Sony Enhances Headphone Design and Features with Account-Based Customization
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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.
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The VergeTen years ago Sony introduced the MDR-1000X headphones. They combined noise canceling, good sound, design, and comfort in a way that we hadn’t quite seen before in a set of wireless headphones. (At the time, the Bose QC35 were the closest competitor, but I wasn’t a huge fan of their sound tuning.) The 1000X set off a line of consistently excellent wireless noise-canceling headphones that became the go-to for comparisons — I still have a pair of WH-1000XM4s that hang on the side of my desk. To celebrate the launch of the original, Sony is releasing the 1000X The Collexion. (The X in “collexion” refers to the headphones’ 10 years and is a part of the series name.
EngadgetWhat's good about the 1000X The Collexion? Sony absolutely nailed the design and comfort on this new 1000X model. The company set out to make "a new premium addition" to its highly-touted headphones lineup, and it certainly succeeded in terms of aesthetics. Ditching the plastic enhanced the overall look and both the extra padding and less intense clamping pressure lead to increased comfort. Not that the 1000XM6 was a slouch in terms of wearability, but I prefer the feel of the 1000XX. And even with the extra 67 grams of weight, The Collexion edition never becomes a burden to wear during long listening sessions.
GizmodoFor that price, Sony says you’ll get some killer sound, though. The centerpiece is what Sony is calling a “bespoke” driver unit with a “soft edge,” as well as a “high rigidity” dome made from a “unidirectional carbon composite material.” The translation: according to Sony, these headphones offer a wider soundstage and more detail than the regular-old WH-1000XM6, which are already highly regarded in the wireless headphones world for having excellent sound.
CNETThere are some categories where Sony shines above all other brands. Sony is the preferred headphone choice for deep focus and creative thinking, sleep and relaxation and video editing.
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However, these features can become useless to consumers if there's too much friction in accessing them. Apple's friction increases once you leave its ecosystem, and Bose's friction increases when your environment becomes too dynamic for its headphones' capabilities.
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Aside from toggling ANC and transparency based on your movement or location, you can also set specific ambient sound levels, EQ settings, and Speak-to-Chat. These settings are tailored to a specific listening zone so that you can combine strong ANC, a bass-heavy EQ, and no Speak-to-Chat at the gym, or weaker ANC, a balanced EQ, and Speak-to-Chat at the office.
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These features are linked to your Sony account, so your location and activity-based settings apply to all of the compatible headphones and earbuds you've registered in the Sony Sound Connect app.
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Independent claims that didn't surface elsewhere in our corpus. Treat as supplementary — not corroborated across outlets.
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01 ZDNet 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.
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02 The Verge There’s no indication that any other products will be added to this Collexion.) Sony told me they’re “the pinnacle of technology and design,” and boy does their price reflect that.
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03 Gizmodo If you’re excited about the idea of Apple shoving cameras into AirPods, I’ve got good news: you now have an early preview of what that might look like, thanks to researchers from the University of Washington at Seattle.
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04 CNET The perfect pair of headphones is out there, but finding it can feel like a chore. Over-ear or in-ear? Active noise cancellation or not? You can now skip the endless research, because CNET readers have got you covered.
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Sources (5)
- gizmodo
- verge
- cnet
- engadget
- zdnet