Greatest Sony Headphones for 2024

When Sony’s WF-1000XM4 earbuds got here out in 2021, we awarded them a CNET Editors’ Selection. And whereas they’re wonderful, we had some quibbles — they’re on the massive aspect and are not a great match for sure ears. Clearly, Sony took these gripes to coronary heart when it got down to design its next-generation WF-1000XM5 flagship noise-canceling earbuds. Not solely are the XM5s smaller, however in addition they supply improved efficiency just about throughout the board, with higher noise canceling, sound and voice calling. Are the XM5s excellent? Not fairly. And at $300 — $20 greater than their predecessor — they’re pricey, too. However general they’re actually spectacular — simply among the many very prime earbuds in the marketplace.

The ULT Put on (WH-ULT900N) is the successor to Sony’s fashionable additional bass mannequin, the WH-XB910N, and options upgraded drivers (higher sound) together with improved noise canceling and voice-calling efficiency. Each Sony’s flagship WH-1000XM5 and entry-level CH-720N supply extra balanced sound, however the ULT Put on ship on their promise of delivering dynamic, highly effective sound with deep bass. The one draw back is that bass can get generally get a bit of too boomy, particularly if you have interaction the bass enhance mode with the ULT button.

Sony’s improved entry-level noise canceling headphones, the CH-720Ns, have a little bit of a plasticky price range vibe, however they’re light-weight and really comfy. A part of me was anticipating them to sound fairly mediocre, however I used to be pleasantly shocked. No, they do not sound pretty much as good because the WH-1000XM5s. However they sound extra premium than they appear (and really feel), and their general efficiency is a step up from their predecessor, the CH-710Ns. Are they price $150? Possibly — or perhaps not. However the excellent news is that, just like the CH-710N and WH-XB910 earlier than them, these have already seen important reductions, with costs dropping to as little as $100 throughout flash gross sales.

Sony launched its new entry-level CH-720N noise-canceling headphones in 2023. They’re fairly good, however if you cannot afford them (they listing for $150), the corporate’s new price range on-ear CH-520 headphones are an intriguing possibility for lower than $50.

They lack noise canceling and are fairly no-frills, however they function good sound for his or her value, are light-weight and fairly comfy for on-ear headphones, and now have wonderful battery life (they’re rated for as much as 50 hours at reasonable quantity ranges). Moreover, they’ve multipoint Bluetooth pairing, so you’ll be able to pair them with two units concurrently (similar to a smartphone and pc) and change audio. Voice-calling efficiency is respectable, although less than the extent of what you get with the CH-720N. 

Be aware that there isn’t any wired possibility — this can be a wi-fi Bluetooth-only headphone. The CH-520 affords an general balanced sound with respectable readability. The bass has some punch to it however does not pack a wallop, and you are not going to get fairly as extensive a soundstage as you get from Sony’s costlier over-ear headphones. These undoubtedly sound higher than Sony’s earlier entry-level on-ear headphones, and so they sound higher than I assumed they might. I attempted the white colour however in addition they are available in blue and black. 

Sony’s upgraded its entry-level true-wireless earbuds, including lively noise canceling (the WF-C500 didn’t have noise canceling). These light-weight earbuds aren’t fairly pretty much as good as Sony’s Linkbuds S earbuds, which listing for $80 extra, however the WF-C700N are a bit of smaller and a good worth, particularly once they go on sale for lower than $80.

Not like the “open” LinkBuds, the LinkBuds S are conventional noise-isolating earbuds with suggestions you jam into your ears. They’re extra compact and lighter than Sony’s flagship WF-1000M4 and in addition function Sony’s V1 processor. Whereas their sound and noise canceling do not fairly measure as much as the WF-1000XM4s, they’re shut and value much less. They’re the Sony buds for individuals who can cope with bigger buds like WF-1000XM4 however need 80 to 85% of these buds’ options and efficiency for much less cash.

Sony has launched its new WH-1000XM5 however WH-1000XM4 stays on sale. Whereas I favor the WH-1000XM5 — it is a bit of extra comfy, has improved noise canceling, extra refined sound and considerably higher voice-calling efficiency — the WH-1000XM4 continues to be an ideal headphone and a few folks might favor its barely extra energetic sound and the way it folds up right into a smaller case than that of the WH-1000M5. It additionally prices much less and we must always see some good reductions on it going ahead.

The LinkBuds are, in a way, Sony’s reply to Apple’s customary AirPods. Whereas they do not sound pretty much as good as Sony’s flagship WF-1000XM4 noise-isolating earbuds, they provide a discreet, progressive design and a safer match than the AirPods, in addition to good sound and superb voice-calling efficiency.

Just like the third-gen AirPods, their open design permits you to hear the surface world — that is what the ring is all about. That makes them a sensible choice for people who wish to hear what is going on round them for security causes or simply don’t love having ear suggestions jammed of their ears. Additionally they have a couple of distinguishing additional options, together with Communicate to Chat and Large Space Faucet. As a substitute of tapping on a bud, you’ll be able to faucet in your face, simply in entrance of your ear, to manage playback.

They’re IPX4 splash-proof and because of their fins — Sony calls them Arc Supporters — they lock in your ears securely and work nicely for working and different sporting actions.

Launched manner again in 1991, the Sony MDR-7506 has lengthy been a favourite headphone of recording engineers and different sound professionals (sure, these are wired headphones). The origins of its design date even additional again, because the MDR-7506 headphones are, actually, a refresh of the Sony MDR-V6 that rolled out in 1985. Each fashions had been designed for the professional sound market, however stay vastly fashionable with customers.

Whereas the 2 fashions have the identical design and are very comfy, they do not sound similar. Each supply very well-balanced sound and wonderful readability for his or her modest costs — and each are nice general values. However the MDR-V6 headphones make a bit of extra bass and sound extra laid-back and mellow, whereas the 7506 headphones are leaner with a extra accentuated treble vary, which makes the sound a bit of crisper and livelier. Learn our Sony MDR 7506 overview.

In case you’re in search of tremendous low cost on-ear wired headphones, the ZX Sequence is pretty much as good a guess as any. It prices $10 — or $15 for the model with a microphone.