Sony - WH-XB900N Wireless Noise Cancelling Over-the-Ear Headphones - Black

About 15 months ago I reviewed the Sony CH700N headphones and said it sounded better than 6 other BT headphones I had, but they were not comfortable for more than an album or so. Needless to say I've kept looking, and with 2 more set earbuds and 2 more over the ear headphones to consider I now have the Sony XB900Ns. They weigh about the same as the CH700's but have a completely different foam configuration. They have deeper, softer foam around the ears, they are deep enough that my ears don't touch the inner drivers, which is what I think caused the discomfort with the CH700s. The are much more comfortable and do a better job of noise canceling. I've found them much more comfortable than the CH700's, the foam at the top is a little thicker and they don't squeeze quite as tightly. In addition; changing volume or music is accomplished with a simple swipe to the right headphone, and if you cover your right ear (headphone) with you hand it mutes the music and enables the ambient mode so you can clearly here the environment around your. I really missed this in the CH700's, several other headphones I've acquired recently have this feature in one fashion or another. It's truly worth having if your going to wear headphones around others. Using these headphone on the telephone is somewhat better than the tunnel sound I found on the CH700s, the echo cancelation seems to works better, I believe the CH700s prevented me from hearing myself talk and these XB900s allow my voice to be heard as I talk. This is another big improvement. Now how do they sound. I tried to compare the two headphones (which BT I can't pair simultaneously (nor can I wear). There is no question that the VB900Ns are louder (more efficient: specs say by 4dB). The the bass is undeniably more pronounced, maybe deeper. They remind me more of the sound profile you expect from 'Beats' headphones, but at the same time these Sony XB900N's mids and highs are a bit brighter and louder than that of the CH700's. I'd expected to compare the same volume level on my phone, but to make them equivalent the XB900N's needed to be one notch lower. I think that the XB900's do a much better job of noise cancelation; I tried listening to both with my television on, and the external noise bleed with the CH700's was noticeable, where it was (nearly) non-existent on the XB900s. But I was doing this to also test the XB900's ambient listening environment, where you turn off noise cancelation and "bring in" the external noises. This allows you to hear what's going on around you. I could clearly hear the television and my music, by placing my hand over the right headphone it muted the music and I could only hear the television (clearly; the headphone mic was picking up the external sounds and playing them through the headphones). As I said this is a great feature. Now to some music from Boston and Pink Floyd; The transition from "Foreplay to Long Time", has some great surround stereo separation, softly swirling from ear to ear. The XB900s were clearly deeper but also more airy, both had a great complex midrange, but the overall balance of the lower lows and higher highs on the XB900s was captivating. As "Smokin's" bass built the XB900 certainly get your attention, maybe a little overwhelming, but it was not uncomfortable. Here the CH700's were not as captivating, lacking the thump of the XB900s. Listening to the Immersion Edition of TDSOTM, the voice in my head in "Speak to Me (Live)" were surreal with the subtle background noises. But here again the XB900s soundstage was more fulfilling. The girls in "The Great gig in the Sky" sounded ethereal. I enjoyed the comfort and sound of the XB900's more. That being said, the deep bass of Money seemed over the top. But after spending some time with Sony's HeadPhones App I found that via the 'Equailzer' I could either use their Bright mode or create my own custom mode, taking down the bass a notch and kicking up the highs, to give me a better balance. The app also has a surround mode (VPT) that can put you in an Arena (to much reverb), a Club (kind of bassy), Outdoor Stage or in a Concert Hall (my preference for live music). You can't get to these features from the headphone directly (that I could find). You need to access them from the phones 'Headphones App' which is fine, as it's probably not going to be changed that often. So, I'd say the Extra Bass from the XB900s can be a bit over the top, but you can modify their sound curve from the Headphones app to you liking. One other touted feature is Google and Alexa integration. If this is enabled it disables the Noise Cancelation/Ambient button's operation and that button then functions to interface with Alexa or Google (they should have added a dedicated button). Having both Google and Alexa I tried Google first, but the first instruction I tried (skip to next song) was not supported. It could handle volume up and volume down thought. Also when issuing voice commands, my other Google devices could hear my commands and they "won" over the headphones. Maybe my understanding of how this integration is supposed to work is misunderstood.... but it's not explained anywhere in the "manual" or via the online Headphone app. At best I'd say this is a work in progress. I also listened with the wired connection and as expected the overall sound stage is much wider and brightness of the headphones really shined. Until I connected these headphones directly to my DAC I really didn't know how good how good the XB900s were (with bass tuned down via equalizer). I'd really like to see a headphone that can connect direct via Google play (Wi-Fi) some day. The headphones take 7+hrs to fully charge, but are rated to play for 30hrs (plenty). The headphones are still a little heavy (8.96oz), but the improved foam helps a lot. They are a nice step up, in both sound and functionality from the Sony CH700's, and still a reasonable price. I'm impressed, looking forward to trying them on a long air flight. Sony XB900Ns: my new favorite.

