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Sony WH-XB910N Wireless Headphones Review

Tested using Methodology v1.7
Review updated Jul 31, 2023 at 04:21 pm
Latest change: Writing modified Jul 25, 2024 at 12:42 pm
Sony WH-XB910N Wireless Picture
5.1
Neutral Sound
7.1
Commute/Travel
7.1
Sports/Fitness
7.0
Office
5.3
Wireless Gaming
6.4
Wired Gaming
6.6
Phone Calls
These headphones were replaced by the Sony ULT WEAR Wireless

The Sony WH-XB910N Wireless are the next generation of the Sony WH-XB900N Wireless. They're part of the XB (or extra bass) lineup, so you can expect more thump, rumble, and boom from these cans than other fan favorites like the Sony WH-1000XM4 Wireless. They're not a one-trick pony, though. They've got noise cancelling (ANC) to help cut down ambient sound around you, support multi-device pairing, and have a companion app so that you can adjust their sound.

Our Verdict

5.1 Neutral Sound

The Sony WH-XB910N are disappointing for neutral sound since they're designed to have a very bass-heavy sound. They deliver intense thump, rumble, and boom to mixes, but this muddies the rest of the mix. There's an overemphasis in the high-mid and treble range to counteract this, which makes vocals and instruments sound harsh while sibilants like cymbals are piercing. Since they're closed-back headphones, they don't have the most immersive soundstage either. On the upside, you can adjust their sound using their app's EQ or presets and use their virtual soundstage feature.

Pros
  • Graphic EQ and presets available.
Cons
  • Poor passive soundstage.
  • Prone to inconsistencies in bass and treble delivery.
7.1 Commute/Travel

The Sony WHXB910N are decent for commute and travel. They have a very comfortable and well-built design, and even though they're somewhat bulky, they come with a hard case to help protect them when you're on the go. However, their ANC just offers a satisfactory noise isolation performance when it comes to blocking out the low rumbles of bus and plane engines, but they do a better job of cutting down passenger chit-chat around you. They also last over 39 hours continuously, which will get you from point A to B without a recharge.

Pros
  • Very comfortable and well-built.
  • Good noise isolation performance.
Cons
  • Poor passive soundstage.
  • Prone to inconsistencies in bass and treble delivery.
7.1 Sports/Fitness

The Sony WH-XB910N are decent for sports and fitness, but they're not designed for this purpose. While they have a very comfortable and well-built fit, they're bulky and not very portable. They can also fall off your head with intense head movements and lack an IP rating for water resistance, which is normal from over-ear headphones.

Pros
  • Very comfortable and well-built.
Cons
  • Can fall off your head with more intense head movements.
7.0 Office

The Sony WH-XB910N are decent for office use. They're very comfortable, well-built, and their over 39 hours of continuous playback time will last through long office days without recharging. They also have an ANC system that can block out ambient chatter around you, and you can pair them with your PC and smartphone simultaneously.

Pros
  • Very comfortable and well-built.
  • Good noise isolation performance.
Cons
  • Poor passive soundstage.
  • Prone to inconsistencies in bass and treble delivery.
5.3 Wireless Gaming

The Sony WH-XB910N are compatible with Bluetooth-enabled PCs. However, their latency on PCs is too high to be suitable for gaming, as your audio and visuals won't be in sync.

6.4 Wired Gaming

The Sony WH-XB910N are fair for wired gaming. They come with a 1/8" TRS cable, so you can connect them to consoles with an AUX port. However, you can only receive audio and can't use their mic. They also have an overly boomy sound profile. While this sound can help emphasize sound effects, it also muddies dialogue and instruments. On the upside, they have a comfortable fit suitable for long gaming marathons.

Pros
  • Very comfortable and well-built.
  • Good noise isolation performance.
  • Graphic EQ and presets available.
Cons
  • No mic support via 1/8" TRS.
  • Poor passive soundstage.
  • Prone to inconsistencies in bass and treble delivery.
6.6 Phone Calls

The Sony WH-XB910N are okay for phone calls. They have an integrated mic that does a fair job of recording your voice so that you sound clear. However, the mic struggles to separate your voice from moderate ambient noise around you, so your voice can be overpowered and drowned out if you're taking a call from a busy street. On the upside, the headphones have an ANC system to help block out some ambient noise around you.

