SONY INZONE H9 II WIRELESS GAMING HEADSET

Sony returns to the high-end wireless gaming headset scene with the $349.99 Inzone H9 II. Compared with its uneven predecessor, the Inzone H9, the latest model features a new set of 30mm drivers (the same as those in the highly rated Sony WH-1000XM6), a new mobile app, quick charge functionality, improved active noise cancellation (ANC), and a welcome wired connection option. Even so, the ghosts of Inzones past haunt this headset, with somewhat lackluster build quality, mediocre treble performance, and a high asking price. The SteelSeries Arctis Nova Pro Wireless, our Editors' Choice winner for wireless gaming headsets, remains a more well-rounded option with excellent audio performance, dual swappable batteries, and a useful base station.
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Design: Light and Bendable
The Inzone H9 II's design has a minimalist appeal. It’s impressively lightweight at just 9.63 ounces, or 9.17 ounces without the microphone attached. The earcups are made of smooth plastic, and their cushions are comfortable. They feature a porous, synthetic material on the outside and a pleather interior. The faux leather is a welcome addition if you aren't a fan of that plasticy material, but it makes the cushions a bit less breathable.

On the right cup, you'll find several buttons, including power, split (for toggling between gaming mode and chat mode), and connectivity (for switching between wireless connection options—more on that later). On the left cup, you’ll find the detachable unidirectional microphone port, the charging port, the ANC and ambient mode buttons, the free-spinning volume wheel, and the 3.5mm jack for a wired connection.
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The headband also falls under the minimalist design rubric, but it isn't as sleek or attractive as the earcups. Starting with what you can't see, the headband is attached to the earcups via a spring hinge, yet another factor that echoes the Sony WH-1000XM6 and contributes to the lightweight design. The headband is thin and flexible, but feels a bit flimsy. It appears unfinished, almost like a prototype with the inner workings of the headband exposed.

You adjust its length using a slider-lock system that lets you lower or raise the suspension strap that rests against your head. Each side features a textured button that attaches to the head strap. When pressed, the side of the strap slides freely up and down. It's a little finicky. Unless you release the button at each notch, the slider-lock glides smoothly over it without a click to indicate the adjustment amount. That makes it a bit more challenging to find a perfect fit on both sides.



I have a large noggin, so I didn't adjust the strap much; the maximum length was the appropriate size for me. But it does little to make the headset comfortable at the maximum length. There's no space between the strap and the rigid headband, and not much cushion. However, I had someone with a smaller head try on the headset; they found that the suspension strap is more comfortable when the headband is not resting directly on top of it.
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Connectivity: Wired and Wireless Options
The Inzone H9 II comes with a compact 2.4GHz transmitter that lets you switch between PC and console use, and it plugs directly into your computer via USB-C. Sony has added a wired connection option to the Inzone H9 II via a 3.5mm jack on the left earcup, a feature its predecessor lacks.

The headset is capable of two simultaneous connections and can be used with standard Bluetooth and Bluetooth LE Audio. I experienced a slight delay while listening to audio via Bluetooth, but casual listeners may not notice it.

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Software: Useful Desktop and Phone Apps
Inzone Hub is Sony's Windows desktop software that acts as a control center for all Inzone products. Fire it up and you're greeted with a screen containing tools for fine-tuning the H9 II to your liking. Spatial sound and the EQ are probably the features you'll use most. I spent a considerable amount of time tinkering with the EQ settings. The graphic sliders are easy to understand, and the drop-down menu is a nice touch that lets you quickly switch between sound profiles.

I find the Inzone Hub more approachable than rival headsets' proprietary software, such as Razer Synapse or Steelseries GG. However, it seems a bit sparse without a microphone EQ, a common setting in other gaming headsets’ audio apps.



Sound Connect, the Inzone H9 II's mobile app for Android and iOS, lets you adjust the headset's EQ on the go. After pairing the headset to your phone, the app displays ambient sound controls and the current music or podcast track. Scrolling down reveals the EQ and a convenient feature: Find Your Equalizer. This setting allows you to switch between EQ settings by clicking through a series of circles and selecting the one that sounds best, rather than making manual adjustments. It's beneficial for people who struggle to use the equalizer, and I would like to see other companies adopt a similar tool.

Unfortunately, the app is bloated with extras, such as badges and milestones for listening to audio on your headset. They aren't particularly desirable and make it harder to find the EQ and Find Your Equalizer feature.

Noise Cancellation and Spatial Audio: Both Are Terrific
It's no surprise that Sony absolutely nails the noise cancellation with the Inzone H9 II. I was locked in when I booted up Call of Duty Warzone and enabled noise cancellation and spatial audio. The result was so effective that I couldn't hear my air conditioner running on high, even though it was only 10 feet away.

Meanwhile, every in-game footstep, explosion, and shattered window sounded as if it were placed explicitly in the audio environment around me. It felt like I had a distinct advantage over my opponents, as I could easily locate where each sound was coming from.

By default, the first-person shooter EQ profiles emphasize footsteps and gunshots. I found that I needed to manually adjust the EQ for optimal performance, which is relatively common for presets. Still, the ANC and spatial audio performance are easily the best things about this headset.

Music Performance: A Bit Too Warm and Bassy
Turning over to music, I was somewhat less enthused. For example, the thick, sidechained bass of Machine Girl’s "Cyan Hardcore" thumped satisfyingly in my ears. But as the arps and high-pitched synth leads came in, the treble seemed a little weak—even when cranking it in the EQ.

I switched to "Say Yes" by Elliot Smith. On this track through the Inzone H9 II, the acoustic guitar sounded stilted, overly warm, and bass-heavy, which spoiled the gently strummed high chords and the plucked solo lead. The audio also overemphasized the vocals and rhythmic low notes.



Matters improved when I pivoted to bass-forward hip-hop. From the first room-shaking kick drum, GDP and Fatboi Sharif's "Luchador Mask" sounded great. The bassline was clear and emphasized, and the drums cut through with surgical precision. Although the treble still lacked presence, the midrange sounded forward enough to properly appreciate GDP and Fatboi Sharif's masterful lyricism.

Microphone: Surprisingly Good
Sony stepped up its microphone game with the Inzone H9 II. Not only is the microphone detachable—a major plus, especially if you want to use the headset on the go—but it's also unidirectional and long enough to position it close to your mouth while speaking. That eliminates the extra noise associated with the original H9's bidirectional mic.

In tests, friends noted that my voice came through loud and clear in Discord voice chats. The only drawback is the absence of a microphone equalizer. By default, the Inzone H9 II features a better microphone than the Razer Blackshark V3 Pro; however, the Blackshark has an EQ for customizing your mic and enhancing clarity.

As usual, you'll get much better microphone performance if you invest in a dedicated USB microphone. This is easier to forgive in budget headsets, but it's harder to ignore with the Inzone H9 II's high cost.