Best Sony headphones for 2023
Sony has established itself as a mainstay in the audio industry, manufacturing some of the best wireless headphones, headphones and wired on-ear headphones. Headphones from Sony range from budget headphones to premium headphones with excellent sound quality for critical listeners. The company’s current flagship noise-cancelling headset, the WH-1000XM5, offers class-leading noise-cancelling capabilities along with excellent sound quality and voice call performance.
I’ve tested every Sony model on this list and will add it to new Sony headphones and earphones as they hit the market.
Learn more:Best wireless headphones for 2023
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You are receiving price alerts for 1. Sony WH-1000XM5
Battery life
Rated up to 32 hours
noise cancellation
Yes (ANC)
Multipoint
Yes
helmet type
On-ear wireless headphones
Waterproof
No IP rating
When you have a product that a lot of people love, switching can be risky. That’s the case with Sony’s WH-1000XM5, the fifth generation of the 1000X series headphones, which first launched in 2016 as the MDR-1000X Wireless and have become increasingly popular over time. that it has improved with each generation. Sony has made a few design changes over the years, but nothing quite as dramatic as what it did with the WH-1000XM5. Other than the higher $400 price tag ($50 more than the WH-1000XM4), most of these changes are good, and Sony has made some dramatic improvements with voice call performance as well as even noise cancellation. better and more refined sound.
Read our Sony WH-1000XM5 review.
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You are receiving price alerts for the Sony WF-1000XM4 (Black)
Battery life
Rated up to 30 hours
noise cancellation
Yes
Multipoint
Yes
helmet type
On-ear wireless headphones
Waterproof
No IP rating
No headphones are perfect, of course, and not everyone will like the fit of the Sony WF-1000XM4 headphones or be able to afford their high price tag (MSRP $279). But if you’re looking for great-sounding headphones with excellent noise cancellation, solid voice calling capabilities, and good battery life, these headphones tick all the boxes. And unlike the previous WF-1000XM3, they’re water resistant with an IPX4 splash-proof rating.
Read our Sony WF-1000XM4 review.
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You are receiving price alerts for 3. Sony CH-720N
Sony’s upgraded entry-level noise canceling headphones, the CH-720N, look plastic and budget-friendly, but they’re lightweight and comfortable. Part of me expected them to sound mediocre, but I was pleasantly surprised. No, they don’t sound as good as the WH-1000XM5s. But they sound more premium than they look (and feel), and their overall performance is a nice step up from their predecessor, the CH-710Ns. Are they worth $150? Maybe or maybe not. But the good news is that, like the CH-710N and WH-XB910 before them, these should see some nice discounts in the not-too-distant future, which you might want to wait for.
Read our Sony CH-720N review.
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You are receiving price alerts for Sony LinkBuds S (Black)
Battery life
Rated up to 9 hours
noise cancellation
Yes (ANC)
Multipoint
No
helmet type
Wireless headphones
Waterproof
Yes (IPX4 — splash proof)
Unlike the “open” LinkBuds, the LinkBuds S are traditional noise-isolating headphones with tips that you push into your ears. They are more compact and lighter than Sony’s flagship, the WF-1000M4, and also feature Sony’s V1 processor. While their sound and noise cancellation isn’t quite on par with the WF-1000XM4s, they’re close and cost less. These are the Sony buds for people who can handle bigger buds like the WF-1000XM4 but want 80-85% of the features and performance of those buds for less money.
Read our Sony LinkBuds S review.
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You are receiving price alerts for Sony WH-1000XM4 (Black)
Battery life
Rated up to 30 hours
noise cancellation
Yes
Multipoint
Yes
helmet type
On-ear wireless headphones
Waterproof
No IP rating
Sony has released its new WH-1000XM5 but the WH-1000XM4 remains on sale. Although I prefer the WH-1000XM5 – it’s a bit more comfortable, has improved noise cancellation, more refined sound and significantly better voice call performance – the WH-1000XM4 is still a great headset and some people may prefer its slightly more energetic sound and how it folds into a smaller package than the WH-1000M5. It also costs less and we should see some nice reductions in the future.
Read our Sony WH-1000XM4 review.
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You are receiving price alerts for Sony LinkBuds (Grey)
Battery life
5.5 hours
noise cancellation
No
Multipoint
No
helmet type
Wireless headphones
Waterproof
Yes (IPX4 — splash proof)
The LinkBuds are, in a sense, Sony’s answer to Apple’s standard AirPods. While they don’t sound as good as Sony’s flagship WF-1000XM4 noise-isolating headphones, they offer a low-profile, innovative design and a more secure fit than AirPods, as well as good sound and great wireless performance. voice call.
