Sony InZone H9 II - The XM6 for Gamers?
Sony may have just created one of the best-sounding noise-cancelling gaming headsets available right now. But stick around because I want you to be the judge of that. These are the Sony InZone H9 II, and these are the Sony WH-1000XM6. They are one of my favourite noise-cancelling headphones of all time. And word on the street is they are also MKBHDs.
So, what does that have to do with Sony's new gaming headset, the InZone H9 Mark 2? There are three killer features that the XM6 shares with the H9 II, and I think you’ll find Sony’s approach to the design of these interesting. It's kind of like they used a secret weapon. So stick around because you're about to find out and see precisely what I mean.
Design
The InZone H9 Mark 2 is significantly lighter than the Mark 1. And this is good because if you're a gamer, you'll probably agree the best time to throw the towel and hang 'em up is ( never ), and this lighter weight will definitely come into play during those longer gaming sessions. They weigh 260g compared to 330g on the Mark 1. And they're so comfortable. There's a fixed outer band wrapped in this nice, woven material, and the inner band is padded on the inside, featuring a leatherette finish on top with a bit of branding. This headband design provides a super-soft fit across the top of your head, and Sony has added quick-release catches that allow you to make height adjustments on the fly.
The earcups are reminiscent of helicopter pilot styles, and the backs of the earcups are matte black, appearing to be made from the same material used on the flagship XM6. And if you look closely, you'll notice these little cutouts on the backs of each ear, and these are important; you'll see why in a minute. The padding on the earpads is nice and plush. And unlike the XM6, they're made of a breathable fabric material. Because as a gamer, you'll know that in the heat of the battle, things can get a bit sweaty. So anything that helps reduce that is a win. And there are such pretty large vents that might also help with that, but are probably actually there to improve the sound. In the box with the H9 II, you'll also find a detachable flexible boom mic. This lock locks in place securely thanks to its unique design. It features a cardioid pickup pattern and AI noise reduction algorithms to enhance clarity.
On Board Controls
Now this is where things get interesting. The secret design weapon: did you know that Sony consulted professional players from Fnatic to customise and optimise the design and button placement on these headphones? Well, they did. One of the specific features that the Fnatic team requested was to add a large mute button in a designated location. It sits where your first finger on your left hand naturally rests when you reach for the left earcup. The great thing about this is you feel it when it’s on or off. You can see the red accent if you’re not wearing them, and if you are. There’s a little red LED on the boom mic that lets you know when the mic is muted. Going back to the controls. Also located on the left earcup, right where your thumb rests, is the volume wheel and the ANC/ambient aware button. This is the first of the three killer features brought over from the XM6 headphones. The noise-cancelling functionality,
And there's little argument that Sony is in the business when it comes to ANC. This allows you to eliminate background noises, such as noisy fans on your gaming rig, air conditioning units, washing machines & even people’s voices to a certain extent. The Ambient Aware does the opposite, allowing them to pass through. And it really works well. And this is a powerful feature. And whilst we are talking about power. The battery life with ANC on is up to 30 hours, which, when compared to gaming headphones without noise cancelling, may not sound like a lot. This is probably why Sony InZone made this upgrade to the Mark 2. Unlike the H9 Mark 1, the Mark 2 has the ability to be recharged while playing. And a quick 5-minute charge can provide an hour of playback with ANC enabled. Total recharge takes 3.5 hrs. On the right earcup, the power button is easily accessible without looking, as it's placed where your thumb naturally rests when reaching for the headset. And it dips inwards, making it easier to identify. There are game and chat mix buttons, as well as a dedicated BT pairing button, in case you don't plan to use the provided 2.4GHz dongle.
Connectivity
This brings me to the connectivity and the second killer feature. The H9S can connect to the PS5, and it does support Tempest audio. So you can get that proprietary spatial sound from the PlayStation to H9S. You can, of course, hook them up to a PC or Mac and make use of Sony's Inzone Hub software. This allows you to customise EQs and save presets or access the InZone gaming presets. Here you can also use Sony's sound field personalisation tools & your phone. To create a custom Spatial Audio EQ. You also dial in the mic levels and side tone here. Also, adjust the amount of audio pass-through you want when in ambient mode. You can also set it to focus on voices.
Here's that second killer feature. The H9S are BT5.3 headphones, so they can connect to any device over Bluetooth, and BT LE is supported. And if you connect them to your phone, you can adjust the settings & EQs via Sony's Sound Connect app. However, the InZone Hub settings on PC and the PS5 Tempest settings will take priority over the Sound Connect app. So just be aware of that. However, the great thing about this BT feature is that you can dual-connect these headphones, allowing you to easily switch between audio and microphones between your phone and computer. There's also the option to connect via classic audio jack. If you want to eliminate any and all latency and compression. There is one thing I would have liked here, though. And that would enable the use of App controls in sync with the PS5 and PC. We'll have to wait for that.
Sound Quality
Ok, now the third killer feature and most important upgrade since the H9 mark 1. When it comes to delivering sound, the H9 II utilises the same custom Sony carbon composite driver as the flagship Sony XM6 headphones. Which means they're more than capable of providing accurate and high-quality high-resolution audio. That was what the XM6 drivers were primarily designed for. The InZone H9 II, with its custom Sony carbon composite driver, delivers a phenomenal sound quality that truly enhances your gaming experience. These are, without a doubt, some of the best-sounding gaming headphones you'll come across.
Sony has taken the winning XM6 noise-cancelling headphones and put their InZone team in charge of modding them specifically for gamers. And in a genius move, they are getting actual Pro gamers involved in the creation process. The H9 II is excellent. They sound good, they look good, connectivity is good & the ease of use regarding controls is perfect. It takes minimal effort to deliver maximum effect, the way all good tech should be.