Pros
  • Very comfortable and well-built.
  • Good noise isolation performance.
Cons
  • Mic struggles to separate your voice from moderate ambient noise.
  • Prone to inconsistencies in bass and treble delivery.
  • 5.1 Neutral Sound
  • 7.1 Commute/Travel
  • 7.1 Sports/Fitness
  • 7.0 Office
  • 5.3 Wireless Gaming
  • 6.4 Wired Gaming
  • 6.6 Phone Calls
  1. Updated Jul 25, 2024: The following test groups have been updated following Test Bench 1.7: Noise Isolation - Full Range, Noise Isolation - Common Scenarios, and ANC Wind Handling. There have also been text changes made throughout the review, including to the usages and product comparisons to match these results.
  2. Updated Jul 24, 2024: We've converted this review to Test Bench 1.7, which updates our Noise Isolation test. We've also expanded the scope of this test to include Common Scenarios in addition to Voice Handling and Wind Handling.
  3. Updated Jun 13, 2024: The LDAC Bluetooth codec connectivity and latency have been added to the review with accompanying relevant text, and the Bluetooth Connection score has changed from 7.7 to 8.0.
  4. Updated Feb 01, 2024: The following test group has been updated following TB 1.6: Bluetooth Connection. There have also been text changes made throughout the review, including to the usages to match these results.
  5. Updated Feb 01, 2024: We've converted this review to Test Bench 1.6 , which updates how we measure latency. We've updated and renamed the following test groups: Wired Connection, Bluetooth Connection, and Wireless Connection (Dongle). We've also added new codec latency measurements and provided an audio sample of recorded latency.
  6. Updated Jul 31, 2023: We've updated this review's text to improve its accuracy. However, the scores haven't changed.
  7. Updated May 08, 2023: We've added a comparison between these headphones and the Sony WH-CH720N Wireless in Noise Isolation.
  8. Updated Dec 01, 2022: We've corrected a mistake in the reported Charge Time inBattery.
  9. Updated Nov 25, 2021: Review published.
  10. Updated Nov 22, 2021: Early access published.
  11. Updated Oct 22, 2021: Our testers have started testing this product.
  12. Updated Oct 14, 2021: The product has arrived in our lab, and our testers will start evaluating it soon.
  13. Updated Oct 07, 2021: We've purchased the product and are waiting for it to arrive in our lab.

Differences Between Sizes And Variants

The Sony XB910N come in a couple of color variants: 'Black', 'Grey', and 'Blue'. We tested the 'Black' variant; you can see our model's label here. If you encounter another variant, please let us know in the forums, and we'll update our review.

Compared To Other Headphones

The Sony WHXB910N are the next generation of the Sony WH-XB900N Wireless. Like their predecessor, they have a very bass-heavy sound profile that delivers significant boom, thump, and rumble. While some users may find they sound overly muddy and harsh, if you prefer a different sound, their companion app offers a graphic EQ and presets to help tweak their sound to your liking. This generation also performs significantly in better noise isolation, thanks to their ANC system. However, it still falls short of that of the Sony WH-1000XM4 Wireless.

Check out our recommendations for the best bass headphones, the best headphones for music, and the best noise cancelling headphones.

Sony WH-CH720N Wireless

The Sony WH-CH720N Wireless' sound is more versatile over-ear headphones than the Sony WH-XB910N Wireless. While both headphones support multi-device pairing, are customizable, thanks to companion app support, and have long continuous battery lives, the WH-XB910N are designed to deliver intense bass. However, some users will find the overall mix muddier compared to the WH-CH720N. The WH-XB910N are better built and more comfortable, but their noise isolation is less consistent than the WH-CH720N.

Sony WH-XB900N Wireless

The Sony WH-XB910N Wireless are the next generation of the Sony WH-XB900N Wireless. The XB910N are similarly comfortable and well-built as their predecessor. However, they come with a hard case to help protect them when you're on the go, they have a more bass-heavy sound profile, which some users may prefer, and their ANC offers better overall performance. They also have an auto-off timer to help conserve battery life when you're not using them, and they support multi-device pairing. However, the XB900N support NFC pairing, which some users may prefer.

