Customer Ratings & Reviews

If you like the sound of your current headphones, but also wished you could hear a little more of the bass, in other words, like Meghan Trainor, you’re “All About That Bass,” then your ship has come in. These new Sony ULT headphones should be just what you were looking for. Like many of the other Sony headphones, you can control your music by moving your finger up and down or right and left across the right earcup, and you have great sound. The difference with these phones is the large button on the left earcup labeled “ULT.” It has three settings. The first is ‘off’ letting you hear your music the way you would with other headphones. The next is “ULT1” which emphasizes the bass elements in your music. The last is “ULT2” and like a detective, this locates any bass sound in your music and brings it out fully. When listening I found that depending upon the song, the ULT1 would be my usual “go to.” ULT 2 seemed to go overboard, emphasizing bass to the detriment of what the musicians were playing. The great thing here is that it’s so easy to just tap the large ULT button, so that if you ARE listening to a song that could use more bass, ULT2 is right there. When the next some comes on, you can just tap that button a couple of times and you’re back to “ULT1.” The large button is easily found on the left earcup and is easier to find and use than using the Sony app on your phone. I found the noise cancellation was very good, so it’s perfect for noisy situations like on a plane. If you need to talk to the flight attendant and take the headphones off, the ULT KNOWS that you’ve done that and will pause your music until you put them back on, and then start up again automatically, a nice feature. The battery life is excellent, over 30 hours of continuous listening on one charge, When answering a call, my caller heard me clearly, but unlike some headphones I’ve used, they knew immediately I was using the headphones and not talking directly into the phone. That reminds me that the Sony ULT’s can be pared with two different devices, so if a call comes in, it knows which device it’s coming through and will find the right one for you. Bottom line, these are great headphones, especially if you enjoy ‘da bass. Also. good news is that these are moderately priced compared with the ‘top of the line’ Sony’s. You get a lot for your money here.

Sony does it again… These are amazing headphones!! I have been using buds lately while listening to my music which was ok until I tried these! I received the off-white headphones which are perfect for me. These are way more comfortable for me to wear for a longer period of time and offer a superior sound (comparing them to earbuds). They are very lightweight, and the headband and ear cups are not too tight on my head – making them enjoyable to wear for longer periods of time. Connecting them was pretty easy as it comes with a little instructional paper to get you started, but I also downloaded the app at Google Play to get started. The app also has a Support area with the large instruction manual, videos and some Q&A’s (help). I initially charged the battery for a few hours and found that so far, the battery life is very good. You can get a quick 3-minute charge that gives you ~90 minutes of extra time, or a 10-minute charge that gives you ~5 hours. If you turn off the noise cancelling, it will extend the battery time. When you take them off, they pause and then turn off when not in use. The headphones come with a short USB Type-C cable but no cube, a headphone cable, and a very nice hardshell carrying case. Super easy to connect to Bluetooth and pairing my phone and music together was such a benefit. After setting them up and checking out some different settings, I spent a good portion of the 1st day wearing them sitting in a chair and listening to CDs and Vinyl – great day!! I also listen thru my Samsung while on my walks. The right side of the headphone is your control area – touch and slide for volume and skipping. If you cup the right side, it will turn off the noise cancelling and allow you to hear people talk. When you uncup it, you go back to listening where you were. It is a touchy area so be careful when gripping the headphones. I love the sound quality in both modes, but the ULT button on the left side offers a stereo type of quality sound for music lovers and great bass and premium noise cancelling that blocks out much of the external noise around you. The sound quality is amazing, and you can customize the sound with some presets or make your own setting. I am very happy with these and am sure they will get used way more than my earbuds. Great addition to the music room!

People hearing you clearly doesn't exist needs additional attention

I bought these to use on my flight to London in April and I definitely wouldn't purchase them again. If I were still within the return window I would 100% return these. The headphones look nice and are fairly comfortable. These headphones do not stay connected via Bluetooth, I had to constantly wake up and reconnect them because they would just shut off. I thought the issue was because I was on a flight, but that's not the case; they keep disconnecting when I'm at home. Unfortunately I wasted money on this product, pls don't do the same.

