We have tested more than 40 pairs of Sony headphones and can confidently say that they are a dynamic brand that offers a wide selection of headphones at different price ranges. They sell a variety of inexpensive headphones for casual listening as well as some more expensive versions with additional features.
Now, what should one check for in a set of Sony headphones before you buy them? To begin, decide on a style (in, on, or over-ear) and then consider the features you desire. Are you looking for a pair that you can use during sports or use at home? Pay strict attention to battery life if you want Bluetooth and noise-cancelling.
Sony WF-1000XM4
For individuals who wish to listen on the go, Sony’s award-winning WF-1000XM4 wireless earbuds are a great option. It improves on the massive success of the WF-1000XM3 buds, which won the 2020 Award, by adding comfort and sound quality.
They deliver one of the most powerful, clear, and well-balanced outputs we have yet heard from a set of Bluetooth headphones. The bass notes are solid and rich, and the voices have a refined and polished feel to them. Their melodic performance keeps you wanting more, and the eight-hour battery life is class-leading in the market.
They are also really comfy to wear. Touch-sensitive controls and a novel ear tip design that aids with noise isolation are included in the small earpieces. When you combine this with Sony’s superb noise cancellation, you get a set of headphones that successfully block out the noise.
Read our entire SONY WF-1000XM4 review here.
Specifications
- OS Support: iOS/Android
- Noise-Cancelling: Yes
- Bluetooth: Yes
- Battery Life: 8 Hours and 24 hours with charging case
- Type: In-ear
- Mic: Yes
REASONS TO PURCHASE
- Extremely clear and detailed bass performance
- The excellent feel of the melody
- Finest battery life
REASONS TO AVOID
- The Multipoint functionality from Sony is missing.
- There is no aptX HD support.
Purchase Sony WF-1000M4 on Amazon
Read our entire review here.
Sony WH-1000XM4
The Sony WH-1000XM4 offers exceptional noise cancellation and remarkable sound quality in a lightweight, comfy package. While they don’t seem much different from their predecessors, the Sony WF-1000XM3, several extra features such as multipoint pairing, DSEE Advanced upscaling, conversational recognition, and auto-play/pause utilizing a built-in sensor all contribute to the WH-1000XM4 being named among the headphones in 2021.
The Sony WH-1000XM4 is a fantastic pair of wireless noise-cancelling headphones on every level. Thanks to their outstanding noise cancellation and cutting-edge codec support, they provide precisely what they promise and then some.
The Sony WH-1000XM4 also supports Sony’s 360 Reality Audio formats, which provides spatial audio on stereo headphones, as well as the LDAC codec, which can transfer a bitrate of up to 990 kbps. Unfortunately, it no longer supports aptX or aptX HD.
Read our entire Sony WH-1000XM4 review here.
Specifications
- Type: Over-ear
- Wireless: Yes
- Wireless Range: 30 meters (98ft)
- Battery Life: 30 hours
- Noise Cancelling: Yes
- Mic: Yes
- Transducer: Dynamic
- Sensitivity: 104.5 dB
REASONS TO PURCHASE
- Dynamic sounds, detail-rich audio
- Sensational timing ability
- Light, comfortable, and smart
REASONS TO AVOID
- There is no IP rating.
- There is no aptX support.
Purchase Sony WF-1000XM4 on Amazon
Sony WH-1000XM3
If the XM4 over-ears are beyond your price range, the predecessors offer an excellent alternative. The WH-1000XM3 was released in 2018; therefore it’s a lot less expensive than the XM4s (above). They also give excellent audio quality.
To begin with, they are among the most pleasant noise-cancelling headphones from Sony’s company. They contain almost as many features as the XM4, including a touch-sensitive display for controls on the right ear cup.
The battery life is the same as the XM4, at 30 hours, and they charge in three hours from empty to full. For five hours of use, a five-minute charge should be enough. These award-winning headphones have great noise-cancelling capabilities, and the sound is fantastic. They are a near-perfect pair of noise-cancelling headphones for the money.
Read our entire SONY WH-1000XM3 review here.
Specifications
- Type: On-ear
- Wireless: Yes
- Cable Length: 3.94 ft
- Battery Life: 30 hours
- Noise Cancelling: Yes
- Mic: Yes
- Transducer: Dynamic
- Sensitivity: 104.5 dB
REASONS TO PURCHASE
- bnv 5 noise cancellation
- Excellent audio quality
- Battery life of 30 hours
REASONS TO AVOID
- Call quality is poor.
