Sony In Zone H9 2 Wireless gaming headset review: impressive audio and connectivity take it leagues above its predecessor | Tech Radar

Overview

Sony's new In Zone H9 2 headset leaves its predecessor in the dust — it isn’t cheap, but the audio quality is near perfect

When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Here’s how it works.

Details

Sony's first-gen Inzone H9 left a lot to be desired; thankfully, the big console giant got the message and this second iteration corrects almost all the initial H9's flaws. With an outstanding soundstage, phenomenal microphone performance, and top-tier noise cancelling, it delivers in almost every arena. Bar a few quibbles here and there with some software shenanigans, the H9 is an exceptional headset that's well worth the cost, balancing a beautiful modern aesthetic with high-quality componentry to deliver an experience that truly does set the bar above and beyond.

Best PS5 headsets 2026: our top picks for immersive audio for Play Station 5

The best Sony headphones for all budgets, as tested by our audio experts

The best PC gaming headsets 2026: stellar audio from Steel Series, Corsair, and more

We spend hours testing every product or service we review, so you can be sure you're buying the best. Find out more about how we test.

I had high hopes when the first Inzone H9 wireless headset landed on my desk. Sony, a company renowned for its audio clout, its exceptional studio-grade headphones and microphones, and outstanding modern noise cancelling, was developing a gaming headset at long last.

The thing is, though, it just wasn't good enough. This wasn't one of the best wireless gaming headsets money could buy, not by a long shot. Instead, what we got was a product that was so focused on gaming and ensuring that it looked like it came straight off a PS5 Pro production line, that it missed that critical ethos that defines all good headsets, aka top-notch audio.

The good news, then, is that the H9 2 does a complete 180 compared to its predecessor. Sony has flipped the switch in terms of that very mantra. Not only does it dial up the aesthetics way past 11, but it delivers outstanding audio quality no matter what noise you push through it on whatever platform you can think of. The microphone (now detachable) equally is light years ahead of the rather lackluster fixed one found in the original H9, and the comfort and ergonomic design likewise holds its head high.

The downsides? Battery life is still a pretty standard 30 hours (or a little less in my testing, albeit that is with ANC switched off), and we have seen a slight price increase compared to the first gen's launch RRP, which is also quite high, but literally that's it. Sony's gone above and beyond with this thing, and it really shows.

Sony In Zone H9 2 Wireless review: price & availability

There's no beating around the bush here; this is one seriously expensive wireless headset. Available now from most major retailers on either side of the pond, you can buy this directly from Sony's webstore too, and it's available in either a black or white finish.

There is a catch. It is exceptionally good, but you need to ask yourself if you're willing to pay for that quality and versatility, particularly given how competitive that market is right now with the likes of the Razer Black Shark V2 Pro and others still holding strong in that arena.

PC, Xbox Series X/S (Xbox version), Playstation 4/5, (Play Station version), i OS/Android

PC, Xbox Series X/S (Xbox version), Playstation 4/5, (Play Station version), i OS/Android

2.4 GHz Wireless / Bluetooth / USB Wired / 3.5mm Analog

2.4 GHz Wireless / Bluetooth / USB Wired / 3.5mm Analog

Sony In Zone H9 2 Wireless review: design and features

This has to be one of the best-looking gaming headsets I've seen to date. There's something about that cord-wrapped adjustable headband that just screams modern to me, and it's quite difficult to pinpoint why that is. There's a Converse-esque, Levi’s vibe to it, regardless of whether it's in black or white (although the white model is certainly more striking with its high contrast black and white styling), that just resonates, blending modern-day outdoor style with a crisp gaming aesthetic.

It manages that all while being remarkably comfortable thanks to that ski-band style head rest, that's not too dissimilar to those found on the Steelseries Arctis Nova Pro Wireless and other such cans. What that does is make it remarkably comfortable over long periods of time, particularly given the weight comes in just shy of 260g without the microphone.

The earcups, too, are massive over-ear closed-back designs, complete with memory foam and soft padding, which are really over-engineered for what they are, but comfortable nonetheless.

As for connectivity, although you're still not blessed with modern Xbox support (perhaps unsurprising given the brand on offer here), there's practically every other medium you could muster. Bluetooth 5.3? Check, low-latency Wireless 2.4 GHz? Check. 3.5mm audio? Also, check (missing from the original model). It's just great to see.

As for the hardware inside, Sony's kitted this out with its WH-1000XM6 30mm carbon fiber composite dome drivers, the exact same ones found inside the legendary lifestyle headphones of the same name. I'll touch on why these are so good in just a second, but they're built around solid noise cancelling and ambient activation too, and it really pays off.

So, good looks aside, how did it perform? Well in my time testing it audio quality was solid all around. The H9 2 has this almost reference sound-scape (or at least the sample I had) that really is quite clear over wireless. It's impressively balanced on the bottom-end, particularly for 30mm drivers; it's not too bass-heavy where it's drowning out the mids and the trebles, or the high-end, yet you still have enough there to hear those deeper notes, the thrum of explosions, and the kick of a bass drum. There's a lot to love, either with music or in-game.

It is theoretically meant to be an FPS gaming headset, but to be frank, I found the higher-end to be a bit too soft for that. Compared to some gaming headsets, it lacked the crispness required for you to really pick up on every footstep and every sound around you, despite the spatial audio and Windows' best efforts to muck that all up.

However, if you're looking for a highly versatile headset that's not only broad in its connectivity but also more than capable of delivering across multiple media and game genres, the H9 2 wireless checks all those boxes.

