Sony is one of the most popular manufacturers of headphones, from earbuds to over-ear headphones and everything in between; there is a pair of Sony headphones that will be a perfect fit for everyone. Their wireless headphones, like the WH-1000XM5 and XM4, are known for their best-in-class ANC performance, but they also make excellent studio-grade headphones for professionals and earbuds for people working out.

  • Sony WI-C100 Wireless earbuds
    Sony WI-C100 Wireless in-Ear Bluetooth Headphones
    Best Budget Sony Headphones
    $35 at Best Buy
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The Best Sony Headphones In 2024

These are probably the headphones everyone pictures when thinking about Sony headphones. The WH-1000XM4 most premium lineup for Sony headphones, but thanks to the release of the WH-1000XM5, these headphones have dropped in price a fair bit and frequently go on sale. These headphones are perfect for anyone looking for the best that Sony has to offer, as long as they're okay with using a pair of headphones that are a generation behind.

The WH-1000XM4 is loaded with fancy features, such as incredible ANC, multipoint connectivity, and speak-to-chat functions. While these features are not super special compared to other headphones at this price point, Sony has pretty much executed them all flawlessly.

Starting with the ANC, users will be hard-pressed to find a pair of headphones that delivers better ANC than the WH-1000XM4; even the newest model, the WH-1000XM5, couldn't improve on it. Across the range of human hearing, these headphones do an excellent job of reducing outside noise to near-inaudible levels. However, there is a bit of a drop-off in the ANC performance when it comes to higher-end frequencies.

When it comes to sound quality, the WH-1000XM4 is just as impressive. Unlike the previous generation, the WH-1000XM3, these headphones lean more into a natural frequency response with a more tame bass emphasis. The separation between instruments and vocals sounds fantastic, with a more natural sound that creates a very intimate sound. This isn't for everyone, especially for people who enjoy a robust bass response, but thankfully, using Sony's app, users can customize the EQ to their liking.

The Sony WF-C700N flies under the radar for most people, but with excellent sound quality, fantastic battery life, and a price that is incredibly reasonable for the performance they deliver, these earbuds are easily one of the best Sony has to offer. Plus, they come in various colors for people who are over just having black or white earbuds to choose from.

The WF-C700N sounds impressive, regardless of the content being played through them. Like the WH-1000XM4, these earbuds have a reasonably flat frequency response, which is great for accuracy, but bass fans might be slightly disappointed. Below 100Hz, where a lot of bass lives, is pretty under-emphasized, but it still sounds good.

While these earbuds do have ANC, they are certainly not the best that Sony offers; that title would go to the WF-1000XM4 for earbuds and WH-1000XM5 for over-ear headphones. Luckily, the passive isolation is pretty decent.

Using the rounder design typical of almost all other Sony earbuds, these earbuds initially take some fiddling around to get the right fit. However, thanks to the lightweight and variety of ear tip sizes, these earbuds are reasonably comfortable.

Sony has been releasing headsets along with its consoles for quite some time, but with the recent line of INZONE headsets, they seem to be changing up their release schedule a bit. Even more excitingly, the INZONE H9 performs better than any of its previous gaming headsets. However, it does come at quite the higher price. The H9 is perfect for gamers looking for the most seamless headset experience with their PS5.

The INZONE H9 is designed to be used with the PS5 from the ground up, but thanks to the USB dongle, gamers can easily use this headset as a plug-and-play on either PS5 or PC. Regardless of the platform gamers choose, this headset delivers exceptional sound quality in and out of the game. While playing games with a constant soundtrack, like Tony Hawk Pro Skater 1 + 2, this headset allows for a good amount of separation between in-game sound effects and the soundtrack, making it a much more immersive experience.

This headset, which shares similar design features and performance to the WH-1000XM5, also offers excellent ANC performance. Lower-frequency sounds still pass through fairly easily, but high-pitched sounds like fans and general white noise are nearly entirely blocked.

Of the new INZONE lineup, the H9 is the most premium option and, therefore, comes with the highest price tag, but thankfully, the features and overall performance make that higher price tag feel worth it. That being said, if gamers want a more affordable option, the H5 provides a similar experience for about half the price.

Released a little over two years ago, the Sony WH-1000XM5 has taken the wireless headphone market by storm. These premium headphones have it all: fantastic ANC, superb audio quality, and all the fancy features that a person can ask for. They are quite expensive, but for people looking to get the best of the best, it is hard to go wrong with the WH-1000XM5.

Although the WH-1000XM4's ANC performance is similar, the WH-1000XM5 does much better with passive isolation. ANC is great for most noises, but it can only do so much for sudden noises or higher-pitched sounds. So excellent ANC, when combined with fantastic passive isolation, is a match made in heaven for blocking out pretty much all surrounding sound.

