Anniversary Sony WH-1000X The ColleXion: when retro meets flagship technology

The Japanese technology giant Sony has introduced premium wireless headphones Sony WH-1000X The ColleXion, the release of which is dedicated to the tenth anniversary of the legendary WH-1000X series. The model should become an exclusive alternative to mass consumer electronics, combining the elegant retro design of the first years with the hardware innovations of the new generation.

This is an exclusive version of the headphones, which is based on the hardware solutions of the future flagship model WH-1000XM6. However, instead of the usual appearance, the device reproduces the classic aesthetic design of the MDR-1000X model – the first in a series of closed wireless headphones from Sony with active noise suppression, presented at the IFA exhibition in 2016. This combination of old-school style and modern technology is aimed primarily at music lovers and fans of the brand’s iconic series.

Features of headphones and design features

The main focus of the updated design of the Sony WH-1000X The ColleXion was a pleasant tactile case, completely finished with premium synthetic leather, identical to the original 2016 headphones. To increase mechanical reliability during operation, the Japanese manufacturer used an enlarged headband with strong metal hinges made of wear-resistant stainless steel. The fit of the device has become more comfortable due to deeper and expanded ergonomic ear pads.

The design of the cups is borrowed from the WH-1000XM5 – the headphones no longer fold completely inside. The flat domed design allows the cups to be rotated 90 degrees. Key additions in ergonomics include a modified hard cover equipped with an additional convenient textile handle, and a separate physical switch for controlling the 360 ​​Upmix surround sound function on the device body.

New audio board and high-quality speakers

Improved sound parameters of headphones – achievement of point internal optimization of the acoustic path. The device is equipped with compact speakers with a diameter of 30 mm, characteristic of the XM6 model, but the engineers used the latest soft suspensions on the outer contour of the drivers (soft-edge drivers). Such a solution significantly improved the reproduction of deep, dense bass and increased the efficiency of filtering extraneous low-frequency noise spectrum.

Sony also paid a lot of attention to the architecture of the internal board. It uses an improved material board with a thickened copper base for the audio tracks. This engineering change aims to minimize sonic distortion, expand the overall stereo base, and improve overall audio readability in all frequency ranges.

Innovative noise reduction

The adaptive active noise cancellation system has been redesigned from the ground up with modern computing components. To perfectly cut out monotonous external noise, Sony has integrated an advanced sound system with a record number of sensors that capture.

The noise cancellation system (ANC) is based on:

• As many as 12 high-performance microphones scattered around the entire perimeter of the earcups;
• Branded auxiliary processor ANC QN3 Noise Canceling Processor;
• Innovative sound coprocessor Sony V3 for fine cleaning of the acoustic range and instant selection of audio profiles.

The settings also provide for the use of spatial sound profiles. Thanks to the new audio engine, the 360 ​​Upmix mode optimizes sound settings for different content: movies, listening to music and immersion in modern games.

Autonomy

The installation of many microphones, the use of an additional thick copper shield of the sound card and the use of two high-tech computing chips at once affected the battery consumption. The declared working time without recharging is:

• Up to 24 hours of autonomous operation with activated active noise isolation;
• Up to 32 hours of continuous operation in normal wireless mode.

The ColleXion vs WH-1000XM6

If you compare the specifications of this version with the standard generation of flagship headphones WH-1000XM6, the classic version of the XM6 is much more energy efficient. The standard XM6 model has an impressive battery life of up to 30 hours of battery life with ANC enabled and up to 40 hours of pure playback without the use of external noise canceling filters. Obviously, by opting for the exclusive anniversary reissue, buyers lose a bit of battery capacity, gaining in return unique analog sound-proofing on the board, custom stainless headband hardware, and luxe textured leather padding.

Cost

The model will be produced and distributed worldwide in only two familiar monochrome colors: white and matte black. The price of the exclusive anniversary version of the headphones is fixed by the manufacturer at UAH 26,500 ($649). The novelty turned out to be significantly more expensive than the standard mass flagship headset: the price difference compared to the cost of the WH-1000XM6 model at the start of its sales reaches about UAH 8,100 ($200).