Metal to Mozart, what do they have in common? They both sound amazing on this Sony WH-XB900N wireless noise canceling over the ear headphones. Features also include active noise canceling, ambient noise and XB Bass sound. Crystal clear highs, smooth mids and deep punchy bass make these Sony XB-XB900N headphones suitable for any kind of music from Classical to Rock. • Comfortable for all day wear, I enjoyed the over the ear experience to listen to some eclectic music. I listened to some music from Heavy Metal, Alternative, Hip Hop back from the 90s, and Classic Rock. • I charged the Sony wireless headphones for about 13 hours to a get a full charge of 30 hours to play music. You can also charge a quick 10 mins for 60 mins of play which is very convenient. The charging cord is a USB-C connection to the headphones and a regular USB that plugs into your computer or USB/wall plug. I think Sony made the charging cord a little short. If you want charge the headphones, the short cord will keep the headphones very close to wherever you choose to charge. • There are 3 main ways to connect the Sony wireless headphones. The connections are Bluetooth, NFC (Near Field Connection), and a 3.5mm jack with gold tips. I connected to Bluetooth on my Smart Phone. I also connected to my computer using the 3.5mm jack which has a longer than usual length (which is great because you can move around). Using the custom button on the left ear cup, you can active the ambient noise on/off and active noise canceling. This is while you listen to tunes or just to help you relax. Combining with music these active noise systems, a sound stage is set for you to hear the music better without little noises bothering you. The over the ear cups just by themselves help with that as well. • Next I installed the Sony Headphones App. It was easy to install and easy to use. I used the app to get the Google Assistant. It is a real nice feature pushing the custom button on the left ear cup and asking the Google Assistant for weather, or time, etc. The App also allows you to monitor your position for sound (stationary is what I used), VPT (virtualphones technology), Equalizer, Sound Quality mode, DSEE (digital sound enhancement engine). Of course, ambient sound modes are also used in the App. The app mode allows you to get all the sound fields to adapt the music to your ears. The fields are a concert hall, outdoor stage, club, arena and off. To get the get the fields to work you must turn the Sound Quality to be set at “Priority on Stable”. After that you will be able to access the sound fields. The EQ is pretty cool as well. • The reason that these Sony headphones sound really amazing is the frequency range and drivers. The headphones have powerful 40mm drivers and a frequency range of 3Hz-20kHz which produces reference grade audio. So you will enjoy your love of music that is articulate and punchy, just like the original sound. The noise canceling and ambient works great. I couldn't even hear my texts as they came through my phone right next to me. • When the phone rings, no worries. The Sony wireless headphones have hands free calling with HD Voice. You don’t need to adjust anything. Just answer the call by tapping the answer spot on the right ear cup. It is located in the middle just to the right of pause. If you do need adjusting with the mic you can activate it by tapping the right ear cup, just off the middle to the left. • The hardest yet most convenient part of these Sony headphones is how you control the volume and tracks. The right side of the outer ear cup has the controls on a pressure sensitive plate. At first it may seem hard, but you can get used to it very quickly. I think it is probably the best feature. You can turn up the volume by simply tapping the top of the side (not the the top) of the right ear cup. To lower the volume, you just need to tap the lower part down on the right of the ear cup. If you want to change tracks tap forward or toward the back of the right ear cup to change songs or replay the current song. If you cup your hand over the right ear cup, it mutes the sound so you can communicate with someone while the headphones are still on. Simply lift your hand and the music turns back on. • Now I couldn’t get the right ear cup to respond when I plugged into computer. It seems only the wireless connection uses the right ear cup for controls. • These Sony headphones fold flat and fit into a soft carrying pouch. This makes for easy travel or storing in your suitcase. A pouch is fine but a carrying case would have been better for these high tech headphones. Overall these Sony wireless headphones offer a unique set of sound controls and excellent/amazing sound. Using the right ear cup couldn’t be any easier for controls after trying it a few times. Features like the ambient/noise sound canceling, the awesome sound of music (from all different genres) and the XB Bass make these high tech headphones from Sony an excellent option when looking for headphones.

