Sony’s new over-ear Sony ULT Wear wireless headphones mark two significant changes in the brand’s audio lineup. Firstly, Sony has devised a friendlier name to remember for all users. Secondly, the headphones feature a minimalist appearance, similar to the pricier Sony WH-1000XM5, but now we get an upbeat colour option for a wider appeal.
With the new changes, it’s clear that Sony is aiming to broaden its young user base. While I am unsure if I am the right target audience, I am confident about Sony ULT Wear’s audio capabilities, especially if you’re a fan of bass-forward music. The headphones also offer loads of features, including multi-device support and 360 Reality Audio, as you’d expect from a Rs 24,990 audio product. Read on to know more.
Table of Contents
Design
The Sony ULT Wear aesthetically resembles the Sony WH-1000XM5 with a slender headband and contours around the earcups. The left cup includes all the ports (USB-C and 3.5) and buttons (power and ANC), while the right one is completely free of any controls. However, the latter has sensors that allow users to quickly enable transparency mode by covering the ear cup with their hands.
Sony has also added a dedicated “ULT” button for instant bass boost in the audio. I will talk more about it in the dedicated performance section.
Overall, the build feels premium even though the headphones utilise plastic materials. I reviewed the Forrest Grey variant, which looks modern and subtle, perfect for users of different age groups. There are options in Black and White as well. The ULT Wear headphones weigh approximately 225 grams, almost the same as the Sony WH-1000XM5. That means Sony’s new wireless headphones are lighter than Apple AirPod Max, which weighs 384.8 grams.
You won’t particularly feel any fatigue wearing Sony ULT Wear for long, but it can get uncomfortable outdoors due to sweat on a hot/humid day. I mostly used the headphones indoors and didn’t face any issues. The Sony ULT Wear also has soft cushions to minimise fatigue. The cushions offer squishy feedback; however, the fabric covering the audio drivers on the earcups may be prone to wear and tear over time.
Similar to the Sony WH-1000XM5, the Sony ULT Wear lacks an official IP rating to ensure protection against dust and water. In that case, it’s best to use the headphones indoors during work or workouts. The good thing is that the Sony ULT Wear uses recycled plastic without coating. The official package is also free of plastic.
Regarding the packaging, the box includes a connection cable (for a 3.5mm jack), a charging cable (Type-A to Type-C), and a voucher for the 360 Reality Audio app (one-year subscription). Sony has thoughtfully included a carry case, previously limited to its high-end headphones. The case features a grey nylon finish, which looks and feels premium. Although packing the headphones into the case by swivelling and rotating the earcups may initially seem tricky, it gets easier over time.
Set-up and features
Setting up the Sony ULT Wear is straightforward with the Headphones Connect app, though logging into the Sony account remains slightly convoluted. You may encounter multiple login requests at different stages to enjoy features, including 360 Reality Audio. Sony can consider simplifying the process with a simple login for all.
The Sony ULT Wear can be used with Android, iPhones, and Windows, and users can enjoy simultaneous connections with up to two devices. In my review, I mostly used the headphones with an iPhone 14 Plus (review), and it worked smoothly even when simultaneously connected to a Windows laptop. For instance, the headphones automatically paused music on the laptop to attend a call on the iPhone without any lags or delays, which is pretty cool. Auto-music pause (when headphones are removed) also works seamlessly regardless of the connected platform (Android, iOS, or Windows).
The new Sony headphones have slightly more to offer when connected to an Android smartphone. Not only do users get the option to enable Google Assistant, which works with a tap on the right earcup, but there’s also the option to enable head-tracking for a relatively better audio experience. Otherwise, the Sony Wear ULT can be used through a wired connection even if the battery runs out. You can expect reduced lag with a wired connection and power on. Sony claims a low frequency of even 5Hz through an “active” connection. The frequency response ranges from 20Hz to 20,000Hz when operating the headphones over Bluetooth.
Other key features include on-device control to enable/disable ANC and Ambient sound modes and skip tracks. The Sony ULT Wear can switch between ANC and Ambient sound modes based on the surroundings, though the feature can be hit-and-miss. The dedicated ULT button can improve the bass levels and make the overall audio punchier but at the cost of clear(er) vocals. Otherwise, the Headphones Connect app can be used to tweak the equaliser.
The Headphone Connect app offers many features as well, as you’d expect from wireless headphones worth Rs 24,999. You can monitor sound pressure, analyse ear shape for 360 Reality Audio, and control on-device settings. Sony has also partnered with Spotify, allowing you to play music directly from the app with a dedicated button.
Audio, mics, and battery performance
Unlike the premium Sony WH-1000XM5, the Sony ULT Wear headphones are designed for deep bass lovers. Sony mostly delivers on that promise – be it for music or while gaming. I could feel a strong thump in Kendric Lamar’s beats-heavy Not Like Us. Other tracks I listened to include Drake’s new “Family Matters” and Kanye’s “Essentials” discography on Apple Music. Although these songs are more geared towards hip-hop, I thoroughly enjoyed the experience.
The headphones used the AAC codec from the get-go, and the audio experience was better than I expected for a bass-rich audio product. The ULT mode, which increases bass levels regardless of the equaliser setting, adds extra thumb but can muffle the overall sound quality.
I generally prefer a balanced output, so I mostly used the “Bright” sound mode with the “ULT 2” bass levels. This way, the vocals remained clear while the beats stayed punchy. I wasn’t the biggest fan of combining Bass Boost with “ULT 2” as it made the lows extremely prominent. However, a colleague who loves bass confirmed that ULT Wear gets the job done if that’s your preference. Even in terms of loudness, the Sony ULT Wear won’t disappoint. The headphones pack 40mm drivers with a frequency response of up to 20,000Hz (via Bluetooth). To me, it personally doesn’t matter as I’ve set an audio decibel limit of 80 dB.
But I do enjoy a strong ANC, which the ULT Wear does not deliver to its full potential. In my review, the ANC levels were good but the headphones didn’t successfully cut ambient noises, for instance, a busy office room noise. That way, the Sony WH-1000XM5 headphones do a much better job, thanks to Sony’s V1 chip (also on ULT Wear) combined with the QN1 chip for noise cancellation.
Similarly, the audio quality during calls was average at best. In most cases, the onboard mics were able to capture the sound, but the final output was a bit muffled. The headphones also struggled with filtering ambient noises during calls. Maybe some AI-backed OTA updates in the future can offer some respite.
There won’t be any complaints about the battery life. Despite using the headphones with all settings enabled (active tracking, ANC, enabled onboard controls), the ULT Wear can last for days, depending on the usage patterns. I mostly used the headphones for nearly four to five hours per day (mainly at work), and I seldom needed to charge the headphones twice a week. Sony promises 30 hours of music playback on a single charge with ANC enabled.
Verdict
The Sony ULT Wear headphones are easily one of the most feature-packed wireless headphones in the market, especially at this price. Sony’s new strategy of simplifying the product name and adding an upbeat colour are the right steps for approaching a younger audience. In terms of music, these headphones can be an ideal choice for those bass-forward music lovers. For audio purists, I’d still recommend the more expensive Sony WH-1000XM5.
Sony needs to consider some refinements for the next ULT Wear, for instance, improving the ANC. However, if you consider the new Sony ULT Wear, you won’t surely be disappointed.
Editor’s rating: 8 / 10
Pros
- Premium-looking design
- Feature-packed
- Punchy bass
- Good battery life
Cons
- ANC needs improvement
- Mediocre call performance
