Sony’s WH-1000X series of over-ear headphones have become synonymous with noise-cancelling, and it all started with the MDR-1000X, which coincidentally is turning 10 years old later this year. To mark the occasion, Sony is releasing a new pair of flagship headphones and if you thought they’d come with a generic name, think again.
Sony’s WH-1000X The ColleXion (pronounced as collection) ranks as the top entry in the WH-1000X series. While they share key components and features with the WH-1000XM6, the new pair offers a number of enhancements, including a more premium build.
Paying homage to the MDR-1000X, Sony created synthetic leather for the ear cup housings. Additionally, Sony also used deep and wide ear pads as well as a large headband for added comfort. There are stainless steel yokes (hinges) on the sides, which extend over the top of the headband with the same material.
Sadly, the new headphones have lost the ability to fold like the WH-1000XM5 and can only rotate inwards. Sony is also introducing a new case that has an integrated grip handle. The ColleXion also has three buttons, located on the left ear cup housing, power and ANC/ambient mode controls joined by a new Spatial Mode switch.
Sony has added 360 upmix support with spatial audio profiles for music, movies and gaming. You’re also getting native support for DSEE Ultimate audio upscaling, which leverages AI to reproduce lost sound frequencies.
The ColleXion has the same size 30mm drivers as the XM6, but Sony is using soft-edge drivers that are claimed to have better bass and noise cancellation. Additionally, Sony claims it has optimized the internal circuit board layout, which allowed it to fit into a thicker copper substrate, resulting in richer detail, a wider soundstage, and greater sound depth.
Sony also co-tuned its new headphones with mastering engineers from Battery Studio, Sterling Sound, and Coast Mastering.
Elsewhere, the headphones have a total of 12 microphones split between the two sides, with Adaptive ANC and beamforming for accurate voice pickup. They also have the same QN3 noise cancellation processor as the XM6s, but the ColleXion is getting a new V3 integrated processor, which Sony claims will provide better ANC performance and sound processing.
In terms of battery life, the battery life of the ColleXion is rated to last up to 24 hours with ANC on and 32 hours with ANC off. These numbers are less than the WH-1000XM6’s 30 hours of playback with ANC on and 40 hours of playback with ANC off.
ColleXion is offered in black and white colors. They’ll retail for $649/€629/£549, making them $200/€180/£150 more expensive than the XM6s at launch.