SONY WH-XB900N: I’ve owned various brand headphones, including several Sony models going back years. I generally prefer over-the-ear headphones because they always “fit” without fussing, but these may be the best yet. SONY may even want to consider suspending any further work on headphone usability and ergonomics. They seem to have arrived at perfection. All those features that have looked so cool in the advertising in the past, but maybe not quite lived up to their promise? Well, now they all work perfectly. You even have the ability to fully customize the sound of these SONYs in the useful CONNECT APP. Your headphones . . . your preferred sound. I’ll be hiding these from family. SETUP and FUNCTION: where everything makes sense! The features I’ll describe below operate as described using the Bluetooth connection between my iPhone XR and the Sony Headphones. This is the most likely connection for most people. + LEFT and RIGHT ear cups are labelled, with color, and are easy to identify. + The buttons have sufficient height and separation, and they work as described each time. The lowest button initiates the Bluetooth connection. It was quick and remains reliable. The same button turns off the headphones and a voice announces that fact. A blinking blue light between buttons confirms ON. + The upper button cycles through NOISE CANCELLING . . . AMBIENT SOUND CONTROL . . . AMBIENT SOUND CONTROL OFF. A voice confirms each change. ++ The upper button can be changed into a Google Assistant button or an Alexa Assistant in the SONY CONNECT APP. + SONY’s Headphone CONNECT APP (Versions App 5.2.0; 1.0.2 for XB900N) presents features appropriate for the connected headphones. If you have a few different Sony model headphones, the APP presents only those features you can use. +The CONNECT APP allows you to customize the following: ___ Adaptive Sound control give a range of NOISE CANCELLATION levels. ___ Sound Position control moves you around in the sound field. ___ Sound Quality Mode selects the highest quality BT or the most stable connection. ___ Change (enable) either Google Assistant or Alexa. + You can enable/disable AUTOMATIC POWER OFF, to occur at various times. + You can enable/disable the VOICE Announcements. CUSTOMIZE EQUALIZER - I’m singling out the EQUALIZER for special attention. It’s here that YOU decide if you really want EXTRA BASS, or not, or even more bass. Open the equalizer section of the features. Tap the “gear” icon and the fun begins. You are presented with a 5-band equalizer to modify the sound profile of your music. In addition, you can set the level of SONY’s “CLEAR BASS”, which presumably is their BASS augmentation control. Independent of the equalizer, it’s here that you can take away the BASS augmentation or add even more. These are your headphones, and you are in complete control. Your changes are saved as Custom 1 or Custom 2 settings, alongside of SONY’s several named sound profiles. AND IT WORKS. The coolest feature of all is on the RIGHT ear cup. Not switches. Not slide controls you need to fumble with. A slide of your fingers UP, increases the volume; DOWN decreases the volume. A slide forward or backwards SKIPS your music selection ahead or replays a previous selection. Taps on the same RIGHT ear cup pauses the music. Phone calls still use the RIGHT ear cup. This time a double tap either answers or hangs up on the call. Phone calls are nice and clear; increase the volume by sliding UP! [ Sony has included a double-ended headphone jack, which requires NO power, and can be used with a discharged battery. The SONYs will operate perfectly fine. However, without the POWER ON the headphones, the noise cancellation and ambient control works are disabled. The SONY CONNECT App, which is how various custom features work, is available only while using the Bluetooth connection, and it needs power. I, personally, would rarely discharge the battery completely, and losing some features for those few hours isn’t a crisis.] SOUND QUALITY: Whatever you want is within reach using the EQUALIZER and the CLEAR BASS control in the CONNECTION APP. With CLEAR BASS reduced significantly, these are very natural, accurate, easy-to-listen-to headphones for long stretches. SONY has provided very accurate drivers in these headphones, that ANY buyer will completely enjoy. Everything I played sounded great. Older recordings of 60s-70s rock often lack sufficient bass. Switching off my Custom settings and relying on SONY’s augmented bass resulted in music that was obviously still older, but completely re-equalized with the improved bass that just never made it to the recording. Really nice. SONY’s Noise reduction is highly effective, with background sounds totally disappearing . . . unless you customize for more ambient sound. SUMMARY: You’re always in control with the SONYs. They are easy to modify to address different music styles or my mood. It seems to my ears that noise cancellation is near perfect, and sound quality is not compromised. Comfort is also exceptional. These are light, easy to tolerate for lengthy periods, and remarkably easy to operate. The controls work reliably and are precisely where you expect to find them. Highly recommended.

