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To commemorate a decade of acclaimed flagship over-ear headphones, Sony released a special-edition version, aptly named 1000X The Collexion. Sony looks back from 2016 to now, and its 1000X-series headphones went from proving they could outdo competitors to becoming industry frontrunners.

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Typically, Apple's $549 price tag for its AirPods Max 2 is where I consider the ceiling for consumer headphones. Anything beyond, such as Bowers & Wilkins' $800 Px8 S2, I put in the luxury category.

Sony just entered said category, pricing its 1000X The Collexion at $650, in exchange for its design and audio upgrades, which build on the WH-1000XM6, released one year ago. Thus, 1000X The Collexion shares a similar silhouette to its more affordable sibling, but debuts with a sleeker appearance, more premium materials, and higher-quality internal audio components.

Improvements under the hood

Sony markets 1000X The Collexion as a deluxe version of the WH-1000XM6, but it offers internal improvements that set the special-edition headphones apart from the standard model. 

Also: Sony WH-1000XM6 vs. Bowers & Wilkins Px8 S2: How I'd justify spending $300 more for headphones

1000X The Collexion features a unidirectional carbon driver, opposed to the XM6's standard carbon driver. This speaker design should reduce dome flexion, therefore reducing distortion. 1000X The Collexion still features Sony's signature sound profile: warm, detailed, and colorful. However, I noticed that 1000X The Collexion's sound profile is more lively than the XM6's, with deeper and tighter low frequencies and less sharp high frequencies, all without any EQ tweaks.

BTS's "Please" has a vibey bassline that's clear and dense without any rumbling, and the harmonies of the group's members are reproduced beautifully. Overall, 1000X The Collexion delivers a rich sound that avoids the fatigue the XM6 can cause with an overly analytical sound.

Sony upgraded 1000X The Collexion to include a new processor, powered by the V3 chip to run DSEE Ultimate, the company's most advanced audio-quality upscaling algorithm, trumping DSEE Extreme. 

These headphones also debut with two more spatial audio modes for music and gaming. I usually prefer stereo when listening to headphones, and though Sony's current 360 Upmix spatial audio is its best, I'll stick with stereo.

Sony's spatial audio upmixing widens the soundstage and adds some height, but that's about it. There's little movement and little opportunity for immersion, and some songs can sound too robotic and digitized when the upmix software is enabled.

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Still, 1000X The Collexion features the same QN3 noise-reduction processor as the XM6, though Sony admits the XM6's noise-canceling abilities are more advanced than those of its upscale sibling. I agree, though 1000X The Collexion's noise cancellation isn't weak, rather on par with the Sonos Ace or WH-1000XM5.

A design that (finally) challenges competitors

Sony revamped its design language for 1000X The Collexion, incorporating polished and brushed metal accents on the headphones' yokes, buttons, headband, and ports rather than the matte plastic found throughout the WH-1000XM6. Additionally, 1000X The Collexion features slimmer earcups, a wider headband, and thicker ear pads for enhanced comfort.

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According to Sony, the new design choices were made to make the headphones look and feel more luxurious. I can attest that the new design addresses two issues I had with the WH-1000XM6: comfort and style -- both of which were lacking. A wider headband, plushier ear pads, and roomier earcups promote long-term comfort better than the standard 1000X-series headphones, while shiny accents from yokes to microphone houses echo the designs of Sony's contemporaries.

A major issue I had with the WH-1000XM6 was that they were immediately uncomfortable. I felt the ear pads were too thin, the earcups slightly too small, and the clamping force too tight to wear for more than half an hour. 1000X The Collexion's thicker ear pads, more relaxed fit, and deeper earcups mitigate these issues. I wore these headphones for hours while working at my desk, and I could easily keep them on for a few hours on a plane.

Apple's release of the AirPods Max in 2020 changed consumer expectations for headphone design, which had often been limited to strictly practical shapes with little eye-catching detail. Since then, consumer headphones have increasingly become a piece of fashionable outerwear, partly due to Apple's introduction of a new mainstream design and partly to society's acceptance of frequent headphone use.

Compared to its competitors from Bose, Apple, and even Sonos, who utilized brushed nickel, anodized aluminum, and stainless steel, Sony's WH-1000XM6 opted for a uniform, utilitarian, wholly plastic design. This time, Sony reaches deep into its style bag without shelving its practicality bag, valuing chicness as much as function, even though the company usually does the opposite.

As companies' headphone design choices become bolder and more fashionable, so do their carrying cases. There are many complaints to be made about the AirPods Max's carrying "case," but I admit that it's interesting to imagine headphones' headband as a handle. 

Sony innovated the carrying case for its latest flagship headphones, the WH-1000XM6, swapping the generations-old case shape and zipper for a more ergonomic design and a stylish magnet. This time, 1000X The Collexion's case still functions as a case, but features a cutout below the headband, creating a handle. 

To Sony, design entails more than looks, but also encompasses functionality, and I appreciate that. I also like that even though the 1000X The Collexion doesn't fold, the carrying case solves the portability issue caused by its inflexible hinges.

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Sony's choice to slim 1000X The Collexion's earcups is also a welcome aesthetic choice and adds to the headphones' elevated look, though it only shaves off 33g of weight from an already lightweight pair. Still, the slimmer earcups resemble those of the Sonos Ace or the Bowers & Wilkins Px8 S2, achieving a sleeker look.

ZDNET's buying advice

Sony's 1000X The Collexion marks 10 years of the company's innovation and strong competition in a crowded market. These headphones feature design elements I wish Sony implemented in its standard 1000X-series headphones, such as metallic finishes and enhanced comfort, but Sony uses 1000X The Collexion as a demarcation between audiences. If you're seeking practical and stylish headphones without the ecosystem barriers imposed by Apple and Sonos, 1000X The Collexion are a great choice.

However, if style isn't a concern, the WH-1000XM6 are ideal for everyday wear, as they offer six more hours of battery life than the 1000X The Collexion and stronger noise-canceling.