Sony's 1000X Collexion: Luxury Edition That Stumbles Where It Counts

Sony marks a 10th anniversary with the 1000X The Collexion, a premium leather-and-metal redesign that enhances comfort and adds new carbon drivers and DSEE Ultimate upscaling along with two spatial audio modes. It delivers standout detail and a luxurious feel, but the overall sound is bass-forward, ANC isn’t as strong as the XM6, battery life is shorter (about 24 hours), and at $650 it’s expensive—making it a premium but imperfect option that may not be the best fit for all listeners.