We Evaluated Sony’s Entire Lineup of Headphones to Help You Find the Best Pair for You
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We Evaluated Sony’s Entire Lineup of Headphones to Help You Find the Best Pair for You
Sony is easily one of the most iconic consumer electronic brands of our time. It has a rich history of making amazing headphones and earbuds, dating all the way back to 1964 when the tech giant introduced its first stereo headset for tape recorders. In the following decades, the audio maker continued to expand its lineup by launching countless incredible products, keeping the brand as relevant as ever to this very day.
Some of these noteworthy products include the lightweight Sony MDR-3 headphones that debuted alongside the legendary Walkman audio player in 1979, the super tiny MDR-E252 NUDE earbuds in 1982, and 2008's MDR-NC500D cans with digital noise-cancellation.
Today, the lineup of Sony headphones and earbuds spans from impulse-buy products for less than $10, all the way to ultra-premium headphones that cost more than a good laptop. To help you pick the best Sony headphones and earbuds for your lifestyle and budget, we sifted through specs, model numbers, and reviews of the brand’s latest offerings to narrow down the best of the best. And, of course, we personally tested many of them ourselves to give you first-hand feedback regarding user experience.
The Best Sony Headphones and Earbuds
What to Consider
Form Factor
When you're on the hunt for the best Sony headphones and earbuds, you'll quickly find that there are a ton of form factors to choose from. From true wireless and neckband earbuds through compact, on-ear headphones to Bluetooth and wired over-ear cans, we can guarantee that you’ll find the perfect pair for your needs. Please be aware that today’s best Sony wireless headsets have up-to-date Bluetooth 5.0 (or higher) connectivity.
A neckband set will deliver a comparable sonic experience and longer battery life compared to similarly priced true wireless earbuds. However, if ultimate convenience is what you're after, you’ll find the more frequent charging sessions that a wire-free headset requires to be well worth it. If you plan on using the earbuds for exercising, look for an option with a robust rating for water resistance.
There's no doubt about it — wireless Sony headphones and earbuds are more convenient than their wired counterparts. But in terms of sheer acoustic performance, you're likely to get more for your money if you opt for a similar or higher-priced wired pair.
Audio Performance
As always, when it comes to wireless headphones and earbuds, the more you spend on a product, the better the audio performance, the longer the battery life and the more abundant the available features will be. All high-end headphones and earbuds by Sony can play Hi-Res Audio content with higher quality than CDs. Countless headsets are also compatible with the audio giant’s own 360 Reality Audio standard. The latter brings a more lifelike listening experience.
Extra Features
Sony’s best Bluetooth headsets deliver superb audio quality and equally great noise cancellation, stellar battery life, and elaborate tools for customizing the sound and controls. All wireless headphones and earbuds sport a USB-C charging connector, ensuring they'll be as futureproof as possible for years to come. Wireless charging is also available on the range-topping true wireless earbuds.
Once exclusive to Sony’s range-topping headphones and earbuds, speak-to-chat is a smart feature, which pauses the playback and the noise cancellation, and activates ambient mode upon detecting your voice. Thankfully, the super convenient functionality is also available on more reasonably priced products like the Sony LinkBuds and LinkBuds S.
Ready to upgrade your listening experience and find your next favorite pair of headphones or earbuds? Check out our extensively researched picks below.
BestProducts.com; Courtesy Sony - 2/14
1) WH-1000XM5 Wireless Headphones
Sony
amazon.com
$398.00
Key Features
- 30-millimeter audio drivers with Hi-Res Audio, digital noise cancellation with real-time processing
- Up to 30 hours of battery life, USB-C connector
- Companion app
The all-new WH-1000XM5 wireless headphones are Sony’s best yet and a worthy follow-up to a fantastic product. The over-ear cans deliver improved comfort, next-level sound, more robust noise cancellation, and better call quality than the already excellent Sony WH-1000XM4. The improvements make the new iteration worth its $50 higher sticker and the new high watermark for noise-canceling headphones.
Sony’s latest headphones also have a redesigned storage case. You can order the headphones in black or silver with subtle gold accents. If you don’t want to spend $400 to upgrade, the frequently discounted Sony WF-1000XM4 headphones are your next best option.
amazon.com - 3/14
2) WF-1000XM4 Wireless Earbuds
Sony
amazon.com
$228.00
Key Features
- 6-millimeter audio drivers with AI-powered upscaling engine, noise cancellation with integrated processor
- Up to 12 hours of battery life (8 with noise cancellation)
- Companion app
Sony’s recently launched WF-1000XM4 true wireless earbuds are its best yet. Like the WH-1000XM4 headphones we just mentioned (their product category’s gold standard), these sleek buds offer sound and noise cancellation with exceptional quality, a comfy fit, and solid battery life.
