<\/p>\n
Sony Group Corp introduced a $650 pair of high-end wireless headphones, setting a new ceiling for the company in a segment that has already grown more pricey in recent years.<\/p>\n
The headphones, called \u201c1000X The Collexion,\u201d are available now and cost $200 more than the initial price of Sony\u2019s premium WH-1000XM6 headphones, and $100 more than Apple Inc.\u2019s AirPods Max 2. Sony is justifying the price difference in part by offering luxury materials, including stainless steel and a synthetic leather that the company spent two years developing\u00a0\u2013 \u00a0an upgrade over the 1000MX6\u2019s mostly plastic design. Sony also claims that the new model delivers improved audio quality, according to a statement on Tuesday.<\/p>\n
But some of The Collexion headphones\u2019 key specifications remain unchanged from the 1000MX6, including overall noise cancellation performance and battery life, which is rated\u00a0for a maximum of 24 hours with noise cancellation enabled or\u00a032 hours with it off. In fact, Sony said during a media briefing ahead of the announcement that the cheaper headphones offer\u00a0slightly better noise isolation since they have firmer clamping pressure on the head.<\/p>\n
Given all that, Sony is billing the new headphones\u00a0as a 10th-anniversary celebration of the 1000X series, and not a sequel to the popular 1000MX6.<\/p>\n
The new hardware continues a trend of consumer electronics manufacturers testing the bounds of what consumers are willing to pay for gadgets. Bose Corp. hiked its latest pair of premium noise-cancelling headphones by $20, and the 1000XM6 saw a $50 price increase over the previous model. Bowers & Wilkins, a brand known for exclusively selling high-end audio gear, commands $799 for its top-of-the-line wireless headphones. Apple, for its part, maintained the starting price of its second-generation AirPods Max, but they were already more expensive than most available options.<\/p>\n
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The Collexion headphones mark the 10th anniversary of Sony\u2019s 1000X line. Image: Chris Welch\/Bloomberg<\/p>\n
In use<\/p>\n
At\u00a0first glance, there are clear similarities between Sony\u2019s latest headphones and\u00a0Sonos Inc.\u2019s Ace model \u2013 \u00a0namely, their polished metal yokes and overall shape. Sony uses vegan leather on the outer ear cups instead of plastic, and the ear pads and headband are made from this same material, lending the headphones a cohesive and luxurious feel.\u00a0But I\u2019ve also found myself being extra careful when handling them over a few days of testing, as an accidental drop onto the sidewalk would likely produce ugly results.<\/p>\n
The headphones\u00a0come in a distinctive hardshell\u00a0case with a built-in handle and magnetic clasp that\u00a0almost looks more like a handbag. Whatever your take, it\u2019s decidedly more practical than the \u201csmart case\u201d that Apple ships with the AirPods Max. Unlike the more affordable 1000XM6, The Collexion\u00a0headphones cannot fold down for more compact storage in a bag, but this hasn\u2019t been an inconvenience in my experience so far.<\/p>\n
The Collexion headphones trade plastic for more premium materials. Image: Chris Welch\/Bloomberg<\/p>\n
Compared with\u00a0the 1000XM6, the new headphones have a headband that\u2019s 10% wider and also\u00a040% thicker at the top.\u00a0I wore them during a recent cross-country flight and never felt fatigue, despite the hours of travel time. The ear cups are larger in size than the 1000XM6, which I prefer, and they also have a thinner profile.<\/p>\n
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To control music and adjust the volume, you\u2019ll still need to use tap and swipe\u00a0gestures on the ear cups. That works fine, but I strongly prefer the tactility of\u00a0physical buttons. Startups like Nothing Technologies Ltd.\u00a0have come up with clever, fun-to-use physical controls on their headphones, and\u00a0I wish Sony, too, would try something new. Still, the consistency from past Sony headphones means existing users should be in for\u00a0a seamless switch.<\/p>\n
Sony has endowed its new headphones with a larger driver that produces better dynamic and a\u00a0wider sound stage than the 1000XM6. In my testing, I noticed slight improvements compared with\u00a0the 1000XM6, but it\u2019s not a pronounced difference. In a head-to-head against the AirPods Max 2, I preferred Apple\u2019s headphones on some acoustic\u00a0tracks, and Sony\u2019s more bass-forward Collexion for genres like rock and hip hop. This comes down to personal taste, though Sony offers custom EQ adjustment through its mobile app to change up the sound signature.<\/p>\n
Most areas of the headphones are covered in synthetic leather. Image: Chris Welch\/Bloomberg<\/p>\n
The Collexion headphones barely bring any new software features compared with the 1000XM6. They have a more advanced upscaling option for restoring detail and high frequencies to music that that can be lost due to Bluetooth\u2019s limitations, but most people won\u2019t notice a difference.<\/p>\n
Sony also continues to hype spatial audio and now has dedicated modes for music, gaming, movies and so forth, all of which I found to be gimmicky and unimpressive. If you\u2019re an iPhone user, there\u2019s still no beating the deep integration and exclusive ecosystem features offered by the AirPods lineup. Voice call quality is identical to the 1000XM6, which means you\u2019ll come through clearly without being drowned out by background noise.<\/p>\n
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At this price, The Collexion is in direct competition with audiophile-grade headphones that easily win out if sound fidelity is a top priority. Sony itself sells a pair of $420 wired headphones that I tried recently. Sonically, they put these to shame, but they lack noise cancellation and the\u00a0freedom of wireless connectivity. And they\u2019re largely made from plastic.<\/p>\n
But like the AirPods Max, sheer audio performance isn\u2019t the real point. These headphones have been conceptualised as a status symbol for those with the means to buy a pair. Whenever passersby catch a glimpse of The Collexion\u2019s unmistakable carrying case, they\u2019ll know you\u2019re toting some very costly cans.<\/p>\n
Some consumers will bemoan the fact that tech gadgets keep\u00a0climbing upward in price.\u00a0And aside from a step up in elegance, you\u2019re not getting much in exchange\u00a0for the added cost. That means\u00a0the 1000XM6 will maintain their appeal among most shoppers, leaving The Collexion for\u00a0extravagant spenders.\u00a0Sony, it seems, is more than happy to cater to both segments.<\/p>\n
\u00a9 2026 Bloomberg<\/p>\n
#Sony #launches #headphones #steel #vegan #leather<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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