The Sony 1000X The Collexion ($649.99) is an upscale version of the company's award-winning WH-1000XM6 ($449.99) headphones. The new cans offer a refined design, more metal components, faux-leather finishes, fresh drivers, and more listening modes. Although the 1000X does sound slightly better than the standard XM6 and is more comfortable to wear, it isn't quite as good at cancelling noise, and battery life takes a big hit. I really like the refined experience, and if that's what you want, the 1000X The Collexion may be worth the extra cost. Ultimately, I still recommend Android users save $200 on the Editors' Choice Sony WH-1000XM6, while iPhone users should opt for the Apple AirPods Max 2 ($549).

Design: A Refined Step Up

The Sony 1000X Collexion uses the company's excellent WH-1000XM6 headphones at its core. While much of the tech remains the same, the design gets a significant, luxurious upgrade. These headphones are meant to be more of a lifestyle product than the standard WH-1000XM6 headphones—and it shows. They look more expensive, feel more expensive, and, well, they are more expensive.

Almost everything receives an appealing upgrade. On the XM6 headphones, for example, the headband is embedded in foam cushioning. In the newer headphones, it arches over the top of the band with the cushioning placed below. The headband is also wider and thicker, which Sony says makes them more comfortable. I expect this was necessary to some extent, as the headphones are heavier (11.3 ounces) than the standard XM6 (8.9 ounces). Despite the added weight, I found them to be comfortable, even for extended periods.

The matte stainless steel of the band looks great and definitely gives the headphones a higher-end feel. The headband expands and contracts smoothly and easily, and the earcups swivel so the headphones can fit flat in the case. Oddly, the earcups don't fold as they do on the XM6.

(Credit: Christian de Looper)

Many of the buttons and ports gain appealing metal accents, which makes them stand out visually. The rest of the build is covered in faux leather, which I really like. It lends the headphones a finer look compared with the XM6.

There are also some extra controls, including a power button that puts the headphones into pairing mode when held down, and a Noise Mode button that cycles between listening modes. You can also program this button to trigger Quick Access controls for Amazon Music Play Now, Apple Music, Endel, Spotify Tap, or YouTube Music. Sony added a new Listening Mode button that cycles between Standard, Music, and Cinema modes, and you can add Game and Background Music modes to the mix if you wish.

(Credit: Christian de Looper)

There's a touch-sensitive panel on the right ear cup that you double-tap to play or pause audio, tap and hold to trigger your voice assistant, swipe up or down to adjust volume, or swipe left and right to skip tracks.

The headphones connect via Bluetooth 6.0 and support the AAC, LC3, LDAC, and SBC codecs, which is an excellent selection. They support Bluetooth multipoint, allowing up to two devices to connect simultaneously. You can listen via a 3.5mm wired connection if you prefer, but not via USB-C, which is a big omission at this price point.

Sony delivers the audio through new 30mm unidirectional carbon drivers, exclusive to these headphones and not the same as those found in the XM6. Sony says the new drivers offer better detail in the high end and a wider soundstage.

(Credit: Christian de Looper)

In the box, you'll get a nice hard case with a handle embedded in it, which is kind of cool. The case magnetically clasps shut like the case that comes with the XM6 headphones, which I really like. It's easy to open and close. Unfortunately, apart from the case, the only thing you'll get is a 3.5mm aux cable. You won't even get a USB-C cable, which is very disappointing given how much these headphones cost.

Battery: A Disappointing Step Down

Unfortunately, the headphones lag behind in battery life. Where the XM6 headphones offer up to 30 hours of playback with ANC on, the 1000X The Collexion headphones only reach 24 hours. That's not terrible battery life, but it's not good either.

The headphones recharge rapidly, with a five-minute charge delivering 1.5 hours of playback. That's also a step back from the XM6 headphones, though, which get 2.5 hours from five minutes of charging.

App Experience: Engaging Modality

The Collexion uses the same Sony Sound Connect app as the rest of the lineup. Generally, I like the app. It's relatively easy to navigate and offers a respectable set of features. From the main screen, you can control noise and listening modes, and you can tweak the EQ to your preferences.