The earbuds’ IPX4 rating for water resistance is a noteworthy upgrade over the excellent previous generation, making them great for exercising. We also love that the tiny storage case has wireless charging compatibility. You can order these buds in black or silver.
amazon.com - 4/14
3) LinkBuds Wireless Earbuds
Sony
amazon.com
$158.00
Key Features
- Ring-shaped audio drivers
- Up to 5.5 hours of battery life
- Companion app
The all-new Sony LinkBuds have a groundbreaking design, allowing you to always be aware of your surroundings while listening to content. The earphones’ audio drivers have a ring shape with a hole in the middle, taking the concept of an open-back headset to a whole new level. The LinkBuds’ unique looks are also worthy of a sci-fi movie.
Sony’s latest wireless earbuds deliver high-quality sound and superb call quality. Despite their quirky design, the earbuds are exceptionally comfy and equipped with dependable controls. Available in black or gray, the product is manufactured using recycled plastic.
amazon.com - 5/14
4) WF-C500 True Wireless Earbuds
Sony
amazon.com
$68.00
Key Features
- 5.8-millimeter audio drivers with upscaling tech
- Up to 10 hours of battery life
- Companion app
The Sony WF-C500 earbuds are the audio maker’s best true wireless offering under $100. The buds deliver a harmonious sonic experience with plenty of customization tools and sophisticated tech that makes compressed content sound much better. (Note that such performance is usually not typical for a product in this price range.)
To top things off, the buds have an impressively long battery life, although we wish their case had a bigger charging capacity. An understated design and water-resistant build with an IPX4 rating round up the key WF-C500 features. You can order a pair in black or white, with a matching case.
amazon.com - 6/14
5) LinkBuds S Wireless Earbuds
Sony
amazon.com
$189.99
Key Features
- 5-millimeter audio drivers, noise cancellation with integrated processor
- Up to 6 hours of battery life
- Companion app
The LinkBuds S — Sony’s latest true wireless earbuds — are your best option if you don’t want to drop almost $300 for the brand’s range-topping WF-1000XM4 buds. For less than $200, the LinkBuds S offer a much comfier fit and reliable, if not as powerful, noise cancellation. On the other hand, the earphones’ supremely balanced sound is a solid contender for the best a $200 set of wireless earbuds can produce.
As their name suggests, the LinkBuds S will also keep you aware of your surroundings exceptionally well. The ring driver-toting regular LinkBuds are still better at this task, but I found the noise cancellation and the better sound of the S model to be tradeoffs worth making.
amazon.com - 7/14
6) WH-XB910N EXTRA BASS Wireless Headphones
Sony
amazon.com
$178.00
Key Features
- 40-millimeter audio drivers with digital noise cancellation
- Up to 30 hours of battery life, USB-C connector
- Companion app
Sony WH-XB910N EXTRA BASS wireless headphones deliver robust noise cancellation and entertaining sound, with an enhanced low range that’s worthy of their name. The sonic experience is customizable via the Sony headphones app, so you can adjust the bass intensity to your liking. The cans can also enhance high-frequency tones in compressed content.
The WH-XB910N headphones also offer an understated design with convenient controls, reliable call quality, and a long battery life. With a $100 lower price tag, the product is a more affordable alternative to the range-topping Sony WH-1000XM4 headphones ... especially for avid bass heads.
amazon.com - 8/14
7) WI-1000XM2 Wireless Earbuds
Sony
amazon.com
$298.00
Key Features
- 8.9-millimeter audio drivers, noise cancellation with an integrated processor
- Up to 10 hours of battery life (14 in wired mode)
- Companion app
The WI-1000XM2 is your best option if you're looking for a feature-packed set of wireless neckband earbuds. As expected from a product at this price point, the earbuds deliver excellent sound and a noise-cancelling experience to match. Available in black or silver, the earphones will magnetically snap together when not in use.
