Sony's latest noise-cancelling headphones, the WH-1000XX the Collexion, are a special anniversary set celebrating a decade of the acclaimed 1000X series. Designed to be plusher, slimmer, more comfortable, and the best sounding yet, they represent a refined evolution rather than a replacement for the current flagship WH-1000XM6.
Design and Comfort
The 1000XX do not fold for travel but are less bulky, with ear cups 5.3mm thinner and a more slender headband. They are covered in high-quality pleather with polished stainless steel arms, eschewing hard plastic. The ear cups offer more space and plusher cushions, while the headband distributes weight evenly with a lighter clamping force. This results in one of the most comfortable headphone sets available, matching Bose and surpassing higher-priced rivals.
Build and Controls
The left ear cup houses the headphone socket, power, noise cancelling, and sound mode buttons; the right side has a USB-C port and touch panel for playback and volume control. The headphones weigh 320g and feature 30mm drivers, Bluetooth 6 with multipoint, and support for SBC, AAC, LDAC, and LC3 codecs. Battery life is 24 hours with noise cancelling active (32 hours off), with a five-minute charge providing 90 minutes of playback and full charge in 3.5 hours.
Sound Quality and Noise Cancelling
The 1000XX use the QN3 chip and noise-cancelling hardware from the 1000XM6, delivering very good ambient sound mode and effective noise cancelling for low and mid-tone noises, though slightly less capable with high-pitch sounds like chatter or keyboard clicks. Sound quality is where they excel, thanks to LDAC support and the new DSEE Ultimate AI upscaling powered by the V3 chip, which rebuilds lost data in compressed music. The headphones produce deep, expansive bass, warm mids, and sparkling highs for a natural sound that reveals new details in familiar tracks. They come with a 10-band equaliser for customisation and feature spatial audio upmixing for movies and games, though the music mode is less impressive. Call quality is excellent in both quiet and noisy environments.
Sustainability and Price
The headphones are made with 25% recycled plastic, have replaceable ear cups, and a screwed-in battery designed for serviceability. A battery care mode prolongs cell longevity. Priced at £549 (€629/$649/A$999.95), they sit above the £349 WH-1000XM6 and compete with luxury rivals like Apple AirPods Max 2 (£499), B&W Px8 S2 (£629), and Bose QuietComfort Ultra 2 (£349.95).
Verdict
The 1000XX prioritise sound quality and comfort, offering a quiet luxury aesthetic. They are supremely comfortable, with solid battery life, versatile connectivity, and noise cancelling that outdoes most rivals, if not Sony's own 1000XM6. The nuanced, natural sound is the highlight, providing a rich listening experience. Whether the high price is justified depends on the buyer, but with similarly focused rivals costing up to £700, there is a market for them.
Pros: Fantastic sound, supreme comfort, 360/spatial audio, Bluetooth multipoint, AAC/LDAC support, 24-hour battery life, great controls, good app, repairable design.
Cons: Very expensive, no water resistance, does not fold, no USB-C audio, noise cancelling not as good as WH-1000XM6.
