Sony has been on everyone’s wish list with the WH-1000XM5 active noise canceling (ANC) headphones, but as good as that headset is, it costs a lot. This is the Sony WH-XB900N caught the ears of general consumers. For a good amount less, this offers many of the same features including ANC, touch-sensitive controls, and a very long battery life. So what is this missing? After weeks with the WH-XB900N from Sony, we’re here to tell you about all that’s good and not so good about these headphones.

Also, take note of the updated version from the XB series, the Sony WH-XB910N.

Editor’s note: this Sony WH-XB900N review was updated on August 21, 2023, to add the Anker Soundcore Space Q45 and Skullcandy Crusher ANC 2 to Alternatives, and to update formatting.

The first thing you notice about the Sony WH-XB900N is that it’s made mainly of lightweight plastic (254 grams), which is nice considering that you’re going to be using it out and about most of the time. It’s surprisingly flexible and fits on the head nicely, thanks to the padding at the crown and the ear pads. Sony usually does a good job at making sure that its headphones are fairly portable, and this is no different. The ear cups rotate 90 degrees to lay flat and fold at the hinges for a smaller footprint.

The plush memory foam padding feels light, though like most other over-ears they get somewhat warm after extended usage. That said, the padding helps with isolation which is way more important to the listening experience. The ear cups also swivel slightly for a better fit and, on the blue model we’re testing, there’s a visible light blue color accent which I feel is a nice touch.

Then there are the buttons, which are on the left ear cup and slightly raised so you can feel which one you’re pressing. You’ll get a power button and a custom button, both of which are clicky. Also on the left ear cup is the 3.5mm and USB-C input for connecting an audio cable and charging, respectively.

What Bluetooth codecs does the Sony WH-XB900N support?

This has Bluetooth 4.2, which is a bit dated, but on the bright side, it’s packed with Bluetooth codecs. Not only will you get Sony’s own high-quality LDAC codec, but you’ll also get aptX/aptX HD, AAC for Apple devices, and SBC. Of course, none of these are perfect as our testing shows, but they have their places when you want higher quality streaming than SBC allows.

But you’re going to want to download the Sony Headphones Connect app (iOS/Android). Once you do so, you’ll be able to control the amount of ambient noise you’re comfortable with as there are twenty different levels ranging from maximum noise canceling to using the microphones to hear everything around you. Or you could always just leave adaptive sound control on and let the headphones change on the fly depending on your surroundings.

You can also adjust the sound position control from the app, which as the name suggests: lets you pick from which direction you prefer to hear your music coming. It’s not quite 360 Reality Audio that Sony has been pushing lately, but it’s still pretty neat — although you’ll have to switch from whatever codec you’re using to SBC as it prioritizes stability. The same is true with the built-in equalizer and the reverb presets that you’ll find in the app.

Further down in the app is also where you can choose the function of the custom button on the left ear cup. You can choose between having it instantly access Alexa or Google Assistant at the press of the button.

What is the battery life of the Sony WH-XB900N?

Sony claims a battery life of 30 hours of constant playback with active noise canceling turned on, and under our standard testing conditions, the headset lasts 37 hours, 22 minutes of constant playback at an output that peaks at 75dB(SPL).

This charges via USB-C so you can charge it back up with the same cable that comes with most phones nowadays. On top of that, it has a 3.5mm input and comes with an audio cable so you can still use it if the battery runs dry.

The Sony WH-XB900N’s active noise canceling is pretty good and renders midrange frequencies about one-third as loud as they’d sound without the headset on. The headset can’t really affect sub-bass notes, and for that, you’ll need something a bit more advanced, like the Apple AirPods Max or the Sony WH-1000XM5. Still, passive isolation is quite good and will dull the sharp sounds of your environment.

I should preface this section by saying that if you’re into bass, these will be right up your alley. I, however, do not prefer to have my eyeballs shake when listening to Ob-La-Di, Ob-La-Da, which I didn’t even know was possible before wearing these headphones. If you were hoping for similar attention to detailed sound as the WH-1000XM4 headphones, then you’ll be disappointed.

