If you’re wondering if the Sony INZONE H9 II is worth shelling out for, especially with its $349.99 price tag, the short answer is this: it’s a serious contender for high-end PC and PS5 gamers who prioritize top-tier audio quality, effective noise cancellation, and all-day comfort. Sony has really stepped up its game with this successor, addressing some of the gripes people had with the original H9, making it a much more compelling package for discerning players. It brings over some impressive tech from Sony’s flagship headphones, so if you’re looking for a headset that can seamlessly transition from intense gaming sessions to just enjoying your favorite podcast, this might just be the one you’ve been waiting for.
When the first Sony INZONE H9 hit the market a few years back, it offered a glimpse into Sony’s ambition for gaming audio beyond its PlayStation Pulse line. It was pretty good, with solid active noise cancellation ANC and that sleek PS5 aesthetic, but it left some folks wanting more in terms of pure audio fidelity and microphone performance for its premium price. Fast forward to August 19, 2025, and Sony has officially dropped the INZONE H9 II, a new flagship designed to iron out those wrinkles and deliver an even more refined experience. This isn’t just a minor refresh. it’s a headset built with direct input from esports pros like Fnatic, boasting some significant internal upgrades and a redesigned build that aims for peak comfort and performance. So, let’s break down what makes the H9 II tick and whether it deserves a spot on your head and in your gaming setup.
First Impressions: Design & Comfort Elevated
One of the first things you’ll notice about the INZONE H9 II when you pull it out of the box is its commitment to comfort and a refreshed, albeit potentially polarizing, design. The original H9 was comfortable, no doubt, but some found its earcups and headband a little oversized. Sony listened, and the H9 II arrives significantly lighter at around 260 grams, a noticeable drop from its predecessor’s 330 grams. This weight reduction, coupled with a completely redesigned headband that features a unique spring hinge and softer foam cushions, makes a huge difference for those marathon gaming sessions. Seriously, you can wear these for hours without that familiar pressure point on the top of your head that so many other headsets cause. Reviewers have noted that this headset is “extremely comfortable” and rivals some of the best headphones from brands like Bose in terms of wearability.
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The aesthetic still leans heavily into that clean, modern PlayStation 5 vibe with its white and black color scheme, but there are some subtle tweaks. The earcups themselves retain an oval shape, reminiscent of Sony’s popular WH-1000XM series, but the overall profile feels a bit more refined and less bulky. While the previous H9 used leatherette for its ear pads, the H9 II continues with soft-fit leatherette earcups, which feel incredibly plush against your skin. However, some early impressions suggest the new fabric headband and slider-lock system might be a bit “less clean-looking” than the original, even if it contributes to improved comfort. Personally, I appreciate the focus on ergonomics over just looks, especially for a device you’re going to have on your head for extended periods. The controls are well-placed too. on the left earcup, you’ll find a volume wheel that’s easy to locate by feel, a button for noise modes ANC/Ambient Sound, a USB-C port for charging, and a port for a wired connection. The right earcup houses the Bluetooth button, power button, and separate game/chat balance controls, which are super handy for fine-tuning your audio mix on the fly.
Sound Quality: Borrowing from the Best
Now, let’s talk about where the INZONE H9 II really shines: the audio. This is arguably the biggest upgrade over the original H9. Sony has equipped the H9 II with the same 30mm audio drivers found in their flagship WH-1000XM6 noise-cancelling headphones. If you know anything about Sony’s audio tech, you’ll know that the XM series sets a high bar, and bringing that kind of fidelity to a gaming headset is a huge deal. The original H9 had 40mm drivers but often had a somewhat “boomy” and bass-prioritized sound profile that, while good for explosions, could lack clarity and balance for podcast or subtle in-game cues.
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With the H9 II, you get a much more balanced soundstage right out of the box. This means whether you’re listening to podcast, watching a movie, or deep into a game, everything sounds clearer and more natural. The bass is still powerful when it needs to be – those in-game explosions will definitely thump – but it doesn’t overpower the mids and highs. This clarity is crucial for competitive gaming, especially in first-person shooters FPS where hearing subtle sounds like footsteps or distant gunfire can give you a significant edge. In fact, Sony worked with the esports team Fnatic to develop specific audio presets for FPS games, emphasizing these critical sound details. You can access and fine-tune these settings, along with a fully customizable EQ, through the INZONE Hub PC software or the Sony Sound Connect mobile app. This kind of granular control ensures you can tailor the sound profile exactly to your preferences, whether you want booming bass for a cinematic experience or pinpoint accuracy for competitive play.
