Customer Ratings & Reviews

I’ve worn wired earbuds for music but have never tried them for gaming until now as my Logitech G522 is my (wire-free) daily driver. With the Sony Inzone E9s, a no mic in-ear monitor makes for a unique need. Good: Cord Length USB-C DAC 3.5mm connection Comfort Software Case Extra Tips Meh: No Comms Easy to Tangle Fit at front/top of ear Shape/Style I have to say that these Sony INZONE E9 in-ear monitors are pretty nice. In the case, wound up and put under the magnetic inner flap keeps them together. Even though there is a decently long cord, the case keeps it all together. If you want more control over your sound, the USB-C DAC allows integration with the Sony Inzone Hub, so you can “EQ” it the way you want. It comes with a number of presets and a few FPS presets tuning for different things you may like: footsteps, shots, explosions or tune it yourself with the sliders. Either way, there are options. If you don’t need the extra tuning or software (eating up RAM), then a 3.5mm jack will work. I have tried the different ear tips and I found (for me) that the quiet tips fit the best over the foam and included with the E9s are different tips that have matching colors for the sizes. While both are comfortable, I didn’t stick with the foam for very long. Within the Inzone software, there are a number of FPS presets, but there isn’t a microphone for comms, so if you talk to your online team during your FPS games this needs an extra mic; I tried the one on my webcam but was told it wasn’t good, so I didn’t talk. I played some Forza and can see why this would be appealing. Solo gaming is probably what’s best here. A ‘fit’ observation: I found the front of the earbud, when the tips were positioned well for my ears, it leaned forward vs being wrapped around my ear. When corded and moving around in my chair, moving the cord had the earbud moved back and was breaking the good seal I had with the ear tips and forcing me to adjust them while playing. I have used the E9s for a number of hours; some hours at a time and some having shorter on/off gaming throughout the day. When going back and forth playing, I could never get the earbuds to a place where I didn't need to untangle them. It wasn’t a huge deal but figured I’d mention it because I regularly had to do it. For me, I can find myself going to these for that solo gaming I mentioned but when FPS games, flipping back to my other headset. Recommended!

It's been a while since I've used in-ear monitors (IEMs), but I was curious about how a modern set would perform, particularly for gaming. My last experience with IEMs was about 15 years ago, with a Shure pair used for music. The E9s deliver impressive sound. The bass is punchy, and the sound separation is clear. I've primarily used them for gaming, but also for music and movies, and I've never been disappointed. While advertised for PS5 and PC, they work with any device featuring a headphone jack or USB-C port. Adjusting settings like EQ is limited to PC or PS5, but once tuned, you can use them anywhere. I do wish there was a button to switch between sound profiles. As an avid player of action RPGs and FPS games, I'm delighted with the in-game audio. My only minor critique is that they could be a touch louder; I often find myself increasing the volume more than with my wireless options. The sound isolation of the E9s is excellent. They don't have Active Noise Cancellation, but their passive noise cancellation is outstanding. Because they sit snugly in the ear, they effectively block out external noise, even outperforming some of my wireless earbuds with ANC. The only potential drawback is the lack of adjustability for this feature. The overall build quality is great. The cable is very long, and the adapter and earbuds store neatly in the included case. I appreciate the magnetic strap inside the case that helps keep the cable and adapter organized. The companion app is user-friendly and allows you to customize sound profiles for different games or media. As mentioned, it would be convenient to switch profiles without the app, but it's not a significant issue. I've been thoroughly enjoying the E9s. After finding my preferred EQ settings, I've been using them for gaming on my PS Portal, PS5, PC, Switch 2, and phone. They work seamlessly across all my devices, and it's refreshing not to worry about charging them. They're always ready to go. I also value the passive noise cancellation. I wholeheartedly recommend these in-ear monitors.

