The best Sony headphones 2024: top Sony over-ears and earbuds for all budgets

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REASONS TO BUY
REASONS TO AVOID
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The best Sony headphones are ubiquitous on subways, flights or busy streets. It's impossible to avoid them – and for good reason; they're among the best around. 

I know Sony makes some of the best noise-cancelling earbuds and best noise-cancelling headphones because I've been testing audio kit full-time since 2019 – the company is hellbent on refining and finessing its oeuvre. Sure, there have been one or two dips in form since the now iconic Sony WH-1000XM3 burst onto the scene in 2018 and blew everything else away; the July 2023-issue Sony WF-1000XM5 earbuds failed to wow for noise cancellation and their occasional connectivity issues means they won't make this list. 

But the long and short of it is that TechRadar's headphone-specific buying guides are peppered with Sony gear – the top spot in our best budget wireless earbuds guide is further proof. So, if Sony headphones are the best, what's the best of the best? We rate the Sony WH-1000XM4 for over-ears and the Sony WF-1000XM4 for earbuds as offering the best balance of value and performance, and we'll explain why in this guide, as well the alternatives, from the ultimate pair of 'don't talk to me' Sony noise-blockers to the best bijou buds for small ears and the top workout buds.

Written by
Becky Scarrott
Written by
Becky Scarrott

I've reviewed over 150 audio products since becoming a tech journalist, ranging from super-budget earbuds to high-end Hi-Res Audio music players. Before joining TechRadar, I spent three years at What Hi-Fi? testing everything the world of audio had to offer; before that, I was a professional dancer. I'll always extol the virtues of listening (and dancing) to the best musical file quality and audio gear you can stretch to.

The quick list

Want to cut to the good part – ie. precisely which Sony headphones and earbuds are the best? Below, you’ll find a roundup of our choices. You can also jump to a bigger write-up of each pick, alongside our price comparison tool to help you find the best deals.

Recent updates

29 February, 2024
This guide was overhauled to add new Sony releases, and to make it easier to navigate.

The best Sony headphones

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The best Sony headphones for most people

A man wearing a pair of the sony wh-1000xm4 headphones

(Image credit: Future)
Still the best Sony headphones for most people

Specifications

Acoustic design: Closed
Weight : 253g
Frequency response: 4Hz-40kHz
Drivers: 40mm dome-type
Battery life: 30 hours

Reasons to buy

+
Excellent audio quality
+
Strong active noise cancellation
+
Top-tier smart features

Reasons to avoid

-
Not water-resistant
-
Newer Sony headphones available
-
Only LDAC for higher-res wireless

If you're going Sony, why not wear the brand's most iconic design? Yes, they're a little older (having launched in late 2020), but in our opinion they're still the best Sony cans when you balance their portability, comfort, feature set and supremely gifted sound quality against their price, which has dropped a lot over time. The newer Sony WH-1000XM5 offer an incremental gain in terms of noise cancellation, but you'll have to pay a significant price hike for it – and also, the newer model isn't quite as portable.

They're chock full of features too, including Sony's DSEE Extreme upscaling (to make compressed music such as Spotify streams sound better), multipoint pairing for easy switching between devices, auto play/pause when you remove them, Sony's 360 Reality Audio spatial audio plus LDAC wireless support for CD-quality wire-free sound from compatible phones. It's a shame there's no aptX support, but it's far from a deal-breaker, especially when you can often find them discounted in big sales events… They're also incredibly comfortable, and you get a 3.5mm headphone jack.

In our review, we said they "deliver excellent noise-cancellation and surprising sound quality all in a lightweight, comfortable design" and praising their "expressive dynamics and clear and distinct separation between each instrument."

The 30-hour battery life is standard, (the 60-hour playtime of the Sennheiser Momentum 4 Wireless walks all over it) but for the combination of sound quality, classic build and Sony feature set, these headphones are stone cold class-leaders. Just try covering the right ear cup to engage Quick Attention (or Speak to Chat, where you just talk and the five mics under the hood get it and initiate Ambient Mode while muting your music) you'll see what I mean.