Like the third-generation AirPods, their open design lets you hear the outside world – that’s what it’s all about. This makes it a good choice for people who want to hear what’s going on around them for safety reasons or who just don’t like having ear tips stuck in their ears. They also have a few distinctive extra features including Talk to Chat and Wide Area Tap. Instead of tapping on a bud, you can tap on your face, right in front of your ear, to control playback.
They’re IPX4 splashproof and thanks to their fins – Sony calls them Arc Supporters – they lock securely into your ears and work well for running and other sporting activities.
Read our Sony LinkBuds review.
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You are receiving price alerts for the Sony WF-C500 (Black)
Battery life
Rated up to 10 hours
noise cancellation
No
Multipoint
No
helmet type
Wireless headphones
Waterproof
Yes (IPX4 — splash proof)
While the C500’s design sensitivity has more in common with the high-end WF-1000XM4 than its predecessor, the WF-XB700 Extra Bass, the C500 is not a noise-canceling model and is fairly basic as far as earphones go. , without ear – detection sensors or transparency mode. But the buds are compact, lightweight, fit comfortably, and sound great for an entry-level model. Read our Sony C500 first take.
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You are receiving price alerts for 8. Sony WH-XB910N
Battery life
Rated up to 50 hours
noise cancellation
Yes (ANC)
Multipoint
Yes
helmet type
On-ear wireless headphones
Waterproof
No IP rating
As for the WH-XB910N, it is the step-down model of the WH-1000XM4. It’s an Extra Bass model, so it has a preponderance of bass. I liked the previous version, the XB900N, and it was a bargain when it went on sale for around $150. This updated version looks the same, but offers improved noise cancellation and multipoint Bluetooth pairing, so you can pair it with your phone and computer simultaneously. It also supports Sony’s LDAC audio codec.
Although improved, the noise cancellation is not at the level of the WH-1000XM4 or the WH-1000XM5. And the WH-XB910N lacks some of the additional features found in those models, such as Talk to Chat, wear sensing sensors and Sony’s Precise Voice Pickup technology. However, it does have a quick attention mode that lets you put your hand over the earpiece to switch between noise cancellation and an environment-aware transparency mode. Additionally, these headphones now come with a hard case like the WH-1000XM4. Battery life is rated at 30 hours at moderate volume levels – that’s the same as what you get from the WH-1000XM5.
Amazon had the blue version on sale for $138 in a recent one-day flash sale. They’re a bargain at this price, so look to pick them up when they go on sale again if they pique your interest.
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You are receiving price alerts for Sony MDR 7506
Battery life
N / A
noise cancellation
No
helmet type
Wired on-ear headphones
Waterproof
No IP rating
Introduced in 1991, the Sony MDR-7506 have long been a favorite headset of sound engineers and other sound professionals (yes, they’re wired headphones). The origins of its design go back even further, as the MDR-7506 headphones are, in fact, a refresh of the Sony MDR-V6 released in 1985. Both models were designed for the professional sound market, but remain extremely popular with consumers.
Although both models have the same design and are very comfortable, they do not sound the same. Both offer very well-balanced sound and excellent clarity for their modest prices – and both are excellent values overall. But the MDR-V6 earphones produce a bit more bass and a more laid-back, smooth sound, while the 7506 earphones are thinner with a more accentuated treble range, making the sound a bit crisper and more lively. Read our Sony MDR 7506 review.
Read our Sony MDR-7506 review.
sony
You are receiving price alerts for 10. Sony MDR-Z7M2
Battery life
N / A
noise cancellation
No
Multipoint
No
helmet type
Wired on-ear headphones
Waterproof
No IP rating
The Sony MDR-Z7M2 may not be the flagship audiophile headphone in Sony’s lineup (that would be the MDR-Z1R), but it’s still a high-end model that costs several hundred dollars. I reviewed the previous version of the Z7 (the M2 at the end stands for Mark 2, or second generation) and it sounded great and was comfortable. To be clear, these are audiophile headphones and sound best with the right audio gear, which may include a headphone amplifier or portable hi-res music player (note the Sony Walkman player, which is not included , on the picture).
sony
Battery life
N / A
noise cancellation
No
Multipoint
No
helmet type
Wired on-ear headphones
Waterproof
No IP rating
If you’re looking for inexpensive wired over-ear headphones, the ZX Series is as good a bet as any. It costs $10 – or $20 for the version with microphone.
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