The Sony INZONE E9 IEMs are lightweight and comfortable to wear. The cable is long (a little over 6 ft) and it comes in a hardcase with a strap and magnets inside to keep the cables down. Its companion software INZONE Hub is for the included DAC - very easy to use, but limited in some ways. While the ability to pinpoint the directionality of sound cues in game was good, the default (flat) and FPS presets sounded very mid-heavy, almost laptop speaker-like and uninteresting. Thankfully with IZONE Hub it was easy to create a custom sound profile and change it to something that I felt was more suitable and clear. For shooters like Counter-Strike 2 it sounded the most ideal for me with everything under 500 Hz pushed slightly down and everything above that slightly boosted (looking like a rising wave from left to right). This allowed me to focus on things like footsteps and enemy reload sounds more easily. However, for Overwatch 2 my custom settings didn’t work well at all - everything sounded muddy since there was a lot more going on at any given time. Back to the drawing board to create another custom profile. This made me look for per-game profiles in INZONE Hub, but that wasn’t a feature. Instead, I found myself keeping the software open at all times to switch between profiles - like using the Music/Video preset for single-player games, movies, and music. That being said, the ability to hear and perceive in-game sound cues of the earbuds work well - but with the limited software and somewhat lifeless sound out of the box, the value of the Sony INZONE E9 is a bit difficult to justify.

Inzone E9 IEM’s are a great choice for earbuds. The audio is amazing and the IEM’s are a nice alternative to headphones. The Inzone hub desktop app allows you to have spatial audio and change the EQ or use some of the EQ presets. The IEM’s are a comfortable fit and come with many different tips, case and USB-C adapter. The IEM’s are a really good choice if your feel uncomfortable wearing headsets for a long period of time. The IEM’s have amazing clear audio and feel great to use and don't have a loose fit and the around ear looped ends feel great and secure. During gaming sessions I felt aware of the footsteps and gunshots that surrounded me and felt knowledgeable of the enemies locations. I felt as if the more precise audio helped me understand the game more and made make educated plays throughout my usage of these headphones. I would recommend these to people who either have a mic and prefer a more free and less stiff head or people who enjoy playing solo and want a less clunky headset. These headphones are great and a must have for any competitive shooter.

You have to get used to wearing them if you going from traditional headphones

First time using IEM’s but I really love these. I think they’re comfortable fit. And despite no ANC they come with a lot of ear tips both memory foam and rubber and if you can get the right fit really adds to the immersion. Playing ghost of Yotei with these has been awesome.

These are very much a targeted product. They are perfect for what I want them for. I have a gaming tablet PC that I can game anywhere I go with pretty amazing quality. I have that paired with a wireless travel gaming keyboard and mouse, but the headset has been an issue. I don’t want a giant gaming headset as they take up way too much room, and when I am traveling I’m not using voice chat at all so the no mic doesn’t bother me at all. Now my PC has a pretty dynamite DAC built in already so I don’t need the Aux to USB C adapter that comes with it however the Inzone application has some FPS modes that heighten the foot steps or gun fire if which is a nice feature. One issue with the DAC that I immediately noticed is when you change the volume it spits (not sure how else to describe it), it just cuts out for a tenth of a second and then is fine, I thought maybe it was my computer but when I plugged it into the Aux port it was just smooth. Now, once you are at the volume you want it sounds awesome. Using the Inzone DAC also enables you to customize the sound profile to each app so if you have Netflix at the forefront you can have it optimized for movies versus say Fortnite that would be optimized for footsteps and gunfire. The fit of these is perfect for in ear and wired. I love how it wraps over the ears, I have often wrapped wired earbuds over my ears anyway as them falling out is usually an issue, but they didn’t fit nearly as good as these go that are designed to do it. Then it has a multitude of fittings for your ear, and they are relatively easy to swap out too so it’s not too much of a pain trying each on to see which fits best. Overall, they are an excellent travel companion and gaming in general if you prefer in ear. If you are looking to communicate while gaming these do not have a mic which may be a problem, however, for me this isn’t an issue at all. Pros: USB C or Aux for multiple platform support Excellent ear tip choice and easy to swap Over the ear for comfort and securing Excellent sound quality Application enables sound customization per app Cons: No microphone DAC stutters when volume is changed Application only has support for windows

