Sony Inzone H9 II Review: Premium Gaming Headset Tested
▼ Summary
– The Sony Inzone H9 II is a very lightweight and exceptionally comfortable gaming headset, weighing only 260 grams without the microphone.
– Its active noise cancellation is described as genuinely excellent, effectively creating a personal bubble of silence for the user.
– The headset delivers a warm, punchy, and pleasant sound with decent spatial audio, though it is not considered true audiophile quality.
– The microphone provides a rich and smooth vocal quality suitable for streaming, despite a somewhat plain appearance.
– The primary criticism is its high $350 MSRP, which places it in competition with more premium audiophile options like the Audeze Maxwell that offer superior sound quality for a similar price.
Finding a truly comfortable, high-performance wireless gaming headset is a challenge, but the Sony Inzone H9 II makes a compelling case with its astonishingly lightweight design and excellent active noise cancellation. However, its premium price point places it in a competitive arena where audio purists might expect more. For gamers prioritizing all-day comfort and immersive silence, this headset delivers, though the cost demands careful consideration against other flagship options.
Unboxing the H9 II can be initially underwhelming. The design is understated, almost plain, and the construction feels surprisingly insubstantial at first touch. Weighing a mere 260 grams without its microphone, it borders on feeling hollow compared to the sturdy, premium builds often found at this price. The headband utilizes a minimalist suspension system with a fabric outer band and an elastic inner strap, which doesn’t scream luxury. The immediate impression is that serious compromises were made to achieve such a low weight.
This perception completely shifts the moment you wear them. The combination of minimal clamping force, plush memory foam earcups, and that exceptionally low weight results in arguably one of the most comfortable gaming headsets available. During extended testing, it was possible to wear the H9 II for entire workdays, often forgetting they were on. This exceptional comfort is a major triumph of its engineering.
Another standout feature is the active noise cancellation. Activated via a physical button or through Sony’s Inzone Hub software, the ANC is remarkably effective. It creates a sudden, immersive bubble of quiet, dramatically reducing ambient noise like room fans or distant traffic. While it won’t eliminate someone speaking directly beside you or the clack of a mechanical keyboard, it is among the best implementations found in a gaming-focused headset, transforming any environment into a more private auditory space.
When it comes to sound, the H9 II performs well, if not class-leading. It employs 30mm carbon composite drivers that deliver a pleasantly warm and punchy sound signature right out of the box, with a consumer-friendly emphasis on clarity and bass. The soundstage is decently wide, and spatial audio support provides good positional cues for gaming. The included software offers a basic EQ for tweaking the profile to be more clinical or bass-heavy. While the audio quality is very good for gaming and media, it doesn’t reach the nuanced, detailed heights of dedicated audiophile-grade headphones in the same price bracket.
The removable microphone is a capable cardioid condenser with a large foam windscreen. It captures clear, full-bodied voice audio that is more than suitable for team chat and would suffice for casual streaming, though it can be slightly prone to plosive sounds. A tactile mute button on the headset activates a subtle red LED on the mic tip, a thoughtful and unintrusive design touch.
The primary hurdle for the Inzone H9 II is its $350 MSRP. At this price, it directly competes with heavyweight champions like the Audeze Maxwell, which offers superior planar magnetic driver technology and a far more premium, metal-built chassis in exchange for greater weight and no ANC. The H9 II’s 30-hour battery life with ANC off also feels merely adequate rather than exceptional for a modern flagship.
Ultimately, the Sony Inzone H9 II is a very accomplished gaming headset that excels in comfort and noise isolation. If you value a featherlight fit and top-tier ANC for long sessions, and can find it at a discount, it represents a great purchase. At its full retail price, however, it faces stiff competition from alternatives that deliver more breathtaking audio fidelity or robust build quality, making the final decision a matter of prioritizing your personal needs.
(Source: PCGAMER)