Sony WH-1000XM3 Wireless

The Sony WH-1000XM3 Wireless are better over-ear headphones than the Sony WH-XB910N Wireless. While both headphones are comfortable, the WH-1000XM3 are better built, have a more neutral default sound profile, which some users may prefer, and have a significantly better noise isolation performance. They also support NFC pairing. The WH-XB910N have a more bass-heavy sound, which will please bass fans, they support multi-device pairing, and they have a significantly longer continuous battery life.

Beats Studio3 Wireless

The Beats Studio3 Wireless and the Sony WH-XB910N Wireless are similarly performing headphones. While both headphones are comfortable and well-built, the Beats have a more neutral sound profile, which some users may prefer, their fit is more stable, and they support a W1 chip for seamless pairing with your iOS devices. However, the Sony headphones have a better noise isolation performance, their sound profile is customizable using their companion app's graphic EQ and presets, and they support multi-device pairing.

Skullcandy Crusher Evo Wireless

The Sony WH-XB910N Wireless are better headphones than the Skullcandy Crusher Evo Wireless. The Sony are more comfortable, have a significantly better noise isolation performance, and have a longer continuous battery life. Their companion app also offers a graphic EQ and presets to help you adjust their sound to your liking, and they support multi-device pairing. The Skullcandy have a haptic bass slider that some users may prefer.

Sony WH-CH710N Wireless

The Sony WH-XB910N Wireless are better over-ear headphones than the Sony WH-CH710N Wireless. The XB910N are more comfortable, feel better built, and have significantly better battery performance. Their continuous battery life lasts longer, they have a companion app with a graphic EQ and presets to help you adjust their sound to your liking, and they support multi-device pairing. The CH710N have a more neutral sound profile, which some users may prefer, and support NFC pairing.

JBL Live 660NC Wireless

The JBL Live 660NC Wireless and the Sony WH-XB910N Wireless are similarly performing headphones with different strengths. While both headphones are well-built and support multi-device pairing, the JBL have a more neutral sound profile out of the box, which some users may prefer, and reproduce sound more consistently. However, the Sony are more comfortable, but their ANC offers a less consistent performance. Their longer continuous battery life is longer, though.

Anker Soundcore Space Q45 Wireless

The Anker Soundcore Space Q45 Wireless are better over-ear headphones than the Sony WH-XB910N Wireless. While both headphones are well-built, the Anker headphones have a slightly more well-balanced overall sound profile, which some users may prefer, and their ANC can block out significantly more ambient noise. However, the Sony headphones are more comfortable.

Anker Soundcore Life Q30 Wireless

The Anker Soundcore Life Q30 Wireless and the Sony WH-XB910N Wireless have different strengths. While both headphones support multi-device pairing, the Anker can block out significantly more ambient noise while the Sony are more comfortable and better built.

Sony WH-H910N/h.ear on 3 Wireless

The Sony WH-H910N/h.ear on 3 Wireless and the Sony WH-XB910N Wireless have different strengths, and you may prefer either one. While both headphones are comfortable, the WH-H910N/h.ear on 3 have a significantly more neutral sound profile and support NFC pairing. They also have a better noise isolation performance. However, the WH-XB910N have a much more bass-heavy sound profile and are more comfortable. They also support multi-device pairing.

Sony WH-CH700N Wireless

The Sony WH-XB910N Wireless are more versatile headphones than the Sony WH-CH700N Wireless. The WH-XB910N are more comfortable, better-built, and can block out significantly more ambient noise around you. They also have a better overall battery performance and support multi-device pairing. The WH-CH700N support NFC pairing and have a more neutral default sound profile, which some users may prefer.

Sennheiser HD 450BT Wireless

The Sony WH-XB910N Wireless are somewhat better headphones for most uses than the Sennheiser HD 450BT Wireless. The Sony are more comfortable, feel better built, and block out a bit more noise. They also have better battery performance. The Sennheiser have a more neutral sound profile, which some users may prefer.