(Credit: Christian de Looper)

There are a few additional listening modes, essentially collections of EQ and other settings presets. You can choose between standard Music, Cinema, Game, and Background Music modes. With some of them enabled, you can't use a custom EQ. Speaking frankly, you're better off skipping the modes and setting your own EQ.

The EQ is full-featured. It has 10 bands, just like the XM6 headphones, ranging from 31Hz to 16kHz.

Noise Cancellation: Near the Top of the Class

When Sony released the XM6 headphones last year, we found they were the best headphones for noise cancellation. The AirPods Max 2 followed a few months later and surpassed them, though only slightly. The 1000X The Collection headphones use the same ANC tech as the XM6.

A couple of quick notes: The headphones are designed to be more comfortable and don't clamp on your head as hard as the XM6 headphones. This means the seal against your ear isn't as tight, and that reduces their passive noise reduction. Additionally, the thinner earcups shift the microphone locations slightly, which slightly affects ANC performance. These are minor changes, and likely have a small impact, but I wanted to point them out anyway.

(Credit: Christian de Looper)

Overall, I found the ANC excellent, and I couldn't tell much of a difference between the new headphones and the XM6. That means they are excellent at cutting the noise from a plane, significantly reducing the volume of most frequencies, leaving only some ultra-deep rumble and white-noise-like sounds in the background. On a city bus, they do a good job of cutting out noise from things like doors opening and closing, and the suspension squeaking.

The XM6 is a little more effective at cancelling sound than The Collexion, but not by much. The AirPods Max 2 still have the best ANC right now, but you're not sacrificing anything noticeable by choosing The Collexion over the XM6.

Sound: Sony Brings Back the Bass

Apart from design, audio is the one area where Sony says it put in the effort to make The Collexion a more premium experience. This starts with the new drivers. They have new DSEE Ultimate tech, which Sony says not only uses AI to upscale resolution but also bit depth. In theory, that should help make non-high-bit-depth sound a little more dynamic.

In the default tuning mode (EQ set to off), the headphones don't aim for a neutral response. Instead, they have a bass-forward tuning that many will like. These are among the best wireless headphones for bass I've heard.

This is broadly apparent on a track like The Knife's "Silent Shout." The sub-bass content is quite forward in the mix. At times, it feels slightly overpowering, but it's not over-the-top, and the high-end details are still excellent.

(Credit: Christian de Looper)

The bass-forward tuning is obvious on Kendrick Lamar's "Loyalty." The headphones do an excellent job of reproducing the deep bass frequencies that extend throughout much of the verse and chorus. Even the lowest notes on the track generate a satisfying rumble, even if it isn't quite as audible as the other notes. The wide soundstage helps. The panned background vocals, for example, give the track a little more space.

On Bill Callahan's "Drover," the headphones do a good job at producing a more natural listening experience. The emphasis on bass means the kick drum is a little more powerful than it might be on the XM6, but it doesn't overpower the track, and Callahan's deep vocal sounds resonant and full. This track shows off the clarity and detail the headphones offer. For example, the cymbals get a good, crisp sizzle, and the acoustic guitar sounds natural and present.

On orchestral tracks, like the opening scene to John Adams' The Gospel According to the Other Mary, the wide soundstage helps a fair bit. Instrument separation is good, and each section in the orchestra is audible and distinct.

(Credit: Christian de Looper)

Sony is emphasizing the 360 Upmix spatial audio feature. I didn't find the 360-degree processing to be all that great. It's virtualized spatial audio rather than an actual surround-sound mix, as Apple does with AirPods. You might like it, but I found that most tracks end up sounding a bit muddy and boomy.

In all, the Collexion headphones sound a little better than the XM6 headphones. They have more clarity in the high end and a little more space to breathe. But the difference isn't all that dramatic, and the XM6 headphones still sound very good (especially for $200 less).

The microphones sound good. They capture good depth, and I found a recording I made via the iPhone's Voice Memos app easy to hear.