If you're at all immersed in the world of wireless headphones, you will likely be aware of Sony's 1000X series, which has graced many a What Hi-Fi? Awards shortlist over the years.
So imagine our excitement when the Japanese tech giant announced Sony 1000X The Collexion, a brand new pair of Bluetooth over-ears to mark the line's tenth anniversary.
When we finally got our hands on a pair earlier this year, we found it impossible to ignore their poised, detailed performance, while also admiring their feature set and classy construction.
And they've just had their first discount, so you can buy the premium pair for £499 at Richer Sounds, saving you £51 off their launch price.
The Sony 1000X The Collexion look good and make you feel good when you wear them – the cans have a clean, minimalist exterior made from metal and faux leather and make for an appreciably lightweight and unobtrusive listen.
The feature set mostly matches that found on their cheaper WH-1000XM6 siblings, including Sony’s ‘360 Reality Audio Upmix’ tech, support for the high-res LDAC codec and Bluetooth LE Audio for lower power consumption and better-quality sound.
They also offer 24 hours of battery life with ANC on and include a 3.5mm-to-3.5 mm audio cable for old-school wired listening (you can't listen via their USB-C connection). The 1000X The Collection are the first Sony headphones to feature its DSEE Ultimate processing engine, which improves lower-quality digital audio files.
Despite being sound-first headphones, noise cancelling also impresses, with the XM6's QN3 chip and 12-mic array doing an excellent job of suppressing noise across frequencies.
And the all-important sound? One which prioritises refinement, detail and maturity over the punchier, more flavoured personality of the WH-1000XM6.
"Detail levels are excellent, and when you have a pair of over-ears that offer clarity, textural insight and spaciousness to this extent, it’s hard not to be impressed," our Sony 1000X The Collexion review reads. "The elegiac strings on Never Goodbye are rich and mournful, while the piano on Debussy’s austere Sarabande strikes a wonderful balance between rich intent and subtle delicacy."
We did miss the extra sense of fun and entertainment that came from the XM6, but it's hard not to admire the spacious, open and mature personality of the 1000X The Collexion.
If it's scale, detail and clarity you're after, then the Sonys are seriously talented performers that consistently impress, and are now available with £51 off at Richer Sounds.
MORE:
Check out our pick of the best wireless headphones for all budgets
Consider reading our full Bowers & Wilkins Px8 S2 review
And our Sennheiser HDB 630 review
Sony WH-1000XM6 vs 1000X The Collexion: which premium wireless headphones should you pick?
