Here is our Sony ULT Wear review. Let’s begin with the specifications, pros, and cons, and then delve deeper into the review.
Sony ULT Wear Pros and Cons
Pros
- Awesome bass performance
- Great noise cancellation considering the cost
- You can tweak the sound to your liking
- Convenient hands-free Alexa feature
Cons
- The sound doesn’t always match what you’d expect
- Sometimes you might accidentally hit the controls
Sony ULT Wear Overview
Despite a new moniker, Sony’s $199.99 ULT Wear noise-cancelling headphones continue in the tradition of the company’s long-running XB (extra bass) series. They produce powerful, bass-forward sound that can be ramped up further with the touch of a button. In addition, they respond well to EQ changes, offer impressive active noise cancellation (ANC) for the price, and support hands-free Alexa voice control. If you love deep bass, these are the headphones to get. For everyone else, the Urbanista Los Angeles headphones cost the same amount, sound more balanced out of the box, and charge via solar power for practically unlimited battery life, earning them our Editors’ Choice award. We also like the Sennheiser Accentum Plus Wireless ($229.95) for more natural sound.
Understated Looks and Useful Accessories
The ULT Wear headphones come in black, gray, or off-white and have an over-ear design that fits comfortably thanks to soft cushioning on the earpads and headband. They look sleek with a matte finish and feature the Sony logo on each side. Inside, they pack 40mm dynamic drivers for great sound quality.
These headphones connect via Bluetooth 5.2 and support various codecs like AAC, LDAC, and SBC. You can pair them with two devices at once and use Google Fast Pair for easy setup. They’ll also soon support the LC3 codec with a future update.
Controlling these headphones is a mix of physical buttons and touch gestures. Buttons on the left earcup handle power, noise cancellation, and bass modes, while the right earcup’s touch panel manages playback, calls, and volume. The controls work fine, but they can be a bit sensitive, so be careful not to accidentally press them.
You can charge these headphones via USB-C or use the 3.5mm headphone jack for wired connections. They come with a USB-A-to-USB-C cable and a 3.5mm audio cable, all neatly packed in a zip-up case.
With active noise cancellation on, these headphones last about 30 hours per charge, extending to 50 hours with it off. Quick charging gives you around 5 hours of playback with just 10 minutes of charging. Overall, they offer a comfortable fit, versatile connectivity, and solid battery life for your listening needs.
App Experience
The Sony Headphones app, available for both Android and iOS devices, is divided into three main sections: Headphones, Activity, and Menu. On the Headphones page, you can quickly check your battery life and active codec. It also offers tutorials and firmware info.
Under the Headphones section, you’ll find four subsections: Status, Sound, System, and Services. Status shows if Adaptive Sound Control is on and what track you’re listening to, with playback controls.
The Sound section is where you can really customize your experience. You can adjust Noise Cancelling, Ambient Sound, and Equalizer settings. You can even create your own sound profile or use preset EQ settings. Plus, you can tweak the bass and choose between different sound modes.
In the System section, you can manage connections, adjust settings like Sidetone for calls, and enable features like auto-pause. You can also set up Amazon Alexa as your voice assistant easily.
The app’s Activity section tracks your headphone usage and offers rewards. In the Menu section, you’ll find helpful tips, a support section, and the option to back up your settings and data.
Overall, the app gives you lots of control and customization options to enhance your listening experience.
Capable Noise Cancellation
Thanks to Sony’s Integrated Processor V1 and top-notch microphones, the ULT Wear headphones provide fantastic noise cancellation. They’re great at reducing low-frequency sounds like rumble, and they also do a good job with mid-range noise, like in busy restaurants. While high-frequency sounds can be a bit tricky, the headphones’ thick earpads help soften them.
The Ambient Sound feature, which lets you hear your surroundings, works really well. It gives you a clear picture of what’s around you without overwhelming background noise. You can even focus on conversations with the Voice Passthrough mode. Plus, the headphones handle wind noise effectively.
Overall, these headphones are some of the best performers I’ve seen in this price range.
Sound Quality
If you’re a fan of bass, you’ll love the ULT buttons on these headphones. They pump up the bass to impressive levels, and switching between modes comes with cool sound effects. ULT 1 adds a nice boost to the low end without overwhelming the rest of the music. ULT 2, on the other hand, goes a bit overboard with bass, making songs sound muddy.
Turning off all the extra features, the headphones still deliver strong bass, especially on tracks with deep beats. ULT 1 enhances the low end without drowning out other parts of the music, while ULT 2 tends to focus too much on bass.
On tracks with less bass, like acoustic songs, the headphones sound more balanced without the ULT modes. ULT 1 adds some extra depth to the bass without overpowering everything else, but ULT 2 can be too much.
Even though you can adjust the EQ to tone down the bass, these headphones really shine when it comes to delivering deep, rumbling bass.
The microphone array is also impressive, offering clear voice quality for calls or recordings.
Booming Bass and Competent Noise Cancellation
Sony’s ULT Wear headphones, priced at $199.99, pack a punch with their booming bass, solid noise cancellation, and handy accessories. While the in-app EQ helps balance the sound, these headphones really stand out for their impressive low-end power, which some may find a bit overwhelming.
If you’re into bass-heavy music, these headphones are a great choice. However, if you prefer a more natural sound, our top pick remains the Urbanista Los Angeles headphones, which also support eco-friendly solar charging at the same price. For a bit more money ($30 extra), consider the Sennheiser Accentum Plus Wireless headphones, known for their accurate sound.”
These headphones offer a lot of bang for your buck, especially if you’re a bass enthusiast!
