- Sony WH-1000XX ColleXion almost confirmed
- Seen on the Hollywood star’s head in NYC
- Seems to give a wink and nod to previous leaks
If there was any doubt that Sony was doing something special, it now had to be killed. We previously reported on ‘Sony WH-1000XX The ColleXion’ leaks, and now it looks like the brand’s 10th anniversary super-premium headphones could be real.
They haven’t been officially announced yet, but they seem to have appeared publicly, all but guaranteeing a release is on the horizon.
Specifically, they were seen worn by F1 star Damson Idris in several photographs shared by various fashion sites on X. Example:
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Damson Idris frolicking in NYC pic.twitter.com/cPdXdoc5743 May 2026
Over on the r/headphones Subreddit, audiophiles were quick to note that these aren’t a familiar pair of headphones, with a Sony logo making it clear that these are the product of the Japanese brand, but several design differences from the likes of the WH-1000XM6.
So it looks like we’re looking at Sony’s as yet unannounced premium option. The images give us a look at a few key design features, including an interesting metal headband/hinge, an audio jack, some grilles, and also a carrying case. Fortunately, the latter looks a lot more sensible than the AirPods Max 2 ‘bra case’.
Tinfoil hat time
Apparently this could be a simple leak. We occasionally hear cases of tech testers being snapped with upcoming gadgets in public: after all, companies have to let their devices be tested in the real world.
But you probably don’t use Hollywood stars to perform said test. The fact that it was Damson Idris who was seen with the cans, in very professional-looking photographs, leads me to believe that it wasn’t a massive coincidence – and then there’s the fact that an official Sony account responded to the above X post with the ‘eyes’ emoji, drawing attention to the whole thing rather than avoiding it.
My conspiracy theory (and most of the Reddit commenters)? Sony has started sending out the WH-1000XX The ColleXion headphones to certain people in the hope that they will be snapped up with the cans to create intrigue.
We’ve seen it before, with brands like Beats giving away its audio products to influencers to tease the impending launch of an exciting new device. Even if that’s not true and this was just a happy coincidence for the brand, Sony is clearly leaning towards it.
The rumor mill says these headphones will be announced on May 19. As we get these ‘sincere’ teases of the cans, the launch date is looking increasingly likely.
So far we’ve heard that these will be top-end cans, retailing for around €629 (approx. $740, £550, AU$1,030), which could have advanced ANC and audiophile-quality specs, but perhaps a poorer battery and heavier weight than Sony’s other headphones.
If the rumors are correct, it won’t be long before we discover the truth in these whispers.
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