Customer Ratings & Reviews

Sony has recently introduced their next generation of gaming headset - INZONE H9 II with wireless noise canceling features. This headset has also borrowed some features from their bestseller XM6 series NC headphones thanks to the 30mm drivers, these sound pretty good, but let's dig into a few things first. Number 1 thing a gamer is always looking for in their choice of headphones is Comfort. No matter how any of the headphones sound if you are not comfortable wearing them, you won't be happy playing. So the comfort level for these is very good in my book. Due to the headphone's light weight (260 grams!), soft padded cups and nice band to adjust on top of your head, you will be happy to know these headphones feel amazing. The flexible band itself has been redesigned according to Sony for low-tension and a secure fit without discomfort. It is very easy to adjust too and Sony found an innovating way to do it. The set comes with a removable microphone which is also a nice feature as I don't always use one and having it always stick out could be an annoyance to some gamers. So the headphones are nice to use and super comfortable. The Build - Sony used plastic for the cups to make the whole set lightweight. There are a number of responsive buttons available, the Volume wheel is located on the left cup with nice tactile steps in it. There is Noise Cancelling and Ambient button as well. With active noise canceling feature eliminates background distractions (noise canceling works in both wireless and wired modes by the way.) If you would like more awareness of your surroundings, toggle Ambient Sound Mode to adjust how much outside noise you’d like to hear. USB-C port for charging is also right there and provides up to 30 hrs of game play and pure sound. Now I mentioned the microphone is detachable and there is also a 3.5 mm port that can be used with power and without. I would absolutely encourage to use Sony's INZONE Hub PC software to personalize your audio experience. There are so many options to adjust EQ settings, mic sensitivity, spatial sound, and more. This allows for a truly customized gaming environment that suits your play style. The Sony app for your phone is also convenient to have and provides similar settings like EQ, Find your EQ, 360 Reality Audio Setup, etc. It simply helps you unlock precise audio positioning with INZONE’s 360 Spatial Sound, designed to help you hear opponents before they see you. As with any other high end gaming headsets Sony also offers Dual Wireless Connectivity: 2.4GHz + Bluetooth. So pretty much you can seamlessly connect to your PC or console via 2.4GHz wireless, while staying paired with your phone via Bluetooth. I like the fact that this dual connectivity allows you to take calls, listen to music, or chat on Discord without interrupting your gameplay. This headset is pretty tech packed in my opinion and lets your game play to be more enjoyable. Sound stage is balanced and the bass is pretty good and somewhat subdued. I truly wanted XM6s however when these showed up I am pretty happy with them as they are excellent for easy music listening and impactful game playing.

As a gamer who has spent years buying gaming peripherals, I was excited to see Sony get serious about gaming with their INZONE series. I still listen to one of my favorite sets, the Sony WH-1000 XM3 headphones, so I was excited to hear that they are built on the same drivers as the newest WH-1000XM6 headphones. Sony’s ANC has always been superb and top class too. The Sony INZONE H9 II is the second iteration of its gaming headset and on paper it’s making waves with its new drivers and partnership with a major pro E-sports organization. I was curious to see if they were all hype or if they could deliver to an already crowded field. *Design/Build/Unboxing* The packaging is clean and professional. The box includes the headset, the detachable mic, a 2.4GHz USB-C transceiver, and USB-A to USB-C charging cable and a 3.5mm audio cable for wired connections. There’s also a soft fabric travel pouch with a side pocket to hold the mic and cables. When you pick up the headset, you will notice how light they are in your hands. My first few wireless gaming headphones were so heavy it was always a complaint and sometimes it would hurt my head during gaming sessions. This is frankly the lightest set I’ve picked up. The official weight is right at 260 grams (270 grams with the mic attached.) These are significantly lighter than the 1st generation H9 headphones. This means lighter and longer gaming sessions. There is a leather cushioned headstrap that makes contact with your head. There are adjustment buttons on each side you can use to adjust the fit. I haven’t seen anything like it but they do the job. Tip: When adjusting these, hold the headband at the top and it’s much easier to make adjustments. The padding on the earcups is soft and breathable. I will note my ears stayed comfortable and cool once I got the headstrap properly adjusted. If you have a big head or big ears though, you might have trouble getting a good fit from the earcup. I would say I have a medium build and these were just about right, with not much more room. The headphones have a smooth matte black finish that looks great, but it will visibly pick up a lot of oil and dust. *Specs/Features* The Sony INZONE H9 II headphones have 30mm Carbon Composite Dynamic drivers and as I said before they are based on the WH-1000XM6. They can connect with 3 different types of connections: 2.4GHz wireless with the USB-C dongle, Bluetooth, and 3.5mm wired. The USB-C dongle will connect to PC, PS5, and Nintendo Switch. For everything else there’s Bluetooth, which does include the LE Audio standard, or the 3.5mm wired jack which you can use to plug into controllers or devices with headphone ports. You can connect to 2 devices simultaneously with wireless and bluetooth which is great when you want to use your phone too (bluetooth.)The boom mic is detachable and bendable which helps you make microadjustments when necessary to get it dialed in. The microphone is a unidirectional Cardoid boom mic with AI noise canceling. Battery life is around 30 hours with ANC, and about 48 hours with ANC off. If you run out of battery you can charge for 5 minutes to get a couple hours more of playback (useful if you’re mid-game and you’re out of battery.) Sony does Active Noise Cancellation so good and it’s superb with the H9 II model. It will drown out all of the low to mid noises around you. The , buttons are basic. There’s a volume dial, game, chat, ANC/ambient, bluetooth, power button, and a USB-C port for charging. *Performance* Specs will only tell you so much. The true measure of this gaming headset is how it will perform in a gaming environment. Most of my gaming is on the PC, but I will game on consoles too. Out of the box the Sony INZONE H9 II are tuned for gaming and they sound exceptional, while the active noise cancellation is the best in the business. The tuning really shines when you're playing FPS. I personally play Overwatch and COD and the footsteps, positional sounds, and all of the minor things like reloads and environmental noises have excellent clarity. Outside of gaming, for movies and music, I would recommend you tune them in with the INZONE Hub software equalizer. This will help with lower bass and give you more balance. I’ll say it again, Sony’s active noise cancellation is top of its class for gaming. It will knock out all of the low to mid frequencies allowing you to focus on the game. The mic made my voice sound natural and clear, and it’s nice to be able to bend it. The nice thing about having a detachable mic is you can take these anywhere with you whether it be the airport, bleachers, or a coffee shop. The game chat balance works perfectly on the PC. This can help you focus on chat when you need to, such as organizing your team right before the round starts. Overall, the gaming sound performance is impressive, for all other practical uses such as movies and music I would dial the sound in with the equalizer or you might be disappointed. *Pros/Cons* *Pros* * Great design, comfortable and light * ANC is as good as it gets * Gaming sound is excellent * Mic performs well * Connectivity was well thought out *Suggestions/Needs Improvement* * Movies and Music need to be dialed in * Might be a little small for large heads/ears * Matte finish is a fingerprint/oil/dust magnet The gaming sound performance of the Sony INZONE H9 II is extraordinary. I would highly recommend them for competitive gamers or casual gamers looking for premium gaming sound. For those that want an all-around set of headphones for gaming/music/movies you will most likely be adjusting the equalizer frequently. Still, my primary use is gaming and these are excellent gaming headphones.