Read our full Sony WH-1000XM4 review

The best Sony earbuds for most people

sony wf-1000xm4

(Image credit: TechRadar)
Still the best Sony earbuds for most people

Specifications

Acoustic design: Closed
Weight: 7.3g
Frequency response: 20Hz-40kHz
Drivers: 6mm
Battery life : 8 hours (earbuds) 16 hours (charging case)

Reasons to buy

+
Full-bodied and eloquent sound
+
Truly useful Sony features
+
Impressive call quality

Reasons to avoid

-
Unremarkable battery life
-
No aptX support

Despite a 2021 release date, the Sony WF-1000XM4 earbuds remain our top pick overall – they're just that good. And the drastic price cuts help. The sound set a new benchmark in true wireless earbuds audio at the time, and remains very impressive to day for the price. Perhaps our review said it best: “There’s vigour and enthusiasm, but it’s tempered by unarguable control.”

You're not getting aptX support, unlike a lot of earbuds competitors, but the WF-1000XM4 atone for this for it with a whole host of Sony-specific features, including higher-resolution LDAC (if your source device can support it), strong active noise cancellation and Speak to Chat, a truly useful feature that pauses your music and engages ambient mode when you strike up a conversation.

The earbuds are not particularly svelte or light, but unless you have particularly small ears they'll work for you – but if you're at all worried about this, look to the bijou LinkBuds S or WF-C700N listed below. 

Why haven't the newer, smaller, 2023-issue Sony WF-1000XM5 earbuds taken the WF-1000XM4's place in this Sony-specific list? Despite fitting very well and boasting solid sonic chops, the noise cancellation and connectivity suffered under intense review, and when combined with a price rise, the older model comes out as the better value.

A quick note on their availability: they're becoming quite hard to find, though Sony told TechRadar in January 2024 that the WF-1000XM4 are still very much in its current lineup of noise-cancelling earbuds.

Read our full Sony WF-1000XM4 review

The best budget Sony headphones

Sony WH-CH520N headphones held in a hand

(Image credit: Future)
The best budget-friendly Sony headphones

Specifications

Acoustic design: Closed
Weight: 192g
Frequency response: 7Hz-20kHz
Drivers: 30mm
Battery life : 35 hours (ANC on)

Reasons to buy

+
Well-balanced, detailed audio
+
Effective noise cancellation
+
Feature-rich for the money

Reasons to avoid

-
Sound can feel constrained
-
ANC leaks low-level sounds
-
Plastic design feels a little cheap

Sony's spring 2023-release over-ears may not boast audiophile quality sound, but audiophiles will (or emphatically should) appreciate what Sony's going for here despite the current lack of hi-res codec support: finely balanced sound with oodles of detail. For honest and faithful representation of your music, you can't do much better for this price.

The WH-CH720N scores another big point when it comes to stamina which, at 35 hours with ANC on (and much longer with it off), means they last longer than Sony's flagship headphones above. Food for thought, eh? 

How's the ANC? Bang on the money – but do take note that you're not having to lay down a massive amount of cash for them, so it's all relative. The active noise cancellation can reduce the volume of outside sounds to make your music or podcasts stand out better, but it would be an error to assume you're getting the eyebrow-raising sound blocking experience you get from the much-more-expensive Sony WH-1000XM5, listed below. Again, the point is, it's good performance for the price.

Build-wise, they're light and comfortable, at just 192g, which means they're far lighter than Sony's flagship cans (the XM4 weigh 253g) and even though they're not as well-padded as Sony's premium offerings, they almost certainly won't become uncomfortable. The plastic feels a little rougher and less high-quality than the aforementioned XM5, too, but that's to be expected.

Speaking of design, you've got physical buttons on the underside of both earbuds, including controls on the left ear cup for power and switching ANC modes and play/pause/skip buttons on the right. It feels a little less high-end compared to the capacitive touch-plate and swiping gestures you enjoy when using the XM4 and XM5, but the buttons are easy to find like the WH-CH720N overall, it's is a solid, likeable, cost-effective solution.