Anker Soundcore Life Q35 Wireless

The Anker Soundcore Life Q35 Wireless and the Sony WH-XB910N Wireless are similarly performing headphones; you may enjoy either. While both headphones have customizable sound profiles, thanks to their companion apps, the Anker have a better noise isolation performance and support NFC pairing. The Sony are more comfortable though, and have a better battery performance thanks to their auto-timer.

Bose QuietComfort 35 II/QC35 II Wireless 2018

The Bose Quiet Comfort 35 II/QC35 II Wireless 2018 are better headphones than the Sony WH-XB910N Wireless. While both headphones are well-built, the Bose are more comfortable, have a more neutral sound profile, which some users may prefer, and can isolate you from more ambient noise. However, the Sony's sound profile is more customizable, thanks to their companion app's graphic EQ and presets. They also have better battery performance.

Sony WH-H900N/h.ear on 2 Wireless

The Sony WH-XB910N Wireless are somewhat better headphones than the Sony WH-H900N/h.ear on 2 Wireless. The WH-XB910N are more comfortable, have significantly better noise isolation and battery performances, and support multi-device pairing. The WH-H900N/h.ear on 2 have a more neutral default sound profile, which some users may prefer.

Beats Solo Pro Wireless

The Beats Solo Pro Wireless and the Sony WH-XB910N Wireless have different strengths, and you may prefer either one. The Beats are on-ears that feel better built, have a more neutral sound profile, which some users may prefer, and block out slightly more ambient noise. They also have an H1 chip for seamless pairing with your Apple devices. However, the Sony have a more bass-heavy sound profile that you can customize using their companion app's graphic EQ and presets. They also have significantly better battery performance and support multi-device pairing.

JBL Live 650 BTNC Wireless

The Sony WH-XB910N Wireless offer better overall performance than the JBL Live 650 BTNC Wireless. The Sony are more comfortable, have a sturdy hard case, and have a virtual surround feature. They also have a slightly better noise isolation performance and a longer continuous battery life. However, the JBL have a more neutral sound profile, which some users may prefer, and their companion app offers a parametric EQ.

Jabra Elite 85h Wireless

The Jabra Elite 85h Wireless and the Sony WH-XB910N Wireless are similarly performing headphones, and you may prefer either one. While both headphones are comfortable and well-built, the Jabra have a more neutral default sound profile, which some users may prefer, and their mic offers better overall performance. However, the Sony have a longer continuous battery life and better noise isolation performance, except for the highs, which the Jabra block out better.

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Test Results

perceptual testing image
Design
Design
Style
Type Over-ear
Enclosure Closed-Back
Wireless Yes
Transducer Dynamic

The Sony WH-XB910N have a very similar look to the Sony WH-XB900N. They have a fairly minimalist design but look cheaper and more plasticky than the Sony WH-1000XM4 Wireless. They come in a few color variants: 'Black', 'Grey', and 'Blue'.

8.0
Design
Comfort
Weight 0.55 lbs
Clamping Force
0.9 lbs

These over-ears have a very comfortable fit. They feel lightweight and don't clamp too tightly on your head. The ear cups have a good range of motion to accommodate larger heads. Their padding on the ear cups and headband also feels fairly nice on the skin. However, if you have glasses, getting a more comfortable fit can be harder since the arms can rupture the padding's seal on your head. If you have big ears, they can also touch or rub up against the driver fabric.

7.7
Design
Controls
OS Compatibility
Not OS specific
Ease Of Use Good
Feedback Good
Call/Music Control Yes
Volume Control Yes
Microphone Control No
Channel Mixing
No
Noise Cancelling Control On/Off
Talk-Through
On/Off
Additional Controls Voice Assistant

These over-ears have good controls. They have a mix of physical and touch-sensitive controls, which are easy to use. The physical buttons on the left ear cup are clicky, while the touch-sensitive surface on the right ear cup is responsive. There are voice prompts for switching between 'Ambient' mode and ANC, as well as beeps when registering touch commands and using the buttons. The headphones will also tell you which device you're connected to. Unfortunately, the location of the power button makes it easy to accidentally touch it when you're putting on or taking off the headphones.

