Sony WH‑1000X The ColleXion Raises the Bar with Premium Build and Refined Drivers

![Featured image]

Sony’s WH‑1000X series has long been the benchmark for consumer‑grade noise‑cancelling headphones. 2026 marks the 10‑year anniversary of the original MDR‑1000X, and the company is commemorating the milestone with a new top‑tier model called WH‑1000X The ColleXion (pronounced “the collection”). The headset slots above the WH‑1000XM6, keeping the core architecture but introducing a suite of hardware upgrades aimed at audiophiles and frequent travelers.

What’s new under the hood?

Feature	WH‑1000XM6	WH‑1000X The ColleXion
Driver size	30 mm	30 mm (soft‑edge)
Driver material	Conventional diaphragm	Soft‑edge diaphragm for smoother bass response
Processor	QN3 + V2	QN3 + new V3 integrated processor
Mic count	8 (4 per ear)	12 (6 per ear)
Battery (ANC on)	30 h	24 h
Battery (ANC off)	40 h	32 h
Price (launch)	$449 / €429 / £389	$649 / €629 / £549

Soft‑edge drivers and copper substrate

The ColleXion retains the 30 mm driver aperture of the XM6 but replaces the traditional diaphragm with a soft‑edge design. Sony’s engineering notes explain that the flexible edge reduces internal resonance, allowing the driver to move more freely in the low‑frequency region. In practice, listeners report a tighter, more controlled bass punch that does not bleed into the mids.

A second mechanical tweak is the thicker copper substrate on the internal circuit board. Copper’s high conductivity improves the signal path, which the company says translates into “richer detail and a wider soundstage.” The combination of a cleaner driver and a more efficient PCB is intended to deliver a noticeable lift in clarity, especially in complex orchestral passages.

V3 processor and spatial audio

The WH‑1000XM6 already houses the QN3 Noise Canceling Processor, which handles adaptive ANC and the DSEE Ultimate upscaling algorithm. The ColleXion adds a V3 integrated processor that works in parallel with the QN3. According to Sony, the V3 handles the new 360 Upmix spatial audio engine, offering three preset profiles for music, cinema and gaming. When activated, the engine takes a stereo mix and redistributes audio cues across a virtual sphere, creating a more immersive experience without requiring external hardware.

Mic array and voice pickup

The headset now carries 12 microphones (six per side) arranged in a beam‑forming array. This layout improves both ANC feed‑forward performance and voice capture for calls. In noisy environments, the microphones focus on the speaker’s mouth while suppressing ambient chatter, resulting in clearer hands‑free conversations.

Design language and comfort

Sony has taken a premium aesthetic route with a synthetic‑leather finish on the ear‑cup housings, echoing the look of the original MDR‑1000X. The headband is larger and padded, and the ear pads are deeper and wider, providing a more enveloping seal. Stainless‑steel yokes act as hinges and extend along the top of the headband, adding a subtle visual cue of durability.

The only functional compromise is the loss of a folding mechanism; the cups swivel inward like the WH‑1000XM5 but cannot be collapsed flat for travel. To offset this, Sony bundles a hard‑case with an integrated grip handle, making it easier to carry the headphones in a bag or on a suitcase handle.

Battery life and pricing

Battery capacity has been reduced compared with the XM6, resulting in 24 hours of playback with ANC on and 32 hours with ANC off. The trade‑off appears to be the added processing power of the V3 chip and the larger driver assembly, which consume more energy. Fast charging still delivers 5 hours of playback after a 10‑minute charge.

At launch, the ColleXion is priced at $649 / €629 / £549, positioning it $200/€180/£150 above the XM6. The premium cost reflects the upgraded materials, the new spatial audio engine, and the co‑tuning work done with mastering engineers from Battery Studios, Sterling Sound and Coast Mastering.

Ecosystem considerations

For users already invested in Sony’s ecosystem—such as the Xperia 1 VIII smartphone or the WH‑1000XM series—the ColleXion offers seamless Bluetooth pairing via the Headphones Connect app, which now includes a dedicated “Spatial Audio” tab. The app also lets users fine‑tune the ANC levels and switch between DSEE Ultimate and the new V3‑driven processing chain.

Because the headphones still rely on the standard SBC/AAC codecs for most Bluetooth streams, they remain compatible with Android, iOS and Windows devices. However, the full 360 Upmix experience requires the Sony Headphones Connect app and a compatible device running Android 13 or iOS 16 or later.

Bottom line

The WH‑1000X The ColleXion is less about reinventing noise cancellation and more about polishing the flagship experience. The synthetic‑leather build, soft‑edge drivers, expanded mic array and the V3‑powered spatial audio engine give it a distinct feel from the XM6, while the higher price tag may limit its appeal to enthusiasts who value the premium materials and the added immersion features.

---

For a closer look at the headphones in action, check out Sony’s official launch video and the detailed spec sheet on the Sony product page.