Sony Inzone H9 review: A purposely designed noise-cancelling gaming headset

Sony Inzone H9 price in India (as reviewed): Rs 19,990

The Sony Inzone H9 matches the aesthetics of the PlayStation 5 console (Image credit: Anuj Bhatia/Indian Express)

Design and comfort

The Sony Inzone H9 matches the aesthetics of the PlayStation 5 console with a textured white casing and blue light located on each ear cup. The headset feels premium to touch, with the black trimmings on the ear cups and the headband making it a well-designed product.

But I must say the headset is fairly big and looks less sleek than many other gaming headsets on the market. That being said, the large oval design on each cup and the cushioning on the headband sits comfortably around each ear. I wore these headphones for extended periods of time and they did not trouble me.

On the bottom of the right cup, there are the power button, Bluetooth connectivity, and game/chat toggle for different audio inputs. And beneath the left cup, you will notice a rocker which can be used to adjust volume as well as a button to toggle between the various ANC and ambient sound settings. An LED charging indicator sits beside the USB-C. The H9 can pair to a PC or PS5 via the included 2.4GHz USB dongle or Bluetooth, but there is no wired option.

One of the weakest points of the H9 is that the flip-to-mute microphone is not detachable. It would have been great if the microphone could have been magnetically attached, something like on the EPOS H6 PRO headset.

However, the H9’s boom mic can be easily flipped up and it swings down when you need it. Interestingly, Sony has added a mechanism to the mic wherein whenever you list it up, the audio output switches to mute.

The headset offers rich and deep sound for most use cases (Image credit: Anuj Bhatia/Indian Express)

Sound quality and noise cancellation

Although sound quality is subjective and may vary from person to person, I was surprised by the sound quality of the H9. The headset offers rich and deep sound for most use cases, from playing a game and watching a movie to listening to music. Sounds are crisp and clear, and although the bass isn’t too overpowering, I found the default sound profile of the H9 just perfect for me. That being said, you can tweak the sound and make it more bass-heavy, or change the equalizer settings through Sony’s companion software, Inzone Hub.

The H9 made the most impact when playing games on the PlayStation 5, thanks to the console’s 3D audio capabilities. Not every title takes advantage of the spatial audio, but games like Gran Turismo 7 show the maturity of 3D audio technology. During my time with the H9, I put the headset through a variety of different tests. I used the headset to play games, listen to music, and take calls on both PC, PS5 and iPhone 14.

The H9 made the most impact when playing games on the PlayStation 5 (Image credit: Anuj Bhatia/Indian Express)

The Inzone H9 wireless headphones also work great on a Windows PC. I played games like Cyberpunk 2077 and Dirt 5, and the H9 does make a difference to the overall experience.

Another feature that is unique to the H9 is active noise cancellation. During testing I didn’t have the flagship WH-1000XM5 to compare with, the H9 does a fine job at blocking ambient noise and keeping you focused on things that matter most to you.

Battery and charging

The headset is rated for 32 hours of battery life, comparable to premium ANC headphones on the market. I used the headset daily and there was no need to charge it. My only issue is that there’s no way to see the battery percentage.

The headset is rated for 32 hours of battery life (Image credit: Anuj Bhatia/Indian Express)

Should you buy the Sony Inzone H9?

It depends. The Inzone H9 is a cross between a traditional gaming headset and a flagship-grade ANC headphone. There are many good things about the H9, especially its top-notch sound performance, ANC, clean design, and software support. I have previously tested a number of gaming headsets on the market, but none come close to what Sony delivers with the H9 wireless headset.

That being said, the H9 isn’t for everyone. Not everyone needs to spend Rs 19,990 on a gaming headset. At the same time, the H9 has its own unique DNA and special sauce. There’s a segment with flush pro users and hardcore gamers who would be fine paying for the Inzone H9.

So, what about you? Are you going to buy the Sony Inzone H9 wireless gaming headphones? Let us know in the comments below.