The first thing you will notice about these new Sony ULT headphones is how light and comfortable they are. They appear to be well made. My first impression of the sound of the headphones was not great as they were very bass heavy, and the midrange and highs were totally muted. There are no real instructions that came with them so it was necessary to visit the Sony site and review the online manual where you find how to use the headphones and the recommended app that is a must if you want these to perform as they should. The manual describes the features of the headphones that include connecting to Bluetooth, noise cancellation and use of the ULT button. These buttons are all on the left side while the ability to adjust volume and skip tracks are managed on the right side with a touch sensitive feature. Once I downloaded the app, I found all the features and EQ you need to get these headphones to sound good. There are several custom options that allow you to adjust the settings to your liking and then save them. You can also adjust the noise cancelling feature. I found the noise cancelling feature to work well. You also can use voice to control the headphones, however I do not use this feature as the feature is built into my phone. The headphones connected easily to my phone, laptop and TV. There are a number of other features in the app. My real concern is how do they sound. The marketing of these headphones is that they provide improved bass and using the app or ULT button allows you to control this feature. I listen to a lot of high-end audio and perhaps have developed a certain listening sound signature that I simply could not seem to find with these headphones. I found the extended bass to be overpowering most of the time and would probably never use the feature. I actually found myself turning down the bass in the EQ. Once these are EQ’d to your taste they are very pleasant headphones to listen to. I am sure there are a lot of potential buyers who will find the extra bass a real bonus as past Sony headphones were sometimes lacking in this area for some people. This is a very competitive price point for headphones and there are a lot to choose from. If your listening tastes lean towards more bass heavy music, I think these would be perfect. However, if this is not your taste, I would recommend listening to these and using the app to decide if these are something you can live with. I think Sony did a good job with this product and I will continue to experiment with them to see how much better they can be.

I bought two pair of the Sony ULT WEAR Wireless Noise Canceling headphones 13 months ago. We only use them when we fly so they've been used a half a dozen times. One pair no longer works and the warranty expired. I would never recommend buying these since their wireless system dosn't hol up

So I bought these headphones a week ago and Ive used every feature and lets just say the Sony ULT WEAR ARE AMAZING! There so comfortable, the padding is well padded and don't hurt your head at all over long periods of time, the sound quality is amazing, the bass is very bassy, the noise cancellation is pretty good theres some things I can still hear but overall very good, the EQ (Equalizer) is very customizable and I don't see this feature in other headphones, also the battery life IS AMAZING, Ive never charged them once yet, and there at only 84% I like the fact that you can pick between bluetooth or wired, and there worth TWICE as much as what I paid.

Not loud enough. The bass is trash. I was very disappointed

The product has already broken after only a few uses through normal operation. Not happy with this as it rendered it unusable. Perhaps it was assembled on Monday or a Friday. Will Best Buy stand by the products they sell? That remains to be seen.

These were not what I needed, so I returned them for a full refund. However, they did work, but not the way I wanted to use them.

I wasnt impressed by the sound i expected deeper bass but these are mid driven.

The headphones are ok for music but not good for phone calls and conversations. To much background noise doesn’t get filtered out. Controls are on the left ear which doesn’t work well for us. Lastly the Best Buy 15 day return window is too short as we are 4 days past it and now stuck with these headphones.

I wish I could say I love these but for the price. There are so many other selections to choose from without breaking the bank. I noticed I only used these twice since I purchased them. I'm thinking about returning them.

Do not purchase. They only last a few months before they break and the sound changes. This is my second pair. Try another brand!