So I just received my Sony InZone E9 Gaming Headphone about a week ago and have been putting them through the paces. Now when I think or hear the name Sony, I automatically think of solid quality and superb craftsmanship. I’ve owned a number of Sony products over the years and have never had any of them fail and I’m sure these E9 headphones will be just as good. Unboxing you will find: * Sony E9 Gaming Headphones * Carrying Case * USB Type C Audio Box * Hybrid Silicone Rubber Earbud Tips * Noise Isolation Earbud Tips * InZone Stickers * User Documentation Now using these are easy peasy. Simply hook them on your ears and plug them into the back of your DualSense Controller for your PS5 or your PC and you’re good to go. If you’re using this on your PC, it’s recommended to download the InZone Hub software from Sony’s website. The InZone Hub software allows you the ability to tweak the settings to your liking such as the equalizer, as well as creating game-specific profiles, in addition to using the USB Type C Audio Box for 360 Spatial Sound. In my usage with them connected to my controller, I was very impressed with the sound quality and clarity. While playing games it almost felt like I was right in the middle of the action and could hear different sounds off to the left and right of me. The noise isolation ear tips worked surprisingly better than I expected and felt very comfortable in my ears. I could wear these for hours without any pain or pressure on my ears. Though these are wired, one of the biggest pros is never having to worry about how much battery charge you have left on them. And though they were made primarily for Gaming on your PS5 and/or PC, they can be used on any device that has 3.5mm headphone port. But my favorite thing about these aside from the amazing sound quality is the inclusion of the USB Type C Audio Box, which converts the 3.5mm plug into a USB-C plug that can be used on my iPhone. Just another handy-dandy item that can go from being the best gaming headset to a regular headset for phone calls or music.

I ordered these primarily for gaming and to use on my iPad Pro. It's important to remember that these are not earbuds or earphones and they don't include a microphone for answering calls on your portable device. There are no volume controls or buttons to summon your favorite AI assistant. These are in-ear monitors that are best suited for gaming. When I opened them, I was happy to see that a sturdy case was included with them, as well as a USB-C adapter for using on your gaming or portable device. They are very comfortable, but it took me a minute to get used to how they fit over my ears. Once I figured that out, I found them to work well, have decent sound and noise cancellation and were comfortable to wear for an extended period of time. The cord is I found the sound to be surprisingly good. I listened to a variety of different genres to include jazz, hip-hop and R&B and although there isn't an app to modify the settings, really liked the quality of all types of music that I listened to. Since these are in-ear, there is a certain amount of noise cancellation, but there is no active or controlled method to it. I also noticed that even at higher volumes, the sound remained clear, but even at max volume levels, I wouldn't say they were loud. That is not a negative for me, but some may. Overall, I really like these for music and game play, but more so for the music. These will work great when my primary headphones need to be charged or if I'm taking a nap and want something comfortable in my ears while I relax.

The Sony INZONE E9 In-Ear Monitors really impressed me. These IEMs come with the ear phones, a travel case, 2 different tip types in 4 different sizes, and a usb-c dongle. First off, I always appreciate when IEMs come with this many different ear tip options. There are 4 sizes of two different types, for 8 options total. The two different types of tips are silicone and foam. I found the silicone to be more comfortable and provide better sound isolation, but your mileage may vary, and it's nice to have the different options. First, I tested these with just plain music on my phone. I needed to use the dongle since my iPhone doesn't have a headphone jack. I was not really blown away by the performance when listening to music. The overall sound was just lackluster. Next, I plugged them in to my PC and loaded up some Doom: The Dark Ages, and I gotta tell you, the difference is night and day. Yeah, these aren't at all meant for listening to music on your phone. They designed these for gaming, and they absolutely work phenomenally for that. The sound was immersive, dynamic, robust, and all the other buzz words. I don't know, I'm not an expert. All I know is that it sounded as good as my full sized headsets that cost much more. Speaking of headsets, that is one thing to mention. These do not have a built in mic. These are strictly for audio output. So overall I am very impressed with the performance of these IEMs when gaming. Not so much when just listening to music. Also, they are very comfortable to wear for long gaming sessions. I kind of forget that I am wearing them after a while. The same can't be said for many bulky headsets that get my ears hot. These IEMs have earned a permanent spot on my desk and will by my go-to for to long gaming sessions.

