Sony is no novice to headsets. However, their gaming headsets are often PlayStation-branded, most prominently the Sony Pulse 3D headset, which was released in 2020. The Sony Inzone H3, H7, and H9 are the latest offerings from the industry powerhouse in the gaming headset market. Today we’re going to take a look at the high-end H9. This has digital noise cancellation as well as wireless and Bluetooth connections. It’s pricey and has a simple design. However, when matched to the Pulse 3D headset, it’s a challenging sell for the majority of its target demographic.
Because the Inzone H9 is a Sony product, it uses the PS5’s Tempest 3D audio technology to deliver immersive sound. It’s also compatible with a PC. Thanks to an Inzone desktop program that allows you to build and alter sound profiles. Because you can link to PS5 and Discord at the same time, you’ll be able to hear game noises while chatting with pals. If you enjoy the black and white appearance of the PS5, you’ll adore the style of this headset.
What will you see here?
Price & Availability
The Sony Inzone H9 headset went on sale for $300 on July 7, 2022. It is now accessible for purchase on
Along with the H9, 2 more Inzone headsets were released: the $230 Inzone H7 and the $100 Inzone H3. These two gadgets are devoid of digital noise cancellation and leather cushioning. The H3 is a wired headset that may be connected to a device through a 3.5mm headphone port or with the accompanying wired USB adapter, as opposed to the H7, which has wireless and Bluetooth connectivity.
Design
The Inzone H9 headgear, like the PlayStation 5, appears to be a product of the future. Yes, they look like a gaming headset, with a top band, left and right ear cups, and a microphone protruding from the left side. It’s a rather plastic-heavy structure, with the outside facing pieces all being a soft white with some texture to them. It appears to be futuristic.
In contrast to the WH-1000XM5, which has touch controls per each ear cup, Sony chose big buttons on each ear cup. To be honest, it’s virtually ideal because it’s simple to discover and much simpler to remember. The left side has a button for switching between Noise Canceling & Ambient modes, as well as a big scroll wheel for controlling volume. The power button, a mic mute, and the option to switch between game and conversation audio streams are all located on the right cup. So, sure, multipoint connectivity via Bluetooth and the wireless USB-A dongle is enabled on the H9. The charging connector on the left earcup of this gaming headset is USB-C.
You’ll look uncomfortable wearing the Inzone H9 because of its large circular earcups. Even though it is comfy, but looks foolish if you attend an online meeting with these on. This won’t be an issue if you’re not in the presence of other humans, or if you don’t care what other people think of you. However, if you are at all self-conscious, you should only wear this headset when you are alone.
Comfort
When You don’t like how You appear while wearing the Sony Inzone H9. However, one does like its amazing degree of comfort. This headset is so comfy you’ll forget you’re wearing it. That alone is a significant selling factor. The headset’s extensible arms and swivel earcups allow you to customize the fit. It takes some time to get used to it, but you can surely fit it into your skull, whatever its size.
Performance
On both PC and PS5, the Inzone H9 performs admirably in a wide number of gaming genres. It fully exploits the latter’s Tempest 3D technology, which produces immersive audio. However, owing to the Inzone H9’s spatial sound technology, PC users may also enjoy 3D audio.
Try Spider-Man: Miles Morales & Elden Ring on PS5 with these on. As you web-swung throughout New York City, the ambient hum of the city comes through strongly in Miles Morales. When conflict erupted, You will hear Miles pummeling his adversaries. Anyone attempting to assault me from behind could be easily heard thanks to the spatial audio. This was likewise true in Elden Ring, where you can detect concealed foes before they could ambush you.
The Inzone H9 is also suitable for non-gaming material such as YouTube videos or Spotify music. You almost exclusively listen to hard rock and heavy metal, and you will pleasantly get surprised by how great these sometimes-abrasive genres sound with the Inzone H9’s default sound profile.
Spatial Sound
Spatial Sound, Sony’s rendition of surround sound, is a significant selling element for all three INZONE headsets. It connects sounds to where subjects are located and the direction they’re heading whether listening to music or viewing movies. This feature isn’t new, but it’s one of the most realistic and precise audio-tracking technologies in a long time – and it’s completely realized when you start gaming.
Noise-canceling
Sony also advertises Digital Noise Canceling, which is limited to the highest-end INZONE model. Sony claims that the H9 incorporates the same noise-canceling technology as the fifth-generation headset. The H9 does a good job of filtering out ambient noise & keeping you concentrated on in-game sounds.
Software
Aside from the physical settings controls, the H9 may be customized through Sony’s INZONE Hub. The software, like other companion apps, allows you to fine-tune the headset’s equalization settings, noise-canceling modes and intensity, volume levels for the master channel plus the game/chat channel, and more. The Spatial Sound option is off by default, so be sure you enable it to enjoy an immersive gaming experience.
INZONE Hub is a delight, featuring extra options for app sync & Sony’s 360 Spatial Sound Personalizer. The latter is an app that allows you to take pictures of your ears just so the H9 headset can tailor its sound profile to your form. It’s a fantastic service that makes the INZONE experience even more user-friendly. The 360 Spatial Sound Personalizer’s sole flaw was that it synced effortlessly with an Android smartphone but required numerous attempts with an iPhone. Based on the feedback of other users, this appears to be a recurring problem.
Battery Life
The Inzone H9 comes with a battery life of 32 hours, which is comparable to the 30-hour range of competitive gaming headsets. INZONE Hub indicates that You have 1/5 of the life remaining after wearing the headphones for 2 weeks and switching between noise-canceling & Ambient Sound for 2 hours every day. That’s more than enough for an ANC headset. The only gripe is that there is no way to see the real battery %, even in the software. Overall, they perform admirably for a first foray into the gaming headset market. It’s also brilliant that Sony carried over what it considers to be the greatest features of the WH-1000XM5 into a device designed specifically for gaming.
Can I experience 360 Reality Audio with my Sony headphones?
Yes, you may listen to 360 Reality Audio songs using Sony headphones. If the headsets are 360 Reality Audio certified, you may improve your 360 Reality Audio experience by performing the 360 Reality Audio Setup with the Sony | Headphones Connect app.
Conclusion
Sony’s Inzone H9 is a good first attempt by Sony to make a gaming headset that isn’t associated with the PlayStation brand, while the design still fits with the clean white look of the PS5. Its 3D Audio works wonderfully, and noise-canceling is a great addition, but not as effective as Sony’s premium ANC headphones. This headset is also worth considering because of its long battery life and ability to connect to many devices at once. However, all of that excellent is outweighed by average music performance, a poor mic that is hypersensitive to all ambient noise save your speech, and variable audio levels across devices, making the H9 difficult to recommend considering its high price.
Is this the best gaming headset available? Almost all customers would want to see Sony include vibrational feedback in the INZONE H9, similar to Razer’s HyperSense tech on its high-end headphones. When combined with the DualSense controller on the PS5, the H9 would be the unquestionable accessory to buy for PlayStation owners.
