Short answer: the Sony INZONE H9 II, though neither ranks well in its class. It ranks #212 of 231 over-ear headphones by sound quality, rated 2.1/5, at $249.99. The Sony INZONE H9 ranks #220, rated 1.6/5, at $168, $81.99 cheaper, not enough of a saving to outweigh the sound-quality gap. Both are rated below 3.0/5 among the 231 over-ear headphones; for better sound, the Sennheiser HD 550 ranks #6 at $199.95.
What the Sony INZONE H9 does well: Active noise cancelling and 32 hours of battery (ANC off) suit long gaming sessions, and it has a built-in microphone. The catch: A 13.8 dB hole near 4.6 kHz and a 13.2 dB spike near 11.9 kHz make the response very uneven, with a preference score of 29, so voices recede while treble hiss and sibilance stick out.
The Sony INZONE H9 II is the better-sounding option. Active noise cancelling, 30 hours of battery (ANC off), a built-in microphone, LC3 support and a wired option make it a flexible gaming headset at 0.6 lbs (260 g). Watch for: A 9.2 dB peak near 7.2 kHz and treble about 5 dB over target make cymbals and sibilance edgy, while a dip near 3.9 kHz pushes voices back, for a preference score of 38.
Buy the Sony INZONE H9 II. It is rated higher for sound quality, and the $81.99 you would save on the Sony INZONE H9 does not close the gap.
Want more options? Browse the full Headphones rankings.
Specifications Side By Side
| Sony INZONE H9 | Sony INZONE H9 II | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $168.00 | $249.99 |
| Ranked | #220 of 231 in Over-Ear Headphones | #212 of 231 in Over-Ear Headphones |
| Form Factor | Over-ear | Over-ear |
| Harman Preference Score | 29 (median of 1 squig.link measurements, calibrated to AutoEQ) | 38 (median of 2 squig.link measurements, calibrated to AutoEQ) |
| Deviation From Target | 4.46 dB standard deviation | 4.30 dB standard deviation |
| Tonal Tilt | -1.97 (negative is warmer, positive brighter) | -1.46 (negative is warmer, positive brighter) |
| Sub-bass Extension | Within 6 dB of target down to 20 Hz (+5.8 dB at 30 Hz) | Within 6 dB of target down to 20 Hz (+1.3 dB at 30 Hz) |
| Connection | Wireless | Wireless and wired |
| Back | Closed | Closed |
| Driver Type | Dynamic | Dynamic |
| Drivers | 1 x 40mm dynamic | 1 x 30mm dynamic |
| Weight | 0.7 lbs (335 g) | 0.6 lbs (260 g) |
| Frequency Response | 5Hz - 20kHz (Manufacturer specified) | - |
| Active Noise Cancelling | Yes | Yes |
| Battery Life | 32 hours (ANC off, Manufacturer specified) | 30 hours (ANC off, Manufacturer specified) |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.0 | 5.3 |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC, AAC | SBC, AAC, LC3 |
| Built-in Microphone | Yes | Yes |
| Impedance | - | 21 ohms |
| Sensitivity | - | 100 dB/mW |
| IP Rating | - | None |
Related Headphone Comparisons
How Sony INZONE H9 II compares with other leading options:
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- Sennheiser HD 600 vs Sennheiser HD 569
- Audio-Technica ATH-A990Z vs Audio-Technica ATH-G1
- AKG K271 MKII vs Beyerdynamic DT 770 M
- Beyerdynamic DT 770 M vs Audio-Technica ATH-A990Z
Prices on this page were last checked October 11, 2026 at 4:59 PM UTC. Product prices and availability are accurate as of that date/time and are subject to change; the price and availability shown on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.
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The Two Headphones In Full
Sony INZONE H9: $168.00 Wireless Amazon $168.00 eBay
Pros: Active noise cancelling and 32 hours of battery (ANC off) suit long gaming sessions, and it has a built-in microphone. Players who like heavy low end get it: in hobbyist measurements on squig.link bass sits about 8.5 dB and sub-bass about 6 dB above target.
Cons: A 13.8 dB hole near 4.6 kHz and a 13.2 dB spike near 11.9 kHz make the response very uneven, with a preference score of 29, so voices recede while treble hiss and sibilance stick out. Bluetooth is limited to SBC and AAC on version 5.0, it weighs 335 g, and the Corsair HS80 RGB Wireless rates higher for less money.
Full Sony INZONE H9 review and specifications →
| Released | Jul 2022 (4 years ago) |
|---|---|
| Active Noise Cancelling | Yes |
| Back | Closed |
| Battery Life | 32 hours (ANC off, Manufacturer specified) |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC, AAC |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.0 |
| Built-in Microphone | Yes |
| Connection | Wireless |
| Deviation From Target | 4.46 dB standard deviation |
| Driver Type | Dynamic |
| Drivers | 1 x 40mm dynamic |
| Form Factor | Over-ear |
| Frequency Response | 5Hz - 20kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
| Harman Preference Score | 29 (median of 1 squig.link measurements, calibrated to AutoEQ) |
| Sub-bass Extension | Within 6 dB of target down to 20 Hz (+5.8 dB at 30 Hz) |
| Tonal Tilt | -1.97 (negative is warmer, positive brighter) |
| Weight | 0.7 lbs (335 g) |
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
Sony INZONE H9 II: $249.99 Wireless Amazon $249.99 eBay
Pros: Active noise cancelling, 30 hours of battery (ANC off), a built-in microphone, LC3 support and a wired option make it a flexible gaming headset at 260 g. Its bass forward tuning, about 8 dB above target from 60 to 200 Hz in squig.link measurements, gives explosions and soundtracks punch, and it rates above both the Corsair HS80 RGB Wireless and the Logitech G Pro X 2 Lightspeed.
Cons: A 9.2 dB peak near 7.2 kHz and treble about 5 dB over target make cymbals and sibilance edgy, while a dip near 3.9 kHz pushes voices back, for a preference score of 38. There is no water resistance rating, and the Sony WH-1000XM6 rates higher.
Full Sony INZONE H9 II review and specifications →
| Released | Sep 2025 (1 year ago) |
|---|---|
| Active Noise Cancelling | Yes |
| Back | Closed |
| Battery Life | 30 hours (ANC off, Manufacturer specified) |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC, AAC, LC3 |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.3 |
| Built-in Microphone | Yes |
| Connection | Wireless and wired |
| Deviation From Target | 4.30 dB standard deviation |
| Driver Type | Dynamic |
| Drivers | 1 x 30mm dynamic |
| Form Factor | Over-ear |
| Harman Preference Score | 38 (median of 2 squig.link measurements, calibrated to AutoEQ) |
| IP Rating | None |
| Impedance | 21 ohms |
| Sensitivity | 100 dB/mW |
| Sub-bass Extension | Within 6 dB of target down to 20 Hz (+1.3 dB at 30 Hz) |
| Tonal Tilt | -1.46 (negative is warmer, positive brighter) |
| Weight | 0.6 lbs (260 g) |
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples