Sony ULT WEAR is an impressive over-ear headphones. Its sound quality, noise cancellation performance, battery life, comfortable fit and appearance design all bring surprises. In particular, the ULT mode impressed me the most – wearing it can enjoy the listening experience like a live concert anytime, anywhere.
Sony ULT WEAR specs and features:
- Bluetooth 5.2 with SBC/AAC/LDAC codec
- 40mm ULT custom driver unit
- 30 – 50 hours playback of per charge (ANC on/off)
- Multipoint Connection & Ambient Sound Mode
- Comes with headphone cable, USB-C cable, carrying case
- $198 – Check latest price onAmazon US, Amazon Germany or other Amazon countries
Appearance Design and Comfort
Sony ULT WEAR combines the design of 1000XM4+1000XM5, combining the advantages of both. The surface of the headphone is matte and looks very textured. The ULT WEAR is very light, only about 255g, and the large area of skin-friendly plastic material plays a good role in weight reduction; with Sony’s excellent ergonomic design and soft cotton pads on the headbeam, there will be no discomfort even if you wear it for several hours continuously.
The laser colorful SONY logo and ULT button on both sides of the headbeam will have colorful reflections when viewed from different angles – very cool. The function buttons and interfaces are all concentrated on the left earphone. There are NC/AMB button, power button, ULT button, indicator light, USB-C charging port, and 3.5mm headphone jack.
The design of the noise cancellation pickup microphone is also a highlight. The exterior adopts a hollow metal mesh design, which not only reduces the impact of wind noise when worn, but also increases the design sense of the headphones.
The bottom of the headbeam and the earcaps are filled with memory foam, which can reduce the pressure on the head and ears, making it more comfortable to wear. The sponge is wrapped with a layer of smooth skin-friendly protein leather, which has a delicate touch, fast rebound when pressed, and is not easy to deform. The headbeam can be adjusted in size (about 5cm up and down), and the earcaps are also designed to be larger.
Connectivity, App Support and Controls
The headphone use Bluetooth 5.2 technology and support LDAC, SBC and AAC codec. Plus, it also support wired connection mode and can be used via a 3.5mm headphone cable when there is no power.
Also, ULT WEAR supports cross ecological multi-point connection (Android/iOS/Windows/macOS), meaning you can connect it to two devices at the same time and switch between them when you receive a call, or when you pause on one device, and play on the other.
Sony ULT WEAR supports Sony Headphones Connect App for Android and iOS. The App provides adaptive sound control, noise cancellation settings, bass gain adjustment, preset EQ options, custom EQ, button function settings, connection mode settings, and more.
The headphone support touch control similar to TWS earbuds, and the touch panel is located on the right side. It uses click and swipe operation, and the controls when wearing is also smooth and sensitive.
The default control scheme is comprehensive:
- Swipe up/down to increase volume/decrease volume
- Swipe left/right to switch previous/next track
- Double-tap to play or pause music
- Double-tap to answer or hang up call
- Long press to activate voice assistant or reject call
- Single-tap NC/AMB button to switch ANC or adaptive sound control
- Single-tap ULT button to switching between ULT OFF/ULT1/ULT2
Noise Cancellation Performance and Battery Life
Sony ULT WEAR uses dual feedback microphone technology (inside + outside), which can accurately capture surrounding noise and analyze it for noise cancellation. Equipped with a high-performance integrated processor V1, it can greatly improve noise cancellation performance, reduce power consumption, and achieve longer battery life. The hollow metal mesh wind noise cancellation structure design reduces the impact of wind noise on the use experience when used outdoors.
After ANC mode on, most noises can be blocked, such as tire noise, keyboard tapping, air conditioning noise, and aircraft engine noise, while some high-frequency noises are transmitted to the ears at a very low volume.
The ambient sound mode supports up to 20 levels of adjustment (need to be adjusted in the App), which can be adjusted according to your usage environment and habits. Plus, ULT WEAR also supports Sony’s classic quick activation of ambient sound mode (transparent mode). You only need to cover the right touch panel with your hand to quickly turn on the ambient sound mode, which is very suitable for outdoor scenes. The headphone also has AI intelligent noise cancellation function, which can monitor your status and automatically switch the ambient sound mode.
Overall, the noise cancellation performance of Sony ULT WEAR should be fine for most scenes in daily life. The mid- and low-frequency noise cancellation performance is very good, but the high-frequency noise cancellation in complex scenes is a bit weaker than Sony WH-1000XM5.
The battery life is up to 30 hours with ANC off, and up to 30 hours with ANC on. Turning on LDAC will further reduce the battery life. Plus, the ULT WEAR supports fast charging – charging for 3 minutes can listen to music for 90 minutes.
Acoustic Configuration and Sound Quality
Sony ULT WEAR is equipped with a 40mm ULT custom driver unit, which makes it have lower distortion, faster response speed and better frequency response. It supports Sony Digital Sound Enhancement Engine (DSEE), which can compensate for lossy audio through algorithms and bring 360° surround immersive sound effects.
ULT Off mode: The low-frequency strike area is large, the rebound is soft, the sound coloration is small, and the details are not lost. The overall sound base does not lose transparent due to the strong presence of the low-frequency, and it is still very loose, natural, bright and clean.
ULT1 mode: You can clearly feel that the low-frequency position has been pushed forward a lot, the line sense is clearer, and the reverberation and force are further enhanced. The key is that although the low-frequency quantity is large, the energy and impact are strong, the soothing elasticity greatly reduces the fatigue. The vocal is clear and moist, the sound coloration is just right, sweet and thick, whether it is male or female vocal, it can be excellently taken into account.
ULT2 mode: The most powerful low-frequency mode – you can even feel the diaphragm and the air inside vibrating. This mode can indeed give people the ultimate “shock” and “refreshing feeling”, but unless you are a heavy bass lover, I don’t recommend it. Because the vocal is somewhat drowned out, long time listening will cause fatigue and even lead to hearing loss.
While strengthening the low-frequency, the ULT WEAR still retains a good mid-high frequency performance. The distortion is very small, the connection between the low-frequency and the mid-frequency is very smooth, and the layering is relatively rich. The vocals are clear, and the sound details are not blurred by the enhancement of the low-frequency. The separation between the vocals and the instrument sounds is high, and the layering of the mid-high frequency is strong.
Overall, Sony ULT WEAR is a pop sound style headphones that focuses on surging bass, dynamic enthusiasm, strong immersion and rich atmosphere. The overall hearing is very consistent with the listening habits of ordinary music lovers. If you often listen to live, hip-hop, pop music, and electronic music, ULT WEAR is a very suitable choice.
Conclusion
Sony ULT WEAR’s sound quality, appearance design, smart noise cancellation, interactive experience, and battery life are all very balanced. Especially the ULT mode, which meets the personalized needs of young people for trendy music and brings a more immersive and atmospheric music experience.
Check the Sony ULT WEAR price:
- Check latest price on Amazon US
- Check latest price on Amazon Germany
- Check latest price on other Amazon countries