Read our full Sony WH-CH720 review

The best affordable Sony earbuds

Sony WF-C700N earbuds worn by Becky Scarrott

(Image credit: Future)
Easily the best budget-friendly Sony earbuds with noise cancellation

Specifications

Acoustic design: Closed
Weight: 4.6g per earbud
Frequency response: 20Hz-20kHz
Drivers: 5mm
Battery life : 7.5hr (buds) 15hr total (with case, ANC on)

Reasons to buy

+
As detailed and immersive as this money can buy
+
Incredibly comfortable and secure
+
Great app and 360 Reality Audio support

Reasons to avoid

-
No on-ear volume control
-
No LDAC support
-
Only one charge from the case

My honest advice is this: if it's affordable Sony noise-cancelling earbuds you're after and you simply can't afford the higher-end WF-1000XM4 set above, you won't be disappointed when you click 'buy' on the Sony WF-C700N. 

They're not the last word in hi-res audio (you only get SBC and AAC codec support, although Sony has thrown in its entry-level DSEE upscaler to make Spotify tracks sound a lot better) but you do get Sony 360 Reality support, which is even better if you pay for Tidal – because this particular streaming platform has plenty of content presented in Sony's object-based immersive format for you to revel in. 

I cannot stress this enough: they shouldn't be this good for the money. OK, there's no on-ear volume function, which is usually a deal-breaker for me. But not here – not when the sound-per-pound value is this good. You're also not getting an auto-off feature when you remove them, but I'd argue for this money it wouldn't be fair to expect it. 

Sony's excellent Headphones Connect app does the heavy lifting as far as ANC goes, and it's very good. Why? It opens the door to Adaptive Sound Control optimized according to what you're doing – yes, these buds effectively learn how you use them, then try to help. And you can tweak it all in the app. When Ambient is deployed, for instance, you can select from 1-20 on a slider. When ANC is on, all but the loudest noises are softened, leaving me immersed in my playlists. At this level, that's unheard of. 

Read our full Sony WF-C700N review

The best Sony earbuds for small ears

One Sony LinkBuds S earbud held between thumb and forefinger on black background

(Image credit: TechRadar)
The best well-featured Sony earbuds for the small of head

Specifications

Acoustic design: Closed
Weight: 4.8g
Frequency response: 20Hz-20kHz
Drivers: 5mm
Battery life : 6hrs ANC on, 9hrs ANC off, 2x charges in the case

Reasons to buy

+
Compact, light and comfortable
+
Enjoyable and unthreatening sound
+
Great control app

Reasons to avoid

-
Could sound more assertive
-
Don’t look or feel anything special

Long-term Sony devotees might remember that the company's earbuds didn't start out small – and some users struggled to achieve a secure fit and seal with early WF-1000XM iterations. Well, times have changed. These earbuds are positively tiny, to the point that that sit practically flush with your tragus when worn, so I pity the gust of wind tasked with trying to shake them loose. 

Besides their absolutely diddy size, the secondary headline-grabber here is that the May 2022-issue LinkBuds S use the same V1 processor to combine noise cancellation and audio processing in one as the Sony WF-1000XM4, but here it has a new 5mm full-range dynamic driver to work with – and that too is smaller than the XM4.

And while the LinkBuds S may be small, their specification is anything but. With the exception of multipoint pairing, if there’s a perk these Sony true wireless earbuds can't boast, it’s likely not worth bothering with. Noise-cancellation can be turned on or off using the capacitive touch surface on each earpiece, while Ambient sound option offers 20 different increments, again handled by Sony's exemplary Headphone Connect app – the same one as Sony's flagship headphones use.