I was interested in these mainly because I see the pros wear variations of wired in ear monitor headphones during competitions, so I figured they must be great. I first tried these out with standard 3.5mm jack on my PS5 and they were good but definitely weren't anything I would use over the over-the-ear headphones. These are primarily for PC gaming since you can't unlock their true potential without their software they call Inzone Hub paired alongside their USB-C audio box. The INZONE HUB software is a gamechanger since you're able to get 360 spatial sound and hear the direction of anything going on in the game so you can track your enemies through sound. I found it extremely unique because you have to create a custom hearing profile by taking pictures of your ear through the phone app. If you don't feel like you're completely dialed in, you can always customize your own sound through the equalizer or even try some of the presets that the pros use themselves! While these headphones are primarily tied to the Inzone Hub software, I would also say they are comfortable enough for long gaming sessions since they're really lightweight and didn't cause any wear fatigue for me. I would say that it did take me some time getting use to taking them off and putting them on in between games so I missed a few starts. Overall, these E9 wired in-ear headphones paired with the INZONE HUB and hard to beat when it comes to dialing down your sound so I'm always excited to game.

I am pleasantly surprised with how great these in-ear monitors are for gaming and how unexpectedly comfortable they are for long gaming sessions. I have had many different high-end gaming headsets and while some may sound better, none are as comfortable as these IEMs for long gaming sessions. With how good these sound I am willing to sacrifice a small amount of sound quality for comfort. Game audio sounds great with these, with specific tuning for FPS style games and many other profiles available if using these for PC gaming with the included USB-C audio hub and Sony's INZONE hub software. The audio hub is not required to use these as they have a standard 3.5mm audio jack that can be used in any device allowing you to use these wherever you want. I didn't really use the software, and I even used these on my X-box due to the controller having a standard 3.5mm audio jack and I have been extremely happy with the default sound of these. The thing that has amazed me the most is how absolutely comfortable these are, they are super light and even after long gaming sessions I feel no pressure or pain from using these. There are multiple ear-tips included allowing you to customize for your ear as well as your preferred background-noise isolation. I would highly recommend these for anyone looking for either gaming IEMs or an alternative to gaming headsets.

The INZONE E9 earbuds specifically for late-night FPS sessions, and they’ve quickly become my go-to gear. Right out of the box—headphones, USB-C audio box, four sizes of silicone tips, four hybrid tips, a sturdy little case, and the quick-start guide—I could tell these weren’t your average gaming buds. The moment I dropped them in, I noticed how flat and honest they sound. There’s no exaggerated bass bump or brightening in the highs—just the kind of monitor-style accuracy you need to pick out every footstep and distant shot. Whether I’m sneaking around a corner or trying to pinpoint an enemy’s location, the 5 mm drivers deliver precise spatial detail without distortion, even at higher volumes. What really sold me is the sealed design and noise-isolation tips. I toss on my headset, and suddenly the outside world just… fades. Crowd roars, chatter, even the hum of my PC fans disappear, and I’m locked into the comms and chaos of the game. Swapping between the silicone and hybrid tips helped me find the perfect seal—no mid-match ear shifts or pressure points. Then there’s the little USB-C audio box. Plug it in, fire up the INZONE Hub, and you get virtual 7.1 surround plus a 360 Spatial Sound mode that feels shockingly real. I loaded Fnatic’s pro EQ profile, tweaked a bit, and suddenly I could tell if someone was flanking me from three different angles. It’s the kind of edge you notice immediately. After hours of play, my ears feel fresh—no soreness or fatigue. And when I’m done, everything tucks neatly into the case and is ready for my next session. If you want earbuds that give you pinpoint audio accuracy, block out distractions, and deliver convincing surround sound without any gimmicks, the INZONE E9 is worth every penny. They’ve turned my late-night grind into a surgical, focused experience—exactly what I was hunting for.