On the left ear cup:

  • Power button:
    • Single press: Tells you the battery percentage.
    • Press and hold for two seconds: Turns the headphones on and off. Also enters Bluetooth pairing mode when turned on.
  • ANC/Ambient button: Cycles between ANC on and 'Ambient' mode, which allows you to better hear your surroundings without turning off your audio.

On the right ear cup:

  • Swipe up: Raises the volume.
  • Swipe down: Lowers the volume.
  • Swipe forward: Skips to the next track.
  • Swipe backward: Skips to the previous track.
  • Double-tap: Plays and pauses audio. Also answers and declines calls.
  • Place hand on right ear cup: Enters 'Ambient' mode.

6.0
Design
Portability
L 7.3" (18.6 cm)
W 6.8" (17.2 cm)
H 2.2" (5.6 cm)
Volume 109.20 in³ (1,789.40 cm³)
Transmitter Required No

They're not the most portable, but that's normal for over-ear headphones. They're bulky, although their cups can swivel to lay flat, and they can fold to save some space. They also come with a carrying case to help store them in your bag when you're on the go.

8.0
Design
Case
Type Hard case
L 8.4" (21.4 cm)
W 7.2" (18.2 cm)
H 2.3" (5.8 cm)
Volume 137.77 in³ (2,257.70 cm³)

The carrying case is great. It's mostly cloth material, which feels sturdy. The zipper fully closes, which helps secure the headphones from the elements.

7.5
Design
Build Quality

These headphones have good build quality. They're mostly solid plastic with faux leather padding. Their hinges also differ from the Sony WH-XB900N Wireless since their headband extends down to the yokes. However, their plasticky design looks and feels a bit cheap, especially compared to the similarly designed, more high-end Sony WH-1000XM4 Wireless. The yokes also feel a bit weak and prone to damage over time.

7.0
Design
Stability

The Sony WH-XB910N have a decently stable fit. They'll stay on your head if you listen to audio at your desk. However, they'll fall off your head if you use them while headbanging or working out.

Design
Headshots 1
Design
Headshots 2
Design
Top
Design
In The Box

  • Sony WH-XB910N headphones
  • USB-C to USB-A charging cable
  • 1/8" TRS audio cable
  • Carrying case
  • Manuals

Sound
Sound
Sound Profile
Bass Amount
6.11 dB
Treble Amount
-1.29 dB

The Sony WH-XB910N have an extremely bass-heavy sound profile. They deliver intense thump, rumble, and boom to mixes, which is good if you like genres like EDM and hip-hop with heavy basslines. At the same time, vocals and lead instruments are very harsh, while sibilants like cymbals are piercing. However, this sound can be very overwhelming for most users. If you wear glasses or have thick hair, you can also lose a lot of bass as these features can break the ear cup's seal on your head. We could also feel low frequencies rumble on our glasses, and it felt like the drivers were touching our ears. On the upside, their app offers a graphic EQ and presets to help you customize their sound to your tastes.

7.0
Sound
Frequency Response Consistency
Avg. Std. Deviation
0.61 dB

These over-ears have satisfactory frequency response consistency. They're prone to inconsistencies in bass and treble delivery. If you have thick hair or glasses, you may especially notice a drop in bass. Their treble delivery is also somewhat sensitive to the headphones' fit and positioning on your head. As a result, you'll need to take the time to adjust their fit each time you use them to receive a more consistent sound.

Sound
Raw Frequency Response
1.9
Sound
Bass Accuracy
Std. Err.
11.51 dB
Low-Frequency Extension
10.75 Hz
Low-Bass
13.7 dB
Mid-Bass
13.88 dB
High-Bass
10.22 dB

The Sony WH-XB910N's bass response is overemphasized across the range, resulting in intense thump, rumble, and boom. It's pleasing if you want to feel the bass in songs like Die For You by the Weeknd, which already have a heavy bassline. Some users may find this sounds very overwhelming, especially as the extra bass also muddies vocals and instruments.

Note: Their bass delivery can vary depending on fit, seal, and positioning. This response represents the average, and your experience may vary.

