Request a product
Photo 1 of 19

Sony ULT WEAR (WH-ULT900N) · Photo source

Sony ULT WEAR (WH-ULT900N)
Photo 1 of 19

Sony ULT WEAR (WH-ULT900N) · Photo source

Sony · ULT

ULT WEAR (WH-ULT900N)

Released April 2024

The ULT WEAR are Sony's bass-focused noise-cancelling over-ear headphones, with a ULT button for extra bass, for listeners who want a heavier sound than the 1000X models at a lower price.

Type
Over-ear
Noise cancelling
Yes
Battery
30 h
With case
–
Best codec
LDAC
Weight
255 g

What reviewers say

Reviewers agree these are comfortable and well featured, with effective noise cancelling for the price. All find the bass overdone, with What Hi-Fi? missing Sony's usual refinement and balance and SoundGuys finding every setting too bassy; TechRadar also found call quality inconsistent, and SoundGuys missed USB audio.

From soundguys.com, techradar.com and whathifi.com

Specifications

Report a wrong or missing spec

Sound

Type
Over-ear
Noise cancelling
Yes
Transparency mode
Yes
Driver size
40 mm
Bluetooth codecs
SBC, AAC and LDAC
Lossless over USB-C
No
Chip
V1
Drivers
40 mm dome-type driver designed for the ULT POWER SOUND series, neodymium magnet; 5 Hz to 20,000 Hz (wired, switched on); sensitivity 110 dB/mW switched on, 100 dB/mW switched off; impedance 314 Ω switched on, 32 Ω switched off (1 kHz, wired)
Chip
Integrated Processor V1
Noise cancelling detail
Dual Noise Sensor technology, with external noise-cancelling microphones on both ear cups; Ambient Sound Mode; Quick Attention Mode
Audio features
ULT button (ULT1 for deep bass, ULT2 for more powerful bass, or off); LDAC (Hi-Res Audio Wireless); DSEE upscaling; 360 Reality Audio; equaliser in the app

Battery

Listening time (maker's claim)
Up to 30 hours
Battery life detail
Up to 50 hours with noise cancelling off (AAC or SBC); with LDAC, 25 hours with noise cancelling on or 40 hours off; talk time up to 30 hours (40 hours with noise cancelling off); up to 30 hours on the headphone cable with noise cancelling on (50 hours off); the ULT bass effect, DSEE and the equaliser shorten battery life; can't be used while charging
Fast charging
3 minutes gives about 90 minutes of playback, 10 minutes about 5 hours; full charge in about 3.5 hours (0.5 A or higher USB adaptor)

Design

Weight
255 g
Bluetooth
5.2
Two devices at once
Yes
Headphone cable
Yes
Controls
Touch sensor control panel on the right ear cup (double-tap to play, pause or answer calls; swipe forwards or backwards to skip; swipe up or down for volume; hold for the voice assistant; cover with your hand for Quick Attention Mode); power, NC/AMB and ULT buttons on the left ear cup; a proximity sensor in the left unit pauses music when the headphones are taken off
Microphones
External noise-cancelling microphones on both ear cups; call microphone on the left ear cup; electret condenser, omnidirectional
Fit and ear tips
Closed, over-ear; soft earpads; folds up for the supplied carrying case
Water resistance detail
No water resistance rating
Works with
Sony | Sound Connect app (formerly Headphones Connect) for iOS and Android; multipoint connection to two devices (AAC or SBC only while connected to two); Google Assistant and Amazon Alexa; Bluetooth 5.2 Class 1, about 10 m range; A2DP, AVRCP, HFP and HSP
Colours
Black, Forest Grey, Off White
In the box
Headphones, USB-C cable (USB-A to USB-C), headphone cable (about 1.2 m, gold-plated L-shaped stereo mini plug), carrying case, documents

