The 1000X The Collexion is the most indulgent headphone yet from Sony. Crafted in celebration of its award-winning, and best-selling, WH-1000XM series, and marking a decade of the brand’s flagship wireless line, the 1000X has been created with the sole aim of delivering Sony’s most engaging headphone experience yet.
But has it succeeded?
Certainly, the newcomer is more expensive than Sony’s everyday offerings. Priced at £549, the new model justifies its price tag with a stronger emphasis on craftsmanship, comfort and sonic sophistication.
Innovations include upgraded DSEE Ultimate audio processing, spatial upmix modes for music, movies and gaming, and a newly developed driver system.
I’ve been wearing a pair for the past few weeks. There’s plenty to report…
Sony 1000X The Collexion wireless headphones: Design and features
The 1000X may not be a limited edition model, but it certainly looks like one.
Luxurious materials, bespoke acoustic engineering and a lifestyle-led design place it above the familiar WH-1000XM line in both ambition and execution.
The headphones are available in Platinum or Black, and both finishes look the part. They’re a variation on the design language we’ve seen Sony use before, but here there’s a greater emphasis on subtle detailing and tactile quality.
The headband hinge uses sandblasted metal with polished highlights, while the faux leather exterior is soft to the touch, and apparently took two years to develop.
Comfort is exceptional. The wider headband distributes weight evenly, and the generously padded earcups don’t clamp with the force that sound rival high performers exert. I could happily wear them for hours, without ever feeling the pressure.
At 312g, they’re actually heavier than the WH-1000XM6, but I only know that because Sony tells me so. Long listening sessions are easy. You can wear these for an entire flight, or an evening lost revisiting albums.
The soft-touch finish on my black pair seemed to attract a little fluff, but that seems a small trade-off for something so sensory. Maybe Sony should bundle a cleaning cloth?
The earcup profile has also slimmed down, from 46mm to 40mm, giving the headphones a sleeker silhouette. I like the way the cups swivel flat for resting around the neck, although they don’t fold inward. If you need to pack them away, Sony supplies a rather cute carry case, with an integrated clasp and handle instead of the usual zippered shell.
Connectivity and usability are on point. Bluetooth support is robust and stable, while the accompanying Sony Sound Connect app offers access to EQ settings, listening modes and spatial audio processing.
Everyday use proves to be pretty intuitive. There’s an easy mix of buttons and touch-sensitive gestures. We also get clear Left and Right markings.
The feature count is extensive. Noise cancellation is handled by the same HD QN3 processor architecture found in the WH-1000XM6, partnered with an integrated V3 processor and 12 microphones. Sony says the ANC performance sits fractionally below the XM6, but in practical use I found the difference to be negligible. These headphones hush the outside world with impressive authority. Train rumbles, household hubbub and general noise are kept reliably at bay.
Call quality has enjoyed an upgrade. Six beamforming microphones isolate voices effectively and do a better job resisting wind noise than some earlier Sony designs I’ve tried. Voices sound clean and focused.
Sony’s new DSEE Ultimate processing also deserves mention. This latest iteration of the company’s audio upscaling technology extends to 96kHz, restoring detail and sparkle missing in more compressed audio streams. The implementation strikes me as subtle and convincing.
The new 360 Upmix processing. Now this is very interesting, given Sony’s past 360 Reality Audio adventures for AV and music…
Then there’s the new 360 Upmix. Now this is very interesting, given Sony’s past 360 Reality Audio adventures for AV and music. At the touch of a button, stereo material unfolds into a wider soundfield.
It sounds gimmicky, but is surprisingly effective. When it comes to the Music 360 upmix, acoustic recordings and stripped-back rock seem to benefit most. The soundstage broadens outward, creating something closer to what a pair of compact loudspeakers might sound like.
Films and TV shows also gain a pleasing sense of scale with the Movie 360 upmix. Watching action on a streaming service becomes more theatrical, more spacious. The same applies to the Game upmix, which occasionally throws up some weird and wonderful audio effects.
Demerits? To be honest, I would have liked to have seen full on Dolby Atmos spatial audio compatibility, especially given the high-end nature of these cans, and its absence is notable.
Battery life is also fairly routine (the price of all that processing?), but should prove enduring enough for most users, at around 24 hours.
Sony 1000X The Collexion wireless headphones: Performance
For all their premium trappings, and technical wizardry, ultimately these headphones live or die by their sound quality, and here Sony has done some of its finest work in years.
I’m told that the newly developed 1000X driver uses a unidirectional carbon composite dome that gives greater rigidity and high-frequency extension. This is undoubtedly significant.
Of course, what really matters is how these headphones actually handle tunes – and the answer is brilliantly. The 1000X doesn’t try to push the deep bass envelope, or artificially exaggerate treble detail. They’re simply, deeply musical, and I applaud their restraint.
Sony Soundmaster Koji Takamura, along with several respected mastering engineers, has tuned these headphones with a clear emphasis on midrange fidelity and tonal realism.
Vocals sound expressive and human. Instruments occupy distinct spaces within the mix. Bass is substantial but disciplined. High frequencies have air and delicacy without becoming fatiguing.
