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 premium materials.

Before we get into any technical details, it's again worth emphasizing that billbil-kun is reporting that these cans will cost a whopping $649 in the United States. That's $200 more than the already very nice and expensive Sony WH-1000XM6 headphones, and almost $100 more than the latest Apple AirPods Max 2. In the ultra-premium category, they would cost less than the Bowers & Wilkins Px8 S2, which retails for $799.

According to the leak, you'll get what you pay for, though.

The premium headphones reportedly come in a non-folding design with a "premium magnetic carrying case" and "studio-quality sound" featuring 360-degree head tracking. They use 12 microphones for active noise cancellation and noise reduction during phone calls, as well as "DSEE Ultimate technology for audio upscaling." The design reportedly features synthetic leather and metal materials.

One downside, though, is that they're approximately 60 grams heavier than the WH-1000XM6 headphones, most likely due to the metal materials. According to the leak, they'll launch as soon as May 19, so keep your head on a swivel.

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