Any drawbacks? The sound lacks an extra ounce of punch, zeal, verve and fun. They're relatively detailed, open across the frequencies and reassuringly chunky through the low-end (it's not a question of leanness through the bass), but they could use a modicum of dynamic potency. It's nitpicking, but that's our job after all… 

Read our full Sony LinkBuds S review

The best Sony headphones for noise cancellation

The noise-cancelling Sony WH-1000XM5 headphones

(Image credit: Future)
The gains over the WH-1000XM4 are incremental – but they're still gains

Specifications

Acoustic design: Closed
Weight: 250g
Frequency response: 20Hz-20kHz
Drivers: 30mm
Battery life : 30 hours max

Reasons to buy

+
Excellent noise cancellation
+
Wonderful sounding performance
+
Smart ambient features

Reasons to avoid

-
Less portable than the WH-1000XM4
-
More expensive too
-
And not a gigantic sound upgrade overall

We're often asked why the WH-1000XM5 didn't simply supersede the WH-1000XM4 and take their anticipated seat in the top spot of this buying guide. Don't get us wrong, the WH-1000XM5 are very good indeed – but it's a question of value. 

They follow firmly in their predecessors footsteps for sound and features (perhaps a tad too closely to be demonstrably better for the money), but the design is a big departure. The thing is, the design of the XM4 cans is one of their biggest selling points, while the XM5's design is… bigger (apart from the drivers, which are 10mm smaller, from 40mm to 30mm), sleeker and doesn't fold up. Essentially, you'll either love it or you'll hate it.

What you cannot fail to adore, however, is the active noise cancellation. While it's true that Bose's excellent Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones beat anything Sony makes for noise-nixing efficacy, if it's the Sony sound you want, the WH-1000XM5 do it best.

The gains are incremental in the iteration (rather than huge), the battery life remains settled on 30 hours and the pricing is still a little high in today's market – see how the Sennheiser Momentum 4 Wireless undercut that asking fee considerably – but if you want the quietest backdrop for your tunes in a Sony design, this is it.

Read our full Sony WH-1000XM5 review

The best Sony buds for working out

sony linkbuds held in hand with case open

(Image credit: Future)
The best Sony earbuds to be aware of what's around you

Specifications

Acoustic design: Open-ear
Weight: 3.9g per bud
Frequency response: 20Hz-20kHz
Drivers: 12mm ring driver
Battery life : 5.5hr, total 17.5hr (with charging case)

Reasons to buy

+
Spacious sound
+
Clever controls
+
Tiny design

Reasons to avoid

-
Bass could be stronger
-
No wireless charging or multipoint
-
No LDAC

What if you want Sony earbuds, but you also want to stay alert to your surroundings and hear noises such as cars on a busy road, dogs in the park – or even your yoga instructor at the gym? And what if, although you realise most modern earbuds come with ambient sound profiles these days, you'd prefer to just know you'll hear what you need to hear?

Sony gets it. The Sony LinkBuds actually look a bit like a certain brand of ring-shaped ear plugs, but here, that novel ring part is actually a driver with a hole in the middle, a design that leaves your ear canals completely free to hear your environment while you enjoy music, enjoy podcasts, or answer phone calls.

Because the design is so dainty, Sony has even come up with an ingenious way of controlling them that avoids touching their miniature housings – instead, you can tap your face to tweak the volume, skip tracks and so on. Yes, it's fun!

And the audio quality (bass clout aside) is surprisingly great, with a remarkably wide soundstage – although in such a design, bass response and resonance through the low end is always going to be somewhat compromised. You don't get active noise cancellation here (that's not the point of the LinkBuds) but what you do get is a product that truly fulfils a brief: an excellent set of open-ear earbuds for running or the gym.

Read our full Sony LinkBuds review

The best on-ear Sony headphones

Sony WH-CH520 headphones worn by a man in front of a window

(Image credit: Future)
The best Sony on-ear headphones – and they're real cheap, too

Specifications

Acoustic design: Closed
Weight: 137g
Frequency response: 20Hz-20kHz
Drivers: 30mm
Battery life : Up to 50hrs

Reasons to buy

+
Immensely likeable sound
+
Bluetooth multipoint connectivity
+
50-hour battery life

Reasons to avoid

-
On-ear design isn't for everyone
-
Passive noise isolation isn't the best
-
No 3.5mm jack

The key takeaway here is that these Sony on-ear headphones sound great for the price, especially one you've deployed Sony's DSEE upscaler and tailored the EQ to your liking in Sony's excellent companion app, all of which are incredible perks at this two-figure level.