6.1
Sound
Mid Accuracy
Std. Err.
5.2 dB
Low-Mid
2.92 dB
Mid-Mid
0.67 dB
High-Mid
7.97 dB

They have mediocre mid accuracy. There's overemphasis from the bass into the low-mid, making vocals and lead instruments sound muddy and cluttered. While the mid-mid is fairly flat, the high-mid is very overemphasized, so the upper harmonics of vocals and lead instruments are overly honky and harsh.

6.4
Sound
Treble Accuracy
Std. Err.
5.22 dB
Low-Treble
-0.34 dB
Mid-Treble
6.07 dB
High-Treble
-0.15 dB

The Sony WHXB910N's treble accuracy is passable. Our unit's left and right drivers are slightly mismatched in the low-treble range. However, overall, the response in this range is fairly neutral, so vocals and instruments sound detailed. The mid-treble is very overemphasized, and sibilants like cymbals are very harsh.

Note: Treble delivery can vary depending on fit and positioning. This response represents the average, and your experience may vary.

5.6
Sound
Peaks/Dips
Peaks
2.86 dB
Dips
2.87 dB

Their peaks and dips performance is sub-par. There are many large peaks, indicating that the headphones struggle to control their sound profile. A large peak across the bass range adds extra thump, rumble, and boom to mixes, while a deep dip between the low to mid-mid thins out vocals and lead instruments, pushing them to the back of your mix. Another peak in the high-mid makes vocals and lead instruments very harsh, while a dip in the low-treble hurts their comprehensibility. A steep peak in the mid-treble makes sibilants like S and T sounds very piercing.

8.1
Sound
Imaging
Weighted Group Delay
0.33
Weighted Phase Mismatch
9.33
Weighted Amplitude Mismatch
0.91
Weighted Frequency Mismatch
1.91

Sony makes a lot of headphones, and their mid to high-end offerings generally have solid imaging performances, which indicates their quality control and ergonomics. As a result, sound objects like voices are accurately placed in the stereo image. Although imaging varies between units, our unit's L/R drivers are well-matched in amplitude and frequency response, which keeps the stereo image stable. There is a peak in the group delay's low-bass, and if you're wearing glasses, you'll feel a lot more rumble than if you aren't wearing them. There are also a couple of peaks in the phase response's mid-to-treble range. While the mid-range peaks aren't noticeable with real-life content, the treble range ones skew the audio to one side.

4.2
Sound
Passive Soundstage
PRTF Accuracy (Std. Dev.)
3.74 dB
PRTF Size (Avg.)
9.49 dB
PRTF Distance
6.81 dB
Openness
3.3
Acoustic Space Excitation
2.5

The passive soundstage is poor. The soundstage seems wide but unnatural and as if coming from inside your head. Since they have a closed-back design, you'll perceive their soundstage as closed-off and less spacious than open-back headphones.

4.1
Sound
Virtual Soundstage
Head Modeling
On/Off
Speaker Modeling
On/Off
Room Ambience
No
Head Tracking
No
Virtual Surround
360 Reality Audio

Unlike the Sony WH-XB900N Wireless, these headphones don't support Virtualphones Technology (VPT), a discontinued spatial audio feature. You can set up Sony's 360 Reality Audio via their companion app by analyzing your head and ears. This feature helps create a more 3D sound to help immerse you in your audio. However, it's only available on compatible apps like TIDAL and Nugs.net.

6.8
Sound
Weighted Harmonic Distortion
WHD @ 90
0.713
WHD @ 100
0.252

They have an okay weight harmonic distortion performance. There are a few peaks at moderate volumes in the mid and treble range, which can affect the clarity and purity of your audio. However, those peaks in the mid range affect a small number of frequency bands, which can be hard to spot with real-life content. The peaks in the treble range will be easier to hear since the one in the low-treble is wider, but keep in mind that we lose our sensitivity to the treble range over time.

Sound
Test Settings
Firmware
1.1.0
Power
On
Connection
Bluetooth 5.0
Codec
SBC, 16-bit, 48kHz
EQ
Off
ANC
On
Tip/Pad
Default
Microphone
Integrated

These are the settings used to test these headphones. Our results are only valid when used with these settings.