I was so excited to get my hands on these and game with them on my PS5 and Switch 2. I’ve owned them for about a week now and I’ve been using them every day. The thing I was most excited about was that Sony states that these headphones have the same drivers as the WH-1000XM6. I have not used those headphones yet, but I have owned the 1000XM4’s. Those were quite legendary. Anywho! I was expecting similar / amazing sound quality out of the Sony Inzone H9 II’s because of it. I think it is safe to say that they live up to the expectations I had. My only complaint is that I was expecting a little more bass out of them, especially while playing fps shooters that have explosions and big guns blazing. On one hand though, I think for competitive gaming.. you won’t want to have the smaller / ambient sounds drowned out by big bass. You’ll want to hear what direction your enemies are coming towards you from. These definitely making playing competitive shooters fun. I can hear little details in game that I normally miss while using my TV’s speakers for audio. These headphones get loud, not deafening, but loud enough to hear every little detail. I like all the buttons they have on the earcups. You can easily mute your microphone, toggle the noise canceling feature and raise or lower the volume. The earcups are very comfortable and lightweight. I tend to game for 2/3 hours straight when I play online. My ears never fatigued. I have a large head, with big ears to match and these earcups sit perfectly over my ears without putting any pressure on my ear lobes or cartilage. The headband adjusts quickly and easily with the press of a button. The microphone can be removed if you just want to game and be immersed without chatting. Which I love , because I don’t want the microphone in my face if I’m not going to be using it. While chatting with my friends on my PlayStation 5. Before I even said anything about having a new headset, my friend told me that I sounded really clear. He literally said wow, what headset are you using? You’ve never sounded this loud and clear lol. So I think it is safe to say that the included microphone is great. As far as sound quality.. I think I would describe them as pretty balanced, with some emphasis on treble. Bass isn’t very heavy, but they have a nice subtle punch. Mids, trebles and the little details come through nice and clean. Footsteps, rain, wind, lasers lol, every little sound effect comes through loud and clear. These headphones have kind of allowed me to be more immersed into the games I’ve been playing. Noise cancelling with these headphones works very well. It doesn’t completely drown out sounds but just enough to let you focus on your games and be immersed. I’ve owned over 10 different sets of headphones for gaming, and I would say that these are probably the best I’ve used so far. They are comfortable for long sessions , battery life is great. You can connect them wirelessly to most consoles and PC with the included dongle. Or you couldn’t use the 3.5mm cable that is also included. They look stylish, and even include a carrying bag for them. I think my search for gaming headphones is over (for now) and these will be my go to for the foreseeable future. Would I recommend these? If you have the means for it, go for it!

As someone who splits my gaming time pretty evenly between a PlayStation 5 Pro, Xbox Series X and a high-end gaming laptop, finding a single headset that excels on all platforms has always been a challenge. I’m sad to say, this isn’t it lol, but for PC and PS5 it is pretty darn close. After spending some time with the INZONE H9 Two or “II”, I can say I’m happy with it for my two systems, but it has some quirks you should know about though. I’ll start with what I liked. Right out of the box, the comfort is what struck me first. The H9 II is incredibly lightweight. I played “The First Berserker Khazan” on my laptop for roughly four hours and I had no fatigue, the usual pressure or discomfort I've experienced with other headsets. The flexible headband is fantastic, giving me a secure fit that never feels too tight. On my PS5 Pro, the 360 Spatial Sound is okay. Playing BF2042 (BF6 made me reinstall that game), I was able to pinpoint the direction of enemy footsteps with a level of accuracy that I felt comfortable with, but it didn’t seem very prominent to me. The active noise canceling is another standout feature, almost completely blocking out background noise and allowing me to be fully immersed especially with my loud gaming laptop’s fans. And I really do enjoy the ambient mode, so I can hear the things around me while still having a darn good audio experience. This feature is amazing if you have kids. You can enjoy a game while still being able to hear the kiddos play. When I switched over to my PC, the INZONE Hub software had a lot of customization options. I was able to create custom EQ profiles for different games, boosting the bass for single-player titles and emphasizing higher frequencies for competitive online matches. The Game/Chat balance control is another cool feature. Being able to adjust the audio mix on the fly using the buttons on the earcup means I can balance in-game sounds without having to tab out of the game. I didn’t test that on PS5 though at the time of this review. But I’d imagine it does the same. Speaking of chat, the mic is good. Though I couldn’t hear it myself, my buddy said it sounds great, and that’s good enough for me! The battery life is also impressive, easily lasting me through long gaming sessions on a single charge. I don’t imagine this being an issue for awhile. Lastly it does have this weird thing where you use an app to take pics of your ear and it adjusts the 360 audio to your ears. I honestly couldn’t tell the difference before and after ear measurements. But it’s a cool idea. Overall, I really do enjoy these headsets! They’re honestly one of my favorite headsets I’ve ever used. Comfort, sound, etc. But I think I will use these on PC instead of my PS5. I haven’t taken a lot of time to troubleshoot this, but it almost seems like the audio EQs and 360 profile doesn’t save to the headset. So any change you make on PC won't carry over to PS5.

Sony has knocked it out of the park with this set of Inzone H9 II Wireless Noise Canceling Gaming Headset. I love the design, the flexibility, and the ergonomics. The sound quality and attention to detail is excellent for gaming specifically, but also for daily usage for music and streaming needs. The sound quality is my main priority when I'm looking for a pair of headphones or a gaming headset. This Sony Inzone H9 II has the same driver unit that Sony uses in their top of the line WH-1000XM6, and it's fantastic. These headphones are light coming in at 273g with the microphone installed, and 260g without the microphone. The newly redesigned headband is flexible and adjustable to be able to slide to your desired fit with ease. It took me some getting used to, but there are buttons on the headband that depress and allow for easy adjustability. The H9 headset offers 360 Spatial Sound and it's remarkable when you get to experience it for the first time. I feel like I can feel the sound coming from various points in the meta when I'm gaming. The FPS games are so immersive with sound coming from every direction. I feel like I have a slight step up on my competition in games because this headset allows me to hear opponents before they see me. The INZONE Hub for PC is a great software that allows for customization and gives me the ability to find the sound I prefer for any various games. The ANC mode on this gaming headset is top notch and is fantastic for getting locked in. This ANC eliminates background noises and distractions in my home and office, and I love how the ANC works so well in both wireless and wired modes. The toggle button for the Ambient Sound Mode is easy to use and allows for me to still be able to hear the people or conversations in my room and I can easily control how much outside noise I want to hear. These offer the flexibility of using the headset in both 2.4GHz or bluetooth connectivity. I love keeping this headset paired with my iPhone because of the excellent sound quality and all day comfort. I can easily take my calls, listen to music, stream video content, and also easily game online with my crew. There is a USB-C dongle that delivers an ultra low latency 2.4GHz connection that doesn't lose connectivity. The cardioid boom mic can be easily installed and removed from the left ear cup. The boom mic has AI noise cancellation that makes my in-game chat clear and crisp for my audience to hear me and my voice sounds natural and accurate. 7.1 channel audio gives that virtual surround and makes for a deep immersion into my games. The Sony Sound Connect app works well and will allow for easy customizing with a visual cue of how you can adjust your headset. Included in the box is the headset, headphone cable, USB-C cable, USB-C dongle, and a soft pouch for keeping my headset safe when not in use. Quick charge is great for moments when the battery life is low, as it will use 5 minutes of charging and keep you gaming for an hour of play. The battery life of this headset is a maximum amount of 30 hours and should allow for long gaming sessions of continual gameplay. A full charge on the battery takes approximately 3.5 hours in total.

