Sony WH-XB900N review: How much bass is too much bass?

Whether you work remotely or commute, chances are you’re constantly on-the-go, making quiet time a rare indulgence. Sony recently released a more affordable pair of ANC headphones, the Sony WH-XB900N, to accompany you on your daily subway excursion. These bass-heavy, lightweight cans are a great Beats alternative and boast Sony’s top-tier noise-canceling technology for less than the rest.

Update, February 19, 2021: This review was updated to address the Apple AirPods Max.

What are the Sony WH-XB900N like to use?

These are lightweight for on-ear headphones (254g), which is especially important if you intend to use them for travel. Ample memory foam padding on the headband and ear cups make it easy to wear these comfortably for hours at a time. Airflow isn’t great and this can lead to a damp experience in warm environments. Just like other noise-cancelling headphones we’ve seen, these fold and rotate so they can lie flat on a table.

Start here: Headphone buying guide: Everything you need to know

Buttons rest on the left ear cup and may be remapped with the Sony Headphones Connect app. The same ear cup also houses a 3.5mm headphone jack and USB-C input. The headphones provide 44 hours, 22 minutes of playback and support quick charging: 10 minutes of charging affords one hour of listening. A full charge cycle requires around 4 hours. On the other side, the right ear cup is reserved for touch and gesture control. From here, you can adjust the volume, skip tracks, and enter Quick Attention mode by holding the right housing.

The headphones integrate both Google Assistant and Amazon Alexa, meaning you benefit from having incoming notifications read aloud, setting reminders, sending texts, and more. All of these functions may be initiated by saying, “Ok Google,” or “Alexa” to command the assistant of your choice.

Do the Sony WH-XB900N have good noise-cancelling?

Just like its big brother, the Sony WH-1000XM3, the Sony WH-XB900N boast grade-A noise-cancelling technology. Ambient coffee shop sounds and car engine rumbles alike will be attenuated by the ANC. That said, it still can’t touch the effectiveness of Sony’s flagship. For $100 less, though, it may be worth the sacrifice.

Plenty of Bluetooth codecs are supported

Pairing the headphones to your device is seamless. Upon powering on the WH-XB900N for the first time, a window pops up on your phone to initiate pairing. (In order for this to happen, Bluetooth must be active on your phone.) You can also pair via NFC. Generally speaking, connection strength is consistent and reliable. During SoundGuys’ testing process, playback skips and audio-visual lag were non-existent.

While it’s disappointing to see Bluetooth 4.2 firmware, rather than Bluetooth 5.0, Sony compensates for this by providing a host of high-quality codec support. You have five streaming options: LDAC, aptX, aptX HD, AAC, and SBC. As SoundGuys’ research has shown, Bluetooth codecs are imperfect and performance varies greatly depending on the source device.

The Sony Headphones Connect app lets you make granular EQ adjustments, prioritize connection strength or streaming quality, and more. That said, in order to use any of the Sony presets, streaming quality is bumped down to SBC. You can also use the app to adjust noise-cancelling intensity and reposition the sound, meaning you can choose your music’s directionality.

Take advantage of Sony 360 Reality Audio

Listeners who subscribe to TIDAL, Amazon Music HD, or Deezer can stream their music with Sony 360 Reality Audio via the Sony Headphones app. The app prompts you to photograph you ears, and then takes those measurements to calculate how much to alter the audio. It takes just a few minutes and afterwards, you’re able to better perceive your music in a 3D space. Although the library is severely limited (approximately 1,000 songs), it’s well worth a try. The remastered tracks allow you to experience your favorite oldies, and new tunes, in a brand new way.

How do the Sony WH-XB900N sound?

These are ridiculously bass-heavy, which makes sense seeing as the “XB” moniker is emblematic of Sony’s “extra bass” product line.

Adam Molina, SoundGuys editor, was stunned by the emphatic low-end when listening to The Beatles’ song Ob-La-Di, Ob-La-Da. For anyone familiar with the celebrated band, you know that song is, in fact, not a banger. Midrange frequencies are masked by the low-end, but not to the extent you may expect, and treble notes remain audible without erring on the side of grating.

Is the microphone good for phone calls?

On the other hand, microphone quality is superb. Adam’s voice sample below is reproduced realistically. Since the microphone has a neutral-leaning response, nearly all frequencies are relayed with equal loudness. Ultimately, this means that no matter what your vocal register, this headset will make your voice sound accurate.

Sony WH-XB900N microphone demo:

Should you buy the Sony WH-XB900N?

If you’re content with saving money at the expense of noise-cancelling effectiveness, relative to the Sony WH-1000XM3, yes. However, these retail for $250 and the WH-1000XM3 can often be found on promotion for ~$300. If you’re between a rock and a hard place, it’s worth spending $50 more for the flagship headphones. Sound reproduction is more accurate with the same Bluetooth codec support.

Save big for the Sony WH-1000XM4 instead

The Sony WH-1000XM4 is the company’s pride and joy, and its current flagship. These headphones boast advanced, hybrid ANC which reduces external noise, and sounds that naturally occur within the ear canal. Sony packed plenty of AI features into the WH-1000XM4, making it even smarter than the WH-1000XM3. The headset automatically detects when you’re wearing it, and when you remove it, and automatically pauses and resumes playback accordingly. It can also detect your speech and pause playback, allowing you to hold a brief conversation.

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Alternatively, if you own an iPhone and have a uniquely flexible budget, the Apple AirPods Max could be the perfect fit for you. This smart noise-cancelling headset supports Spatial Audio, hands-free Siri access, Transparency mode, and more. It’s a great headset if you own multiple Apple devices, and want to take advantage of automatic device switching.