Packaging / Appearance Would you have gotten the dream job if you wore that t-shirt instead of the shirt and tie to the job interview? Does a nice red wine taste the same from a paper cup as a stemmed glass? Sometimes proper packaging influences our perception. These headphones were delivered in a box within a box within a box. All three boxes were black except for graphics and labeling and neatly latched and nested within each other with the innermost box containing a zippered, fabric covered hard shell case surrounding the headphones. It sent a nice message of quality even before removing the product. The headphones fold neatly and nest inside the case. The device is an attractive darker shade of gray. Being an over the ear design, the phones themselves are bulkier than an “on-ear” headphone, and of course “ear buds”, but I believe these are much more comfortable to wear over longer periods of time. While I really appreciate the compactness of quality ear buds, I worry they may fall out (There goes a couple of hundred dollars!) or that they may eventually cause some hearing loss because they reside in the ear channel much closer to the ear drum. I like the monochromatic look and overall design. Comfort While testing the headphones for the first time, I wore them for hours on end. I knew they were there on my head, but the lightness of the construction, padding on the ear pieces, and lack of pressure on my head from the headband, made for a pleasurable experience. Product Manual While I rarely open the product manual (yes – sometimes things actually come with printed documentation) that comes with an automobile or power equipment, I found the online Sony manual for these headphones to be quite detailed with useful links throughout. I admit I have not read all 144 pages, but I look forward to going back to it to learn about additional functionality I may have missed in my excitement to use the headphones. Controls Controls are nicely positioned and somewhat intuitive. Nothing requires more than a couple of taps to get by. I hate having to tap three times on one button, while holding down a second button, after counting the correct number of seconds to do each strike – which is no problem here. I especially like the Touch Sensor Control Panel located on the outside of the right ear phone. Two taps to answer and hang up your phone, a swipe up or down to control volume, swipes forward or back to change tracks, etc. And by holding the palm of your hand on it, you will momentarily turn off noise cancellation until you remove your hand. Unlike my wife who has natural noise canceling ability whenever I speak (i.e., cannot hear a word that I say), I need headphones to achieve that ability. But I am smart enough to use the palm of my hand on the Touch Sensor whenever I suspect she is about to speak to me, as that feature turns off Noise Cancellation until you remove your palm from the Touch Sensor Control Panel. Performance Using my Samsung Galaxy S22+ as my music source, I listened to John Mayall, Shelby Lynne, Lyle Lovette, Fat Boy Slim, and Cake. “Short Skirt / Long Jacket” by Cake was a great test of the ULT BUTTON on the Left ear piece, which enhances the bass to different degrees. One touch for ULT1 and a second for ULT2. The result was quite dramatic and illustrated the feature nicely. Varying according to the selection, the sound was truly immersive. I am looking forward to loading up my new SONY WALKMAN with my music library. The WALKMAN should pair nicely with this product. I think these new SONY ULT Headphones and I will have a great future together.

The headphones dont stay on. The seem to slide off my head.

