Sony's new headphones sound incredible but there's one reason I wouldn't buy them

Sony is back with a surprise new pair of very premium headphones. They are called the ‘1000X THE COLLEXION’ (no, that's not a typo), and have been launched to mark the 10th anniversary of its flagship WH-1000X series, which have won every award going. So, are these now the ultimate Sony cans? Do they live up to the hype, and will they win all the 2026 audio gongs when they are dished out later in the year? I've been using THE COLLEXION for the past few weeks, and other than that bizarre name, it's hard not to fall head over heels with them.

The design has been refined with lashings of precision-crafted metal and faux leather, making them look incredibly high-end. They are certainly far more elite than last year’s WH-1000XM6 cans, which are more plasticky.

The refreshed design makes them comfortable to wear, and I've had no fatigue issues even after using them on a 14-hour flight from Hong Kong to London.

The sound quality is also sublime thanks to a bespoke driver unit featuring a soft edge and a newly developed high-rigidity dome.

The result of this updated technology is a clearer separation between instruments and vocals.

It's very noticeable and makes for a much richer and more immersive sound than the WH-1000XM6. It doesn’t really matter what genre of music floats your boat - THE COLLEXION will make it sound great.

Just like all of Sony's WH-1000X series, it's possible to tinker with the audio settings via Sony’s Sound Connect app. This offers full EQ settings, which can be manually adjusted. Sony has also added new 360 Upmix modes that automatically optimise audio settings for music, movies and gaming.

It’s a nice idea, but it needs tweaking. I've had some mixed experiences with these auto settings, as they seem to push bass and volume to extreme levels. In fact, I often just reverted to the standard settings, which sound much more refined.

The 1000X THE COLLEXION is also the first Sony headset to feature DSEE Ultimate, an AI technology that upscales compressed digital music files in real time. In short, it helps tracks sound fuller, cleaner and more detailed.

One final audio feature worth mentioning is Adaptive sound, which learns how you use the headphones and changes things automatically.

I’m still playing with this upgrade, but my initial impression is that I’d rather decide how I want things to sound. That said, you can just turn this off if you don’t like it.

Along with looking and sounding good they also come with a smart new case that resembles a posh handbag.

This handle design makes them super easy to grab and is a great idea from the Sony design team. I’ll be amazed if its rivals don’t follow with similar designs in the future.

Other neat features include good touch controls which pump up the volume and skip tracks via swipes on the right earcup.

Physical buttons switch off the active noise cancellation (ANC) - more on that in a second - along with powering things down. They also switch off automatically when not being used.

So, yes, I've loved the 1000X THE COLLEXION, and there's no doubt that these are a cracking pair of cans.

However, I can't honestly recommend that most people buy them.

Firstly, they cost a whopping £550, which is £50 more than Apple's ludicrously pricey AirPods Max 2.

Last year's excellent WH-1000XM6s are now just £329, which is over £200 less than THE COLLEXION, and you can pick up great Sonos, Bose and older Sony headphones for even less.

Last year's WH-1000XM6 also have longer battery life with ANC on (30 hours rather than 24) and the ANC is also slightly better.

That is due to Sony prioritising the design and comfort of the 1000X THE COLLEXION and making the fit a little less snug than the XM6 headphones.

Both headphones use the same tech to block background noise, but the way the 1000X THE COLLEXION are made means they aren’t quite as quiet.

One final niggle is the lack of a USB-C charging cable in the case. You do get a 3.5mm audio cable, so I’m baffled by why there's no way to refill them as well.

If you are a true Sony fan, an audiophile and have deep pockets, then THE COLLEXION should be top of your list.

They sound epic, look fabulous and are so comfy you won't know you are wearing them.

But for most people, there are just too many other great headphones that cost so much less.

Unless you really want to show off and claim bragging rights that you own a pair of Sony’s most expensive headphones, I'd save some money and buy the WH-1000XM6 instead - in fact, the WH-1000XM5s are an even bigger steal at just £229.