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The WH-1000 series has been an epic success story for Sony. The XM6 is one of my favourite pairs of headphones ever.
So it's no surprise that Sony is celebrating the 10 year anniversary of its epic wireless noise-cancelling headphones with a special model: the 1000X THE COLLEXION.
The COLLEXION takes the same legendary noise cancelling from the WH-1000XM6 and pairs it with a premium redesign clearly aimed at people who want their headphones to look as good as they sound.
The headband is crafted from premium metal with a matte sandblasted texture, hand-polished by skilled craftspeople for a subtle gloss contrast.
The faux leather, which reportedly took two years to develop, gives a refined tactile finish, while integrated metal buttons and microphone openings keep the design clean. Colours are Platinum and Black.
Sony has increased the size of the earcups compared to the XM6, so they rest naturally around the ears, while a wider cushioned headband distributes weight evenly, and soft stretchable leather adapts to the shape of your head. Even the carry case has been rethought, with a magnetic closure for easier one-handed access.
On the audio front, the COLLEXION is Sony's first headphone to feature DSEE Ultimate, which uses Edge-AI to upscale compressed music files in real time, restoring detail and dynamic range that streaming compression typically strips away.
The bespoke driver unit uses a high-rigidity dome made from unidirectional carbon composite material, and Sony collaborated with GRAMMY award-winning and nominated mastering engineers to tune the final sound. The result, according to Sony, is smooth vocals, balanced instruments and nuanced dynamics.
For spatial audio fans, 360 Reality Audio Upmix has been expanded to three modes covering Music, Cinema and Game content.
And if you're wondering whether the noise cancelling is up to scratch, it uses exactly the same Multi-Noise Sensor system as the critically acclaimed XM6, with 12 microphones and the Adaptive NC Optimiser. Battery life sits at up to 24 hours with the noise cancelling switched on.
Sony has also baked in some thoughtful design details, including clear L/R markings, tactile buttons and accessible QR guides. Around 25% of the plastics used are from recycled materials, and the packaging is plastic-free.
Alongside the COLLEXION, Sony is adding a Sandstone colourway to the existing WH-1000XM6. If you've been considering the XM6 but wanted something warmer and more understated, this makes it a five-colour lineup with the same industry-leading performance underneath.
| 1000X THE COLLEXION | WH-1000XM6 in Sandstone | |
|---|---|---|
| Noise cancelling | Multi-Noise Sensor, 12 microphones, Adaptive NC Optimizer | Multi-Noise Sensor, 12 microphones, Adaptive NC Optimizer |
| Driver | Custom bespoke unit, unidirectional carbon composite dome | 40mm driver |
| Key features | DSEE Ultimate, 360 Reality Audio Upmix (Music, Cinema, Game), multipoint connection | DSEE Extreme, 360 Reality Audio, multipoint connection |
| Battery life | Up to 24 hours | Up to 30 hours (ANC on) |
| Colours | Platinum, Black | Sandstone (new, 5th colour option) |
| Sustainability | ~25% recycled plastics, plastic-free packaging | Standard packaging |
| RRP (AUD) | $999.95 | $699.95 |
Pricing and availability
Both the 1000X THE COLLEXION and the WH-1000XM6 in Sandstone are available in Australia now, with the COLLEXION priced at $999.95 and the Sandstone XM6 coming in at $699.95.
I've got the new 1000X THE COLLEXION here to test out, so stay tuned for my review!
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