Probably the best sounding wireless headphones I’ve used. Sony has abandoned audiophile critique and catered to the average person in the gym, on the bus, or even the office worker focused on the task at hand – Bass. The ULT wear headphones seem to be a bass focused listening experience. Any time I’m given an equalizer to customize a sound system, I’m boosting the bass while trying to make sure lyrics and higher frequency tones are still heard. The ULT out of the box just gives you clean bass that doesn’t muddle or distort at higher volumes. The bass is there, and you’ll notice it, but if you try to hear the other tones and notes, you’ll find them too, which is a pleasant break away from the artificial boosting other headphones try to deliver. Keeping focused on the unique offering from this product, there are two different Bass settings you can quickly activate using the dedicated ULT button on the left earcup. I find myself gravitating to the ULT1 setting which elevates the bass frequencies. ULT2 setting really comes in strong with the Bass. While I find that ULT2 delivers on it’s promise, I find that while boosting bass can enhance the experience if that’s your preference, the ULT2 setting is just too distracting for me. You can also turn this off and manually adjust the EQ as well, but I found it doesn’t quite have the same oomf as the ULT setting being on. I highly recommend you download the headphones app so you can access all the features and customizations. The ULT Wear adopted several features I liked about the WH-1000xm5. The multi device connection allows me to listen to music on my phone then easily switch to my PC for teams calls. Sony’s noise cancellation is as good as the competition. A co-worker knocked on my office door, came in, and said my name, and I didn’t notice them until I just happened to look up which I think is a testament to how well it works. I also thoroughly enjoy the ambient sound mode which works very well. I’m able to easily watch TV or hold conversations without having to take the headphones off. You can hold your palm over the right ear cup and go full ambient sound from noise canceling and pull your hand away to go right back. Also, within the app you can create your own custom EQ or choose from one of the presets. You can also use the “Find your Equalizer” feature to select between several different sound profiles to create a custom EQ that saves under the Custom 2 for later use. Another useful setting is the adaptive noise cancellation where the headphones will detect your activity and surrounding sound and automatically apply noise cancelling or ambient sound depending on the type and intensity of the sound around you or if you’re walking down the street or just sitting at your desk. As far as wearing for long periods of time I’ve had no issue. The ear cushions are very comfortable and while after several hours, my ears are maybe just a bit warm but just a short break after a couple hours is enough to reset the clock. The cushion on the head band is made out of the same soft foam material and wears comfortably as well. I would say the one downside is, possibly in an effort to keep these light and affordable, there’s a lot of plastic to the build. Considering the quality of the sound and the features loaded into this, I feel like it was a design choice to keep these functional and accessible. Finally, a few notable pro’s and con’s. The headset came with a nice rigid case with an audio cable and a USB type a to C charging cable. The headphones fold to fit inside the case making for a very small footprint for travel. The battery life is killer, and I’ve only had to charge it once for a short time in the past week with daily use. Sony advertises quick charging with 10 minutes providing 5 hours of playback and up to 50 hours of total use if you don’t care about noise cancellation. I don’t like the notifications I would get when the noise canceling would switch in and out of ambient sound. Some may find the capacitive touch a bit extra compared to physical buttons or a volume roller, not an issue for me. I would have liked a way to mute the microphone when on a call, but again, minor complaint. Also, I was not able to find an IPX rating so may want to take notice that it may not be sweat or water resistant if you listen while exercising.