Pros and cons

Pros

  • ULT button with two bass-boost modes
  • Up to 30 hours per charge with noise cancelling on (50 hours with it off), and 3 minutes of charging gives about 90 minutes of playback
  • LDAC, multipoint and a 3.5 mm cable input that also works with the headphones switched off

Cons

  • LDAC can't be used while connected to two devices at once
  • Heavier than the WH-1000XM5, at 255 g
  • Not water resistant, with no IP rating

Closest rivals

Model
TypeNoise cancellingBatteryWith caseBest codecWeightReleased
SonosAce
Over-earYes30 h–aptX Lossless312 gJun 2024
Anker soundcoreSpace One Pro
Over-earYes40 h–LDAC286.2 gSept 2024
BoseQuietComfort Ultra Headphones (2nd Gen)
Over-earYes30 h–aptX Adaptive264 gSept 2025

Sources

  1. sony.com.au/headphones/products/ult-wear/spec
  2. helpguide.sony.net/mdr/2981/v1/en/contents/TP1001300235.html
  3. sony.com.au/headphones/products/ult-wear
  4. helpguide.sony.net/mdr/2981/v1/en/contents/TP1001293749.html
  5. helpguide.sony.net/mdr/2981/v1/en/contents/TP1001293742.html
  6. helpguide.sony.net/mdr/2981/v1/en/contents/TP1001293744.html
  7. helpguide.sony.net/mdr/2981/v1/en/contents/TP1001375636.html
  8. helpguide.sony.net/mdr/2981/v1/en/contents/TP1001375638.html
  9. helpguide.sony.net/mdr/2981/v1/en/contents/TP1001298186.html
  10. helpguide.sony.net/mdr/2981/v1/en/contents/TP1001300534.html
  11. helpguide.sony.net/mdr/2981/v1/en/contents/TP1001293755.html
  12. sony.eu/presscentre/massive-bass-ultimate-vibe-sony-introduces-ult-power-sound-…
  13. sony.jp/headphone/products/ULT_WEAR
  14. sony.jp/headphone/special/ULT_WEAR
  15. sony.jp/store/press/241217.html
  16. sony.jp/headphone/store/special/bocchitherock
  17. pur.store.sony.jp/headphone/products/ULT_WEAR/ULT_WEAR_purchase
  18. sony.at/presscentre/massive-basse-ultimative-vibes-sony-prasentiert-die-neue-ul…
  19. sony.at/presscentre/media/album/26340
  20. sony.co.uk/store/product/whult900nb.ce7/ULT-POWER-SOUND-series-ULT-WEAR-Wireles…
  21. sony.jp/headphone/products/ULT_WEAR/feature_1.html
  22. sony.jp/headphone/products/ULT_WEAR/feature_2.html
  23. sony.jp/headphone/products/ULT_WEAR/feature_3.html
  24. sony.jp/headphone/products/ULT_WEAR/feature_4.html
  25. sony.jp/headphone/products/ULT_WEAR/feature_5.html
  26. sony.jp/headphone/products/ULT_WEAR/feature_6.html
  27. sony.jp/webapi/image/product_relate.php
  28. sony.jp/webapi/image/product_relate.php
  29. sony.jp/webapi/image/product_relate.php
  30. sony.co.uk/headphones/products/ult-wear/features1
  31. sony.co.uk/headphones/products/ult-wear/features2
  32. sony.co.uk/headphones/products/ult-wear/features3
  33. sony.co.uk/headphones/products/ult-wear/features4
  34. sony.co.uk/headphones/products/ult-wear
  35. sony.co.uk/electronics/support/wireless-headphones-bluetooth-headphones/wh-ult9…
  36. helpguide.sony.net/mdr/2981/v1/en/index.html
  37. helpguide.sony.net/mdr/2981/v1/en/print.pdf
  38. sony.com/electronics/support/res/manuals/5055/13cbd0bceb59bd84e895291586091b4b/…
  39. sony.co.uk/electronics/support/wireless-headphones-bluetooth-headphones/article…

Photo: sony.scene7.com

Spot a mistake? Tell us