If cutting out all surrounding sound isn't enough to be immersed in music, the sound performance of the WH-1000XM5 brings the whole experience home. Even though these headphones are not the most impressive on the specs list, they do an excellent job of creating an intimate sound with great stereo imaging. Unlike the WH-1000XM4, these headphones do have quite a heavy emphasis on bass, which can create some muddy sounds in the mid-range. However, this can easily be fixed in the Sony app if users do not like the sound of them being out of the box.

The WH-1000XM5 is the first break from the typical design of the other WH-1000 series. With a smaller headband and larger earcups, these headphones look quite unique. The larger earcups allow more users to find a comfortable fit, and they are light enough that the narrow headband doesn't affect comfort. However, instead of stepped adjustment points, the WH-1000XM5 uses a friction rod design, so users might find it harder to dial in the perfect fit after folding up the headphones for travel.

The Sony MDR-7506 is not the newest pair of headphones. Their design hasn't changed over the last 30 years, and they don't have all the fancy features like the WH-1000XM5, but for a pair of wired headphones, people will have a hard time finding more of a workhorse than the MDR-7506.

These headphones are made almost entirely out of plastic, but unlike most headphones, this is not a bad thing. The MDR-7506 is the essence of utilitarian headphones; there is a good reason that these are the go-to headphones for recording studios and professionals. Not only are they incredibly affordable for their caliber of performance, but they are also surprisingly durable, can take quite the beating, and still work just as well. Not to mention, these are reasonably easy to repair if the headband gives out.

Despite their pretty simple looks, these headphones sound absolutely fantastic. Compared to other studio headphones, the MDR-7506 delivers a similar frequency response, but the low-end has a surprising amount of power. However, the more considerable emphasis on the low end doesn't detract from or overpower the mids or highs; it is still easy to pick out sounds from each other in songs with a mix of highs and lows.

At the end of the day, these headphones are meant for monitoring and recording, so they might not sound as exciting or powerful as headphones like WH-1000XM5, but they still sound amazing and work great for professional work. Whether people are mixing and recording their own audio or editing videos, these headphones are a reliable source of what the audio is actually going to sound like.

Since true wireless earbuds have become more common, these half-wired earbuds have gone out of fashion. However, the WI-C100 is an excellent choice for anyone who wants a pair of great headphones that are under $50. Not to mention, they have similar battery life to full-sized headphones, with up to 25 hours of playback on a single charge.

The WI-C100 delivers sound quality that punches way above its weight class, with powerful low-end mids that are clear and highs that offer a bit of that magical sparkle. That's not to say that these earbuds rival the sound quality of something like the WF-1000XM5, but for just $35, the WI-C100 will surprise many people with its sound.

With all the wireless connectivity tech and battery in the neckband instead of the earbuds, the WI-C100 is very comfortable for long-wearing sessions. However, the earbuds are prone to pop up or jostle loose during moderate movement. So people planning to work out with these earbuds will need to take some time to find the ear tips that are the perfect fit for the best results.

Key Factors For Choosing The Best Sony Headphones

  • Type Of Headphone: When it comes to Sony headphones, users are not limited to just earbuds or just over-ear headphones, so choosing what kind of style will suit the user best from the start will help narrow down the choices much faster.
  • Sound Quality: Sound quality is one of the main factors in finding the best pair of headphones, regardless of whether they come from Sony or not. Luckily, most Sony headphones sound excellent and are a reliable source for amazing headphones regardless of the price point. One of the easiest ways to tell if a pair of headphones sounds good without actually being able to listen to them is by looking at a frequency response graph. This gives an overview of what frequencies are emphasized or not.
  • Battery Life: No one likes wireless headphones that live on the charger, so having a decent battery life is crucial to having an excellent headphone experience. If users would instead go with a wired pair of headphones, this eliminates the need for charging altogether.
  • Price To Performance: The highest-priced headphones are going to be the best of the best, but that doesn't mean that they are necessarily the best for everyone. Finding a pair of headphones that strikes a good balance between performance and price will make headphones feel more worth it, rather than just going with the most expensive option.
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FAQ

Q: Is Sony high-end audio?

While Sony doesn't quite have the same reputation as boutique audio brands like Meze or Abyss, they still make incredibly high-quality headphones that are easily approachable and don't have too high of a price point.

Q: Does Sony or Bose have better noise cancellation?

Sony and Bose are definitely the top two when it comes to noise cancelation. While either brand will satisfy most people's needs, Sony headphones typically do a better job of blocking out lower-frequency noise like engine rumble or lawnmowers. Bose headphones are usually better for blocking mid- and higher-frequency noises like dishes clattering or fans humming.