In the box: • ULT Wear headphones • 3.5mm single-ended audio cable (32-inch) • USB-A to C charging cable (9-inch) • Zippered semi-rigid carrying case • Printed reference guide (with QR link to startup guide), warranty, and safety information Note: The reference guide contains no operating instructions. These are only available online. Setup: The headphones came almost mostly charged so there was no need to charge it prior to first use. The Sony Headphones app provided an extensive set of prompts when first pairing with the headphones. Many of the steps were related to features and services that required additional subscription services and far too much personal information than I was comfortable providing. For example, if you allow Sony to track your location (or activity), the app can automatically switch ANC settings. I much prefer to switch ANC settings myself rather than to allow Sony to track my movements. During setup, the app will feature Sony’s 360 Reality Audio. This is not a function of the headphones so much as of the streaming apps capable of decoding the new audio file format. Enabling this feature requires a subscription to one of a handful of streaming audio services. I do not have a subscription to any of them and could not indulge myself in what Sony promises to be “an immersive experience”. Bluetooth pairing was simple on iOS phone, digital audio player (DAP), smart TV, and windows laptop. Pairing mode is entered by a long press on the power button on the bottom of the left earcup. The app retains a list of paired devices and can be simultaneously connected to any two of them using the base codec supported by the connected devices. Design: The headphones are well made from molded plastic. They are closed-back with a fine mesh grille over the top of each earpiece. The grille is mostly concealed under the support harness. A small semicircular part (about the size of half of a nickel) extends beyond the harness and (presumably) contains the ANC microphones. The three headphone control buttons are on the left earcup along with the USB-C and 3.5mm single-ended audio ports. The small round power button can also be used to put the headphones in Bluetooth pairing mode. The oblong button just above the power button serves to change the ANC mode. The large round “ULT” button on the outside edge of the earcup alternates between the three bass modes (plenty, too much, and way too much ;-). The headphones are light, sturdy, adjustable, and comfortable. Both earcups can be rotated and pivoted inward for more compact storage. While nicely designed, the zippered case seems to be made of box board. Operation: According to Sony’s web site, the ULT Wear uses Bluetooth v5.2 and supports SBC, AAC, and LDAC. I confirmed connections using all 3 codecs. The ULT Wear is able to connect with 2 devices at once when this option is enabled in the app. Connecting to my iPhone and DAP, I was able to control the equalization from the app on the phone while listening to music on the DAP. The app also recognized the music being played and allowed play, pause, next track, and prior track functionality on the DAP. With 2devices connected, the ULT Wear does not automatically switch between them when detecting a new sound source. Music playing on one device must be paused in order to hear audio on another. The app includes an equalizer with several presets. The manual preset can be customized with five-band sliders. Equalization settings made in the app are retained when switching to a source device that does not support the app (e.g., DAP and TV). When taking off the headphones, there are options in the app to pause playback and, after a short period, turn the headphones off. This keeps the battery from running down when not in use. Both features can be disabled in the app. Two- and three-press actions on the ANC button can be assigned to a limited number of additional functions that have relevance for two specific streaming apps (neither of which I have). The ANC function on the ULT Wear is remarkably good. The amount of ambient sound passed through can be varied in the app. ANC does induce an audible hiss that gets more pronounced as the amount of ambient sound pass-through is increased. The flat surface on the right earcup includes a touchpad that can be used to control audio playback and answer/hang up calls. Touchpad actions were intuitive, but often difficult for me to perform successfully. The double-tap to answer and end calls was the most useful. I could not find a touchpad function to mute a call in progress. Call quality is excellent on the receiving end (i.e., I can hear others very well). Persons on the other end describe my audio as if I was in a barrel. My voice was not unintelligible, just slightly distorted. There was no notable audio delay when using the ULT Wear with my laptop and smart TV. The ULT Wear can be used with a single-ended 3.5mm audio cable regardless of whether the headphones are turned on or off. They must be turned on to engage the ANC but the isolation provided by the closed back is quite good without it and avoids the hiss induced by the ANC circuit. Equalization settings are not used when using the wired connection. Audio Quality: Sound quality was assessed with a Hi-Res DAP with LDAC codec, multi-point mode disabled, “direct” equalization, and sharp roll-off filter (on the DAP). The default frequency response on the ULT Wear is bass-forward even without the additional bass offered by the ULT button. Bass notes were extended, more than mids and highs, despite the sharp roll-off filter (featured tracks 1, 2, 7, 11, 15, & 21). Mid-range and vocals were clear but overshadowed by the bass (featured tracks 3, 4, 5, 6, & 14). Fortunately, the dynamic range of the UTL Wear is remarkably wide allowing equalization to provide almost any desired frequency response. The app has a guided interactive system by which the user can select from equalization options presented while listening without having to manually adjust frequency sliders. These settings can be stored in one of two “custom” equalization profiles. Most of the deficiencies noted above can be easily overcome through equalization. Equalization settings are not used when using ULT Wear with a wired connection. Nonetheless, audio quality with the wired connection was remarkably good apart from the highs. Hi-hats and cymbal brushes were muted and difficult to hear (featured tracks 11, 12, 13, 15, & 18). Wired or wireless, the sound stage was very good, but recording dependent. Binaural recordings, jazz, and orchestral recordings were well-presented and spacious with good instrument separation (featured tracks 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 22, 23, & 24). The possibility that this could be improved with 360 Reality Audio makes a subscriptions service capable of decoding this new format enticing. Battery: Battery life is good given the inherent demands of noise canceling and Bluetooth. I listened for several hours over the course three days and the battery level remained over 90%. I have no reason to doubt the battery life claims of up to 30 hours. Overall: For their comfort, dynamic range, battery life, and ANC performance, ULT Wear is a good choice for wireless use. The over-the-top bass and muted highs can be overcome with equalization. Some of the features available in the Sony Headphones app require access to a lot of personal information that I prefer not to share. The lack of equalization with the wired connection limits their utility for me. Featured tracks: 1. Laurence Juber: Guitar Noir: Blues De Luxe 2. Miles Davis: Kind of Blue: Flamenco Sketches 3. Nora Jones: Come Away with Me: Don’t Know Why I Didn’t Come 4. Hoff Ensemble: Quiet Winter Night: Dronning Fjellrose 5. Hoff Ensemble: Quiet Winter Night: Ville fjellgutt 6. Bonnie Raitt: Road Tested: Matters of the Heart 7. Joe Satriani, Surfing with the Alien: Echo 8. Julian Webber: Elgar Cello Concerto - Saint-Saens Cello Concerto No.1: Adagio Moderato 9. Vladimir Horowitz: Rachmaninov Piano Concerto #3: Finale: Alla breve 10. 2L Test Suite: Concerto Fantastico: Allegro Affetuoso 11. Antoine Dufour: Back & Forth (Side B): Air Ground (electronic) 12. Bill Evans: Everybody Digs Bill Evans: Minority 13. Miles Davis: Kind of Blue: Freddie Freeloader 14. Tori Amos: Crucify: Smells Like Teen Spirit 15. Dr. Chesky: Dr. Chesky’s Sensational, Fantastic, and Simply Amazing Binaural Sound Show!: Westside Blues 16. Dr. Chesky: Dr. Chesky’s Sensational, Fantastic, and Simply Amazing Binaural Sound Show!: Dancing Flute & Drum 17. Oslo String Quartet: The Shubert Connection: Schubert String Quartet No. 14 in D minor D810: III Scherzo. Allegro molto 18. Miles Davis: Kind of Blue: All Blues 19. Yoyo Ma: Elgar Cello Concerto, Op. 85; Walton Cello Contero: I. Adagio – Moderato (Elgar) 20. Yoyo Ma: A Gathering of Friends: John Williams Cello Concerto: Theme & Cadenza 21. Stevie Ray Vaughan: Couldn’t Stand the Weather: Tin Pan Alley 22. Yoyo Ma: The Goat Rodeo Sessions: Attaboy 23. Los Angeles Guitar Quartet: Spin: Turn to the Sea 24. Los Angeles Guitar Quartet: Spin: Night Furniture Suite