Sony - INZONE H9 II Wireless Noise Canceling Gaming Headset for PC, PS5, Switch, and Mobile Overview: The Sony INZONE H9 II Gaming headset is a classic Mickey Mouse-style set of cans that is lightweight and extremely comfortable. This high-end gaming headset offers impressive spatial sound and has a redesigned headband that feels more than premium. Sony engineers worked with the e-sports organization Fnatic to develop the H9 II, resulting in several quality-of-life features that gamers will appreciate. These include button placement, fit, and a detachable mic. Its 360-degree spatial sound provides immersive audio, especially for FPS games, while the detachable mic allows these to double as everyday headphones. Although the detachable mic is a useful feature, I personally prefer a swing-up mic that mutes when you flip it up. Construction: The headset's lightness is virtually unnoticeable, which is a significant plus, and the updated suspension headband with quick-adjustment buttons provides a truly luxurious feel. The ear cups are snug but don’t apply undue pressure to your head, reinforced by the gentle yet complete seal offered by the earpads. You get good sound blockage with just placing the unit on your head. The mic has good adjustment. There are several buttons and controls scattered around the two ear cups. On the left ear cup, you'll find a volume wheel, a button to switch noise modes, a USB-C port for charging, and an audio port for wired listening. You'll also find the microphone port. On the right ear cup, there's a Bluetooth button, a power button, and game/chat buttons. One feature I really like is the mute button, which is a toggle switch that sticks out when muted and blends in with the headphones when not. It's on the top of the left ear, so you can easily mute or unmute with one hand. There is a red LED at the tip near the microphone that lights up to indicate you are muted. The labeling is poor, opting for a grey on the black, making it difficult, unless under a bright light, to see any of the labels. Features: What's great about the headset is that it's packed with features, making it a solid choice for gamers seeking a versatile gaming headset. It provides multiple connectivity options, including wired connections with the included 3.5mm cable (about 11.5 ft), USB-C, or Bluetooth. Additionally, you can connect it to two different wireless sources simultaneously — one via 2.4GHz using the included dongle and the other through Bluetooth. This enables you to adjust settings on your phone, for example, while the headset stays connected to a PlayStation. It is a mystery why the dongle is L-shaped, as this uses too much real estate in most uses and it only has a USB-C connection with no adapter provided for a USB-A type connection, which is an oversight in my opinion. Battery Life: Battery life is decent. Sony claims an average of 30 hours, which is acceptable for a gaming headset. However, you'll get around 20 hours if you're using the ANC or Ambient mode feature. Using Bluetooth, you get a little less – knock off a couple of hours. On the plus side, the headset charges fast. According to Sony, just five minutes of charging can give you up to three hours of use, which is roughly 30% battery in under 10 minutes. When your battery drops to around 20%, the headphones will alert you with a "Battery low" warning. If you need to plug in the USB-C to USB-A cord that comes with the headphones during a gaming session, the cable is long (6ft 9” or slightly over 2 Meters), so you should be able to navigate around the cable while it keeps you going and charges up. Sound: The most crucial aspect of any audio product is how it sounds, and fortunately, the Sony Inzone H9 II sounds quite good. It offers excellent bass response, capable of delivering deep, rounded explosions during gaming and rich, punchy bass in music. This is paired with a slightly scooped but still pleasant midrange, along with crisp, detailed highs. I wouldn't necessarily call the headset's sound completely neutral, but it still performs very well, and you can adjust some of Sony's tonal settings using the EQ, either in the Inzone Hub or the Sony Sound Connect app. You will still like the sound the headset produces right out of the box if you don’t want to tweak things. The microphone outperformed most gaming headsets, delivering clear voice pickup and minimizing background noise. During my testing, I received praise from friends for the clarity of my speech. Conclusion: This is a premium gaming headset. It's very comfortable, has a sleek design, sounds excellent, and is a great first-party gaming headset for use on a PC, PS5, Switch, and Mobile device, but does not have support on an Xbox.

About 3 Years ago I had the opportunity to test out the Sony Inzone PS5/PC headphones and honestly, I loved them so much that I used until now. Well now I use the Sony Inzone H9 II. If you used H9 headphones before, believe me you will love these more. So, let’s go over the key differences between H9 and H9 II and why I love them so much. The first thing I noticed right of the box is the width between the two headphones. The H9 had a wider opening between the two earcups and the new H9 II is significantly less. Now one may think that because of the significant difference between the earcups might cause the new H9 II to be tighter and cause discomfort, but honestly that was not the case. The H9 II just have a smaller profile without compromising on comfort. In all honesty, in my opinion the H9 II feels more comfortable than its predecessor. The H9 featured a synthetic leather ear pad combined with memory which were comfortable but during extended gaming session would cause perspiration to build up. The H9 II feature cloth like material that is more breathable with plusher padding for superior comfort. The second key difference is the weight. The H9 came in at about 330g, while the H9 II weigh about 260g. The H9 II feel like they are not even there and just feel much more comfortable. The other difference this the adjust headband. The H9 II are much easier to adjust. Simply push the two buttons on the headband and just slide up or down to your preference. While there have been improvements to the overall design, there have been improvements to the sound quality and the microphone on the H9 II. Sound Quality: The H9 II uses a 30mm dynamic driver, the same driver as Sony’s top-tier WH-1000XM6 headphones, which deliver more precise, detailed and balanced audio that helps track movements and giving you an upper hand against your competitors. The H9 used 40mm drivers, which were pretty good, but these are better. The H9 II also offer advanced AI based noise cancellation, which is scary good, blocking out pretty much everything around you. But don’t worry there is also an ambient mode, that allows you to enjoy your game and hear what’s going on around you. The H9 a dual noise sensor ANC, which were also great but the H9 II work better at blocking out noise. Both headphones offer the 360 spatial sound, which works great at giving you an upper hand by allowing you to clearly hear where your enemies are coming from but the H9 II offers 3 different FPS modes which have been tuned using Fnatic tuning. Microphone Quality: The microphone on the H9 II has also gotten an AI upgrade in terms of noise cancellation. I usually have a fan running in my room but with H9 I would always have to turn it off because my teams would always hear it in the background. The H9 II, I have not heard them complaining yet about the background fan noise, which is a win. The microphone is also angled more towards the mouth also helping cut out side noise. The H9 II offer a detachable microphone, while this is a nice feature if you want to use these headphones just to listen to some music while your out and about and not want to that microphone sticking out, I do miss the tilt up to mute option, which was handy and just super easy to use. That option has been replaced with a large push button that is also easy to use and away from other buttons so not to accidentally hit something else. Connectivity and Battery Life: The H9 Headphones offered a 2.4Ghz wireless connection with a dongle and Bluetooth connectivity with about 30 feet of maximum range. The H9 II have taken it a bit further with 2.4Ghz wireless connection with a much smaller dongle, LE Bluetooth, 3.5 mm audio connection (my favorite) and multisource connection option. It seems like Sony actually listens to its consumers, because that was one of my gripes about the H9’s, because I prefer the wired connection due to lower latency and a better connection. The Battery life is pretty much the same on both headphones with the H9 taking a slight lead with 32 hour battery life and the H9 II at 30 hours. The only difference here is that the H9 II charge up a bit faster giving you an hour of play time in 5 minutes, where as the H9 would need about 10 minutes for the same charge. Overall, I am very pleased with the new Sony Inzone H9 II headphones. The Sony Inzone H9 II is a clear upgrade over the original with better sound quality, a more versatile and clearer mic, and a lighter, more comfortable build. If audio detail, mic performance, and comfort matter most, the H9 II is a strong choice for PS5 gamers.

