The Sony INZONE H3 are budget-level headphones within the INZONE lineup. This lineup includes the similarly styled Sony INZONE H7 Wireless and Sony INZONE H9 Wireless, as all three headphones are designed with PS5 gaming in mind. Unlike their higher-end counterparts, the INZONE H3 are wired headphones with a slightly smaller frame and cloth ear cup padding. These over-ears offer a lot of customization features like 360 Spatial Sound to help create a more immersive experience. If you like to chat with teammates, they're even Discord-certified, which helps ensure high audio quality when you want to talk to others via this software.
Our Verdict
The Sony INZONE H3 aren't designed for neutral sound. Their sound profile is well-suited for gaming as it has extra warmth to bring out sound effects while veiling the upper harmonics of vocals and lead instruments. However, for music, this can make mixes sound muddy while sibilants like cymbals are piercing. In addition, the headphones are very sensitive to fit, seal, and positioning on your head, so you may not get the same audio delivery each time you use them. Luckily, their companion software offers a graphic EQ and presets to help you adjust their sound to your liking.
- Graphic EQ and presets available in companion app.
- Prone to inconsistencies in audio delivery.
The Sony INZONE H3 aren't designed for this usage; they're bulky, lack a carrying case to help protect them when you're on the go, and don't have any call or music-related controls. Their fit may not be the most comfortable over time either, as the cloth ear cup padding traps in heat. They also don't have a noise cancelling system and struggle to block out the low rumble of bus and plane engines. They do a bit of a better job of cutting down ambient chatter, which can help if you're waiting at your gate or station with others, but it's still not the best performance in this regard.
- Decent leakage performance.
- Poor noise isolation performance.
- No call or music controls.
The Sony INZONE H3 aren't designed for sports and fitness. Their non-detachable audio cable poses a snagging hazard, and the headphones can fall off your head with moderate movement. They also lack call and music-related controls, so you can't adjust anything but the volume unless you pull out your device. Since they have cloth padding, the ear cups can also trap heat, which can be uncomfortable.
- Decent leakage performance.
- Can fall off of your head with moderate movement.
- Cloth ear cup padding traps in heat, which can be uncomfortable over time.
- No call or music controls.
The Sony INZONE H3 is disappointing for office use, but you may still want to check them out if you take a lot of Zoom calls. These gamer-centric headphones have cloth ear cup padding, which can trap heat, and they don't have any call or music-related controls. They also do a mediocre job of blocking background noise like office chit-chat. On the upside, if you take a lot of online meetings, their boom mic ensures that your voice sounds clear and understandable, even in moderately noisy environments.
- Decent leakage performance.
- Poor noise isolation performance.
- Cloth ear cup padding traps in heat, which can be uncomfortable over time.
- No call or music controls.
The Sony INZONE H3 are wired headphones, and you can't use them for wireless gaming.
The Sony INZONE H3 are decent for wired gaming. These fairly comfortable headphones offer a lot of customizability, meaning you can tweak their otherwise boomy and bright sound to your liking, and you can access a virtual soundstage feature for a more immersive sound. If you like to game with others, they have a boom mic that offers good overall performance. Your voice sounds clear and natural, even in moderately noisy environments. These headphones also come with an analog to USB-A adapter, so you can connect to devices via USB if you prefer. On the downside, they're very prone to deviations in audio delivery, so it's important to take the time to ensure a good fit to get a more consistent sound.
- Mic has great recording quality.
- Graphic EQ and presets available in companion app.
- Prone to inconsistencies in audio delivery.
The Sony INZONE H3 are fair for phone calls, particularly if you're chatting with others online. They have a non-detachable boom mic, but it can capture your voice clearly, even in moderately noisy environments. While it won't be a problem if you're taking calls from home or a quiet office, these headphones don't have noise canceling and struggle to block out background sounds. If you're talking near an open window with traffic outside, your audio can be a lot harder to hear well.
- Mic has great recording quality.
- Poor noise isolation performance.
Changelog
- Updated Aug 31, 2022: We ran a comparison of the frequency response via USB dongle and 1/8" TRRS cable and updated the 'Sound Profile' test to reflect these changes. Overall, the USB dongle has a better sound quality than the TRRS cable. We have updated our text, but no test results have changed.
- Updated Aug 12, 2022: Review published.
- Updated Aug 01, 2022: Early access published.
- Updated Jul 25, 2022: Our testers have started testing this product.
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Differences Between Sizes And Variants
The Sony INZONE H3 only come in one color variation: 'White'. You can see our model's label here. These headphones are part of the INZONE lineup and look very similar to other models in this group, like the Sony INZONE H7 Wireless.
If you come across another variant, please let us know in the discussions below.
Popular Headphones Comparisons
The Sony INZONE H3 are part of this manufacturer's INZONE gaming lineup, featuring other headphones like the Sony INZONE H7 Wireless and Sony INZONE H9 Wireless, as well as the Sony INZONE M9 Monitor. However, unlike others in the line, this entry-level model is wired-only, with cloth ear cup padding, and their control scheme is limited to a single volume wheel. They're a little smaller, and their hinge design is different, making them feel less durable overall. Otherwise, they have a very similar sound profile to other models in the lineup. If you're looking for the best headsets for PS5, they don't offer exceptionally better value than other budget-friendly wired gaming headphones like the Razer BlackShark V2 and HyperX Cloud Alpha, as they aren't as comfortable or well-built and don't sound as neutral.
If you're still looking for more gaming headphones, check out our recommendations for the best PS4 gaming headsets, and the best gaming headsets.
The Sony PULSE 3D Wireless and the Sony INZONE H3 have different strengths, and you may enjoy either. The PULSE are better-built wireless headphones, have more consistent audio delivery, and their passive soundstage performance is better. You can also use them wired. On the other hand, the INZONE are wired-only headphones that are more comfortable, have a more neutral default sound profile, which some users may prefer, and have a better overall boom mic performance.
The Razer BlackShark V2 are slightly better gaming headphones than the Sony INZONE H3. The Razer headphones are more comfortable, better-built, and have a more neutral sound profile, which some users may prefer. Their passive soundstage seems wider and more natural, and their companion app offers more robust features. However, the Sony headphones have a better overall microphone performance, which is good if you like to game with others.
Depending on your preferences, you may prefer either the Sony INZONE H3, the entry-level model of the INZONE lineup, or the Sony INZONE H9 Wireless, the top-of-the-line model. The H3 are wired headphones with a simple design. They're a bit smaller than the H9 and are less comfortable and aren't as well-built. Their boom mic has a better recording quality. If you're willing to splurge, the H9 are wireless headphones with ANC to help block out background noise, and they support Bluetooth.
The HyperX Cloud Alpha are better wireless gaming headphones than the Sony INZONE H3. The HyperX headphones are more comfortable, are better built, and have a more neutral sound profile, which some users may prefer. They also have a wider and more out-of-head passive soundstage to help immerse you in gameplay. However, if you're into sound customization features, the Sony headphones have a couple of virtual soundstage features and Sony INZONE Hub that has a graphic EQ and presets to help you tweak the sound to your liking.
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