Sony WF-SP800N
The WF-SP800N noise-cancelling earbuds are excellent all-around. They will suit individuals who want to listen to music while working out or commuting but don’t want to spend a lot of money on high-end noise-cancelling headphones. Moreover, despite their low price, they are well-specced and come with a plethora of essential functions.
Amazon Alexa, Google Assistant, and Siri can all be controlled by the device, and the mic arrangement guarantees that your commands are received well. It’s a good thing, too, because the touch controls don’t contain ‘volume up/down’ in their list of operations.
The SPWF800N’s battery life is averagely (18 hours overall), yet it doesn’t stop us from recommending it. At this price range, their winning combination of powerful sound, superb noise-cancelling, outstanding build quality and clever functionality is difficult to better.
Read our entire Sony WF-SP800N review here.
Specifications
- Noise Cancelling: Yes
- OS Support: Android/iOS
- Bluetooth: Yes
- Battery Life: 9 hours (plus additional 9 hours from the charging case)
REASONS TO PURCHASE
- The sound is vibrant and lively.
- Effective Noise-cancelling
- Comfortable to wear
REASONS TO AVOID
- The sound is a little harsh.
- Battery life is average
Sony WI-C400
The Sony WI-C400 is a noise-cancelling neckband that has a longer battery life than normal headphones. Although they are flexible, they cannot be twisted and kept in a pocket. It is worn around the neck and has two thick shells on each ends that house the battery, microphone, and other components.
These headphones are rather lightweight, especially when dangling around your neck. They contain simple control buttons for play/pause, next/previous track, volume controls, and pick/disconnect calls, among other functions. The buttons give a nice response, and the layout is simple to operate.
Although the WI-C400 has a high battery life, it also takes a long time to charge. In most situations, they provide roughly 16 hours of continuous playtime and require longer than 3 hours to charge. They are also sturdy enough to use for jogging and other fitness activities.
Read our entire Sony WI-C400 review here.
Specifications
- Type: In-ear
- Noise Cancelling: Yes
- Wireless: Yes
- Battery Life: 16 hours
- Connector: 3.5mm Connector
REASONS TO PURCHASE
- Lightweight
- Connectivity is easy and fast.
- A long-lasting battery
REASONS TO AVOID
- High-latency
- Treble-heavy
Sony WI-1000XM2
The Sony WI-1000XM2 is an enhanced version of the Sony WI-1000X. It features a matte-black silicone neckband that is more flexible. The silicone neckband extends on both sides to meet the battery-holding plastic components.
The right module has the NFC-enabled surface, while the left has the primary power button, a 3.5mm audio connector, and a plastic flap above the USB Type-C connection.
The microphone, volume up and down controls, a multi-function button, and a configurable action button on the left wire may be customized to operate Ambient Mode, Noise Cancellation, or even activate your voice assistant.
The buttons have excellent tactility and a nice clack when pressed. They may be used to pause/play music, accept/decline phone calls, find songs, adjust volume, and activate your voice assistant.
Read our entire Sony WI-1000XM2 review here.
Specifications
- Type: In-ear
- Noise Cancelling: Yes
- Wireless: Yes
- Battery Life: 10 hours
REASONS TO PURCHASE
- The sound is precise and detailed.
- Excellent fit and comfort.
- ANC that is both competent and natural-sounding
- Great sound quality
REASONS TO AVOID
- There is no aptX.
- Magnets are flimsy.
- Bass response is a little hesitant.
Sony WH-CH700N
The WH-CH700Ns features Bluetooth wireless playback with NFC connection, active noise cancellation, and a battery life of up to 35 hours, with a ten-minute charge lasting an hour.
Hands-free calling is possible thanks to the built-in microphone, and Siri and Google Assistant are compatible with people who want to chat to their devices. The Sony Headphones Connect App offers access to Sony’s Digital Sound Enhancement Engine (DSEE), as well as other soundfield modes and EQ settings.
The WH-CH700Ns are available in black, blue, or grey and have Sony’s smooth, subtle look and robust structure. They are just 240g, so they won’t bother you too much when you’re wearing them. Furthermore, the cushioned ear cups will make wearing a pleasant fit and help reduce irritation and sweat that comes from a long time wearing.
Read our entire Sony WH-CH700N review here.
Specifications
- Type: On-ear
- Wireless: Yes
- Battery Life: 35 hours
- Noise Cancelling: Yes
REASONS TO PURCHASE
- Musically detailed performance
- The bass is heavy and punchy.
- Battery life is amazing.
REASONS TO AVOID
- Noise cancellation is rudimentary.
