Where To Buy Sony Headphones _BEST_
Looking for a new pair of headphones? Sony makes some of the best headphones on the planet right now, so its wares should be high on your list. Whether you're after in-ear, on-ear, wireless or noise-cancelling headphones, there's a pair of Sony's for you.
where to buy sony headphones
The experts at What Hi-Fi? have tested all the best Sony headphones, many of which have earned five stars under review and won coveted What Hi-Fi? Awards. You'll find these models below, ranked according to their overall performance and value for money.
So, what should you look for before buying a pair of Sony headphones? Firstly, you need to pick a style (in-/on-/over-ear) and then think about which features you want. Do you want a portable pair for commuting or the gym, or are they going to be used mainly at home? If you want Bluetooth and noise-cancelling, pay close attention to battery life.
Most of the best Sony headphones have touch controls for functions like play/pause, skipping track, etc and some are compatible with voice assistants such as Alexa and Siri. Premium models such as the WH-1000XM5 over-ears offer even more advanced features such as Speak-to-Chat.
It can be tricky for a manufacturer to push the sound performance of a product consistently from generation to generation, but that is what Sony has managed to do with the 2022 What Hi-Fi? Award-winning WH-1000XM5 wireless headphones.
The Sony XM5 headphones might feel a little less premium 2020's WH-1000XM4 (below), but the jump in sound quality from the previous generation is a big one, and rivals could once again have their work cut out. If you are looking for a new pair of Sony headphones, and don't mind paying a premium for the latest and greatest tech, the XM5 should be top of your list.
The XM4 have be superseded by the XM5 (above) but, with a 30-hour battery life and a comfortable design, Sony's slightly older noise-cancellers are still a superb buy, especially now that they're discounted. They featured among the 'best wireless headphones' at the What Hi-Fi? Awards 2022.
They're comfortable to wear too. The compact earpieces include touch-sensitive controls and a new ear tip design which helps with noise isolation. Combine this with Sony's excellent noise cancelling and you've got a pair of headphones that effectively block out the hustle and bustle.
For starters, they're some of the most comfortable noise-cancelling headphones we've tested. They have almost as many features as the XM4, including the touch-sensitive panel on the right ear cup for controls. (Hold your hand to it and it'll quieten what's playing so you can hear the outside world.) You can also speak to control one of your voice assistants, be it Siri or Google Assistant.
The noise-cancelling from these Award-winning headphones is excellent, and the sound? Gloriously open and spacious, giving every instrument room to breathe. For the money, they're a virtually faultless pair of noise-cancelling headphones. Beats, Bose and Sennheiser all offer rivals, but these are the best for sound quality.
We've tested over 50 pairs of Sony headphones. They're a versatile brand that makes a wide range of headphones at various price points. They have many affordable headphones for casual listening but also have some pricier models that are more feature-packed.
The best Sony headphones we've tested are the Sony WH-1000XM4 Wireless. These over-ears are the previous generation of the Sony WH-1000XM5 Wireless. However, they feel sturdier and offer a better noise isolation performance than the latest version, especially for bass-range noise like rumbling engines. The ANC does a better job of blocking ambient sound than their competitor, the Bose QuietComfort 45/QC45 Wireless, making them the best Sony noise cancelling headphones we've tested. They also have better, springier padding than the WH-1000XM5 and offer a more comfortable fit for most people, especially if you have a smaller head.
If you're not looking for premium headphones or a high-end price point, the Sony WI-C310 are the best Sony wireless headphones in the budget range that we've tested. These in-ears have a neck cable design, so a cable connects the earbuds, allowing you to wear them around your neck when not in use. Because of this, some may find them cumbersome compared to truly wireless buds, but the cable is light and flexible. They aren't as sturdy as the Sony LinkBuds S Truly Wireless, which isn't surprising given their much smaller price tag, but have a decently comfortable fit and a long continuous battery life of nearly 17 hours.
The best headphones from Sony for studio use we've tested are the Sony MDR-7506. Unlike the Sony WH-1000XM4 Wireless, these over-ears aren't for casual use or everyday listening on the bus or at the office. However, they've been around for years and have been the standard for mixing and recording, thanks to their well-balanced sound. Vocals and lead instruments are clear, accurate, and detailed in mixes. They also deliver audio consistently across reseats and come with an adapter so you can connect with an amp or mixer out-of-the-box. They're also suitable for purposes like recording a podcast since they don't leak very much audio.