The new Sony WH-XB900N wireless headphones are an outstanding option for a comfortable listening experience at home, traveling or in a noisy office. They incorporate very effective noise suppression and echo canceling systems, have easy-to-operate controls and a very long battery life. Their quality is evident in every feature and they a part of the well-regarded Sony Extra Bass family. Here are the key features: • Sony WH-XB900N noise-canceling over-the-ear Bluetooth headphones • Ergonomic, fully adjustable over-ear, closed dynamic headphone • 40 mm dome driver for maximum bass and very accurate wide frequency response • Noise-canceling/suppression technology helps block external noises, may be switched on or off • Monitor function allows ambient sound to be easily heard while wearing headphones, may be switched on or off • Bluetooth 4.2 reception range up to 50 feet, NFC pairing connection option, support aptX codec • Built-in microphone for making and receiving phone calls • Touch control on side of right earphone to raise/lower volume, next/previous track selection • Power, Bluetooth pairing, Monitor and Noise Cancel buttons on left earphone • Rechargeable internal lithium ion power source: 6 hours to fully charge with included USB-C connection cable • Headphones will operate 30+ hours continuously from a full charge, 16 day standby time, customizable auto-off timer • Can also operate without using any power by connecting an included 4.1 foot 3.5 mm stereo cable to left earphone • 3.5 mm (headphone) male-to-male 50” connection cable included • 20 – 20,000 Hz audio frequency range, less than 1% THD distortion • Sony Headphone Connect app provides graphic equalizer and presets • Easy to follow illustrated quick set-up guide • Foldable design for compact storage • Size: 5.5 inches by 6.6 inches by 3.5 inches • Weight: 9 ounces • Soft pouch with drawstring closure included • One year warranty on parts and labor Included in the box are the headphones, instructions, a short USB-C charging cable, a 50 inch long 3.5 mm direct-connect wire cable and a nice soft pouch. The quick set-up guide is comprehensive with step-by-step instructions for using the headphones, a trouble-shooting checklist, technical specifications and detailed explanations for using each feature. The headphones have a non-reflective black finish, substantial bass-producing drivers and super-soft memory-foam cushions on each headphone for superb comfort and noise isolation. They fold flat to enable compact storage and to easily fit into a purse, drawers, etc. The Sony WH-XB900N has a look of quiet quality and business elegance without flashy excess. First step is to charge the headphones. Just attach the USB-C charging cable, plug it into your computer or a USB outlet and LED lights will go out when they are fully charged (which may take 4- 6 hours when fully discharged.) A red LED light next to the charging port goes out when the unit is fully charged. The stated music playing time of thirty hours seems conservative since I found the headphones would operate for nearly forty hours before fading out. The customizable auto-off feature aids this very long battery life. Next, press the power button to turn them on – an audio prompt indicates when the power is on or off. Pair the earphones with your phone or other source via Bluetooth or NFC. An audio prompt guides you, but my phone paired them very quickly and without drama. A blue LED indicates the connection has been made. The connection remained very solid throughout my home, up to nearly 50 feet. The headphones are fully adjustable and the very soft pads completely and comfortably enclose even the largest ears. The Sony WH-XB900N are the most comfortable headphones I have ever worn. They are light (9 ounces) and have plenty of adjustment range to enable a perfect fit. The earphone pads are fairly large (about 4 inches tall and 3 inches wide) so they qualify as “over ear” and they provide excellent sound isolation. You can wear them for many hours in perfect comfort and your ears will never complain. Even without the noise-canceling function most external sounds are blocked. Pressing the Custom (automatic noise canceling) button turns on that feature and there is an audio announcement that it is active (or that it has been turned off.) The ANC technology is very effective for mid-frequency noise. I turned on both my shower and bathroom sink faucet and the noise (which would normally be very loud) was just a faint hiss which I could easily ignore while listening to the music. Even without music playing the noise canceling feature was pretty effective. Further, you can adjust the degree of noise cancellation using the Headphone Connect app. These would be great on a noisy airplane ride! The Sony WH-XB900N headphones have a very