Sony INZONE H9 overview: The XM5 of gaming headphones

Within the electronics business, we frequently see producers department into new markets by leveraging their current merchandise and tech. Samsung’s executed it with the Odyssey line. LG’s executed it with UltraGear. And now, it is Sony’s flip. Kind of.

Whereas the gaming sector is not uncharted territory for the PlayStation maker — and Sony has launched a quantity of gaming displays that we would like to neglect — the corporate’s new arm, dubbed INZONE, ushers in a brand new class of {hardware} devoted to PC and PS5 customers.

First to launch underneath the INZONE namesake is a trio of headphones: H3, H7, and H9. Priced at $99, $229, and $299 respectively, the three headsets marry the very best options of Sony’s top-selling WH1000-XM5 with aesthetics that PlayStation customers will really feel at dwelling with.

I spent the previous two weeks testing the highest-end mannequin, INZONE H9, placing it by rounds of first-person shooters (FPS) like Counter-Strike: International Offensive, third-person shooters like Fortnite, and different genres that embrace NBA 2K22, Fall Guys, and League of Legends. Here is how the brand new Sony headphones fared. 

Specs

Design

At first look, the H9 appears like a fancier, beefier model of one other Sony headset, the PlayStation PULSE 3D. From the two-tone end to the frosted white shell that surrounds the edges and prime of the headscarf, the brand new INZONE headphones look new however really feel acquainted. All three fashions are solely accessible on this traditional Sony white, which performs effectively in any PS5 setup. I do not fault Sony for sticking with the one colorway, particularly for its first product underneath the INZONE model. 

Take a better take a look at the H9 headphones and you will additionally discover some design parts from Sony’s WH-1000XM5. From the 10-click slider for peak adjustment to the comfortable match leather-based that attire the earcups, Sony has taken what’s labored within the mass market and utilized it to the H9. (Be aware that the soft-fit leather-based materials is simply accessible on the H9 mannequin. The H7 and H3 use a mix of PU leather-based and plastic as a substitute.) When not in use, the headphones can rotate inwards and be laid face-down, identical to the XM5. 

Nevertheless, I’ve discovered myself laying the headphones face-up most of the time. Sadly, there aren’t any holes or perforations on the earcup cushions, so they are not as breathable as a typical mesh materials. That implies that with simply an hour of gameplay, there is a noticeable quantity of sweat and moisture that must be wiped off the soft-touch cloth. I can not even think about what longer gaming classes entail. 

Over-ear headphones are the antithesis of glasses-wearers on account of their encapsulating nature and strain that pushes towards the top. Add on the variety of hours that avid gamers spend on-line and you’ve got a recipe for complications (and a trendy dent in your hair). Sony alleviates the facet strain difficulty by prioritizing the headscarf help greater than how tight-fit the earcups are. The scarf, which includes a versatile strip of black leather-based, does an efficient job of being a counterweight to the slightly massive earcups. As somebody who wears glasses, I can attest to how comfy and cloud-like the headphones really feel. 

Extra: Sony leaps into PC gaming {hardware} with new INZONE line of displays and headsets

Just like the XM5, the H9’s shell is constructed with a light-weight plastic that, whereas sustainable, lacks the premium essence of a $299 headset. It is pure for us to affiliate weight with worth (suppose gold bars), however the alternative of fabric right here is questionable. Had I not recognized the worth of the H9, I’d’ve estimated it to be between $100-$150 by the hand really feel alone. 

Maybe what’s extra vital is how sturdy the H9 is. I do not anticipate the headphones to point out a lot put on or tear after two weeks of use and that is actually been the case. The white end makes scratches, if any, unnoticeable, and the ear cup cushions stay springy. These headphones are usually not licensed for mud or water resistance although, so I’d keep cautious of leaving drinks close by.

Extra: Sony WH-1000XM5 brings extra consolation and higher ANC

On the underside of the headphones, you may discover the ability button, Bluetooth pairing button, “NC/AMB” toggle, “Sport/Chat” toggle, USB-C port, and quantity rocker. An LED charging indicator sits beside the USB-C, given that is the ports solely perform. The H9 can pair to a PC or PS5 by way of the included 2.4GHz USB dongle or Bluetooth, however there isn’t any wired choice. 

Lastly, a increase mic that stems from the left earcup completes the gaming headset necessities for the H9. It is not removable however is malleable sufficient to twist, rotate, and flex to your best microphone place. Sony additionally added a clicking mechanism to the mic in order that once you elevate it again up, your audio output switches to mute. As for the enter high quality, there’s positively one thing left to be desired. On both connection channel, my voice sounded raspy and missing in readability. The H9’s microphone is not the worst that I’ve examined however falls behind the likes of the Corsair Virtuoso and Audio-Technica ATH-G1. 

Efficiency

One of the best ways for me to explain the sound high quality of the H9 headphones is wealthy and multi-dimensional. I used to be stunned to search out the default sound profile of the H9 to be ample and balanced good. However when you’re extra in favor of a bass-heavy sound or wish to emphasize the upper frequencies, Sony’s companion software program, INZONE Hub, allows you to tweak the equalizer settings of the headphones. Extra on the app later.

Spatial Sound

A key promoting level of all three INZONE headsets is Spatial Sound, Sony’s interpretation of encompass sound. For music listening and watching motion pictures, Spatial Sound matches the audio to the place topics are positioned and the course they’re headed. (Think about listening to a automobile zipping out of your proper headphone to the left.) This function is not new by any means, however it’s probably the most reasonable and correct audio-tracking expertise that I’ve listened to shortly — and is absolutely realized once you begin gaming.