Review of INZONE H9 II (WH-G910N) At glance the latest headset for gaming feels almost perferct on how it fit and sound and noise cancellation. Sony remarks the noise cancellation and sound level is from its WH-1000XM6 that makes INZONE H9 II one of best to be used in the context of gaming and general usage. For gaming purposes, it has a separable microphone boom, physical buttons for: 1. On/Off Mic; 2. Volume Control Dial; 3. Power On/Off; 4. Connect Bluetooth; 5. Mode change button: Noise Cancellation/Ambient Sound; 6. Game/Chat Balance Button. Then in respectively indicators and ports: Light Indicators: 1. On the detachable microphone includes Mic On/Off indicator; 2.Charging Indicator on the left side. 3. Bluetooth Indicator 4. Power Indicator Input Jacks/Port: 1. USB-CPort; 2. Boom Microphone input Jack; 3. Headphone Cable input Jack. On the other hand, the Headband feels quite comfortable and able to adjust to the need depending how it feels, adjustable by moving the sliders each side, and it feels quite light for its size and bulky look. My kid that would have complained about its weight during her testing, but didn’t at all in comparison to other brand/models had used for gaming. Its batter last around 27 hs but had noise cancelling on/off during the process, but Sony states it last 30 hs without ANC OFF. Now, In Zone H9 II allows multipoint connection but it is through one bluetooth and second via the dongle attached to the device, but can’t have both in bluetooth mode. Regarding the control and customization of function is via App specific for mobile and second app for desktop version. The controls of each device type doesn’t affect respective custom setting. By having connected to the mobile with EQ and Sound Mode and separate setting on PC, the headset would keep both while listening both devices. For PC the application name is INZONE HUB and for mobile Sony Sound Connect. However, the controls of headset for PC version of application only become usable if it is connected via Dongle. On supported wireless protocols are 2.4 GHz and Bluetooth 5.3 (for reference, latest version is 6.0 in the industry announced in late 2024) / LE Audio, compatible to PC/PS5 and Mobile Using it during game does feel real and the effect from left to right and surrounding sound adds up to the reality of the game. The only aspect that is a bit hard to tell is the 7.1 Sound from the specification. It does feel it from different directions but there were instances that could’t tell specifically. Then listening to music does feel almost at level of XM-1000XM6 comparing it directly only the sound aspect. What I wish it were better: 1. Multipoint Connectivity without dependency on the dongle. 2. Microphone work with and without the boom option. 3. Include multiple size of ear cup. The best I find its numerous physical buttons to control different aspect of game or listening experience, and not being heavy feeling on the head. Great for long hours of gaming.

The Sony H9 II Wireless Noise Canceling Gaming Headset is a real game changer for me! I've been using a reputable gaming headset for a while now, so I was hesitant to be contemplating a new headset. Well, have no fear, these Sony H9 IIs are the real deal! First of all, setting them up, they have a non-conventional headband, that has press locks on each side. Seemed weird at first, but once set, they are incredibly comfortable. I typically have a 4–5-hour gaming session on Friday nights, and these were extremely comfortable the whole time. In fact, I played for more than a couple of hours a night, 7 days straight, getting in more than 20 hours of game play in that time, and the headset still had a great charge! I should note that I have these connected to a Playstation 5, via the USB dongle that comes in the box. There have been no connectivity issues at all, and I have my PS5s set up in a media closet, with an AC unit running through the door, several media components, and an ethernet switcher as well, and have not had any interference in signal at all while using them. The sound is incredible! I thought the sound I had previously was great, but playing Black Ops 6 and Warzone - the difference is absolutely noticeable! The sound is 'crisper', the gunshots, more 'snappy', the explosions are deeper, more 'meaty' to the point that you sometimes wonder if something is happening in the real world around you and not just in the headphones! The Spatial 360 Sound is truly impressive. Out of the box, the headphones sound incredible, you are able to hear every single footstep above you, behind you, above AND behind you, you literally can tell absolutely where the enemy is coming from... giving you the chance to pre-empt a strike in a building. It is incredibly immersive and really gets the heart pumping. And if you so choose to connect your headset to a PC, you can use the INZONE Hub PC Software to dial in the headphones sound parameters to your exact liking. The boom on the side has a cardioid microphone built into it, and a red LED indicator on the end to let you know if you are on mute or not (mute button is a large button on top of the left ear cup). It is handy, but also annoying, handy to know you are on mute, but annoying if you are on mute for a reason, and you can see that red light out of the corner of your eye! I end up folding the mic away, so that I can't see the light. I don't know how I feel about the unidirectional boom for the mic. It plugs in separately, it's not 'part' of the headphones, and I wonder over time, how the functionality of the boom will be compromised through constant movement during use. Time will tell on that front, but it is a different way of handling the mic, and technically you can remove it if you aren't using it at all. I have been told by my online buddies that my sound is so much better when speaking with them. There is no lag, no hissing, no clicks, nothing. They said that I sounded like I was in the same room as them, and they also sounded like they were next to me in the room. That has to be due in part to the Active Noise Cancelation technology embedded in the headset, taken from Sony's world class WH-1000XM6 headphones. When active, it's almost like your head has been submersed in a vacuum. You can practically hear yourself thinking! You can also balance the sound, between in-game sounds and your online chat easily, using the buttons on the right-hand side ear cup. It makes the process so much easier. You can also connect these headphones, simultaneously via Bluetooth to your phone, if you want to use them for calls or listening to music and videos. They offer 'up to' 30 hours of life, so far, I've gamed 20+ hours without need to recharge them. And when you do recharge them, you can plug them in for 10 mins and get another HOUR of use from that 10 min charge. You can also continue using them when they are plugged in and charging, which is really useful, as I have had to use that feature on my previous headphones several times in the past! When connected to your phone, you can use the Sony Sound Connect App to adjust the parameters of your headset and complete software updates etc. The ear cups are really comfortable and don't leave your ears all hot and sweaty after gaming or listening to music. Other accessories aside from the headset are the previously mentioned USB-C dongle, an 'airline' connection cable to allow you to plug the headset into the socket on an aircraft, and a soft pouch storage bag. Overall, I am incredibly happy, nay, blown away by the gaming sound these headphones offer. Super comfortable and lightweight. My only gripe with them, as I mentioned is the flexibility and the durability with that flexibility over time, but other than that, I cannot fault these headphones at all!

The Sony INZONE H9 ll gaming headset is part of Sony’s INZONE gaming gear lineup. This headset is certainly pricey, and I wasn’t expecting anything new that has already been done. But Sony hit it out of the ballpark with this headset. I was left overall surprised, but there are a couple of drawbacks. This is my review of the Sony INZONE H9 ll’s. *TLDR at the bottom ========= IN THE BOX/SET-UP: In the box, you get the H9 ll, a soft fabric zipper case with a smaller zipper compartment for your accessories, USB-C to USB-A cable, a detachable boom mic, a USB-C wireless receiver, and some documentation. I will now go over the setup. This will differ depending on what device you have, but I will cover a PC setup in this case. Sony does provide great instructions through their online manual if needed. Simply scan the online manual QR code located on the box. I first plugged in the wireless receiver into my USB-C port on my computer. The wireless receiver has a physical switch where you can switch between “PC” and “Other.” The Other option is recommended for any device that is NOT a PC. Next, I turned on my headset and waited a couple of seconds, and noticed that the flashing light on the receiver stopped. Once I saw that, I knew the headset was connected. After that, I plugged the detachable boom mic in, and the headset was ready to go. Finally, I downloaded the INZONE Hub software (for headset settings) and switched audio input. This took less than 10 minutes to complete. ========= DESIGN/COMFORT: The H9 ll has that typical gaming headset design, but without the boom mic attached, the average person likely will think this is a typical over-the-ear headset. I have the all-black H9 ll’s and love how they can blend in as a normal headset. If I had to travel, I would seriously consider taking this on a plane as my choice of headset. One of the first things I noticed was how light the headset was. The headset felt so light that it almost felt cheap. Obviously, this isn’t the impression Sony was attempting to make. The headset, by design, is light for comfort, which I will go into more detail about in the next paragraph. The headset is adjustable via a button you press down. It's straightforward to use, and it's a simple but effective design. There are many buttons and ports on this headset. The following will list these items. Left Side of Headset: - A physical mute mic button (makes an audible sound when you press it – cool!) - The scroll volume wheel - A button to switch between Noise Cancelling, Ambient Sound, and Normal Mode - USB-C charging port - AUX port - Mic port (not a fan of the mic and AUX ports being next to each other, I sometimes found myself trying to plug the mic into the AUX port) Right Side of Headset: - The power button - A button to initiate Bluetooth pairing - Two buttons to increase/decrease game and chat volume In terms of comfort, this headset is tremendously comfortable. I have worn this headset for 5+ hour-long gaming sessions, and no discomfort was ever felt. The light weight of the headset helps with comfort. On top of that, the head strap can barely be felt resting on the top of your head. I sometimes wear glasses, and most glasses owners know that over-the-ear headsets can be uncomfortable after a while. I can attest that this won’t be the case with this one! This headset is designed well and ergonomically. Kudos to the Sony team in charge of this! ========= SOUND/MICROPHONE QUALITY: In terms of sound, the H9 ll sounds incredible. The surround sound is remarkable, regardless of whether you are playing an intense FPS game like COD or are neck deep into an immersive game like The Last of US II. The lows are noticeably lacking outside the box, but the built-in EQs in the Sound Connect or INZONE Hub app can fix some of that, if needed. Voices from voice chat sound clear and amazing, too. Something I wanted to highlight is the game/chat button on the headset. I love this feature as it allows you to prioritize the sound of the game or voice chat. The microphone quality is great, too. You can do mic tests within the INZONE Hub app. All testing went perfectly, and I sounded as clear as day. I’m pretty sure the people I was playing COD with were hearing me loud and clear, too, as they were able to listen to some of my ranting and respond accordingly. ========= FEATURES/OTHER NOTES: Below are some key features and notes about the H9 ll: - 3 listening modes available: Active Noise Cancelling, Ambient Sound, and Normal Mode - ANC is decent, I could still hear my keyboard typing and voices of people at home, but it does an excellent job at blocking out white noise like a PC hum, and an AC unit - Ambient works just as expected, and is perfect if you are having someone over and still want to communicate - The headset supports dual connections; one device can be connected to the wireless receiver and the other one via Bluetooth - Both audio sources in a dual connection setup can be played at the same time, I found myself using this while gaming and watching sports on my phone - When the mic is muted, there is a small LED that lights up red (neat to have!) - Works great with consoles such as the PS5, just verify that the wireless receiver is set to “Other” - The wireless receiver is too long, on the PS5, if it is plugged into the front, the receiver will cover the USB-A port - It would’ve been nice to include a USB-C to USB-A adapter for those with limited USB-C ports - Incredibly fast charging, about 10 minutes of charging brought the headset up to 50% from 20% - The Sound Connect app on Android and the INZONE Hub app on Windows are available apps that can be used to manage the headsets’ settings - I would’ve liked large L and R indicators inside the headset, as the tiny letters above the ear cups are small and can be hard to see in a dark room ========= CONCLUSION/TLDR: Overall, the H9 ll was a surprise. I wasn’t expecting anything new from this headset. But many excellent features and design choices were made that surprised me. The various physical buttons to control the headset are great to have. The lightweight design choice is brilliant for comfort. On the other hand, I found ANC to be subpar, and the lows were lacking outside the box. But this is still an impressive headset. If you are looking for something versatile and packed with features, I wholeheartedly recommend you give this headset a shot!