accurate reproduction of music from bass through mid-range notes and on to the highest frequencies. You can modify the sound contour/response by utilizing the Sony Headphone Connect app which features a full equalizer, a number of surround sound presets and sound positioning controls. For those who like heavy bass these are an ideal choice. If you want to cut back the bass the equalizer on the app will do that very effectively. I played every range of music, from classical, blues, hard rock, jazz and a full range of vocals (opera through folk ballads) and these fine headphones never disappointed me. The sound quality is just beautiful. Sony has positioned these headphones to deliver premium sound and features at a mid-range price. Yes, you might find slightly better headphones but only if you are willing to spend at least 50% more, and even then most users would not really appreciate any difference in sound or features. Like all good earphones these will respond to various voice commands, allow you to interact with Siri, take calls, etc. Each earphone has some controls. The right side has a nice touch pad which will raise/lower volume, skip tracks (forward and backward), pause and repeat tracks and has a microphone for use during calls. The left side turns the earphones on/off, handles Bluetooth pairing, activates the noise cancelation feature and also takes calls. One very clever feature is Quick Attention which shuts off noise cancellation and lowers music volume when you touch the right headphone, enabling you to easily hear outside sounds (such as someone speaking to you), and then resumes noise cancellation and music volume when you remove your hand. Bottom line - the Sony WH-XB900N noise-canceling Bluetooth headphones are an excellent value for discerning music fans who want a very comfortable headset, superb noise isolation and beautiful sound reproduction. They are a perfect choice for traveling and would pass boring hours in airports and on planes with gold stars for quality, sound level and range. I am happy to award this fine product a full five stars and my full, unqualified endorsement. Buy these if you love music and want sweet isolation from the nasty noises of the world!

These are my new favorite Bluetooth headphones. It is worth taking a moment to create one or two custom Equalizer settings in the Sony Headphones Connect app. You can leave the equalizer off, choose between eight presets or create two of your own custom settings. I’m really impressed with the Noise Cancelling feature on these headphones. This is my first pair with this feature, and I love how well they reduce background noise. The Noise Cancelling feature would randomly turn off until I disabled Adaptive Sound Control in the Headphones app. The first couple days I would hear a tone and Noise Cancelling would turn off, often enough to get annoying. I think the problem is the Adaptive Sound Control feature. While using the Headphones app I noticed the Adaptive Sound Control automatically switching the Ambient Sound Control from Staying to Transport as I moved past our living room fan. I also noticed the Location Notification Icon appearing far too often considering I’m in my house. I’m leaving Ambient Sound Control on Noise Cancelling and leaving the Adaptive Sound Control off. I’ve also disabled the Android location permission used by Adaptive Sound Control in the Sony Headphones app. It has been several days since turning off Adaptive Sound Control and noise cancelling has not randomly turned off once. It is nice Sony lets you change the function of the Custom button to support Siri/Google/Alexa assistants, but I prefer the default function that cycles through three Ambient Sound Control settings. The headband is comfortable at first but hurts after several hours. The band needs to be a little wider to spread out the weight and/or have more padding. The ear cups are large, padded and comfortable. The cup material feels similar to leather but shouldn’t get cracked or ruined by sweat. The touch controls on the right earcup are easy to use. I like Quick Attention Mode, but I wish it was a toggle on/off feature instead of hold to maintain. Holding my palm against my ear only works for one or two words. I really don’t like holding my palm against my ear to keep the feature enabled. One palm touch to enable Quick Attention Mode and then one more palm touch to disable would have been great. NFC on the left earcup is a nice feature. Tap your phone to the headphone to connect, tap again to disconnect. I use the headphones with just one phone, so they automatically reconnect to my phone when I turn them on. The included USB-C charging cable is nice, although a bit short. Our laptops use USB-C but otherwise our house is still mostly micro-USB so I’m glad they included the short cable. I don’t care for the Sound Position Control feature. Neat trick but I don’t understand the purpose. It doesn’t sound any better, just gimmicky. Same with the Surround (VPT) feature.