Bought these for my son for his birthday. Bought them prior to said birthday luke most people do. They were too big. Went to return them and Best Buy would not return my money because it was 5 days past their 15 day return policy. No exceptions. BUYER BEWARE.

I have been a fan of Sony Headphones for years and when these were released, I jumped at the chance. I have been an super fan of the Sony line and these do not dissapoint! My last Sony headsets I used was the WH CH720 and they outshine some of my more expensive headsets. For over the ears, I have to say the loudness is one of the more important factors in a good headset. Meaning if you turn on your music or whatever you are listening to, you want to hear it. On some of my past headphones, having my device set at medium volume, most times the headset on the volume is way too low and I have to crank it up a bit. I have never had to do these with Sony with whatever reason. Now with the latest Sony ULT headphones, they do not dissapoint! I just simply added these to the app I already have and it paired up quick and easy! The case is nice and the foldable earcups are a great addition. I can place this case in my carry on bag to the airport without issue with room to spare. The build is decent for a mid range device like this. The Sony and ULT logos may be a bit too much for some, especially on the black colored versions anyway. I think on the grey and white versions, it wouldn't be as flashy or noticeable. Now to the meat of the matter, how does these sound? Right off the bat without playing with any settings, the sound was super clear as I expected it. It was just the right sounds to be clear without being tinny and the bass was present, but not overpowering. Now this is where the ULT feature comes into play. Once you have your EQ settings where you want them, you can easily use the ULT button to go to two other levels other than off. The ULT1 is where I opted to stay and enjoyed all my music. ULT 2 is just wrong lol. I used it not expecting the jarring affect of the amount of bass it can deliver with a tap of a button! I literally had to remove the headphones from my head! It was just too much for me! ULT 1 is the level I am living at and enjoying it very much so! The battery life is fantastic as well. In listening to my music for around 2 hours, the battery level still read 100%. Pretty good especially with ANC on. Speaking of ANC, there is a sweet feature that I wish other companies can adapt. With the music playing, without removing the ULT headphones, you just cup the right earcup and the volume lowers and ANC is turned off so you can clearly hear someone or something like you have removed your headphones, which you can do as well, but this is a sweet feature that I have used numerous times already in the few days I have used it! Would I recommend it? A wholeheartedly yes is my answer! For the price it may be a bit steep but you may wait a bit for some seasonal sales to possibly pick these bad boys up! It is worth every penny in my opinion.