The Best Sony Headphones of 2026, Tested and Reviewed

I’ve spent more than a decade reviewing audio gear, and year after year, Sony impresses with its wireless headphones. If you’re a music lover, a frequent flyer, or just hunting for a great pair of cans, the best Sony headphones are almost always worth a look. They consistently nail the things that matter most: rich, detailed sound, comfortable designs you can wear for hours, and some of the most effective active noise cancellation (ANC) available.

Even though they’ve been out for a few years, the Sony WH-1000XM5 headphones are still my top overall pick. They’re incredibly versatile over-ear headphones that work just as well at home as on a plane — and they’re often on sale, making them an even better deal. If you want something more compact, the Sony WF-1000XM5 earbuds pack a lot of that same performance into a smaller, in-ear design.

Every pair of Sony headphones I recommend was tested in real-world environments while I listened to music, streamed movies, and went about my day. I put each model through thorough hands-on testing to figure out which options truly stand out and who they’re best for.

Our top picks for the best Sony headphones

Best overall value: WH-1000XM5 – See at Amazon

Best on a budget: WH-CH720N – See at Amazon

Best for noise-cancelling: WH-1000XM6 – See at Amazon

Best for bass: ULT Wear – See at Amazon

Best earbuds: WF-1000XM5 – See at Amazon

Best overall value

The WH-1000XM5 may not be Sony’s newest wireless headphones, but they remain my top recommendation for most people. These are the brand’s flagship headphones from 2022, and though they’ve been succeeded by the XM6, they’re still in stock and frequently discounted.

The XM5 provide good noise canceling, great audio quality, and a comfortable design, all at a more affordable price than the XM6. Of course, there are some areas where the pricier XM6 come out on top, but the cheaper XM5 deliver better value overall.

The XM5’s 30 hours of battery life, lightweight design, Bluetooth Multipoint connection, and speak-to-chat feature make them versatile headphones for use at home, at work, on the go, and for extended periods. Though I prefer the wider headband used on the XM6, the XM5 remain comfortable to wear for hours on end.

Audio performance is excellent, as you would expect from flagship cans like this, with crisp mids and expansive bass. They work well for listening to music, podcasts, and watching movies. They also support high-resolution audio for those interested in capturing every musical detail.

Sony’s newer XM6 headphones do offer slight improvements in sound quality, but I found it hard to notice many meaningful differences when comparing them. However, the XM6’s upgraded noise cancellation is more noticeable. Don’t get me wrong, the XM5 are still good noise-canceling headphones, but the XM6 are better at blocking out more distractions.

It’s also worth noting that the XM5’s ear cups can’t fold, making them less compact for travel. This is something that the XM6 can do. But given the current cost difference, most people will be satisfied with the WH-1000XM5, even if they can’t quite match the XM6 in a few areas.

Read our full Sony WH-1000XM5 headphones review.

Visit our comprehensive guides to the best headphones and best over-ear headphones.

Best on a budget

If you’re looking for a decent pair of wireless headphones without spending a fortune, the WH-CH720N are a compelling choice. These midrange headphones cost around $150 (and have dropped to as low as $88) but still offer most of the features that Sony’s more expensive models are known for, such as active noise cancellation, long battery life, and a comfortable, lightweight design.

Although the WH-CH720N can’t match the ANC performance of the other headphones in this guide, they still provide a decent reduction in distracting noise. I wouldn’t recommend these if powerful ANC is a priority, but they’re effective enough for casual use. However, keep in mind that this model does not include a carrying case.

Though pricier than some budget headphones from other brands, the WH-CH720N stand out from less expensive offerings with a big jump in sound quality. Going from cheaper earbuds or basic, entry-level on-ear headphones to these feels like a night-and-day difference. I found the mids to be clear, and there’s a decent amount of bass to give songs a vibrant tone.

Of course, people craving a deeper, richer sound with improved clarity should consider spending more on one of my other picks in this guide. But, for the money, the CH720N headphones are strong performers. I also like that they use physical buttons for play, pause, and volume adjustment. Sony’s other headphones use touch controls, which can be more finicky.

For affordable headphone recommendations from other brands, visit our guide to all the best budget headphones.

Best for noise-cancelling

Sony’s WH-1000XM6 are the company’s most advanced wireless headphones to date, delivering its best noise-canceling performance. In fact, they deliver some of the most impressive ANC I’ve encountered on any headphones.

The XM6 feature adaptive technology that keeps the headphones actively adjusting the frequencies they block as your environment changes. The headphones include a new chip with more power than the XM5, so there are now additional built-in microphones (12 total) filtering out the noise around you.

On the audio front, you can expect the same excellent sound as the XM5, but with a touch more clarity. The XM6 also have a few welcomed design tweaks, like a thicker headband and a revised shape for the power button that helps differentiate it from other functions. The carrying case has also been modified, now featuring a magnetic latch instead of a zipper.

Overall, the XM6 headphones are more refined, with small yet impactful improvements. Unfortunately, the price has also evolved, as the XM6 retail for $460. That’s around $60 to $150 more than the XM5 typically sell for now.

Given their comparatively high cost, the XM6 headphones are best for those who travel a lot or work in especially distracting environments, and are willing to pay top dollar for premium ANC performance.

Read our full Sony WH-1000XM6 headphones review.

Best for bass

Sony has long employed a bass button on its wireless speakers to give them an extra oomph. The ULT Wear headphones follow that same strategy to give listeners a head-shaking experience.

Pressing the ULT button on the left ear cup activates “deep, low-frequency bass,” while pressing it again switches to a second “powerful bass” mode. I can attest that these specially tuned EQ modes add a significant low-end boost to music. If you love your bass with a side of other instruments, then these headphones are for you.

