The Sony Inzone H9 II are a number of the most comfy headphones I’ve worn

Sony’s Inzone headphones are positioned as PC gaming {hardware}, however they’re designed to work throughout each PC and PS5, which makes them an interesting choice should you’re in search of one thing a bit extra premium than the corporate’s PlayStation equipment, or spend as a lot time in entrance of your TV as you do your monitor. The corporate launched Inzone in 2022 with a concentrate on audio, and recently expanded the brand with the assistance of esports firm Fnatic to incorporate extra elements of the PC gaming expertise to cowl all the things from in-ear screens to wi-fi mice.

The crown jewel of this new lineup is the Inzone H9 II Gaming Headset. They mix the audio tech of Sony’s standard WH-1000XM6 headphones with a brand new ear cup and headband design that is extremely comfy to put on and higher than most premium wi-fi headphones I’ve tried. Whereas the H9 II are on the expensive aspect at $350, I feel they’re an amazing choice, whether or not you are knowledgeable PC gamer or somebody who sometimes performs Fortnite on PS5 with your folks.

4/5

Microphone

Sure, Cardioid

Compatibility

PC, PS5 (different units over Bluetooth or wired connection)

What’s Included

Headphones, bag, audio cable, USB-C charging cable

Model

Sony

Sony’s new Inzone H9 II wi-fi headset makes use of the drivers from the corporate’s premium WH-1000XM6 headphones for improved sound, and encompasses a new design that is lighter because of its headband.

Execs & Cons

• Gentle and really comfy
• WH-1000XM6 driver audio enhancements
• Simple to connect with quite a lot of units

• Controls are onerous to be taught
• Restricted customization choices in companion app

Value, availability, and specs

The Sony Inzone H9 II wi-fi headphones retail for $350 in both black and white finishes. They’re extensively accessible and will be bought instantly from Sony or quite a lot of on-line retailers, like Amazon and Finest Purchase, within the US.

Whereas the headphones supply all the identical performance as the unique Inzone H9 Sony has considerably up to date each the design and the inner audio elements of the brand new mannequin to make them definitely worth the improve. For instance, the brand new headband construction makes the headphones simple to regulate for quite a lot of head sizes with out turning into unbalanced. That design tweak helps to make the headphones lighter than earlier than. The H9 II weigh 273g with its adjustable, cardioid mic connected or round 260g with it indifferent.

You’ll be able to alter issues like your quantity by way of a dial on the aspect of the H9 II’s ear cups or change between Ambient mode and Noise-Cancellation with devoted buttons. There’s additionally a USB-C port for charging the headphones and a 3.5mm audio jack for utilizing them over a wired connection. For shortly muting your self when you are voice chatting with pals, Sony additionally included a big texture button on the highest of one of many H9 II’s ear cups.

Inside, the Inzone H9 II use the identical audio drivers because the Sony WH-1000XM6, alongside a carbon composite diaphragm that helps with producing detailed sound. Twin microphones built-in to the headphones assist with issues like active-noise cancellation and the headphones additionally assist a number of connectivity choices and audio codecs. Particularly, the H9 II assist digital 7.1 encompass sound and join with units over Bluetooth, Bluetooth LE Audio, the beforehand talked about wired connection, or a 2.4GHz USB-C dongle that works with each PS5 or PC. Mixed with the headphones’ as much as 30 hours of battery life, the Inzone H9 II have, at the very least on paper, lots to supply.

What I appreciated in regards to the Inzone H9 II

Essentially the most comfy headphones I’ve worn

It is onerous to overstate how comfy the Inzone H9 II headset is to put on, notably as somebody who wears glasses. By nature of their design, most headphones pinch the perimeters of your frames and head, if they don’t seem to be uncomfortably cupping your ears in another approach on high of that. This is not an issue once I take my glasses off, however with them on, even an costly $500 pair of headphones just like the AirPods Max squash my frames into the aspect of my head in a ridiculously uncomfortable approach.

That is not the case on the Inzone H9 II, that are gentle and versatile and capable of twist each which approach. All sides of the headphones’ headband will be adjusted unbiased of the opposite and the ear cups are cushioned and gentle. I would not say that I forgot I am carrying headphones when I’ve them on, however to the H9 II’s credit score, I do not really feel restricted or like I might need to take them off, which is the subsequent neatest thing.

As a result of Sony makes use of the core audio tech on the coronary heart of the WH-1000XM6s, the Inzone H9 II sound good too. The audio the headphones produce is crisp, clear, and loud. I may simply pick the footsteps of the opposite folks I used to be taking part in Abiotic Issue with, and my Discord voice chat blended easily with in-game audio. The cardioid mic can also be a lot better at blocking out background noise and holding my voice in focus (it helps that it will get lots nearer to my mouth than the AirPods Pro 2 I usually use).

I might prolong that wonderful audio efficiency to the ANC, as properly, which could not be as all-encompassing as Sony’s premium headphones, however was greater than sufficient to dam out the busy road close to my condominium and even a dialog taking place a number of ft away as soon as I turned issues as much as medium quantity. Whereas I am not a severe PC gamer like I feel Sony is concentrating on, it is price noting the Inzone H9 II are pretty simple to arrange, simply by plugging within the included dongle and ensuring it is switched to both console or PC. Taken all collectively, I feel you get an amazing expertise from all of the headphone fundamentals.

What I did not like in regards to the Inzone H9 II

The whole lot is extra difficult than it must be

When you think about the quantity of management choices accessible on the H9 II, it may be a bit daunting. There are lots of buttons on the headphones that the common wi-fi earbuds consumer has doubtless by no means considered or had to make use of. The truth that Sony presents bodily buttons for all of the H9 II’s most essential options is totally optimistic, however you actually need to be taught their placement for them to be handy, one thing I wasn’t capable of do within the few weeks I examined the headphones.

The USB-C dongle the H9 II use to create a high-quality audio connection to a PC or PS5 is handy, however not as handy as not having to make use of a dongle in any respect. These sorts of setups are the norm for two.4Ghz connections, however Sony does have its personal connectivity choice, PlayStation Hyperlink, that might have been much more handy. A PlayStation Portal can connect with Sony’s Pulse Explore wireless earbuds with no need a dongle in any respect. Why is not that an choice for the Inzone H9 II?

Finally, it is good that Sony presents the number of connectivity choices the Inzone H9 II have. That does not cease me from wishing issues could possibly be less complicated, or that I may get the premium high quality of the Inzone H9 II for below $300.

Do you have to purchase the Inzone H9 II?

It is best to completely take into account it

The Inzone H9 II are simple to advocate, particularly should you’re in search of a pair of headphones to put on whereas gaming that transcend what you may get out of a traditional pair of wi-fi earbuds. Positive, there are extra handy choices for listening to music in your telephone (one thing that the H9 II are technically able to), however Sony’s new headphones sound and work nice within the actual surroundings they’re designed for: attempting to listen to your fireteam whereas re-running a Future 2 strike for the fifth time in a row.

The corporate sells cheaper choices below $200, however should you can afford it, ignore these impulse buys and get the H9 II. They don’t seem to be solely extra comfy, however they provide you a premium audio expertise you will be glad you paid for.

4/5

Microphone

Sure, Cardioid

Compatibility

PC, PS5 (different units over Bluetooth or wired connection)

What’s Included

Headphones, bag, audio cable, USB-C charging cable

Model

Sony

Sony’s new Inzone H9 II wi-fi headset makes use of the drivers from the corporate’s premium WH-1000XM6 headphones for improved sound, and encompasses a new design that is lighter because of its headband.