And of course, Sony’s renowned 360 Spatial Sound for Gaming is here, offering an immersive virtual 7.1 surround sound experience. You can even use the dedicated 360 Spatial Sound Personalizer phone app to take photos of your ears, creating a unique hearing profile that’s applied to the headset for optimized spatial audio. This personalized approach really makes a difference, allowing you to accurately pinpoint enemy locations and environmental cues that you might otherwise miss.
Microphone: Clear Communication is Key
A gaming headset is only as good as its microphone, and the original INZONE H9 had a bit of a mixed reception here. while generally clear, some felt it suffered from compression and wasn’t quite “premium” enough for the price point, particularly for streaming. Sony seems to have taken this feedback to heart with the H9 II.
The new INZONE H9 II features a detachable boom microphone, which is a fantastic quality-of-life improvement over the original’s fixed mic. This means you can easily remove it when you’re just listening to podcast or using the headset on the go, making it more versatile. More importantly, Sony has upgraded the mic to a “Super Wide Band” design, promising clearer, more natural voice capture. This is further enhanced by AI-powered noise reduction, which intelligently filters out ambient noise from your environment. Imagine being in a bustling room during a LAN party. the H9 II aims to ensure your teammates only hear your voice, not the chatter around you.
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While early hands-on impressions have generally praised the microphone’s clarity, some tests in noisy environments yielded “serviceable” rather than “stellar” results. However, given Sony’s track record with voice reduction in other headphones like the WH-1000XM6 and Pulse Elite, it’s reasonable to expect solid performance for typical gaming and communication needs after further refinement. For most gamers, this detachable, AI-enhanced mic should provide a significant upgrade for in-game chat and casual calls.
Noise Cancellation & Ambient Sound: Your Audio Bubble
One of the standout features of the original INZONE H9 was its active noise cancellation ANC, a rare find in gaming headsets at the time, and the H9 II takes it even further. Leveraging the same ANC sensors as the WH-1000XM6 headphones, the INZONE H9 II delivers some of the best noise-cancelling performance you can get in a gaming headset. It’s incredibly effective at blocking out low-frequency hums like PC fans, air conditioning units, or even city traffic, letting you really sink into your game without distractions.
But it’s not just about silencing the world. sometimes you need to hear what’s going on around you. That’s where the Ambient Sound mode comes in. This feature, also refined from Sony’s premium headphones, intelligently lets in external sounds without compromising your game audio. It’s particularly useful if you’re gaming with friends in the same room, need to hear a doorbell, or want to stay aware of your surroundings while still having your headset on. Reviewers highlighted that this mode is “cleverly tuned” to let teammates’ voices through, which is crucial for competitive play where clear communication with your squad is key. The ability to toggle between ANC and Ambient Sound with a dedicated button on the earcup makes it super convenient to adapt to your environment.
Connectivity & Battery Life: Stay Connected, Play Longer
The Sony INZONE H9 II offers a fantastic array of connectivity options, making it incredibly versatile for almost any setup. You get rock-solid, low-latency 2.4 GHz wireless connectivity via a USB-C dongle, which is perfect for your PlayStation 5, gaming PC, Nintendo Switch, and even the upcoming Switch 2. The dongle often has a switch to select between PS5 and PC modes, ensuring optimal performance for each platform.
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Beyond that, it also supports Bluetooth including LE Bluetooth for efficiency, allowing you to connect wirelessly to your smartphone or other Bluetooth-enabled devices. What’s really neat is the ability to maintain simultaneous audio playback from multiple sources. This means you can be fully immersed in your game audio from your PS5 or PC while also staying connected to your phone for calls, Discord chats, or podcast without having to switch headsets. This multi-device capability is a must for many, eliminating the hassle of constantly reconnecting. And for those times you prefer a traditional setup or run out of juice, there’s also a trusty 3.5mm wired option.
When it comes to battery life, Sony claims up to 30 hours of playback with ANC enabled. While this is slightly lower than the original H9’s advertised 32 hours often with ANC off, it’s still a very respectable figure that will get you through multiple gaming sessions without needing to constantly plug in. For those moments when you’re running low and need a quick boost, the USB-C quick charge feature is a lifesaver: just 5 minutes of charging will give you an extra hour of playtime. You can also use the headset while it’s charging, provided you’re connected via Bluetooth or the dongle.
Gaming Performance: Built for Victory
Co-developed with esports team Fnatic, the INZONE H9 II is clearly designed with competitive gaming in mind. The combination of the new 30mm drivers, precise 360 Spatial Sound, and effective ANC creates an audio environment where every subtle sound matters. In games like Resident Evil 2 Remake or Final Fantasy XIV, the H9 II delivers clear and full sound, balancing background podcast with crucial in-game sound effects. For FPS titles like Apex Legends or Call of Duty, the enhanced soundstage and dedicated presets make footsteps, reloads, and gunfire incredibly distinct, helping you pinpoint enemy positions with impressive accuracy.
