- Table of Contents
- Intro
- Updates
- Comparison
- Best Headphones
- Conclusion
- Discussions
We've currently tested 40 pairs of Sony headphones. They're a versatile brand that makes a wide range of headphones at various price points. They have lots of affordable headphones for mostly casual listening, but also have some pricier models that are more feature-packed.
Updates
- 12/14/2020 Sony PULSE 3D reviewed
- 11/13/2020 Sony WH-1000XM3 updated
- 09/29/2020 Sony WH-CH710N reviewed
- 09/16/2020 Sony WH-1000XM4 reviewed
- 08/24/2020 Sony WF-XB700 reviewed
Best Sony Headphones
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Best Sony Headphones
Type Over-earEnclosure Closed-BackWireless YesNoise Cancelling YesMic YesTransducer DynamicThe best Sony headphones we’ve tested are the Sony WH-1000XM4 Wireless. These premium Bluetooth-enabled over-ears perform quite similarly to their predecessor, the Sony WH-1000XM3 Wireless, but feature small improvements in a couple of key areas. They have an almost 38-hour battery life with an auto-off timer, a more comprehensive control scheme, and support for multi-device pairing. They're also comfortable enough to wear for multi-hour listening sessions, feel impressively well-built, and come with an ANC system that filters out everything from the low rumble of bus engines to the high-pitched hum of a nearby AC unit. While their default sound profile is quite bass-heavy, it can be adjusted via audio presets or a graphic EQ in their Sony | Headphones Connect companion app.
Unfortunately, their integrated mic delivers sub-par recording quality, making your voice sound thin, muffled, and lacking in overall detail. They're also a little on the bulky side, so carrying them around when not in use can be a bit of a hassle if you're not using the included carrying case. Still, thanks to their rich feature set, comfortable fit, and premium build quality, they're among the best wireless Bluetooth headphones we've tested.
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Best In-Ear Sony Headphones
Type In-earEnclosure Closed-BackWireless Truly WirelessNoise Cancelling YesMic YesTransducer DynamicThe best in-ear Sony headphones we’ve tested are the Sony WF-1000XM3 Truly Wireless. These in-ears look and feel very premium, with high-grade plastic construction and metal accents. Their sound profile is mostly even and versatile enough for a variety of musical genres, although some fans of EDM and hip hop might prefer a little more thump and rumble. Thankfully, that can be customized with a graphic EQ or presets in the feature-packed Sony | Headphones Connect app, which also allows you to remap their touch-sensitive control scheme for everything from playback functions to activate your phone's voice assistant. The continuous battery life of just under seven hours with ANC activated is decent, and their carrying case provides an additional three charges.
Unfortunately, they’re pretty bulky for truly wireless headphones and need to enter the ear canal pretty deeply to get a stable fit. This is further complicated by an included selection of ear tips that are unusually large and might not provide an airtight seal for most ears, which in turn hurts their noise isolation and audio leakage performance. The Sony WI-1000X Wireless will provide a more consistent listening experience thanks to their smaller earbuds, but their neckband design isn't nearly as portable.
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Best Sony Headphones For Mixing And Mastering
Type Over-earEnclosure Closed-BackWireless NoNoise Cancelling NoMic NoTransducer DynamicThe best Sony headphones for mixing and mastering we've tested are the Sony MDR-7506. They've been the industry standard for decades, and there's no surprise as to why. Their frequency response is very well-balanced, resulting in a neutral sound profile ideal for mixing. They're lightweight for long studio sessions and can fold up into a more compact format, so they don't take up too much space in your bag. They're also a good deal cheaper than most competing studio monitor headphones on the market, so you can get a few extra pairs to make sure everyone in your studio is properly equipped without breaking the bank.
Unfortunately, their lower price is reflected in their build quality. Their ear cup padding is notoriously cheap, and the headband can stretch out over time, especially with heavy use. While their long coiled cable is pretty durable, it isn't detachable. If it breaks, you'll have to replace them altogether. Thankfully, it doesn't cost an arm and a leg to replace them, and they should still last for a decent while.
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Best Sony Headphones For Sports
Type In-earEnclosure Closed-BackWireless Truly WirelessNoise Cancelling YesMic YesTransducer DynamicThe best Sony headphones for sports that we've tested are the Sony WF-SP800N Truly Wireless. These comfortable, well-built in-ears have a very stable fit, so they shouldn't fall out of your ears while you're working out. They even come with several different sizes of earbud tips and stability fins to help you get the best possible fit. Their bass-heavy sound profile can help you stay motivated during your toughest workouts, and if you prefer a different sound, there's a graphic EQ available in the Sony | Headphones Connect app. They can last for over nine hours off of a single charge, which should be more than enough to get you through a long run. Their portable charging case can also help you recharge on-the-go, which is nice.
