Sony INZONE H9 Noise Cancelling – Headset

The Sony Inzone H9 offers good features for a nice chunk of money. The sound is first-class, and the active noise cancellation reliably eliminates noise. The wearing comfort and quality are also good, and the software offers many options for adjusting the settings to your preferences. Only the microphone leaves something to be desired.

LEDs

Visually, the Inzone H9 – like all models in the series – is strongly reminiscent of the Sony PlayStation 5 console. Most of the headphones are light grey, while the padding and applications are black. The headband and the ear cup are connected on the outside – like on the H7. The most significant difference: the H9 has an LED ring for light effects on the edge of the holder. The thick cushions, which are covered with soft imitation leather, ensure comfortable wearing. The headset does not bother me even after many hours of continuous use.

Strong sound

A headset has to score in two main areas: the microphone and, above all, the sound. After all, you don’t just want to hear and enjoy music and sounds in games; you also want to register opponents in time and react accordingly. The H9 offers the best sound of all three Inzone headsets. It is delightful and well-balanced, but the bass is slightly firm and sometimes over the top. The spatial localisation also works very well; opposing players can be located early and precisely, which provides an advantage over the competition depending on the game.

Weak microphone

In the second important criterion, the microphone, the expensive headset runs out of steam. As good as the sound of the expensive Inzone H9 is, the microphone is weak. Players can be understood by the people on the other end of the line, but the transmission sounds nasal and somewhat tinny, and bass and mid-range are very flat. Unfortunately, this could be more fun.

Controls and app

The Sony H9 headset is easy to control from the device. Users change the volume via a rotary wheel directly on the headset. There is also a toggle switch for switching between chat and game volume. Those who cannot hear their fellow players because of roaring engines can change this quickly and easily. Also on board: the on/off button and a Bluetooth button for wireless connection with smartphones, tablets & co.

The Inzone H9 is the only headset in the Sony series with active noise-cancelling (ANC). Microphones on the headset detect noise in the environment. The technology analyses this and reproduces opposing sound waves that overlap and cancel each other at the ear. The result is a pleasant silence.

Conclusion

The Sony Inzone H9 offers excellent features for a pretty penny. The sound is first-class, and the active noise cancellation reliably eliminates noise. The wearing comfort and quality are also good, and the software offers many options for customisation. Only the microphone leaves something to be desired.

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