For this review I had to rely heavily on my 20 year old daughter. She is much more of a gamer than I am so I actually got the headphones for her to use on her PC. Initially, she said she was having problems with the microphone and some other glitches. I asked her how she was connecting to her computer and she said via Bluetooth. Well, she’s not one for reading or following instructions so I helped her locate the USB dongle and load the INZONE Hub software and viola, everything worked like a charm. After checking in with her after a few days of use and asking her what she thought of the Sony H9II headset she said “these are the best gaming headphones I have ever used!”. Wow, I said, and why is that? She said they are very comfortable to wear, very lightweight, and the sound is amazing. She hears everything crystal clear and loves the 360 spatial sound. The microphone is great, her friends can hear her perfectly, and she loves the mute button on top with its red LED light indicator. She also loves that she can customize the sound using the INZONE hub software, with “FPS-3” and “Bass Boost” being her favorites. The noise-cancelling feature is also amazing she said. It doesn’t completely eliminate all outside noise (I’ve had many ANC headphones and I’ve never heard one that does), but overall its pretty incredible. When I told her what these sell for she said these are way out of her price range, so thanks Dad! I had to laugh, but now she knows the difference between a decent quality and a premium quality headset, which the Sony H9II most certainly is.

This has been a great set of headphones to try and they are my go-to for anything audio on the PC or PlayStation. They are comfortable, great quality and easy to use. Pros: - Audio quality - Features - Connectivity - Comfort Cons: - Bulky Setup: To use at its best and ensure the firmware is fully updated, ensure to install the Sony Inzone Hub on the computer. This will update firmware on the dongle and headset if needed and allow you to control things like EQ. To use it on the PC, you can use the included 3.5mm headphone jack for highest quality output or use the dongle (switch it to PC mode). There is no support for USB-C audio, it appears to only be for charging. If you intend to use it on your PlayStation, simply switch the dongle to “other” and plug it in. Next, if you want to use it on your phone, just pair it with Bluetooth. Gaming: I loved playing Overwatch 2, Destiny 2 and Borderlands 4 on this. Audio is clear and the surround effect is nicely reproduced with 7.1 audio. Noise cancelling is outstanding as it takes tech from their headphone lineup. The headphones have profiles for various audio including FPS games to enhance things like gun fire and footsteps to give you the best awareness. The mic is easy to control with a button on the top that is very tactile, though I would have preferred the ability to just put the boom in the up position to turn it off. Sound: It is great for gaming but doubles as a pretty good music headset. In general I found the mids to be the worst area for music, but they are not bad, just worse than the bass and highs. Using the 3.5mm connection I was able to connect audio at 24bit 96kHz on my ROG Zephyrus G16 and 16bit 48kHz for the microphone. Using the dongle, everything was limited to 16bit 48kHz. The boom can be easily removed for audio only listening. Comfort: I found these to be very comfortable for extended listening as the ear cups are fabric and have a memory foam feel. I am not sure if the ear cups can be replaced. The top band is easily adjustable with a button press so it is unlikely to slip in sizing while wearing.

The Sony H9 II is an excellent gaming headset, offering solid build quality, lightweight comfort, and impressive battery life. They’re among the lightest headphones I’ve tried, and while the design is simple, they’re very comfortable with outstanding sound performance. The construction is mostly plastic, the head band is made of elastic fabric, and the headband frame appears to be metal covered in fabric threading that looks very neat and modern. This headset works with PC, PS5 and Mobile. Setting them up doesn't require much, just simply plug in the included wireless receiver, select the proper platform and that’s it. It also works via Bluetooth and it pairs just like any other Bluetooth device. When it comes to sound quality, they are excellent. It is one of those headphones that are enjoyable and well-balanced with clear mids, crisp highs, and deep bass. During a game play I heard someone behind me who was really close. I got spooked and turned around thinking it was my wife, it happened twice before I realized it was the game, that's how good the spatial audio is. The microphone also works great, extremely clear. Whether AI or not being used in the microphone is not a gimmick. The noise cancelation on the microphone works. It doesn’t completely eliminate background noise, but it enhances the vocals while softening the surrounding sounds so they don’t become distracting, that’s the best way I can describe it. If you're one of those who play games using external speakers there's no worry about the sound interfering with the voice chat. The push to mute button is also a plus, it seems it is becoming a trend and I love it. When connected to a PC with InZone software, you can fine tune the sound or create custom profiles. The same level of control is also available through the Sound Connect mobile app. Battery life is rated at 30hrs, however it can be also used wired is that your preferred method. Overall, this is a fantastic gaming headset that combines lightweight comfort, versatility, and exceptional sound. Whether wired or wireless, it delivers a premium experience with long-lasting battery life and reliable noise cancelation. In the box you get the headset, microphone, USB-A to USB-C charging cable, auxiliary audio cable, carrying pouch, stickers and manuals.