Unfortunately, they don't support multi-device pairing, which can be annoying if you like to switch your audio sources frequently. Also, while they have an ANC system, it's just okay for noise isolation. The ANC feature performs about the same as their passive noise isolation, and you can still hear bass-heavy background noises like bus and plane engines. However, some listeners may actually prefer this design feature, since it can help you stay aware of your surroundings if you're running outdoors.
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Best Budget Sony Headphones
Type In-earEnclosure Closed-BackWireless YesNoise Cancelling NoMic YesTransducer DynamicThe best Sony headphones we've tested in the budget range are the Sony WI-C310 Wireless. These cheap wireless in-ears are decently comfortable, and they should be stable enough for light exercise. They have a neckband design with in-line controls that make it easy to adjust the volume when you're on-the-go. Overall, they have a balanced sound profile with a little extra kick in the bass that's suitable for lots of different audio content. They don't leak a lot of noise, and escaping audio sounds very thin, so it shouldn't disturb anyone around you in a typical office setting. Also, they last about seventeen hours off of a single charge, so they're well-suited for long listening sessions.
Unfortunately, like many options in this price range, they don't have the best build quality. They lack a lot of features, so you can't customize their sound profile or activate a noise cancellation feature. If you're commuting, you may be distracted by bass-heavy background noises like bus and plane engines. Also, their in-line microphone has a sub-par recording quality, so they're only an okay choice for making phone calls.
Compared to other brands
- Headphone variety. Sony makes everything from open-back sports earbuds to noise cancelling RF wireless TV headphones at all kinds of different price points. We've yet to review their entire line-up, but they generally have something for everyone.
- Different sound profile options. Sony's headphones generally fall into two sound profile options: neutral or bass-heavy. This helps them cater to a wider range of listeners since some people find a neutral sound too flat or boring but others find too much bass overwhelming.
- Great mobile app. Many of their Bluetooth headphones are compatible with the Sony | Headphones Connect app. With most models, you get a good graphic EQ, but with more premium models it provides a bunch of virtual soundstage options, which really make it stand out.
- Inconsistent noise cancelling performance. Although Sony have a few models that block a phenomenal amount of noise, like the WH-1000XM4, most of their models' noise cancelling is only decent.
- Premium price for good headphones. Sony's best headphones might be industry leaders, but they'll also set you back a pretty penny. Their cheaper options usually have poor build or sound quality, especially compared to models from dedicated budget brands.
- Some features missing. While Sony have many feature-packed models, even some of their most premium Bluetooth headphones are missing features that are taken for granted with other brands, like microphone controls, multi-device pairing, audio while charging or an auto-off timer.
Overall, Sony has a wide range of headphones for different needs. Their top performers are quite expensive, but provide good value for those who want the best-of-the-best. Unfortunately, quality varies across models and their less pricey options are still generally rather expensive for what you get. Noise cancelling can be especially a bit hit-or-miss, but their more premium models generally get it right.
Lineup
Sony has a couple of different headphone lineups but their naming strategy isn't always very clear. Some of their more feature-packed headphones with Bluetooth or active noise cancelling might appear to be in the same family as their basic wired headphones, which can be confusing. Their most consistent naming conventions are:
- WH = Wireless over-ears and on-ears.
- WI = Wireless in-ears and earbuds.
- WF = Truly wireless headphones.
- IER = In-ear monitors.
- XB = Extra Bass, headphones with a more bass-heavy sound signature.
However, their MDR lineup includes both wired over-ears and in-ears, as well as wireless over-ears and on-ears; SP includes some, but not all, of their sports models; and it's unclear what the many other common naming schemes, like CH or ZX, represent.
Conclusion
Sony makes a wide variety of headphone models that are geared for all kinds of listeners. Most of their models deliver reliable sound quality with either more bass-heavy or neutral-sounding options to choose from. Their best-performing headphones come at a premium price, though, as their cheaper models can be hit-or-miss. That said, their higher-end models are among some of the best headphones we've tested and are easy to recommend.
If you're a fan of Sony's noise cancelling models, you'll also want to check out our recommendations for the best headphones for commuting.
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