Sony 1000X Collexion at $649 Gets Metal Build and DSEE Ultimate but Trades Battery and ANC Against the XM6

The Collexion moves away from the plastic construction of previous XM models. The headband is metal with a hand-polished finish — Sony says the hinge connecting earcups to the headband was polished by skilled craftspeople, mixing a sand-blasted finish with glossy chrome. The faux leather padding on the headband and earcups was two years in development. Earcup depth is 40mm, compared to 45.4mm on the XM6, achieved by using a split-design battery for the first time. The ear pads are replaceable, and the headphones ship in a sculpted carrying case with a built-in handle and magnetic catch. The unit weighs 312g — heavier than the XM6’s 254g. No IP waterproof rating is included. The design language has been given a name internally: “Resonate.”

The driver is a new 30mm bespoke design, the same diameter as the XM6’s but built differently. It uses a dual-material layout: a hard central dome made from long unidirectional carbon strands (“like hair”, per Sony) for detail retrieval, paired with a softer outer edge for bass. The XM6 also uses carbon in its driver, but in a lower percentage mixed with paper. The Collexion also adds a second processor — the Integrated Processor V3 — alongside the QN3 chip. This combination powers DSEE Ultimate, the first headphone implementation of Sony’s highest-tier audio upscaling. DSEE Ultimate restores detail and dynamic range from compressed audio files in real time using Edge-AI, extending output to 96kHz. The Collexion also supports spatial audio upmixing modes for Music and Gaming, accessible via a dedicated button on the left earcup — a first for the 1000X series.

Sony openly states the ANC performance on The Collexion is not as strong as the WH-1000XM6, despite sharing the same QN3 processor and 12-microphone array. The XM6’s noise cancellation, launched in 2024, remains Sony’s best-performing in this category. The Collexion still delivers flagship-level isolation for most settings, but if maximum ANC is the priority, the XM6 remains the better pick. Ambient sound mode, Speak-to-Chat, and AI-assisted call enhancement are all included. The six beamforming call microphones are noted to resist wind noise effectively. Fast charging delivers around 90 minutes of playback from a five-minute charge. Battery with ANC enabled is rated at 24 hours, six fewer than the XM6’s 30 hours.

The Collexion uses Bluetooth 6.0, an upgrade from the XM6’s 5.3. Supported codecs are LDAC, LC3, AAC, and SBC, with multipoint connection for pairing to two devices simultaneously. Wired playback is available via a 3.5mm audio jack included in the box. Bluetooth 6.0 offers lower latency and improved connection stability compared to the previous generation — the same standard now appearing across newer consumer electronics releases of 2026. The companion Sound Connect app provides a 10-band equaliser, Gaming EQ, and full control customisation for both The Collexion and the XM6.

The 1000X THE COLLEXION is available at $649.99 USD / £550 / AU$999.95 through Sony’s website, Amazon, and Best Buy — in Platinum and Black. The WH-1000XM6 continues at $459.99 and is not being discontinued. Alongside The Collexion launch, Sony added a new Sandstone colourway to the XM6 lineup, joining Black, Midnight Blue, Platinum White, and Sand Pink. The Collexion’s direct competitors at the $649 price point include the Apple AirPods Max 2 (priced around $549) and premium offerings from Bowers & Wilkins. For comparison, Apple’s premium 2026 pricing strategy has kept the AirPods Max 2 at roughly $100 less than The Collexion in the US. Sony’s Personal Entertainment Product Manager Mike Somerset stated: “Is this just the 1000XM7? The answer very clearly is: no. It’s aimed in a totally different direction.”