Sony says that the INZONE H9 works finest with FPS video games like Counter-Strike: International Offensive, in order that’s the place I headed first in my testing. Within the sport, maps like Inferno and Mirage have loads of obstacles and homes, which means spatial consciousness performs a big function in surviving. With Spatial Sound turned on, the course of gunshots and footsteps grew to become really easy to differentiate that I felt like I used to be dishonest.

The identical mechanic was demonstrated once I performed Fortnite, a cross-platform battle royale that emphasizes understanding the place your enemies are and catching them once they’re most weak. Between listening to footsteps to chests being opened, the H9’s Spatial Sound made a Fortnite newbie akin to myself really feel assured sufficient to strike the unsuspecting. That mentioned, whereas Sony recommends the H9 for FPS titles, I might extremely counsel third-person shooters as effectively, because the 360-degree digital camera panning provides one other dimension to the audio monitoring. 

Extra: Finest gaming headsets

Noise canceling

One other function that Sony touts is Digital Noise Canceling, which is unique to the highest-end INZONE mannequin. Whereas I haven’t got the WH-1000XM5 to match with, Sony says that the H9 makes use of the identical noise-canceling expertise that is on the fifth-generation headset. 

From listening, the H9 actually does an efficient job at blocking out ambient noise and retaining you targeted on in-game audio. There’s just one stage to the noise cancellation which, in my dwelling workplace, managed to cowl up the sound of my air conditioner, the reverberant barks of my neighbor’s canine, and the occasional aircraft that lifts off from the airport miles away.  

What’s significantly spectacular to me is how the white noise — typically used to counteract inbound soundwaves — is hardly noticeable. On cheaper noise-canceling headphones, you may hear a hissing sound when there isn’t any audio taking part in. That is fortuitously not been the case with the H9.

Reversely, the INZONE H9 additionally has an Ambient Sound function that amplifies exterior noise, whereas retaining your in-game audio intact. That is particularly helpful if a household or buddy is asking you when you’re gaming, otherwise you simply wish to keep conscious of what is occurring round you. Throughout my in-person briefing for the H9, a Sony consultant spoke to me about its numerous options whereas I examined the headset. To my shock, I used to be in a position to comprehend what the product individual was saying with out lacking out on the gameplay.

Extra: Finest noise-canceling headphones

Connection options

Bouncing between the two.4GHz and Bluetooth connections, there wasn’t any noticeable delay or issues with latency, which is nice for a wireless-only headset. The truth is, Sony encourages pairing the H9 to each the USB dongle and Bluetooth concurrently; utilizing one channel for sport sound and the opposite for voice chat.

In case you’re pairing the H9 to a PlayStation 5, you may even acquire help for Tempest 3D Audiotech and on-screen indicators for quantity and battery ranges, mic standing, and sport/chat stability. Be aware that the overlays are solely accessible for the H9 and H7 fashions.

Software program

Past the scope of bodily settings buttons, the H9 will be modified by way of Sony’s INZONE Hub. As companion apps ought to, this system permits you to fine-tune the equalizer settings of the headset, its noise-canceling modes and power, quantity ranges for the grasp channel and sport/chat channel, and extra. The Spatial Sound setting is turned off by default, so be sure to toggle it to get the immersive gaming expertise that I praised earlier.

INZONE Hub is delightfully exhaustive, with further settings for app sync and Sony’s 360 Spatial Sound Personalizer. The latter of which is an app that allows you to seize photos of your ears in order that the H9 headset can modify its sound profile to your form. It is a magical service that makes the INZONE expertise all of the extra user-focused. The one difficulty that I had with the 360 Spatial Sound Personalizer was the way it paired seamlessly with my Android system, however took a number of makes an attempt on an iPhone. That appears to be a reoccurring difficulty primarily based on different customers’ opinions. 

Battery

The INZONE H9 is rated for 32 hours of battery life, which is on par with the 30-hour vary of competing gaming headsets. After utilizing the headphones for 2 weeks — hovering between noise-canceling and Ambient Sound for 2 hours a day — INZONE Hub estimates that I’ve 1/5 of the battery left. That is adequate sufficient for an ANC headset. My solely grievance is that there isn’t any method to see the precise battery share, not even within the software program. 

Backside line

There’s quite a bit to love concerning the INZONE H9, together with its sound efficiency, clear design, and software program help. It helps immensely that Sony carried over key options from its WH1000-XM line, together with the identical noise-canceling tech that earned the XM5 a prime spot on ZDNet’s headset rankings. 

Is that this the proper gaming headset? Nearly. I might like to see Sony implement some type of vibrational suggestions within the INZONE H9, very like Razer’s HyperSense expertise on its high-end headphones. That, paired with the PS5’s DualSense controller would make the H9 the undisputed accent to purchase for PlayStation homeowners. 

Alternate options to think about

The Sony INZONE H9 is priced to compete, which suggests there are many formidable alternate options that you could be additionally wish to contemplate: 

In case you’re in search of a flagship gaming headset that helps a wired connection, take a look at the HyperX Cloud Alpha S. At present sitting atop ZDNet’s finest gaming headset checklist, the Cloud Alpha S delivers a encompass sound expertise that rivals that of the Sony INZONE H9.

Just like the Sony, the SteelSeries Arctis Nova Professional is a wi-fi gaming headset that comes with twin connectivity, absolutely customizable audio, and noise cancelation. It is also constructed with a metal body end that provides it a extra premium really feel.

Earlier than there was INZONE, there was the Pulse 3D, a wi-fi headset devoted to PlayStation 5 customers. The headset is considerably cheaper at $99, helps Sony Tempest 3D, and sports activities a design that’s arguably cleaner than the H9.