Purchase Sony WH-CH700N on Amazon
Sony WH-CH510
The Sony WH-CH510 is a terrific bang for your buck, with superb audio, long battery life, and Bluetooth compatibility. A relatively fragile build may be a dealbreaker for some, but at this price, most people will consider it a worthwhile tradeoff.
You are probably already willing to make some compromises if you are shopping for headphones at this pricing bracket. However, the most of adjustments Sony has made with the WH-CH510 were not too significant – the removal of analogue input parallels the loss of the 3.5mm connector on most recent smartphones, while the lightweight, the plastic design enhances mobility and comfort.
If you are looking for something more durable or with a 3.5mm connection, you’ll be hard-pressed to find a comparable wireless option at the same price point, much alone one with good battery life and sound quality.
Read our entire Sony WH-CH510 review here.
Specifications
- Battery Life: 35 hours
- Frequency Response: 20Hz – 20, 000Hz
- Drivers: 30mm dynamic
- Acoustic Design: Closed
REASONS TO PURCHASE
- Extremely affordable
- Audio quality and battery longevity are excellent.
- Compact and lightweight
REASONS TO AVOID
- There is no 3.5mm jack or USB audio port.
Sony WI-1000X
Neckband headphones are not for everyone, but they are among the best on the market. They are wireless, and the band maintains them in position when they are out of your ears, making them less likely to fall out. For those who desire in-ear mobility and lengthy battery life, this is a wonderful step up. With noise-cancelling on, you should get 10 hours of use, and with it off, you should get 17 hours.
The band has all of the buttons needed for stopping music, changing volume, turning on and off the power, and pairing, with longer pushes enabling playback control. Although some people prefer specific buttons, however, it is simple to use.
Ambient mode allows in ambient noises and is thus good for jogging, whilst ‘Noise Cancelling’ mode suppresses tedious sounds like jet engines or air conditioners and is better for public transit or work surroundings.
If you are flying, use the ‘Atmospheric Pressure Optimizer,’ which uses a sensor buried in the neckband to compensate for reduced air pressure. The Headphones Connect app for Android and iOS also allows for a degree of customization. You may use ‘Adaptive Sound Control’ to adjust the amount of noise-cancelling the headphones provide based on your movement (by analyzing location data from your smartphone).
Read our entire SONY WI-1000X review here.
Specifications
- Type: In-ear
- Battery Life: 10 hours
- Noise Cancelling: Yes
- Wireless: Yes
- Connector: 3.5mm Connector
REASONS TO PURCHASE
- Punchy bass
- Midrange with depth
- Well balanced
REASONS TO AVOID
- Rigid neckband
Purchase Sony WI-1000X on Amazon
Sony WI-C310
In the affordable bracket, the Sony WI-C310 Wireless are the best Sony headphones. These low-cost in-ears include a rubberized neck cord with in-line controls, allowing you to accept calls and manipulate your audio while on the go. The buds don’t protrude too far from your ears, and they are rather comfy and secure in place.
Their bass-heavy sound also gives mixes a little more body and boom. It shouldn’t, however, overpower voices or lead instruments, making them a good fit for most types of audio material. They have a continuous playing length of about 17 hours, which should be ample for long days at the office.
Their build quality, however, is a flaw in their design. They don’t look strong, and parts of the headphones appear to be breakable.
Nevertheless, they do a better job of differentiating speech from background noise, so your voice may be heard well even if you are speaking from a busy street.
Read our entire Sony WI-C310 review here.
Specifications
- Type: In-ear
- Wireless: Yes
- Noise Cancelling: No
- Mic: Yes
- Battery Life: 15 hours
REASONS TO PURCHASE
- Flexible and lightweight
- Voice assistant compatible
- Voice differentiation in a lousy environment
- Affordable
REASONS TO AVOID
- Poor build quality
Purchase Sony WI-C310 on Amazon
Round-Up
Sony products have proven over time to be quality. Depending on the size of your pocket and your preferences, you can get any of these amazing products.
Below is the top 10:
More Sony Headphone Reviews
Read more Sony headphone reviews here:
- Best Sony Noise-Cancelling Headphones
- Sony MDR-7506 Review
- Best Sony Wireless Headphones
- Best Sony Over-Ear Headphones
- Best Sony Wireless Earbuds
- Best Sony Earbuds
- Best Sony Headset
- Best Sony Extra Bass Headphones
- Best Sony Audiophile Headphones
- Best Sony Headphones For Gaming
- Best Sony Headphones For Running