No doubt that Sony made a better, more comfortable, lightweight, great sounding headset for gamers in the H9 II. You get all the buttons needed to quickly access functions and volume/chat balance at your fingertips. Those buttons are large enough for big boy gamers and make it so you will not need the app that so many other headsets might require. While the boom mic is no flip up to mute, the mute button is very easy to tap and you get a visual red light on mic to know you are muted. So far, the mic arm is stiff enough to stay where you want it, plus it is detachable if you don't need it for solo gaming. The new 2 button adjusted headband stays put even after stored in the included pouch. Only downside, for me, is the Inzone App. Read on if you need more on my use of the new H9 II. What you get, unboxing: The black H9 II headphones, 3.5mm bendable Boom Mic (be sure to twist to lock flat edge in jack), USB-A to C cable(6ft 8IN), 3.5mm to 3.5mm audio cable(6ft 8in), tiny USB-C transceiver (PC/Other), Fabric Pouch storage, some paperwork and stickers. No real instructions, luckily its mostly plug and play or click question marks in the app. The cables are all plastic/rubber but very nice and flexible, not stiff. Zippered pouch opens very wide and has a side zipper pocket for cords. Materials feel like windbreaker jacket outside and sort of felt like on the inside. The included storage pouch is nicer than nothing, but the XM6 style case would be far nicer. The transceiver is likely well built, but it feels like it will snap when removing it from the PS5 to move to PC, be careful unplugging it. Don't lose it! Comfort, sound and general use: The H9 II is light and very comfortable in the few days I have been testing them. The new adjustment headband is easy to get the cups just right and it stays put even after putting them in or pulling them out of the storage bag. I played for several hours and while my ears do get warm, its tolerable in climate controlled rooms. Using fabric instead of fake pleather is nice touch for the earcups. Both earcups are deep (no L or R inside, tiny L/R labels are on arms) and my ears do not seem to touch the speaker mesh. The buttons are on both earcups and honestly this might be the best convenience selling point. So many headphones need apps to setup and use. Sony gave you everything on one side or the other. The obvious power button, tactile volume scroll wheel, plus a large textured mute, but also the game/chat rocker to dial in what you want more audio from. Also a button for ANC and Bluetooth. Granted the app can set this up too. I just did not find much joy or audio difference from the Inzone app settings/equalizer, and it only works on PC. The Sony Connect app can be used on Android phone and I found it a bit better to dial in audio quality if you want music while you play. Once dialed in. Audio is great, maybe not to the same level as their XM6, (which Sony says they borrowed from) is for music and movies. For games played on PC or PS5, its about as good as you can get. I hear a bit more than I used to. Some games have additional atmosphere noise and on my surround speakers I did not always notice it. Now with ANC to help block external noise you get far better immersion in the games. The microphone is also great and in the two games I could chat with someone. The conversation was natural and no complaints or stray audio for the other person to notice. I did use the dual connect by adding music from my phone while I tried Minecrafting for a bit. My music sounded great and could still hear the mobs and wispy atmosphere of different biomes. I did not have any 360 Spatial audio use to test, so that feature sadly does not factor for me. I'm happy with the overall sound quality the H9 II provides and sounds still had decent directionality to know where someone or thing was coming from. Final Thoughts: I know the H9 II price is a big hill to climb for this level of headset and maybe a sale will help that soon. There is also no shortage of brands and price points to consider. Hopefully Best Buy will have a display to test the H9 II in person before purchase. I like the sound quality and the fact that all the buttons are easy to access without digging in to an app taking me away from the game.

The original INZONE H9 has been my go-to gaming headset since it was released over three years ago, mainly due to its seamless integration across PC and PS5 as well as its excellent audio quality, comfort, and noise cancellation. The original headset was bulky and had a non-detachable microphone. The H9 II addresses both of those issues and improves on the best aspects of the original headset. === PROS === - Compared to the original H9, the H9 II is 57 grams lighter, a significant difference that is immediately noticeable. It is very comfortable during long gaming sessions and I can hardly tell it’s on my head. - Similarly, the headband has been completely redesigned to be freely adjustable and place less pressure on your head. The height of the headband can be adjusted on both sides. The earpads are also more breathable than the original H9 headset, and my ears don't seem to get as warm. The earpads are detachable and replaceable in case they wear out. Even better - the earcups can rotate flat so you can comfortable put the headset around your neck when you don't need it. - Sony says that the H9 II uses the same audio drivers as its high-end WH-1000XM6 headphones, and I believe it. Audio quality is superb with a balanced soundstage, but these drivers have certainly been tuned for gaming and clearly highlight sounds like footsteps. You’ll probably want to change the equalizer settings in the INZONE Hub app if you plan to use these for intensive audio/music editing tasks. Still, I think the default tuning is great for most people. - Like the previous model, the H9 II can simultaneously connect to a primary device via the USB-C dongle (2.4 GHz) and a secondary device via Bluetooth. This is a rare feature in most gaming headsets and allows you to hear audio from your phone and gaming PC at the same time. - Noise cancellation is improved over the previous model. It's not as good as the XM6 headphones, but it effectively blocks low-frequency droning and noise from fans, air conditioning units, etc. - The microphone is detachable, which is a welcome improvement for those of us who rarely need it. On the previous model, the mic was not detachable and you could only flip it up to mute it. Now, there is a large mute button on the left earcup. Sony says that this new microphone cuts out more background noise and allows for more detailed vocal sound. I can certainly notice the improvements and I think the mic is perfectly fine for game chats and work calls. But if you're a hardcore streamer of podcaster, you'll probably still want a dedicated, high-end mic. - Another nice touch: the H9 II includes a soft carrying case in the box, which is great if you need to travel with the headset. === CONS === - Battery life is decent, but not great. Sony says the headset can get up to 30 hours of battery life. But in my experience -- with noise cancelling enabled, volume at about 50%, and the headset simultaneously connected to 2.4 GHz and Bluetooth -- I can get about 25 hours. That's usually enough for 2 full days of use, but it still seems like I have to charge the headset daily to avoid the "low battery" warning. Luckily, it charges quickly via USB-C. - I'm not a fan of the INZONE Hub app, at least on Windows. It often fails to recognize the H9 II headset, even with the headset turned on and the dongle plugged in. Sometimes, I will open the program only to stare at a blank interface with no options. I usually have to restart my PC to get the app to work properly. This was a problem with the original H9 headset and apparently the bugs still haven't been fixed. - Unlike other gaming headsets, the H9 II uses audio chimes (rather than voice cues) to indicate various settings, such as Bluetooth On/Off, Noise Cancelling On/Off, etc. All of these audio chimes sounds very similar to me. Unless you memorize the locations and functions of all the buttons on the earcups, you might not understand what the chimes are indicating. - The headset charges via USB-C, but the USB-C port can't be used for wired audio transmission (that can only be accomplished via the 3.5mm audio jack). ===OVERALL=== If you game on both PC and PS5, look no further: the INZONE H9 II headset is pretty much unbeatable in terms of features and seamless integration. PC-only gamers have many other options to consider, but the H9 II offers a huge improvement in comfort compared to the previous model and allows for simultaneous 2.4 GHz and Bluetooth connections. The balanced sound quality out of the box is better than most gaming headsets I've used. If you're familiar with Sony's popular WH-1000 series headphones and are a fan of their comfort, audio quality, and noise cancellation, then you'll feel right at home with the INZONE H9 II.

