These headphones give the WH-1000XM6 a run for their money - and they're also made by Sony

"Sony recently released its latest pair of premium gaming headphones, the , a follow-up to its previous high-end gaming headset, the InZone H9 with improved spatial sound, a detachable mic, and a redesigned headband that's substantially more premium. We reviewed the H9 back in 2022, so it's definitely time for an upgrade to Sony's high-end gaming line. Sony engineers worked with e-sports organization to develop the H9 II, resulting in a handful of quality-of-life features that gamers will appreciate."

"The 30mm drivers here are the same as Sony's WH-1000XM6 headphones, so you're getting rich audio as a baseline, with some EQ presets designed specifically for effects you'll encounter in FPSs, like footsteps, gunshots, and directional sound effects. Notably, however, they're smaller than the 40mm drivers in the H9, supporting Sony's goal here in allowing for clearer, more detailed sound. We're talking rustling leaves, gentle breezes, and of course, gunfire with precise locationality."

"You can't exactly hear the footsteps of the player stalking behind you with barking dogs in the background. Luckily, the headphones' noise canceling works very well, reinforced by the gentle, but complete, seal offered by the earpads. Noise cancellation can be toggled with the button on the left between ambient, ANC on, or off. While on, it succeeds at blocking out your environment to dramatic effect."

Sony released the InZone H9 II as a premium gaming headset with improved spatial audio, a detachable mic, and a redesigned, more premium headband. Engineers collaborated with an e-sports organization to refine button placement and fit. The headphones employ 360 spatial sound to convey directional effects such as footsteps and movement for immersive gameplay. The 30mm drivers match the WH-1000XM6 for rich baseline audio and include EQ presets tuned for FPS effects like footsteps and gunshots. Smaller drivers than the H9 aim to deliver clearer, more detailed sound. Active noise canceling and sealed earpads block ambient noise effectively.

Read at ZDNET