $649.99 USD ($849.99 CAD), as confirmed by Sony Electronics. That positions it roughly $200 above the WH-1000XM6 — which launched at $449 — and above Apple’s AirPods Max 2 at $549, per MacRumors.
According to Sony Electronics, the headphones carry the same 12-microphone array and Adaptive NC Optimizer system used in the WH-1000XM6 — Engadget confirms the underlying QN3 chip is shared between the two models. Rated battery life is 24 hours with noise canceling active and 32 hours with it switched off, per MacRumors. A five-minute quick charge yields 1.5 hours of playback, according to the same source.
On the hardware side, Sony Electronics describes a bespoke driver built around a unidirectional carbon composite dome. The headband and ear cup housings combine metal accents with a matte sandblasted and hand-polished finish, paired with vegan leather cushioning that Sony says took two years to develop. The magnetic carry case uses a purse-style design, according to MacRumors.
For audio processing, the device includes DSEE Ultimate with Edge-AI to upscale compressed digital music files in real time, restoring lost details and dynamic range, as described by Sony Electronics. It also supports 360 Reality Audio Upmix across three modes — music, cinema, and game — per the same source. Sony worked with GRAMMY award-winning mastering engineers to refine the sound tuning, and MacRumors reports that three specific studios — Battery Studios, Sterling Sound, and Coast Mastering — were involved in that process.
Structurally, MacRumors notes the stems are single-piece polished metal rather than the fork design of the XM6, addressing a durability complaint that followed the earlier model. Touch controls have also been relocated to the side and rear of each ear cup.
On sustainability, Sony Electronics states the body and case incorporate approximately 25 percent recycled plastic, and packaging is plastic-free.
What We Don’t Know
Sony has not released impedance, sensitivity, or frequency response specifications. Exact product weight has not been confirmed in sources on the allowlist. The company has not disclosed long-term availability beyond the initial launch window.
Analysis
Engadget awarded the headphones 8.4 out of 10 but concluded they are “more luxurious, but far from perfect,” noting that moderately loud noise creeps through at times and that the reviewer preferred the WH-1000XM6 for overall tuning and more effective ANC. The review did find the headphones never become a burden to wear during long listening sessions, pointing to a 40 percent increase in headband padding thickness as a meaningful comfort gain over the XM6.
The pricing calculus is notable. Sony appears to be carving a premium tier in a space where Apple has traditionally held the luxury position. At $649.99, the 1000X THE COLLEXION steps above both the WH-1000XM6 and the AirPods Max 2, but early reviewer consensus suggests the gap in performance does not fully match the gap in price — the ANC chip and microphone array are identical to those in the cheaper model. The differentiation is primarily in materials, comfort engineering, and the audio tuning work done with the mastering studios. Whether that justifies the premium will depend on whether buyers value craftsmanship and listening comfort alongside raw performance metrics.
Simultaneously with the Collexion launch, Sony also made available a new Sandstone colorway for the WH-1000XM6 at $459.99 USD, according to Sony Electronics, giving the lineup a broader range of price and aesthetic options heading into the mid-year buying season.