Compared to the true wireless WF-1000XM4 earbuds, the WI-1000XM2 also offers tactile button controls and a slightly longer battery life with noise cancellation. You can also use the headset in wired mode — its retail package includes an audio cable and flight adapter.
amazon.com - 9/14
8) WH-CH510 Wireless Headphones
Sony
amazon.com
58.00
Key Features
- 30-millimeter audio drivers
- Up to 35 hours of battery life
- Fast USB-C connector
Sporting a price tag that hovers around $50, the Sony WH-CH510 wireless headphones are the best option for budget-conscious shoppers. The on-ear cans have a utilitarian design, lightweight and durable build with a textured finish, stellar audio performance for their price point, and excellent battery life with fast USB-C charging. There are three colors to pick from: black, white, and blue.
The WH-CH510 headphones also have convenient button controls and a swivel design for effortless storage. However, you should be mindful that they're Bluetooth-only — meaning that you can’t use them over a wired connection.
amazon.com - 10/14
9) WI-C310 Wireless Earbuds
Sony
amazon.com
$19.99
Key Features
- 9-millimeter audio drivers
- Built-in magnets for convenient storage
- Up to 15 hours of battery life
The Sony WI-C310 wireless neckband earbuds are priced like a guilt-free impulse buy, but are as dependable as a good pair can be. They have a surprisingly sleek design, lightweight build, comfy fit with easy-to-access button controls, and great battery life with fast charging capabilities. The buds’ audio performance is also respectable, especially considering how insanely affordable they are.
When not in use, the Sony WI-C310 wireless earbuds will magnetically snap together for seamless wearing and storage. You can order the neckband earphones in black, white, or blue.
amazon.com - 11/14
10) MDR-1AM2 Wired Headphones
Sony
amazon.com
$248.00
Key Features
- 40-millimeter audio drivers with Hi-Res Audio support
- Bundled audio cables with a standard and balanced connector
- Soft storage case
The Sony MDR-1AM2 headphones are our favorite wired option for most buyers, and well worth their hefty $300 sticker. The over-ear cans can deliver a detail-rich sound that similarly- and higher-priced wireless offerings can’t match. Sony has also made these headphones incredibly lightweight and comfortable.
If you're looking for an even better-wired sound and are on a more flexible budget, consider the bulkier Sony MDR-Z7M2 headphones instead. The MDR-Z1R headphones, on the other hand, are Sony’s priciest and best-sounding offering worth your attention.
amazon.com - 12/14
11) IER-M7 In-Ear Monitors
Sony
amazon.com
$498.00
Key Features
- Four balanced armature drivers per earbud
- Lightweight magnesium alloy inner housing
- Bundled audio cables with a standard and a balanced connector
If you're searching for an audiophile-grade sonic experience in a super-portable package, consider the Sony IER-M7 wired in-ear monitors. Each earbud packs four balanced armature drivers that deliver sound with incredible quality. The buds’ audio performance will help you rediscover your favorite tracks in a whole new light when playing high-quality content.
The earphones’ cables have an around-ear shape for a comfier fit. Their retail package includes a wide selection of ear tips, a cleaning cloth, and a handy cable clip. Sony also offers pricier — but more capable — IER-M9 and IER-Z1R wired earbuds.
amazon.com - 13/14
12) MDR-ZX110 Wired Headphones
Sony
amazon.com
$9.99
Key Features
- 30-millimeter audio drivers
- On-ear fit with cushioned ear pads
- Tangle-free cable
The Sony MDR-ZX110 on-ear headphones deliver a powerful and enjoyable audio performance for their $10 price point. Their sound quality exceeded my toned-down expectations while I tested them. But when it comes to finer acoustic details, they leave quite a bit to be desired.
The impossibly lightweight wired cans have swiveling cups for easy storage, and you can order them in black, white, or pink. A slightly pricier version with a built-in microphone is also available.
amazon.com - 14/14
13) MDR-EX15LP Wired Earbuds
Sony
amazon.com
$7.49
Key Features
- 9-millimeter audio drivers
- In-ear fit with soft ear tips
- Tangle-free cable
Sporting a sub-$10 price tag, the Sony MDR-EX15LP wired earbuds will reliably entertain you on the cheap ... just as long as you don't expect any feats of acoustic excellence. The earphones bring a powerful sound, a lightweight build with a tangle-free cable, and a comfy fit with soft ear tips. You can order the Sony MDR-EX15LP earbuds in a multitude of colors.
A version of the product with a built-in microphone is also available. And just in case you're looking for open-type Sony buds, consider the MDRE9LP instead, which delivers a reliable sound, but poorer noise isolation.
amazon.com
To help you pick the best Sony headphones and earbuds for your lifestyle and budget, we sifted through specs, model numbers, and reviews of the brand’s latest offerings to narrow down the best of the best.
