Sony revives its legacy ANC line with the 1000X Collexion, a premium variant of the WH‑1000XM6. Leather‑wrapped earcups, stainless‑steel hinges, and a 60‑gram weight increase mark a distinct design shift. Sony adds a third mode button and a 3.5‑mm analog jack, keeping the familiar power and ANC toggles for both audio and control experience.

The Collexion trades the XM6’s plastic frame for a synthetic‑leather shell that feels soft but may scratch over time. Wider ear pads and a slimmer 5‑mm earcup profile add comfort, while a stainless‑steel hinge gives a solid feel. The added 60‑gram weight is noticeable but offsets the lighter feel of the XM6 during long sessions and travel.

Internally, the Collexion keeps the 30‑mm drivers but switches to a soft‑edge carbon composite dome, promising tighter bass and clearer highs. Sony enlists mastering engineers to tweak the sound, yielding a mid‑range that separates instruments more crisply than the XM6. 360‑Upmix and native DSEE Ultimate upscaling add spatial depth, though they fall short of game‑changing impact.

Battery life drops to just over 25 hours with ANC on, a noticeable hit from the XM6’s 30‑plus‑hour range. Although the Collexion feels more premium and offers slightly better sound, the $200 price premium and reduced endurance make it a tougher buy. Sony’s flagship ANC remains the XM6 for most users in the market today.