I hate having to leave less than 5 stars on anything. THE GOOD ~ Relatively comfortable ~ Lightweight ~ In-ear ~ I could hear well ~ Gaming friends could hear me without issue ~ comes with a USB-C Adapter ~ Nice case ~ Stereo/surround sound THE BAD ~Not easy to put in ~ Tinny sounding ~ No easy sound controls ~ Must download software ~ Program issues THE MEH (Could go either way) ~ Wired (I already knew this) OVERALL I am almost always happy with the products I review. I am not UNhappy with these as much as I am disappointed. I have some very good over-the-ear headphones and mic that I often use, but then I can't hear when the wife is yelling at ... I mean FOR me. I wanted in ear because I figured they would be lighter, cooler, and a bit easier to hear ambient sounds. IN that regard, I was not disappointed. They come in a nice case with a USB-C adapter. Trying to get them in the first time or two was a daunting task. You are supoposed to loop the wire behind and over your ear. There's nothing wrong with that design, but it isn't intuitive or very practical when most other earbuds just go in with the wire hanging down. I suppose it allows you to take them out and leave them hanging next to your ears and helps keep them closer to your body so you don't accidentally hit them and rip them out while gaming. I plugged them into the 3.5mm jack on my computer. Every now and then I could get it to stop by moving the wire or unplugging and re-plugging in the set. I really don't fault that, which is why I have it under BAD and MEH. It could simply be my motherboard or jack. Still, I feel compelled to mention it. Where I was most disappointed was with the sound quality. It had a lot of treble and mids, but almost no base. Consequently, while gaming, everything sounded incredibly tinny. I didn't get the rich sounds I am used to via speakers or my other headphones. Another disappointment was the lack of sound controls on the earbuds. I am used to simply tapping or touching my earbuds and headphones to increase and decrease volume. Those who game can appreciate the importance of this. These don't allow that. Instead, to control the volume, I had to go to the computer settings to increase or decrease it. I don't know if the program you have to download allows an easier way in-game because even though I downloaded and opened the app, it never could find my earbuds. I tried it multiple times and even went to the website and read through the FAQs and troubleshooter. THE BIG QUESTION: Would I recommend these to people? Probably not. For every job there is a proper tool. So, there may be one or two people to whom I would recommend these, but given my experience thus far, I would not recommend them to gaming friends. To be honest, I hope I am just a one-off because I truly wanted to love these.

These are nice in-ear headphones that stay in better than most any other that I've tried. The sound quality is also excellent and with a very flat response which you would expect from a product labeled as a "monitor". With something like this, you want accurate reproduction of the sound, not an over-emphasized bass or any other such tweaks that the manufacturer might make to make the headphones more appealing in the short-run. They really tout their software for adjusting the sound as you'd like, but I cannot comment on that. Apparently a high-end Microsoft Surface laptop does not meet their desired specs for audio software. If their software to make adjustments to the audio experience is so demanding on your hardware, I wouldn't think anyone would be using this for professional gaming as you wouldn't want to overtax your system. So... They fit well and they provide a good audio response to your input. It's nice that they include a headphone to USB-C adapter. That's about all that can be said for these. Are good quality wired headphones worth $180? Not to me...

I don't know what they've done here, but these buds don't perform anywhere near what other Inzone headphone can do. The sound is flat and lifeless. There's no boom, no bells, but lots of whistles. It's way too bright and muffles the other frequencies. I don't know why they decided to use a "gamer" to have input on some relatively higher tier buds. The should have consulted audiophiles to get the best sound and then used the software to tweak it to sound bad but benefit positional cues. Instead they crippled it and you can't make the sound better. OK, I lied there. You can make them sound better by uninstalling the Inzone drivers and using the 3.5mm jack like plain old ear buds. Both DTX and Windows for Headphones provide better positional audio than Inzone does plus, even without EQ'ing, sound tons better than what the Inzone software can do. So, could they fix it with a software and firmware update? Dunno, but I'd like to see/hear if they can. I was hoping to use these as my daily driver since there are have been times where I've forgotten to charge my Inzone buds and had to wait a while until they got enough juice. I was expecting these to be of the same audio quality, but huh-uh, no-go. So these are going back in the case and hoping for an update to hopefully make these better.