On the PlayStation 5, the H9 II takes full advantage of the console’s Tempest 3D audio technology, further immersing you in the game worlds. Playing titles like Spider-Man: Miles Morales, you’ll hear the ambient sounds of New York City clearly, and the brutal impact of Miles’s punches will resonate with impressive force. The dedicated game/chat balance buttons allow you to adjust the volume levels of your game audio and voice chat independently, so you can always hear your teammates clearly without losing track of crucial in-game sounds. This level of control is invaluable during intense team fights.
Software Experience: Tailoring Your Audio
Sony’s INZONE ecosystem includes the INZONE Hub PC software and the Sony Sound Connect mobile app, both of which are pretty intuitive to use. The INZONE Hub for PC is where you’ll spend most of your time customizing your audio experience. It provides a visual interface for adjusting EQ settings, allowing you to create and save custom sound profiles for different games or media. You can also manage the 360 Spatial Sound features, including the personalized ear scanning, and update firmware.
For competitive gamers, the preset EQs co-developed with Fnatic are a standout feature, designed to emphasize critical sounds in first-person shooters. These are available across both the PC and mobile apps, meaning you can benefit from them whether you’re hooked up to your computer or your PS5. The app also lets you control other headset settings, like the auto-off timer to conserve battery life. While the software is generally slick and easy to navigate, some users of the original H9 occasionally found the factory EQ settings a bit “wonky” and needed adjustment, so it’s good that the H9 II’s new drivers promise better sound out of the box, giving you a better starting point for customization.
Value for Money: Is the H9 II Worth It?
At $349.99, the Sony INZONE H9 II is definitely a premium gaming headset, sitting at the higher end of the market. The original H9, launched at $299.99, was already considered expensive for some, especially when compared to other headsets that offered similar features for less. However, the H9 II makes a much stronger case for its price point by incorporating some truly high-end technology.
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The biggest factor here is those 30mm drivers from Sony’s WH-1000XM6 headphones. This immediately elevates the sound quality beyond what many gaming headsets, even expensive ones, can offer, bridging the gap between dedicated gaming audio and hi-fi listening. The improved comfort, detachable mic with AI noise reduction, and robust connectivity options also add significant value.
Compared to some competitors, like the SteelSeries Arctis Nova Pro Wireless, which is similarly priced and offers hot-swappable batteries and more versatile connectivity for Xbox users, the H9 II holds its own, especially if sound quality and Sony’s ANC are your top priorities. For dedicated PC and PS5 gamers who truly value immersive, high-fidelity audio, excellent noise cancellation, and superior comfort for long sessions, the INZONE H9 II is a compelling investment. It’s a headset that you could realistically use for all your audio needs, not just gaming. If you’re upgrading from an older headset or looking for a flagship experience that blends Sony’s audio expertise with gaming-specific features, the H9 II is absolutely worth considering.
Frequently Asked Questions
What’s the main difference between the Sony INZONE H9 II and the original INZONE H9?
The biggest upgrades in the Sony INZONE H9 II are its improved audio drivers, which are the same 30mm drivers found in Sony’s high-end WH-1000XM6 headphones, offering a more balanced sound profile. It’s also significantly lighter and features a redesigned headband for enhanced comfort, and the microphone is now detachable with AI-powered noise reduction for clearer communication.
Is the Sony INZONE H9 II compatible with Xbox consoles?
Unfortunately, the Sony INZONE H9 II does not officially support Xbox consoles. It’s designed primarily for PC, PlayStation 5, Nintendo Switch, and the upcoming Switch 2, using its 2.4 GHz USB-C dongle or Bluetooth. Ninja Crispi 4-in-1 Portable Glass Air Fryer: Your Next Kitchen Essential?
How long does the battery last on the INZONE H9 II?
The Sony INZONE H9 II is rated for up to 30 hours of battery life with active noise cancellation ANC turned on. It also features a quick charge function via USB-C, providing about 1 hour of playtime after just 5 minutes of charging.
Does the INZONE H9 II have active noise cancellation ANC?
Yes, the INZONE H9 II features Sony’s signature active noise cancellation ANC technology, drawing from the same sensors used in their WH-1000XM6 headphones. It also includes an Ambient Sound mode, allowing you to hear your surroundings when needed.
Can I use the Sony INZONE H9 II for both gaming and podcast?
Absolutely! With the inclusion of the same high-quality 30mm audio drivers as Sony’s WH-1000XM6 headphones, the INZONE H9 II delivers excellent sound quality that’s well-suited for both immersive gaming and enjoying podcast with impressive fidelity. Its balanced soundstage and effective ANC make it a versatile audio companion.
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