As Gourmet Traveller’s shopping and travel writer, and a frequent flyer, understanding products that are going to deliver premium craft, comfort and luxury is my area of expertise.
And when it comes to soaring the skies on the regular, a good pair of headphones is going to make or break your experience. Not just for sound, but noise-cancelling can also affect your ability to tune out turbulence and have a calming experience. Additionally, you need headphones that can bring you comfort, especially if you’re on a 19-hour flight. That’s where Sony’s new headphone range comes in.
Ten years ago, Sony changed personal audio forever with the debut of the MDR-1000X. Now, to celebrate that milestone, the brand has unveiled its most refined and luxurious headphones to date: the 1000X THE COLLECTION.
Celebrating a decade of 1000X series innovation, Sony’s 1000X THE COLLECTION represents a new expression that combines years of audio innovation into one refined model. Priced at $999.95, these headphones are crafted with premium materials, hand-polished finishes, and faux leather that took two years to develop.
But it’s not all about looks. Under the hood, Sony has packed in a newly developed carbon composite driver, Grammy-winning mastering engineer-tuned sound, and the debut of DSEE Ultimate — an AI-powered technology that restores detail to compressed audio in real time. Pair that with the same best-in-class noise cancellation found in the acclaimed WH-1000XM6, and you have a headphone that will take you around the world with ease.
So why are frequent flyers choosing the Sony 1000X THE COLLEXION over a business class upgrade? Below is everything you need to know about Sony’s 1000X THE COLLECTION headphones.
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Sony 1000X THE COLLEXION review verdict
- Our rating: 9 out of 10
- Best for: luxury frequent flyers and audiophiles
Pros
- Luxurious design
- Great noise-cancelling capabilities
- Simple swipe or tap the side of the headphones to pause and change songs or answer calls
Cons
- Higher price range
- 360 Upmix is not as consistent as expected
Specs at a glance
- Price: $999.95 at Sony, $999 at JB Hi-Fi
- Battery: 24hrs (ANC on) / 32hrs (ANC off)
- Driver: Unidirectional carbon composite dome
- ANC: 12-mic Multi-Noise Sensor + Adaptive NC Optimizer
- AI: DSEE Ultimate (real-time audio upscaling)
- Spatial Audio: 360 Upmix – Music, Cinema & Game modes
- Colours: Platinum, Black
- Sustainability: ~25% recycled plastic, plastic-free packaging
- Case: Magnetic closure carry case with handle
Sound quality
The 1000X THE COLLEXION has a specially designed speaker driver built from a stiff, lightweight carbon material. It’s designed to do three things better: keep instruments and voices sounding distinct from each other, reproduce subtle high-pitched sounds more clearly, and create a more spacious, immersive listening experience. The latter, in my opinion, is what really brings these headphones into the premium space.
According to Sony, the brand collaborated with Grammy award-winning and nominated mastering engineers to refine the tuning of the headphones, ensuring that vocals, balance and nuanced dynamics were considered and faithfully convey the emotion and intent of the artists and creators.
The headphones are also designed to use AI to improve the quality of compressed music files (like MP3s or streaming audio) on the fly. It fills in the detail that gets stripped out during compression, making the sound feel fuller and more dynamic, and ultimately closer to the original recording.
Noise cancellation performance
These headphones use the same best-in-class technology as the critically acclaimed WH-1000XM6. As someone who has tested in both still and in motion, I found the noise cancellation performed beautifully, offering crisp sounds and even adapting to my environment.
Audio customisation
The 1000X THE COLLEXION offers three different spatial audio modes specifically for music, movies and gaming. You can switch between these modes using a button on the headphones, and each one is tuned to make that specific type of content feel more immersive. I personally found that some songs respond to the 360 Upmix better than others, and you may find yourself switching it off on certain tracks.
Comfort and fit
The headphones are designed with an ergonomic structure and large earcups to provide minimal pressure to the face. The wide and cushioned padding on the headband is also incredibly comfortable, and was designed to help distribute weight evenly and to adapt to your head shape.
Design and aesthetics
The faux leather sandblasted texture contrasts beautifully with the hand-polished gloss, showcasing the craftsmanship and durability. According to Sony, the refined faux leather took two years to develop; its tactile finish offering a calming touch. The headphones are available in two colours: Platinum and Black.
Battery life
The 1000X THE COLLEXION offers up to 24 hours of battery life when using noise cancelling and 32 hours when noise cancelling is switched off. A quick five-minute charge will offer about three hours of listening.
Portability and travel-friendliness
The 1000X THE COLLECTION headphones come in a sleek and compact hard case which I found fitted easily in my everyday work bag without taking up too much space.
For those who are after headphones for an upcoming long-haul flight, the 1000X THE COLLECTION is a premium choice for its comfort. It has been designed for extended wear across long flights, airport transit, and everyday travel. While their WH-1000XM6 range, which was also released this year, offers slightly longer battery life (30 hours vs. 24 hours) and marginally stronger noise cancelling, the difference in real-world travel use is minimal for most users.
Final verdict
Sony 1000X THE COLLEXION headphones are a premium, beautifully crafted model with exceptional sound, world-class noise cancellation and all-day comfort. Minor caveats is that the battery life trails the WH-1000XM6, but is still suitable for a long-haul flight. Best for audiophiles and frequent travellers who want luxury without compromise. Verdict: 9/10
Where to buy the Sony 1000X THE COLLEXION headphones
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