These are the best headphones I've ever owned. The sound quality is out of this world. The app asks you to take a photo of your ears to tailor the sound to your specific ear shape! If you love music as much as I do, you will definitely be able to be in your own "NIRVANA".

Over the last several years, I’ve had numerous pairs of wireless headphones and earphones from various brands and they all have appealed to me in different ways. These new Sony WH-XB900N’s are almost perfect based on what I look for in headphones. These came about 70% charged, so I was able to pair them to my iPhone and begin using them right away. Pairing was simple and straightforward and was completed in seconds. I downloaded the Sony Headphones Connect app and this is where the headphones really begin to shine. The app lets you completely customize your sound. I typically listen to a lot of Jazz, R&B and Hip-Hop, so I was able to customize the sound I was able to customize the sound to my liking. You can fully customize the amount of ambient sound you hear, sound position, surround sound, bass and treble. The app also has presets based on whether you are running, walking, sitting or on public transportation. The bass is incredible in these headphones. If you like bass, these are better than any other brand that I have used and its clear and distortion free. It can be overpowering at times, but can be adjusted within the app. The thing that impresses me the most is that although the bass is deep and throaty, the mids and highs aren’t compromised. I could still hear the vocals clearly. After trying these with my iPhone XS Max, I connected my Moto Z4 with AptX. Once I enabled it on the phone, I went to Amazon and Apple Music to listen to some tracks. I was expecting to be overwhelmed with the sound quality of AptX, but I was only slightly impressed. Im not an expert on AptX, so maybe it has more to do with what streaming service I use. The headphones are rated to last for 30 hours, but I haven’t had a chance to test that. If you do happen to run out of battery, Sony included a 3.5mm cable that you can plug directly into your device so you can continue using them. If you have an iPhone or some of the other newer devices, you will need a dongle to connect them. I do like that these are charged using a USB-C cable and not micro USB, but they take roughly 7 hours to charge when completely drained. Another great feature is the Quick Attention mode. By placing your right hand over the right ear cup, the volume is turned down so that you can listen to who or what is around you. Ordinarily, I take my headphones off or pause the track, but with these you don’t need to do either. This is a feature, I’ve come to really appreciate along with the great noise cancellation. The controls for adjusting volume and switching tracks are as simple as swiping up and down or left and right on the right ear cup. I didn’t have any issues using either and it was very responsive. The only minor issue I have is the weight of these. I like to wear headphones when I’m working from home or when I’m lounging and listening to music. After a while, they get to be uncomfortable. I guess this is to be expected with drivers this large. Other than the weight, these are a great set of headphones. The 30 hrs of usage, customization within the app, sound quality and solid build of the headphones make these my current favorite and go to headphones.

If you loveeee bass like me, these are 100% for you!! If you love that concert feel, these are the ones! I had the Bose Quiet Comfort 35 II & their nice but missing the bass I wanted. These Sony headphones have Surround (VPT) and Equalizer controls, so you can adjust the bass even more! These are hands down for bassheads!!