Isolation
6.7
Isolation
Noise Isolation - Full Range
Noise Cancelling Yes
Overall Attenuation
-17.17 dB
Bass
-11.01 dB
Mid
-19.18 dB
Treble
-22.42 dB

The full range noise isolation performance is alright. With the ANC on, they can block out a bit of boomy noise but don't really filter out low rumbling noise from bus engines. The headphones' ANC does a better job with midrange noise, like traffic, than the Sony WH-CH720N Wireless, but the performance isn't as consistent. We expected the headphones in ANC mode to perform the same or better than the headphones' passive abilities in the treble range. Interestingly, though, with ANC enabled, their noise isolation performs worse with high-pitched sounds like clattering dishes and shrieking subway brakes.

A note about the bump in the low-bass: it's not audible when worn by people and appears to result from the testing rig's interaction with the headphones materials. Fortunately, you won't have this issue when you listen on them.

5.6
Isolation
Noise Isolation - Common Scenarios
Airplane Noise Attenuation
-14.07 dB
Airplane Noise Isolation Audio
Office Noise Attenuation
-14.16 dB
Office Noise Isolation Audio
Street Noise Attenuation
-13.45 dB
Street Noise Isolation Audio

Their noise isolation in common scenarios is middling. The ANC mainly works best on high-bass and midrange sounds. With ANC enabled, the mode makes airplanes and offices more tolerable but doesn't filter out environmental sounds evenly. Low-pitched ambient din and rumbling construction on the street will still reach your ears, and the high-pitched sounds from the office kitchen aren't blocked very effectively.

As noted already, turning on ANC negatively impacts the headphones' ability to block trebly noises. Meanwhile, the bump in the bass range is the result of the testing rig's interaction with the headphones and isn't reflected in their actual use.

Isolation
Noise Isolation - Voice Handling
Female Voice 1
Male Voice 1
Female Voice 2
Male Voice 2
Isolation
ANC Wind Handling
ANC Wind Noise

These headphones have a 'Wind Reduction Mode' you can access through the companion app. The mode helps to mitigate the 'anti-noise' produced from wind interacting with the ANC microphones, which is fed back through the headphones as an annoying popping sound. This mode performs fairly similarly across wind angles. However, leaving on the 'Wind Reduction Mode' when it's not windy can negatively impact the overall noise isolation performance.

7.8
Isolation
Leakage
Leakage Audio
Overall Leakage @ 1ft
34.81 dB

The Sony WH-XB910N's leakage performance is very good. Leakage is mostly in the mid-range and sounds fuller than that of in-ears or earbuds. However, the overall amount of leakage falls below the noise floor of an average office. As a result, you can listen to your audio at high volumes in a moderately noisy environment without worrying about disturbing others around you.

Microphone
Microphone
Microphone Style
Integrated
Yes
In-Line
No
Boom
No
Detachable Boom
No
Mic Yes
6.9
Microphone
Recording Quality
Recorded Speech
LFE
108.34 Hz
FR Std. Dev.
4.27 dB
HFE
6,834.38 Hz
Weighted THD
35.993
Gain
7.04 dB

Their integrated mic offers an alright overall recording quality. Your voice sounds clear and bright, although there's a bit of distortion present. People on the other end will understand you clearly.

6.7
Microphone
Noise Handling
SpNR
16.79 dB
Noise Gate
Always On
Speech + Pink Noise Handling
6.5
Speech + Pink Noise Audio Sample
Speech + Subway Noise Handling
7.0
Speech + Subway Noise Audio Sample

The mic's noise handling performance is decent. Moderate ambient noise around you will drown out your voice. As a result, whoever's on the other end of the line won't hear you as clearly.

Active Features
8.7
Active Features
Battery
Battery Type
Rechargable
Continuous Battery Life
39.4 hrs
Additional Charges
0.0
Total Battery Life
39.4 hrs
Charge Time
3 hrs
Power-Saving Feature
Auto-Off Timer
Audio While Charging
No
Passive Playback
Yes
Charging Port USB-C

These over-ears have excellent battery performance. Although advertised to last 30 hours continuously, we measured over 39 hours. Keep in mind that battery life varies depending on usage. That said, they're equipped with an adjustable auto-off timer to help conserve battery life when unused. You can also use them passively via their 1/8" TRS cable.