I'm very picky about my headsets. Most headsets for me aren't comfortable because they feel like they apply too much pressure on the head and ears or the ear paddings aren't soft enough. This isn't the case here as this headset is extremely light. The headband keeps the pressure on the head light and the ear paddings are soft (though not quite as good as the ones on the Arctis 7p). I definitely feel like I can wear this headset comfortably for a long time without it becoming a bother. Just make sure you adjust the headstrap lengths(they can be a bit finicky with pinching the sides to adjust) on the sides correctly so the headset isn't too tight. Design wise, it's very much in line with the PlayStation aesthetics with the white color (or you go all black). I do like that it doesn't scream "gaming headset. If you remove the detachable microphone, it looks like an ordinary pair of headphones(without any of that gaudy RGB lightning). You have your standard volume control, mute microphone button (the microphone has like an red LED that lights up to know you're muted), a Bluetooth button (if you want to use the Bluetooth connection as opposed to the 2.4 ghz USB dongle), a Game/Chat button that lets you adjust which volume you want to be higher, and a NC/AMB button that lets you toggle between active noise cancelling and ambient/side tone (would have preferred a slide that lets you adjust like the volume control). Fortunately this headset has a 3.5mm port so you can use it wired that way too. Sound quality is good. Deep low bass, which is great for gaming and movies. I'm not sure if the audio quality alone is good enough for just listening to music like a very high end headphone (the drivers are said to be the same as the XM6), but I do think for the average listener it will suffice unless you're an audiophile. Unfortunately, you have to download the Sound Connect app on your phone or the Inzone application on your computer to turn on spatial audio. Using the app, you can also adjust the EQ to your liking. I should mention that the detachable microphone is excellent. You can hear it yourself when you do a mic test; the audio is crisp and clearer than most typical headsets. My friend that I played with also said the same on his end. Given the price of this headset, I'm glad to see they included a pouch with a separate section for the cables and headset. I should mention that the expected battery life is said to be 30 hours, which for me is sufficient though there are some other headsets that have longer battery life. If you have the money or find this headset on sale for around $200 I would it's worth it otherwise the MSRP of $350 is quite steep even though this is a quality headset with no expenses pulled.

On paper, the Sony INZONE H9 II’s are an amazing pair of gaming headphones, but there are a few things that I don’t really care for. The build quality of the headphones is decent enough, they’re mostly made of plastic with some thin ear cushions. The decision to make the headband the way they did is questionable. The headset uses a locking mechanism that you have to push on both sides of the headband in order to adjust the length. This is neither convenient nor is it easy to use. I would rather Sony just made a normal adjustable headband. Although, they do sit comfortably on my head when adjusted properly. The headset can be used with Bluetooth, Aux cord, or wirelessly with the included USB C mini dongle. The best part about the headset, is the detachable mic. Sony didn’t miss when it came to designing the microphone. This is a high-quality mic that makes your audio come through crystal clear, weather you use it for chatting, or recording audio, this mic is great. As for the sound quality, I tried using the headset with Bluetooth audio playing some music. The sound quality is terrible; it’s nowhere near the quality level that I have come to love with Sony headphones. For starters, the bass is very weak. Even when I use the bass boost preset it still doesn’t offer very good bass. The sound quality in general, seems very flat and just sounds off. I don’t think I would use these for listening to music. On the other hand, when I used these for gaming, they do sound pretty amazing. Even before I calibrated the spacial audio through the app, the headphones sounded really good when it came to special sound (they only got better after I calibrated them). The amount of detail I was able to hear was really impressive, even though the bass is a little lacking, everything else sounded good. The noise cancelling and ambient sound modes are kind of a disappointment in these headphones. Sony claims these have the same NC as the WH-1000XM6…I have the WH-1000XM3 and the H9II’s don’t even come close to the level of noise cancelling. With the NC turned on, I was easily able to hear normal volume voices around me. The Ambient sound mode isn’t much better. I couldn’t notice any difference with ambient turned on or off. Overall, I think the INZONE H9II are a solid pair headphones for gaming. These have an amazing mic, and sound really good for gaming. I do think there is room for improvement on the ambient sound modes and noise cancelling, I also think these could use a little more bass. I also do not like the headband adjustment at all. Other than that, I would recommend these for a good gaming headset.

TLDR: Sony's H9II InZone Headphones combine excellent ANC rivaling their best XM1000 headphones with a full set of features for gamers. Next level performance for gamers. PROS Amazing ANC capabilities Classic "old school" Aviator styling Simple Controls InZone Hub Software for nearly any platform CONS Adjustable strap is fiddly Still prefer a mic that pivots to turn on/off vs a button Included USB-C transceiver doesn't come with USB-A adapter KEY FEATURES / ACCESSORIES Up to 30hrs of playback 2.4GHz and Bluetooth audio Active Noise Cancellation USB-C 2.4GHz Transceiver 3.5mm Audio Cable Detachable Boom Mic SET-UP Sony has made the InZone's easily configurable for gamers. PC gamers can download the InZone Hub software for their Windows-based PC's and mobile users have the Sony SoundConnect app for configuration. I tried the Sony software on all the various platforms I own and use; Windows 11, an Android Google Pixel 10 Pro, and an older iPad. The SoundConnect software has proven to work perfectly on every platform. Anyone that has read my past reviews know that I am very critical of manufacturers' apps and have no tolerance for a poorly designed user experience. Sony deserves a special shoutout for not only making 3 error-free apps, but keeping the platforms similar regardless of the device the software is installed on. Simple, quick, effective. Excellent work Sony. I wished other manufacturers apps were this polished. USE The H9II's came partially charged upon arrival. Full charge time from empty is up to 3.5 hours. Quite long by today's standards. However, a single 5 minute charge gets you up to 1 hour of playback (ANC off). The InZone's support Bluetooth Low Energy 5.3, which is the latest of the 5.0 specs, but well short of the cutting edge Bluetooth 6.0. Still, the InZone connected instantly to any device I paired them to. Every pairing attempt went perfectly and without any issue whatsoever. Excellent. Sony claims up to 30hrs of playback time without using the ANC function. I don't come close to 30hrs. Why? Because I can't stop using the ANC feature. Sony must have incorporated the same tech in the H9 II's that they graced their XM1000 headphones with. ANC performance on these InZone's is the best I've used on ANY gaming headset to date, regardless of the manufacturer. I have an older set of XM1000 headphones that I use as my flying headphones. Their noise cancelling abilities are top-notch, easily rivaling the other big 4 letter brand. The InZone H9II's are just as good, if not better than my XM1000's. A recent flight confirmed my observations. These H9II's are quiet. I've never experienced a flight so peaceful in all my years of travel. Between the nicely muted hush of the aircraft to the complete shutout of the lavatories' flushing sounds, the flight was amazingly quiet and peaceful. I felt noticeably less fatigue after a longish 3hr flight than I normally do. Noises around the house are no match for the H9's. Granted some sounds can make their way through like if you have a TV on in the background, but as a whole, the environment becomes vault-like while using the H9's. NEGATIVES First. I'm not a fan of the adjustable head strap. I've always have to remove the headphones to adjust the strap. Maybe I just haven't learned the magic touch yet, but I find it cumbersome to adjust the strap. Second. I would like to see the inclusion of a USB-A to USB-C adapter with the H9's. My gaming PC doesn't have a front facing USB-C port, so I was forced to find an adapter to make the included transceiver work. Third. I find the Sony 360 degree audio just so-so. I have better luck with using the Dolby Atmos or DTS:X on my Windows 11 PC while gaming. Not only do they do a better job at conveying a sense of a 360 degree soundstage, they are much more universally supported by game designers. FINAL THOUGHTS If you couldn't tell already, I am officially a HUGE fan of the H9II's. In my short time of ownership, they have officially become my favorite set of gaming headphones. I have been very fortunate to had the opportunity to review other manufacturers' top-of-the-line gaming offerings. The Sony InZone H9II's are a step above all the rest. No gimmicky haptics, no flashy RGB, just high-quality Sony sound with Active Noise Cancellation that is second to none. I've said in every one of my other reviews, a good set of headphones must be a jack of all trades. I usually don't recommend a set of cans that can't do it all. The H9II's can and do, do it all. With authority. Sony may not be one of the big names in the gaming market space, but products like the H9II's are sure to get them on the radar. If you are in the market for a good-looking "retro styled" set of headphones that can do music, movies, and games, these Sony H9II's deserve to be on the list. In addition to their excellent sound quality, they have the best Active Noise Cancellation of any set of headphones I've used to date. The InZone's deserve the praise for bringing the goods. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED

