Sony officially launched its 10th anniversary luxury headphones, the 1000X THE COLLEXION, on May 20, 2026, marking a decade since the original 1000X series began in 2016 with the MDR-1000X model [1, 2, 3].
The new headphones feature a premium design that uses metal and vegan leather materials to emphasize luxury and comfort [1, 4, 5, 2, 3]. Sony described the 1000X THE COLLEXION as "the pinnacle of technology and design" [1]. The headphones come in black and white versions, or black and silver in some regions, and include a sculpted carrying case with a magnetic catch for secure storage [4, 2, 3].
Rather than replacing the well-regarded WH-1000XM6, the 1000X THE COLLEXION offers a more comfort-focused, high-end alternative priced at about $650, roughly $200 above the WH-1000XM6's price point [1, 4, 5]. The headband padding is 40% thicker and wider, improving on-ear comfort, while the ear cup volume has been increased internally to aid user wearability [1, 5, 3]. Buttons integrate seamlessly into the leather surface, although users must press them more firmly initially [2].
Sony developed new unidirectional carbon drivers intended to enhance high-frequency detail and create a wider soundstage [5, 3]. The headphones also support Sony's latest DSEE Ultimate AI audio upscaling technology, alongside three new 360 Reality Audio Upmix spatial sound modes tailored for music, gaming, and theater experiences [5, 3].
The 1000X THE COLLEXION delivers up to 24 hours of battery life with active noise cancellation enabled. Quick charging allows 5 minutes of power to provide 1.5 hours of playback [4, 3]. Noise cancelling uses 12 optimized microphones combined with AI noise processing, though tests found the ANC performance is slightly weaker than the WH-1000XM6 [1, 4, 3].
Sony teased the 10th anniversary headphones on May 19, 2025, before the global release the following year [4, 3]. The launch continues Sony's legacy in flagship noise-cancelling headphones, which started with the 2016 MDR-1000X [1, 2, 3].