8.0
Active Features
App Support
App Name Sony| Headphones Connect
iOS Yes
Android Yes
macOS No
Windows No
Equalizer
Graphic + Presets
ANC Control
On/Off
Mic Control No
Room Effects
No
Playback Control
Yes
Button Mapping Yes
Surround Support
Yes

The Sony|Headphones Connect app is great. You can activate ANC on or off, adjust the 'Ambient Noise' level, and remap these controls onto the headphones. The app offers 'Adaptive Sound Controls' as well. This feature lets the headphones detect your actions and automatically switch between ANC on or an ambient noise level. There are modes: 'Staying', 'Walking', 'Running', and 'Transport'. You can also turn on 'Wind Noise' to reduce this kind of sound while listening to audio outdoors.

If you want to customize their sound, the app offers a graphic EQ and presets. You can also adjust the auto-off feature, control audio playback plus volume, turn off touch controls, and see your connected devices. You can adjust notification and voice guides as well as set up 360 Reality Audio, which is a virtual soundstage feature designed to create a more immersive sound by analyzing your unique ear shape.

Connectivity
7.0
Connectivity
Wired Connection
Analog Audio
Yes
USB Audio
No
Detachable
Yes
Length
4.04 ft (1.23 m)
Connector
1/8" TRS
Latency - Analog
27.2 ms
Latency - USB
N/A
Recorded Latency
Recorded Latency Connection Analog

These headphones come with a 1/8" TRS to 1/8" TRS cable. They also come with a USB-A to USB-C cable to charge them. This USB cable doesn't support audio, though.

8.0
Connectivity
Bluetooth Connection
Bluetooth Version
5.2
Multi-Device Pairing
2 Devices
Quick Pair (Android)
Yes
Quick Pair (iOS)
No
Line Of Sight Range
229.66 ft (70.00 m)
Latency - SBC
275 ms
Latency - aptX
N/A
Latency - aptX Adaptive (High Quality)
N/A
Latency - aptX Adaptive (Low Latency)
N/A
Latency - LDAC
237 ms
Recorded Latency
Recorded Latency Codec LDAC
AAC Support
Yes

The Sony WH-XB910N's Bluetooth connectivity is good. You can pair them with up to two devices at a time, but unlike the Sony WH-XB900 Wireless, they don't support NFC pairing for quickly pairing your headphones to your device. That said, these headphones support Sony's proprietary codec, LDAC, in addition to AAC and SBC codecs. Over Bluetooth, these headphones have high latency, so your audio and visuals won't be in sync if you're streaming video. Some apps and devices compensate for latency, though. However, if you listen to music or podcasts, LDAC provides higher-quality audio than SBC, and you won't need to worry about latency.

0
Connectivity
Wireless Connection (Dongle)
Line Of Sight Range
N/A
Latency - Dongle
N/A
Recorded Latency
N/A
Connectivity
PC Compatibility
Analog
Audio Only
Wired USB
No
Non-BT Wireless
No

These headphones can connect to Bluetooth-enabled PCs with full compatibility. However, if you want to use them wired, they only support audio via analog.

Connectivity
PlayStation Compatibility
PS4 Analog
Audio Only
PS4 Wired USB
No
PS4 Non-BT Wireless
No
PS5 Analog
Audio Only
PS5 Wired USB
No
PS5 Non-BT Wireless
No

These headphones are compatible with the PS4 and PS5 consoles when connected to the controller via analog. However, you can only receive audio.

Connectivity
Xbox Compatibility
Xbox One Analog
Audio Only
Xbox One Wired USB
No
Xbox One Non-BT Wireless
No
Xbox Series X|S Analog
Audio Only
Xbox Series X|S Wired USB
No
Xbox Series X|S Non-BT Wireless
No

The Sony WH-XB910N only support audio when connected via analog to your Xbox One or Xbox Series X|S console's controller. You can't use the mic, though.

0
Connectivity
Base/Dock
Type
No Base/Dock
USB Input
No
Line In
No
Line Out
No
Optical Input
No
RCA Input
No
Dock Charging
No
Power Supply
No Base/Dock