Stereo imaging is especially impressive. The separation between vocals and instrumentation is effortless. There’s width, depth and movement. They’re muscular when needed, but never aggressive.
If these headphones were a music genre, they’d be cool jazz, or yacht rock – polished and smooth, with session honed precision.
‘Reelin’ in the Years’ (from Can’t buy a Thrill), is all ice-cream smooth vocals, grungy licks – Elliott Randall’s guitar solo positively sings. Steel Panther, ‘Death to All but Metal’, by contrast, struts and screams, but again it’s delivered with studio grade definition.
Similarly, Keith Urban, with a little help from Michael McDonald, crooning ‘We Go back’ (from Flow State) is a massive vibe on the 1000X. Again the soundstaging is sublime. The mid-range is bright and sunny, but perfectly melodic.
Perhaps unsurprisingly, this Dolby Atmos mix from Amazon Music works wonderfully with the Music 360 upmix.
Make no mistake, the cans can drop deep when required. ‘Bad Guy’, the Billie Eilish belter, lands with beautifully beefy bass. The Music 360 mix adds extra low frequency weight if you feel the need for more weight, but either way it sounds great.
And they’re so smooth. These Sony’s couldn’t spell sibilance if you handed them a dictionary.
Sony 1000X The Collexion wireless headphones: Verdict
The 1000X The Collexion arrive with quite a premium over Sony’s well established WH-1000XM series, but that’s the cost of refinement. These headphones have been artfully engineered, thoughtfully tuned and beautifully assembled. They’re something of a triumph.
If you’re looking for premium wireless headphones that combine superior aesthetics with sonic sophistication, The Collexion has you covered.
The latest JBL wireless headphones are clearly made for those who want their personal audio to make as much of a style statement as their dress sense. Arriving as part of a wider refresh of the brand’s lifestyle audio range, the new JBL Live 780NC and JBL Live 680NC combine adaptive noise cancelling and extended…
JBL has announced updates to its range-topping JBL Tour One M3 headphones and JBL Tour Pro3 earbuds, which include a new classic green colourway and significant improvements in audio performance and usability. The firmware update is a refresh of its signature JBL sound curve preset, said to produce clearer, more accurate audio. The brand is…
Dr Ducu’s name has a way of coming up. In changing rooms. In your newsfeed. In group chats. His reputation rests on a specific kind of result – the kind where people can’t quite put their finger on what’s changed, only that something has, and that you look incredible for it. So when I found…
The Luxe Review 
The 1000X The Collexion is the most indulgent headphone yet from Sony. Crafted in celebration of its award-winning, and best-selling, WH-1000XM series, and marking a decade of the brand’s flagship wireless line, the 1000X has been created with the sole aim of delivering Sony’s most engaging headphone experience yet.
But has it succeeded?
Certainly, the newcomer is more expensive than Sony’s everyday offerings. Priced at £549, the new model justifies its price tag with a stronger emphasis on craftsmanship, comfort and sonic sophistication.
Innovations include upgraded DSEE Ultimate audio processing, spatial upmix modes for music, movies and gaming, and a newly developed driver system.
I’ve been wearing a pair for the past few weeks. There’s plenty to report…
Sony 1000X The Collexion wireless headphones: Design and features
The 1000X may not be a limited edition model, but it certainly looks like one.
Luxurious materials, bespoke acoustic engineering and a lifestyle-led design place it above the familiar WH-1000XM line in both ambition and execution.
The headphones are available in Platinum or Black, and both finishes look the part. They’re a variation on the design language we’ve seen Sony use before, but here there’s a greater emphasis on subtle detailing and tactile quality.
The headband hinge uses sandblasted metal with polished highlights, while the faux leather exterior is soft to the touch, and apparently took two years to develop.
Comfort is exceptional. The wider headband distributes weight evenly, and the generously padded earcups don’t clamp with the force that sound rival high performers exert. I could happily wear them for hours, without ever feeling the pressure.
At 312g, they’re actually heavier than the WH-1000XM6, but I only know that because Sony tells me so. Long listening sessions are easy. You can wear these for an entire flight, or an evening lost revisiting albums.
The soft-touch finish on my black pair seemed to attract a little fluff, but that seems a small trade-off for something so sensory. Maybe Sony should bundle a cleaning cloth?
The earcup profile has also slimmed down, from 46mm to 40mm, giving the headphones a sleeker silhouette. I like the way the cups swivel flat for resting around the neck, although they don’t fold inward. If you need to pack them away, Sony supplies a rather cute carry case, with an integrated clasp and handle instead of the usual zippered shell.
Connectivity and usability are on point. Bluetooth support is robust and stable, while the accompanying Sony Sound Connect app offers access to EQ settings, listening modes and spatial audio processing.
Everyday use proves to be pretty intuitive. There’s an easy mix of buttons and touch-sensitive gestures. We also get clear Left and Right markings.
The feature count is extensive. Noise cancellation is handled by the same HD QN3 processor architecture found in the WH-1000XM6, partnered with an integrated V3 processor and 12 microphones. Sony says the ANC performance sits fractionally below the XM6, but in practical use I found the difference to be negligible. These headphones hush the outside world with impressive authority. Train rumbles, household hubbub and general noise are kept reliably at bay.