📦 UNBOXING: Inside the box, you’ll find the headset, a travel pouch, a 3.5mm cable for wired use, a USB Type C to Type A cable for charging, the detachable microphone, some INZONE stickers, and some documentation. The packaging is recyclable, which I also appreciate. 💪 BUILD: Whereas the design of the original H9 from 2022 was completely in-house, Sony opted to develop the H9 II with eSports team Fnatic. While a lot of the DNA of the original H9 is still in this new model, there are some notable improvements worth talking about. The overall exterior material is a matte plastic material that avoids smudges well, and should be durable enough to withstand a drop. The headband has been upgraded to a suspension style strap, which decreases weight and delivers better weight distribution across the head. I measured the headset with microphone weighs in at 266g which is a significant decrease compared to the original H9’s 330g. The dongle is USB-C and unfortunately, Sony does not provide an adapter in the box for USB-A, so you’ll need to bring your own if you need one. The dongle has an LED indicator to show when it’s connected or searching for the headset, and you can toggle “PC” mode or “Other”. PC Mode creates two different output devices—one for Game and one for Chat so that you can configure chat applications to use the Chat output, and use the Game/Chat volume rocker to mix how much game audio you want with chat audio. The “Other” provides only one audio output and gives the standard experience for most other devices. ⚙️ CONTROLS: On the left earcup, you have the detachable microphone port, a mini-plug for wired analog usage, a USB Type-C input for charging with an LED charging status indicator, the ANC/Ambient toggle button, the volume wheel, and the mute button that also toggles the red LED on the detachable boom mic. Meanwhile, the right earcup has the Power button and LED status, a Bluetooth multi-function button with LED status, and a Game/Chat volume rocker. Bluetooth controls are as you would expect. Long-hold to power on/off, extra long-hold to pair, single-press to play/pause, double-press for forward, and triple-press for backward. Volume can only be controlled on your bluetooth device, as the volume wheel is reserved only for use with the dongle. ☁️ COMFORT: Comfort of the H9 II is great. The ear pads are very breathable, making use of foam cushions with fabric padding. The suspension style headband is very comfortable and I don’t experience pressure points on my scalp during long sessions. And the strap height adjustment mechanism is done on each side of the headband with locking adjustments. It should accommodate a good variety of head sizes, both small and large. 🎧 SOUND QUALITY: The H9 II is a significant departure in sound signature compared to the original H9. While the original H9 delivered the typical overpowered bass found in cheap headphones, the H9 II takes a more balanced approach out of the box. The stock sound signature to my ears has a bass shelf, but without overwhelming the mid-range frequencies. The mid-range frequencies lean neutral to my ears, lending to good overall clarity for speech, footsteps, gunshots, and so on. The treble response is also laid-back, but delivering sufficient detail without leading to sibilance or other harsh artifacts. For a lot of people, this might sound pretty boring, but it’s a good baseline for what I think makes a good listening experience, since there is the option to use the 10-band EQ within both the INZONE Hub on PC as well as Sony’s Sound Connect mobile app when you use it over Bluetooth or on PS5. While I have yet to hear Sony’s WH-1000XM6 (from which the H9 II shares the same driver) , I own the XM5 and I personally think the H9 II sounds better out of the box. 🔊 ANC / AMBIENT SOUND: While Sony is proud to claim that they use the same driver as the WH-1000XM6 for the H9 II, they don’t seem to make the same claims about their ANC. In my experience, the ANC is nowhere near the same level as Sony’s consumer ANC headphones. It might even be less effective than the original H9, and this might be partly due to the new breathable pads. The passive noise isolation is reasonably good as is, and enabling ANC does a bit more noise attenuation, but it’s honestly not much more than the passive isolation. My meowing cat cuts right through to my ears, while the XM5 does a significant job at attenuating the noise. However, the ambient sound mode has vastly improved from the original H9. I was able to wear it while having a conversation sitting on the other end of the couch while also hearing a documentary playing on the TV. I never needed to take the headset off, which was quite impressive. There is a small noise floor that can be heard when Ambient sound mode is engaged, but it’s not distracting. 🎙️ MICROPHONE QUALITY: The H9 only has a detachable microphone, so there are no internal microphones. In my testing, the microphone sounded clear and crisp, with a focus on the midrange frequencies. There is also built-in AI noise canceling on the microphone, so the people you are communicating with should not hear mouse clicks, keyboard typing, and extra background noise. Honestly, it’s one of the better boom microphones I’ve heard in recent years, as it doesn’t sound compressed and crunchy, nor boomy. 💿 SOFTWARE: For software, you have The INZONE Hub on PC or the Sony Connect mobile app. Both provide 10-band equalizers with presets, which I appreciate. Both platforms also allow you to configure the ambient sound level and toggle a voice focus mode for ambient sound. If your Bluetooth device supports the LC3 Audio codec, you can enable it in the Sound Connect app, but don’t expect any battery improvement despite using a more efficient codec. Available in the INZONE Hub, there is a dynamic range control option if you want to compress audio to make quieter sounds easier to hear. There is also a sidetone volume control, and an auto-gain microphone toggle to ensure that microphone gain is handled for you so you are never too quiet and never too loud. Another feature I actually really appreciate is remembering the last mode for Bluetooth connectivity when powering the headset on. So often I turn on a headset and they automatically connect to my last-paired Bluetooth device, even if I don’t want it. This allows me to let the headset remember the last mode when it was powered off. Easily one of the best features I didn’t realize I could ever have. The same preference can be set for the ANC/Ambient mode, so I can have it resume where I left off, and I can even disable whichever modes I don’t want to use, so if I never use it in “Off” mode, I don’t have to press the button multiple times to reach the setting I want. 🔋 BATTERY: Battery life on the H9 II is good, but more akin to a lot of consumer ANC headsets as opposed to many gaming headsets coming out these days. With ANC or Ambient on and while in chat, you can probably expect around 20 hours of use, but if you are not using the microphone, the headset shuts down certain blocks to save energy, which yields closer to 24 hours of playback time. However, if you have ANC set to “Off” mode, then you can yield around 30 hours of time while chatting, and closer to 40 hours when not in chat. If you opt to use Bluetooth, these times will be cut even further to 18 hours with ANC or Ambient modes, and 24 hours with it set to “Off” 🧐 CONCLUSION: Overall, the INZONE H9 II is a solid improvement over the original in most ways. If you’re expecting these to have high-end ANC, you will likely be disappointed, but the good news is that the passive noise isolation is decent. Sound quality is decent with room to adjust thanks to the 10-band EQ. Microphone quality is also among some of the better offerings in my opinion. Comfort has also been quite good thanks to the suspension style headband. Battery life is decent although not competitive with some of the offerings on the market that can go multiple times longer before needing a charge.

I am very excited about this next-generation Sony INZONE H9 II Headset! Honestly, it is one of the best entries into the gamer accessory space that Sony has made, to date. I think on this H9 II headset, they have finally arrived at how to make it feel worth its price tag in terms of minimizing plasticky feeling materials and matching performance and versatility to that equation as well! I really enjoy my blended use of this headset. The Bluetooth connection makes it a perfect companion for me when I am on the go and want to have some quality audio for my tunes. I actually this while out mowing my lawn and the active noise canceling was more than a match for the hum of my Toro 22” electric mower! I was super impressed by that. Further impressive was my experience of then getting to go back in with the exact same headset and hooking up to my PC via 2.4ghz wireless connection in order to play some Gears of War Reloaded! High-end headsets just can’t be beat in terms of versatility like this. Speaking of video games, the preset audio profiles the Sony Inzone software has for gaming are actually quite impressive. They have varying FPS settings, including one that is dedicated to enhancing footsteps and enemy movements. In games like Hunt: Showdown and THE FINALS, it is so handy to have this edge if you feel like pulling on your competitive hat and trying to clutch some fights. Overall, I have really no criticisms of this headset. Gaming peripherals have come a LONG way in the last 10 years, and I never thought I would be using a headset like this as a replacement in day-to-day life for dedicated audio headphones while still being able to take it home and game! Altogether, 5 out of 5 stars for sure!