Sony leak and photos show expensive new 1000XM headphones

As we've noted repeatedly, if you want a pair of flagship noise-cancelling headphones in 2026, then $450 is the starting price of admission. But a Sony leaker claims that an even pricier pair of premium Sony headphones is coming this year, with a potential price tag of $649. Prominent leaker billbil-kun published a report detailing the specs of previously unknown new headphones from Sony, which could be called "Sony 1000X The ColleXion" (first reported by The Walkman Blog). The headphones may also be part of a larger collection of products with the tagline, "Master the art of listening." These premium 1000XM headphones also appear to have leaked visually via photos of British actor Damson Idris, who was seen allegedly wearing them in NYC (via Reddit). Photos of Idris in New York City over the weekend show an unknown pair of Sony headphones and a travel case, which match the details reported by billbil-kun. The headphones have white ear cups and a metal headband, a departure from Sony's usual headphone style. Our reviewers have criticized Sony headphones in the past for their all-plastic design, which can feel flimsy compared to headphones that use aluminum, leather, and other premi