Beyond the headphones’ focus on low frequencies, the ULT Wear still provide rich and detailed sound quality overall. Though they’re best for bass-heavy songs and action flicks, they’re still solid cans for all kinds of music. Plus, they have handy features like Bluetooth Multipoint, which allows them to connect to more than one device at a time.

But as good as the ULT headphones are, they aren’t quite as capable as Sony’s 1000 series. The audio quality lacks the same level of delicate detail and exceptional clarity. Similarly, ANC performance is good, but it isn’t as strong or as encompassing as that of the XM5 and XM6. The headphones’ fast charging takes a little longer, too. Three minutes of charging provide 1.5 hours of listening time — the XM5 and XM6 can achieve three hours of listening time with just three minutes of charging.

Best earbuds

If you prefer a pair of earbuds to minimize bulk when on the go, then the WF-1000XM5 are the best Sony headphones for most listeners. They sound exceptional with hard-hitting, punchy bass and clear vocals.

Unlike past WF-1000 earbuds, the XM5 model is slimmed down and should fit better in more people’s ears. I had a hard time wearing the older XM4, but these aren’t an issue to wear for hours. Even the wireless charging case is petite.

There’s a healthy eight hours of battery life (solid for earbuds), and in a pinch, three minutes of charging gets you an hour of listening time. The case can then provide a total of 24 hours.

ANC performance is also good for a pair of earbuds. These are excellent at blocking out distractions on an airplane or in a busy office. In addition to multiple microphones and advanced ANC processing, the WF-1000XM5 come with foam ear tips, which tend to help block even more unwanted sound from creeping in.

That said, it’s worth noting that Sony now offers a newer version of these buds, the WF-1000XM6. The latest model has even better ANC, which comes closer to matching top rivals from Bose. It also offers improved call quality and a slightly revised shape that may work better in some ears. However, the XM6 cost about $100 more than the XM5.

The XM6 are a worthy pick for people who want the most advanced earbuds Sony offers, but the XM5 are a better overall value. You can learn more in our Sony WF-1000XM6 earbuds review.

Visit our guide to all the best earbuds.

How we test Sony headphones

I tested the best Sony headphones using several key metrics designed to evaluate audio quality, ANC, comfort, and extra features. Each pair of headphones was worn in various environments, including at home, on a plane, and in cafés. I wanted to see how they would handle noise in real-world places and if they travel well in my bag. I listened to a wide range of content, including music, videos, and audiobooks.

To evaluate ANC performance, I also played simulated sounds of everyday annoyances, such as a vacuum cleaner and traffic, through speakers while wearing the headphones to hear how well each blocked different noises.

I also connected the headphones to several devices to assess their performance while playing music from different sources, including a smartphone and a desktop computer. In addition to comparing the best Sony headphones against each other, I also pitted them against popular headphones from Bose, Sonos, Soundcore, and other companies to gauge where Sony’s offerings stand in terms of overall value and performance within the headphones market.

Meet the expert behind this guide:

Tyler Hayes, contributing reporter: I’ve been writing about consumer tech since 2013 and covering headphones for Business Insider’s Reviews team since 2019. When I recommend a pair of Sony headphones in this guide, it’s because I’ve put them through the wringer at home, on trips, and in busy areas to see how they actually sound day to day. I even pipe in vacuum cleaners and revving engines to test noise canceling and compare them head-to-head with other brands to see how Sony stacks up.

Learn more about the Reviews team at Business Insider.

Sony headphones FAQs

What’s the difference in ANC between Sony’s various headphones?

Sony’s pricier headphones use more advanced ANC technology than its cheaper options. For example, the ULT Wear headphones use dual noise sensor tech, while the more expensive XM5 and XM6 use more advanced multi-noise sensors. The XM5 headphones have eight microphones, while the XM6 feature 12 microphones to listen for and filter out surrounding noise.

While all of the best Sony headphones with ANC will dampen the drone of crowds and distant distractions, the pricer options can block out a wider range of noises. The 1000 series also blocks stronger, closer bursts of noise better.

For more recommendations outside the Sony brand, check out our guide to all of the best noise-canceling headphones.

Can Sony headphones be used for gaming?

All the Sony headphones recommended in this guide can technically be used for gaming, but wireless connectivity will only work if your console or PC supports Bluetooth. However, Bluetooth technology can introduce delays, which isn’t ideal for competitive multiplayer gaming. For that reason, the best wireless gaming headsets all support 2.4GHz wireless technology to reduce latency.

Generally, the Sony headphones recommended here are not optimized for gaming. That said, Sony does have a line of headsets called INZONE that are built specifically for gaming, and those models do support 2.4GHz connections.

How does Sony compare to other headphone brands?

Sony’s consumer line of wireless headphones ranks well in performance and comfort. I’ve spent significant time with competing models from Bose, Sonos, Apple, Master & Dynamic, and others, and am confident in saying that Sony’s options stack up well.

At the top end, the differences between competing headphones tend to be minimal, with distinctions primarily centered on design, specific features, and subtle details. However, if your primary focus is ANC strength, Sony is among the top brands we recommend, and its offerings are second only to the best Bose headphones.

What other Sony products do we recommend?

In addition to headphones, Sony makes several other impressive tech products. Most notably, the brand’s top TVs consistently ace our team’s picture-quality tests. The company also offers a range of high-quality soundbars and speakers.

You can learn more in our guides to the best Sony TVs, best Dolby Atmos soundbars, and best surround sound systems.