The mids don’t have that same problem and seem to do a good job with both instruments and vocals when there isn’t a strong bassline present. I have no problems with the highs which are clear without being piercing. The cymbals throughout the song Generator ^ Second Floor by Freelance Whales sound fine and had a nice amount of reverb with the cymbals.

Can you use the Sony WH-XB900N for phone calls?

As you can hear in the sample below, my voice is pretty much unaffected by the microphone as most of the important frequencies have fairly equal emphasis. That means that my voice is being picked up nicely by the microphone and most of the frequencies will sound equally loud to the person on the other end. Even someone with a deeper voice like Chris Thomas, whose voice was cut off by the Bose QuietComfort 35 II in our last versus video, would come away unscathed by this microphone.

Sony WH-XB900N microphone demo (Old):

As of December 20, 2022, around 50% of respondents have rated the above sample as “good,” which is in line with our assessment that the sound quality represents human voices quite well.

So should you buy the Sony WH-XB900N?

While the WH-XB900N is a really good pair of headphones, it’s not a replacement for the WH-1000XM5 or the older WH-1000XM4 (seriously, can we get better names for headphones please?). This retails for about $199, which is reasonable, but we may see a more significant drop with the advent of the Sony WH-XB910N headphones. If you have a little patience, you can usually find the XB900N for less than $150, making it a steal.

Even though the WH-XB900N packs a serious punch with all of the Bluetooth codec support, the active noise canceling, crazy long battery life, and the overall quality build of the headphones, the sound signature is drastically different and emphasizes low end notes way too much. If you love bass then this is hard to beat, though.

The Sony WH-XB910N ($148 at Amazon) brings significantly better ANC and isolation performance than the WH-XB900N, making it a stronger contender for commuting. The microphone quality is also a bit better here as you can hear in the samples further down.

It seems Sony thought the bass output in the XB900N just wasn’t enough and really ratcheted things up with the XB910N model. Sub-bass notes sound almost twice as loud as our consumer curve recommends, which may be too much for most people. Still, if you’ve got an itch for bass, the XB910N is about as loud as it gets.

In the Sony Headphones Connect app, you get similar feature fixings between the two ANC headsets and this is similar across Sony’s range of wireless noise canceling headphones. The XB910N doesn’t support aptX or aptX HD though, which is a bummer since LDAC isn’t actually hi-res and its lower rate 660kbps option is typically more consistent than the 990kbps option.

Listeners who love bass, want good noise canceling, and want to stay below that $300 budget should consider the WH-XB910N, but others who want to hear a bit more nuance may like some of the options from Bose like the Noise Canceling Headphones 700.

Sony WH-XB910N microphone demo (Ideal):

If you want noise canceling without emptying your wallet, consider the Anker Soundcore Space Q45. These come in at a comparable price point ($149 at Amazon) to the WH-XB900N and they sport a similar set of codecs, including LDAC and AAC, in addition to a wired listening option. You also get an app with some EQ so you can dial in the sound better to taste.

For bass aficionados who truly want obscene amounts, consider the Skullcandy Crusher ANC 2 ($199 at Amazon). Supporting a variety of tuning options, including a dedicated Crusher dial to turn up the sub bass frequencies, these headphones are well made and comfortable. They also have a competently laid out app, although, you are limited to AAC and SBC codecs.

If bass is really your wheelhouse, you can try the eco-friendly House of Marley Positive Vibration XL ANC. For $142 at Amazon these have surprisingly decent ANC and a frequency response works well for bass lovers out there. In addition, it’s nice to know some trees get planted because of your purchase.

Now, for a budget-friendly and unexpected alternative to the WH-XB900N, check out the Monoprice BT-600ANC. Monoprice isn’t going to win any award for most original industrial design because it basically looks like a Sony, however, the BT-600ANC goes for $84.99 at Amazon and has some excellent ANC on-board with the aptX HD codec.