Call quality has enjoyed an upgrade. Six beamforming microphones isolate voices effectively and do a better job resisting wind noise than some earlier Sony designs I’ve tried. Voices sound clean and focused.
Sony’s new DSEE Ultimate processing also deserves mention. This latest iteration of the company’s audio upscaling technology extends to 96kHz, restoring detail and sparkle missing in more compressed audio streams. The implementation strikes me as subtle and convincing.
Then there’s the new 360 Upmix. Now this is very interesting, given Sony’s past 360 Reality Audio adventures for AV and music. At the touch of a button, stereo material unfolds into a wider soundfield.
It sounds gimmicky, but is surprisingly effective. When it comes to the Music 360 upmix, acoustic recordings and stripped-back rock seem to benefit most. The soundstage broadens outward, creating something closer to what a pair of compact loudspeakers might sound like.
Films and TV shows also gain a pleasing sense of scale with the Movie 360 upmix. Watching action on a streaming service becomes more theatrical, more spacious. The same applies to the Game upmix, which occasionally throws up some weird and wonderful audio effects.
Demerits? To be honest, I would have liked to have seen full on Dolby Atmos spatial audio compatibility, especially given the high-end nature of these cans, and its absence is notable.
Battery life is also fairly routine (the price of all that processing?), but should prove enduring enough for most users, at around 24 hours.
Sony 1000X The Collexion wireless headphones: Performance
For all their premium trappings, and technical wizardry, ultimately these headphones live or die by their sound quality, and here Sony has done some of its finest work in years.
I’m told that the newly developed 1000X driver uses a unidirectional carbon composite dome that gives greater rigidity and high-frequency extension. This is undoubtedly significant.
Of course, what really matters is how these headphones actually handle tunes – and the answer is brilliantly. The 1000X doesn’t try to push the deep bass envelope, or artificially exaggerate treble detail. They’re simply, deeply musical, and I applaud their restraint.
Sony Soundmaster Koji Takamura, along with several respected mastering engineers, has tuned these headphones with a clear emphasis on midrange fidelity and tonal realism.
Vocals sound expressive and human. Instruments occupy distinct spaces within the mix. Bass is substantial but disciplined. High frequencies have air and delicacy without becoming fatiguing.
Stereo imaging is especially impressive. The separation between vocals and instrumentation is effortless. There’s width, depth and movement. They’re muscular when needed, but never aggressive.
If these headphones were a music genre, they’d be cool jazz, or yacht rock – polished and smooth, with session honed precision.
‘Reelin’ in the Years’ (from Can’t buy a Thrill), is all ice-cream smooth vocals, grungy licks – Elliott Randall’s guitar solo positively sings. Steel Panther, ‘Death to All but Metal’, by contrast, struts and screams, but again it’s delivered with studio grade definition.
Similarly, Keith Urban, with a little help from Michael McDonald, crooning ‘We Go back’ (from Flow State) is a massive vibe on the 1000X. Again the soundstaging is sublime. The mid-range is bright and sunny, but perfectly melodic.
Perhaps unsurprisingly, this Dolby Atmos mix from Amazon Music works wonderfully with the Music 360 upmix.
Make no mistake, the cans can drop deep when required. ‘Bad Guy’, the Billie Eilish belter, lands with beautifully beefy bass. The Music 360 mix adds extra low frequency weight if you feel the need for more weight, but either way it sounds great.
And they’re so smooth. These Sony’s couldn’t spell sibilance if you handed them a dictionary.
Sony 1000X The Collexion wireless headphones: Verdict
The 1000X The Collexion arrive with quite a premium over Sony’s well established WH-1000XM series, but that’s the cost of refinement. These headphones have been artfully engineered, thoughtfully tuned and beautifully assembled. They’re something of a triumph.
If you’re looking for premium wireless headphones that combine superior aesthetics with sonic sophistication, The Collexion has you covered.
The Sony 1000X The Collexion is available now from Amazon, in Platinum and Black, priced at £549.
JBL Live 780NC hands-on: fashionable Live ANC headphones put catwalk colours centrestage
The latest JBL wireless headphones are clearly made for those who want their personal audio to make as much of a style statement as their dress sense. Arriving as part of a wider refresh of the brand’s lifestyle audio range, the new JBL Live 780NC and JBL Live 680NC combine adaptive noise cancelling and extended…
JBL boosts performance of flagship Tour headphones and earbuds, drops new colourway
JBL has announced updates to its range-topping JBL Tour One M3 headphones and JBL Tour Pro3 earbuds, which include a new classic green colourway and significant improvements in audio performance and usability. The firmware update is a refresh of its signature JBL sound curve preset, said to produce clearer, more accurate audio. The brand is…
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Dr Ducu’s name has a way of coming up. In changing rooms. In your newsfeed. In group chats. His reputation rests on a specific kind of result – the kind where people can’t quite put their finger on what’s changed, only that something has, and that you look incredible for it. So when I found…
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