Also: The best over-ear headphones: Expert tested and reviewed
When I think of Sony headphones, I envision warm sound, a utilitarian design, and a high level of functionality. The Ult Wear have all those things, plus a fun feature that other Sony models lack, which I’ll touch on in a moment. These headphones might be your next best option if you’re considering buying the XM5 but can’t justify the price. So what makes the Ult Wear so impressive?
First, let me clarify that this review covers Sony’s over-ear headphones, in case the suspiciously simple product name confused you. You may have noticed that Sony stopped naming its products after a seemingly random string of letters and numbers. That alone should show you that these headphones exhibit a fresh, new vibe from Sony, and I like it.
Now, let’s talk about sound. The Ult Wear’s 40mm drivers convey Sony’s standard warm, bass-forward sound properties. In the upper range, treble reproduction is bright and clear without being too harsh on the ears. This out-of-the-box sound makes bass-heavy genres like hip-hop and EDM electrifying and exciting while keeping lead vocals and instruments at center stage.
With a push of the holographic Ult button on the left ear cup, the music you’re listening to receives considerable depth, delivering boomy bass you can feel at the base of your ears. Sony’s Ult Power Sound is much easier to tame than Skullcandy’s Crusher Bass, but it’s still intense and requires some EQ tweaking to avoid significant muddying of the midrange.
Additionally, Ult Power Sound has Sony’s high-quality audio technology on its side, and despite a heavier bass presence, harmonic layers and minute details don’t get lost in the mix.
Sony lent its high-performing V1 chip from its 1000X-series headphones to the Ult Wear, which offers effective noise-canceling technology in their own right. Sony used this same chip in its more affordable WH-CH720N headphones, but the Ult Wear have significantly better noise-canceling properties.
Also: The best noise-canceling earbuds: Expert tested and reviewed
In the Sony Headphones app, you can toggle between noise-canceling and transparency modes, and I found the Ult Wear’s noise-canceling effectiveness to be on par with noise-canceling headphones in the $300 range, like the Bose QC45. However, activating the noise-canceling or transparency mode does significantly alter the sound quality. This phenomenon is typical for headphones in this price range – even for Sony.
If you want a great-sounding pair of Sony headphones without the extra bass, consider the Sony WH-CH720N.