Sony 1000X The Collection: a more luxurious and ambitious edition of the premium WH-1000XM6 headphones

The first difference is immediately apparent: Sony abandons the "mobile" approach of the WH-1000XM6 with fixed earcups (foldable on the WH-1000XM6) for a more premium design, combining stainless steel, leather, and carefully selected materials. Sony 1000X The Collection: redesigned ergonomics and enhanced comfort. Sony has revised the ergonomics with a wider headband, redesigned earcups, and a structure designed to better distribute weight during extended listening sessions. However, this upgrade comes with less portability than the XM6, particularly for transport. The headphones are also logically heavier, weighing in at 320g, compared to approximately 254g for the XM6. The Sony 1000X The Collexion features a familiar audio base, but integrated into a more ambitious chassis. The 1000X The Collexion uses the same 30mm driver as the WH-1000XM6, with no changes announced by Sony. The manufacturer emphasizes perceived quality, chassis rigidity, and the overall listening experience rather than any technical evolution of the audio components. However, the headphones offer DSEE Ultimate processing, a first (compared to DSEE Extreme on the XM6), and the spatialization modes already present on the XM6. Sony 1000X The Collection: ANC retained, connectivity modernized. In terms of noise cancellation, Sony hasn't changed a formula that's already tried and tested. The headphones are based on the WH-1000XM6, with the same optimizations and adaptive modes. Connectivity is nevertheless improved with the arrival of Bluetooth 6.0, LE Audio support, LDAC compatibility, and the ever-present multipoint functions. Sony also emphasizes seamless use between devices, a key feature of the 1000X series. Sony 1000X The Collection: battery and compromise. The downside of this upgrade is quite clear: battery life drops to 24 hours with noise cancellation, compared to around 30 hours on the WH-1000XM6. The new model isn't designed to beat the XM6 in terms of battery life. Another notable compromise is its increased weight. The Collexion is thus less discreet and less portable than the XM6, but in return aims for a more luxurious experience, greater comfort over extended periods, and a more ambitious finish. With this model, Sony isn't trying to replace the WH-1000XM6, but rather to offer a kind of prestige version for users who want more than just excellent headphones with active noise cancellation. The WH-1000X The Collexion positions itself as a more exclusive, more sophisticated, and clearly more expensive item. Available immediately. Suggested retail price: €629. Key features of the Sony WH-1000X The Collection: • Type: Closed dynamic • Drivers: 30 mm • Frequency response: 20 - 40,000 Hz • Sensitivity: 103 dB/mW • Impedance: 48 ohms • Connectivity: Bluetooth 6.0 • Supported Bluetooth profiles: A2DP/AVRCP/HFP/HSP/TMAP/PBP • Codecs: SBC, AAC, LDAC, LC3 • Certification: Hi-Res Audio • Function: Ambient Sound mode • Active noise cancellation: Yes • Voice assistants: Google Assistant, Alexa • Battery life: 24 hours with noise cancellation active, 32 h without charge; • Charging time: 3.5 h; • Other: DSEE Ultimate; • Weight: 320 g