If you're looking for dedicated gaming headphones, try the Sony INZONE H9 Wireless. They're the highest-end headphones of Sony Electronics' INZONE lineup and are designed with the PS5 in mind, although you can also use them on PC. Unfortunately, Xbox users should look elsewhere for compatible wireless gaming headphones. They have low latency thanks to their wireless USB dongle, but they also support Bluetooth, meaning you can stay connected to your smartphone and console simultaneously. They even have an ANC system, and while it doesn't outperform that of the Sony WH-1000XM4 Wireless, it can still block out noise like ambient chatter and the hum of a standing fan well. With their ANC on and when connected to two devices at a time, they last over 22 hours continuously.
Sony and Bose are often compared to one another, especially when it comes to noise cancelling. Although Bose focuses primarily on noise cancelling performance, their products also tend to sound more neutral, which some users may prefer. They also have a somewhat small but diverse lineup that includes aviation headsets and speaker sunglasses. In comparison, Sony headphones usually offer more robust sound customization features, including 360 Reality Audio, and tend to have more bass-heavy sound profiles. Their lineup is large too, and there's something for everyone at each price point. To see the best options at each price point, see our list of the best Bose headphones.
Sony and Apple are both well-recognized brands with fantastic casual-use wireless products. To get the most out of Apple headphones, you need to be an iOS/iPad user, as many features like Spatial Audio are only accessible within their native ecosystem. Their noise cancelling headphones also tend to rival Sony's, though Sony still has the edge in this regard. Apple also doesn't offer nearly the same level of product diversity as Sony. To see the best Apple has to offer, check out our picks for the most worthwhile Apple headphones.
Sennheiser specializes in audiophile headphones, so in general, the brands cater to people and different needs. However, like Sony, they also make high-end noise cancelling earbuds and over-ears intended for more casual use. They tend to offer fairly neutral sound profiles and sound customization features, but Sony's better ANC headphones offer a superior noise cancelling performance. If you might be interested in audiophile headphones or want to see Sennheiser's more casual products, check out our recommendations for the best options.
Like Sony, Anker makes a variety of wireless over-ear headphones and earbuds for casual use. Their best ANC headphones rival Sony's pricier noise cancelling products, and some Anker headphones even support LDAC, Sony's proprietary codec for hi-res audio. Sony makes a bigger variety of headphones with different designs, like open-back earbuds and gaming headsets, and if you're looking for headphones with a premium build quality, Sony has more options. Still, try our list of the best Anker headphones, especially if you're on a budget.
Sony is known for its product variety, from the top-of-the-line, casual-use WF-1000X and WH-1000X series to the PlayStation-focused INZONE gaming headsets. However, the best headphones from Sony are often expensive but provide good value for those who want the best. Quality varies across models, and their less pricey options generally don't have many extra features. Noise cancelling can especially be a bit hit-or-miss, but their more premium models get it right.
Sony has a few different lineups, but their naming strategy isn't always very clear. Some of their more feature-packed headphones with Bluetooth or active noise cancelling might appear to be in the same family as their basic wired headphones, which can be confusing. Their most consistent naming conventions are:
Some models like the Sony WH-CH700N Wireless also end in 'N', which denotes noise cancelling. However, this is only for headphones that are outside of the WH-1000, WF-1000, and LinkBuds lineup.
They also offer a few dedicated PlayStation headphones. These headphones, which include the PlayStation Platinum Wireless Headset and Sony Pulse 3D Wireless, are produced directly by PlayStation (which is owned by Sony) and not Sony Electronics, which is the manufacturer of the above products. That means you won't find these headsets on Sony's headphones website.
Sony makes a wide variety of models geared for all kinds of listeners. Most of their models deliver reliable sound quality with either more bass-heavy or neutral-sounding options to choose from. Their best-performing headphones come at a premium price, as their cheaper models can be hit-or-miss. Their higher-end models are among the best headphones we've tested and are easy to recommend.
Although the Sony WH-1000XM5 and WH-1000XM4 have a lot in common, like speak-to-chat, an in-app EQ, the option to prioritize sound quality over connection stability (and vice versa), and more, the headsets appear fairly different. Unlike the WH-1000XM4 and WH-1000XM3 before it, the fifth-generation WH-1000X headphones feature a clean design that more closely mimics the Bose Noise Cancelling Headphones 700. 041b061a72