The microphone was on another level, too. I did some light testing in Audacity, recording voice-overs for comparison, and compared to my classic Shure 55SH Series 2, plumbed in via one of Elgato's XLR DACs, it was hard to tell the difference between them, much to my chagrin.

Noise cancelling is here as well, and it's more than enough to handle any busy home. It does eat into battery life, though, so do bear that in mind, as it's already kind of a bit average, which is again one of the few negatives, particularly given the price.

Still, for the money, this thing is stylish, potent, and remarkably adept for what it is, and compared to the first generation, on a whole other level.

You're looking for ultimate compatibility With wireless, bluetooth and analog connectivity, there's not a lot of devices out there that this thing won't connect to.

You want solid all-around audio with no frills Thanks to an exceptionally clean soundstage and well-balanced 30mm carbon composite dome drivers, the H9 2 keeps a well-balanced and smooth audio profile.

You're looking for style and comfort As classy out on the street as it is in any gaming space, the H9 2 balances comfort, style, and is remarkably lightweight, as it does that too.

You're looking for the best value At 300 big ones, it isn't cheap, and there are far more affordable alternatives out there that deliver just as much connectivity, albeit with some caveats.

You want multi-day battery life Although the H9 packs in a 30-hour battery (with ANC off), it pales in comparison to some of its competition, which nearly doubles that at times.

You're buying it for its FPS clout It lacks that unbalanced sound stage needed to really make those footsteps shine in-game, which is a pro if you like music, less so if you're a cutting-edge e Sports gamer.

PC, PS4/PS5, Xbox Series X/S (wired only), i OS/Android, Switch, Switch 2, Steam Deck

PC, PS4/PS5, Xbox Series X/S (wired only), i OS/Android, Switch, Switch 2, Steam Deck

PC, Xbox Series X/S (Xbox version), Playstation 4/5, (Play Station version), i OS/Android

PC, Xbox Series X/S (Xbox version), Playstation 4/5, (Play Station version), i OS/Android

PC, PS4/PS5, Handheld, Switch, Switch 2, i OS/Android

PC, PS4/PS5, Handheld, Switch, Switch 2, i OS/Android

2.4 GHz Wireless, Bluetooth, USB Wired, 3.5mm Analog

2.4 GHz Wireless, Bluetooth, USB Wired, 3.5mm Analog

Bluetooth, 2.4GHz wireless (Hyperspeed dongle), USB wired

Bluetooth, 2.4GHz wireless (Hyperspeed dongle), USB wired

44 hours of battery life (22 hours per hot swappable battery)

44 hours of battery life (22 hours per hot swappable battery)

Razer Black Shark V3 X Hyperspeed A more budget-friendly gaming-oriented headset, the Black Shark V3 takes everything about the V3 Pro and condenses it down into a solid package. You do sacrifice audio quality but it comes with a superb 70-hour battery life.

For more information, check out our full Razer Black Shark V3 X Hyperspeed wireless headset review

Steel Series Arctis Nova Pro Wireless Don't let that price tag fool you, the Nova Pro Wireless is an outstanding classic design backed up with plenty of modern tech and an exceptional sound profile. It may have more of a classic gamer finish, but it delivers where it counts. It's reduced in price now too.

For more information, check out our full Steel Series Arctis Nova Pro Wireless review

I spent a good two weeks with the Inzone H9 2, testing it in all manner of scenarios, gaming, and working at home. I also took on several day trips, replacing my traditional ANC headphones at the gym with them instead, to really see if it could hold up in a more public-facing environment.

On the gaming front, I tested it in a multitude of RTS and RPG games, including Total War: Warhammer 3, along with Stellaris, and The Witcher 3.

Zak is one of Tech Radar's multi-faceted freelance tech journalists. He's written for an absolute plethora of tech publications over the years and has worked for Techradar on and off since 2015. Most famously, Zak led Maximum PC as its Editor-in-Chief from 2020 through to the end of 2021, having worked his way up from Staff Writer. Zak currently writes for Maximum PC, Tech Radar, PCGames N, and Trusted Reviews. He also had a stint working as Corsair's Public Relations Specialist in the UK, which has given him a particularly good insight into the inner workings of larger companies in the industry. He left in 2023, coming back to journalism once more. When he's not building PCs, reviewing hardware, or gaming, you can often find Zak working at his local coffee shop as First Barista, or out in the Wye Valley shooting American Flat Bows.

You must confirm your public display name before commenting

1 Notebook prices could be set to soar — and no, it's not the Apple Mac Book Neo's fault, but those pesky RAM and CPU price rises again

2 This new RIG headset is aimed at PC gaming audiophiles and comes with its own wired DAC dongle — it's even half the price of the competition

3I’ve been using Mac for decades - here are 5 new features in mac OS Tahoe that I can’t live without

4BAFTA-winning game music composers don't see AI as a threat — rather, it could ‘revolutionize the art’

5I tried Chat GPT’s new visual explanations for math — and I was surprised how intuitive it feels

Tech Radar is part of Future US Inc, an international media group and leading digital publisher. Visit our corporate site.

© Future US, Inc. Full 7th Floor, 130 West 42nd Street, New York, NY 10036.

Key Takeaways

• Sony's new In Zone H9 2 headset leaves its predecessor in the dust — it isn’t cheap, but the audio quality is near perfect

• When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission

• Sony's first-gen Inzone H9 left a lot to be desired; thankfully, the big console giant got the message and this second iteration corrects almost all the initial H9's flaws

• Best PS5 headsets 2026: our top picks for immersive audio for Play Station 5

• The best Sony headphones for all budgets, as tested by our audio experts