Sony has released a special anniversary version of its flagship noise-cancelling headphones to mark 10 years of the 1000X series, and the new WH-1000XX the Collexion are aimed squarely at the premium end of the market. The headphones are designed to be plusher, slimmer and more comfortable than Sony’s regular models, with the company pitching them as its best-sounding set yet.
The launch matters because the original 1000X arrived in 2016 and helped spark a fierce rivalry with Bose’s QuietComfort line. Sony is not treating the WH-1000XX as a replacement for the WH-1000XM6, but as a more luxurious sibling built with stronger materials and a higher price tag. The Collexion cost £549, €629, $649 or A$1,000, putting them well above the £349 XM6 and in direct competition with Apple’s £499 AirPods Max 2 and B&W’s £629 Px8 S2.
On paper, the new set leans hard into comfort and finish. The ear cups are 5.3mm thinner than standard Sony headphones and sit on a more slender-looking headband, while the high-quality pleather, polished and sandblasted stainless steel arms and redesigned cups leave more room for the ear. In use, they are described as one of the most comfortable sets of headphones worn, helped by plusher cushions than the standard lineup.
The trade-off is that the Collexion do not fold for travel, which keeps the silhouette cleaner but makes them less compact in a bag. Sony has also packed in a familiar mix of modern connectivity and audio tools, including Bluetooth 6 with multipoint, 3.5mm support and USB-C charging, plus Android’s LDAC Bluetooth audio format and DSEE Ultimate powered by the new V3 companion chip.
Battery life is solid rather than class-leading. Sony says the headphones last about 24 hours with noise cancelling switched on and up to 32 hours with it off. A five-minute charge adds up to 90 minutes of playback, while a full recharge takes about 3.5 hours. The WH-1000XX also use the QN3 chip and noise-cancelling hardware from the 1000XM6, delivering very good noise cancelling even if it is not the very best on the market.
That combination of older and newer parts is the point of the Collexion. Sony says the headphones draw on technology from the last six 1000X iterations, which helps explain why they feel like a celebration of the series rather than a fresh direction for it. For buyers, the question is whether the extra polish, stronger build and luxury finish justify the jump above the XM6, especially when Sony’s own lineup already covers the practical end of the market.
The answer will depend on how much value shoppers place on comfort, materials and sound over portability. For now, Sony has drawn a clear line: the WH-1000XX the Collexion are not the everyday choice in the range. They are the statement pair, built for customers who want the anniversary badge, the pricier finish and the most refined version of Sony’s 1000X idea so far.
