Sony’s new headphones sound unbelievable however there’s one purpose I would not purchase them

Sony is again with a shock new pair of very premium headphones. They’re known as the ‘1000X THE COLLEXION’ (no, that is not a typo), and have been launched to mark the tenth anniversary of its flagship WH-1000X collection, which have received each award going. So, are these now the final word Sony cans? Do they dwell as much as the hype, and can they win all of the 2026 audio gongs when they’re dished out later within the yr? I have been utilizing THE COLLEXION for the previous few weeks, and apart from that weird title, it is laborious to not fall head over heels with them.

The design has been refined with lashings of precision-crafted metallic and fake leather-based, making them look extremely high-end. They’re actually way more elite than final yr’s WH-1000XM6 cans, that are extra plasticky.

The refreshed design makes them comfy to put on, and I’ve had no fatigue points even after utilizing them on a 14-hour flight from Hong Kong to London.

The sound high quality can also be elegant because of a bespoke driver unit that includes a gentle edge and a newly developed high-rigidity dome.

The results of this up to date know-how is a clearer separation between devices and vocals.

It’s totally noticeable and makes for a a lot richer and extra immersive sound than the WH-1000XM6. It doesn’t actually matter what style of music floats your boat – THE COLLEXION will make it sound nice.

Identical to all of Sony’s WH-1000X collection, it is attainable to tinker with the audio settings through Sony’s Sound Join app. This gives full EQ settings, which could be manually adjusted. Sony has additionally added new 360 Upmix modes that routinely optimise audio settings for music, films and gaming.

It’s a pleasant thought, but it surely wants tweaking. I’ve had some blended experiences with these auto settings, as they appear to push bass and quantity to excessive ranges. Actually, I typically simply reverted to the usual settings, which sound far more refined.

The 1000X THE COLLEXION can also be the primary Sony headset to function DSEE Final, an AI know-how that upscales compressed digital music information in actual time. Briefly, it helps tracks sound fuller, cleaner and extra detailed.

One remaining audio function value mentioning is Adaptive sound, which learns how you employ the headphones and adjustments issues routinely.

I’m nonetheless enjoying with this improve, however my preliminary impression is that I’d reasonably resolve how I would like issues to sound. That mentioned, you possibly can simply flip this off for those who don’t prefer it.

Together with wanting and sounding good additionally they include a wise new case that resembles a fancy purse.

This deal with design makes them tremendous straightforward to seize and is a good thought from the Sony design staff. I’ll be amazed if its rivals don’t observe with comparable designs sooner or later.

Different neat options embody good contact controls which pump up the amount and skip tracks through swipes on the correct earcup.

Bodily buttons change off the energetic noise cancellation (ANC) – extra on that in a second – together with powering issues down. In addition they change off routinely when not getting used.

So, sure, I’ve cherished the 1000X THE COLLEXION, and there is no doubt that these are a cracking pair of cans.

Nonetheless, I am unable to truthfully suggest that most individuals purchase them.

Firstly, they value a whopping £550, which is £50 greater than Apple’s ludicrously dear AirPods Max 2.

Final yr’s glorious WH-1000XM6s at the moment are simply £329, which is over £200 lower than THE COLLEXION, and you may choose up nice Sonos, Bose and older Sony headphones for even much less.

Final yr’s WH-1000XM6 even have longer battery life with ANC on (30 hours reasonably than 24) and the ANC can also be barely higher.

That is because of Sony prioritising the design and luxury of the 1000X THE COLLEXION and making the match rather less comfortable than the XM6 headphones.

Each headphones use the identical tech to dam background noise, however the way in which the 1000X THE COLLEXION are made means they aren’t fairly as quiet.

One remaining niggle is the shortage of a USB-C charging cable within the case. You do get a 3.5mm audio cable, so I’m baffled by why there is no option to refill them as properly.

In case you are a real Sony fan, an audiophile and have deep pockets, then THE COLLEXION needs to be prime of your listing.

They sound epic, look fabulous and are so cozy you will not know you might be carrying them.

However for most individuals, there are simply too many different nice headphones that value a lot much less.

Except you actually wish to exhibit and declare bragging rights that you simply personal a pair of Sony’s most costly headphones, I would avoid wasting cash and purchase the WH-1000XM6 as an alternative – actually, the WH-1000XM5s are a fair greater steal at simply £229.