Ultra Light Design That Feels Almost Too Light
The Sony Inzone H9 II is a premium wireless gaming headset with a serious price tag. At around $350, it sits in the same territory as some entry level audiophile gear and heavy hitting gaming headsets like the Audeze Maxwell. That makes expectations very high from the moment you open the box.
Visually and physically, the H9 II does not scream luxury. When you first pull it out of the packaging it looks fairly plain and the weight is almost suspicious. At just 260 grams without the microphone, it feels hollow at first touch, especially if you are used to heavier metal framed headsets that feel built like tanks.
The headband design adds to that impression. Instead of a thick, plush cushion, you get a thin fabric covered outer band paired with a pleather wrapped elastic suspension strip. There are some subtle design details if you look closely, but nothing that immediately communicates the high price. It is clear Sony has aggressively cut weight wherever possible.
However, those concerns fade once you actually put the headset on. The combination of gentle clamping force, soft foam earcups, and very low weight makes the Inzone H9 II one of those sets you can wear for hours without thinking about it. The reviewer wore it practically every day for months, often for more than eight hours at a stretch, and repeatedly forgot it was even on. Comfort is where the H9 II really begins to justify its existence for long gaming or work sessions.
Noise Cancelling and Sound Quality
One of the standout features of the Inzone H9 II is its active noise cancelling. It can be controlled either with a button on the left earcup or through the Sony Inzone Hub software, which lets you switch between noise cancelling and transparency modes on the fly.
When you enable noise cancelling, it feels like stepping into a quieter room. Background hum and general room noise are heavily reduced, which is especially helpful if you share your space or play in a noisy environment. Loud voices nearby and the sharp clacks of a mechanical keyboard will still cut through, but compared to most gaming headsets the level of isolation is excellent. It creates a kind of personal audio bubble that is great for gaming, working, or just zoning out with music.
On paper, the drivers might not look impressive: 30 millimeter carbon composite units with a 5 to 20,000 Hz frequency response. That size seems small compared to the large drivers and exotic materials used in some high end headsets. In practice, though, they perform well.
Out of the box, the Inzone H9 II is tuned for clarity with a pleasant warmth in the low mid and low end ranges. Bass has a smooth, honey like fullness without becoming muddy, which makes games, music, and movies enjoyable to listen to. Through the Inzone Hub software you can tweak the sound further with a basic equalizer. You can push the headset towards an even warmer, bass heavier sound or dial it back into a cleaner, more clinical presentation with brighter treble.
The overall sound is consumer friendly and somewhat boosted rather than truly reference grade. It is not on the level of proper audiophile headphones, especially planar magnetic models, but it still sounds very good for gaming and everyday listening. The soundstage is reasonably wide and the spatial audio support means positional cues in supported games come through clearly enough to help you track enemies and environmental sounds.
Microphone, Features, and Value
The Inzone H9 II includes a removable cardioid condenser microphone with a large foam windscreen. Aesthetically it is nothing special and with the suspended headband the whole setup can look a bit like aviation or air traffic control gear. The important part is its performance.
The mic has a rounded, natural sound that is more detailed than the average gaming headset microphone. It can be a little sensitive to plosive sounds but overall it is easily good enough for voice chat and light streaming. There is also a large textured mute button on the top of the left earcup. When you mute, a small red LED on the mic tip lights up. It is diffused and placed far enough from your direct line of sight that it does not distract, but it gives a reassuring confirmation that your mic is off.
Under the hood, you get a solid feature set: wireless 2.4 GHz connection, Bluetooth 5.3, and up to 30 hours of battery life with noise cancelling turned off. For a modern high end gaming headset, that battery figure is decent but not class leading, especially when some competitors like the Audeze Maxwell can hit 80 hours or more on a charge.
That brings us to the biggest issue with the Sony Inzone H9 II: price. At its full $350 MSRP, it is competing not only with other premium gaming headsets but also with lower end audiophile options that can deliver better pure sound quality. For example, planar magnetic gaming headsets can offer more detailed and dynamic audio for less money, though they are usually heavier and lack active noise cancelling.
Where the Inzone H9 II shines is comfort, noise cancelling, and overall ease of use. It is a fantastic choice if you want a headset that feels almost weightless, creates a quiet space even in a shared environment, and still delivers strong gaming sound and a respectable mic.
However, if your main priority is absolute audio quality or maximum battery life per dollar, you can find better options. At around $250 the H9 II would be a much easier recommendation. At $350 it becomes a more niche pick for players who specifically value its lightweight design and excellent noise cancelling over raw sound performance.
In the end, the Sony Inzone H9 II is a very good gaming headset with a few standout strengths and a price that holds it back from greatness. If you can catch it on sale and you want long session comfort plus top tier noise cancelling, it is well worth a look.
Original article and image: https://www.pcgamer.com/hardware/gaming-headsets/sony-inzone-h9-ii-review/