Are they the final word in sonic brilliance? No, although the soundstage opens out considerably when listening at anything over 40% volume and after deploying Sony's Clear Bass EQ preset. Also, you don't get hi-res audio support or active noise cancellation, but the WH-CH520 are still excellent value for money. Why? Because alongside their classy build and finish (the textured plastic, generous padding and physical buttons make these on-ears feel far more expensive than they are) you're also getting multipoint connectivity for seamless device switching.

The cherry on the top of the sundae? That would be their 50-hour battery. If you know you like an on-ear design that doesn't fully cover your ears, so won't overheat your noggin during those long listening sessions (and offers easy portability on the commute) add the WH-CH520 to your shortlist.

Read our full Sony WH-CH520 review

How to choose the best Sony headphones for you

Which Sony headphones are the latest?

Short answer: the Sony WF-1000XM5 are the newest earbuds (or headphones) in this roundup – but we can do better than that! Let's have a timeline of notable Sony headphone and earbuds releases, shall we? We'll work back from most recent set.

Sony WF-1000XM5 (flagship earbuds) July 24, 2023
Sony WH-CH520 (on-ear headphones) April 11, 2023
Sony WF-C700N (earbuds) April 1, 2023
Sony WH-CH720N (over-ear headphones) February 21, 2023
Sony LinkBuds S (earbuds) May 20, 2022
Sony WH-1000XM5 (flagship over-ears) May 12, 2022
Sony LinkBuds (open-ear earbuds) February 15, 2022
Sony WF-1000XM4 (flagship earbuds) June 8, 2021
Sony WH-1000XM4 (flagship over-ears) August 6, 2020 

With Sony (and in fact with audio products in general), newer doesn't always mean better – but then, Sony has been outdoing both the competition and itself long before even these propositions hit shelves (case in point: the 2018 WH-1000XM3, now a modern classic). 

What we're trying to say is, don't assume the newest earbuds or cans from Sony, or any brand, are the best choice; we've tested them all and (we flatter ourselves) we know what we're doing. If it's not featured in one of our guides soon after its release, there's a reason for that.

Should I buy Sony over-ears, on-ears, or true wireless earbuds?

It's a good question, although the answer will come down to personal preference and how (or when) you tend to listen to music. A few years ago, we might have suggested that if you want excellent active noise cancellation, you need to be looking at over-ears, but thanks to incredible advancements in anti-phase technology and the multiple microphones squirrelled away into ever-smaller earbuds (which gather audio information so that the ANC tech can quash it) that is no longer the case – particularly where the heavy-hitters such as Sony are concerned.

Do you carry a small bag to work? You may prefer earbuds, which can be stored easily in their diminutive case and eve thrown in a pocket, while over-ears need a bigger tote bag at the least. You may think they'll never leave your ears or your neck, but even Sony's newest cans don't offer any water resistance, so there will be times you'll want to store them safely.

Some of the TechRadar team adore the 'do not disturb' nature of larger over-ears. A few members of the editorial squad either don't like the intrusive nature of in-ears or struggle to achieve a secure fit. On the flip-side, others find their ears get a little hot wearing cans – and some of us simply don't like the way over-ear headphones get in the way of our drop earrings. Then again, if you've ever lost a single earbud to a puddle (or to the gap where station meets subway) you'll know how upsetting that is and may well have switched allegiance. 

Our advice? Ask yourself which listening style best suits your lifestyle, read our reviews and, if you have the time, visit a bricks-and-mortar store to try your shortlisted option on before you buy. 

Are Sony headphones better than Bose?

Both Bose and Sony have form in the wireless headphone arena, creating outstanding audio kit that largely sits in the premium end of the consumer spectrum – although Sony in particular has been working on that recently, with some excellent entry-level on-ears and earbuds. 

We regularly recommend Bose products (and the company pioneered noise cancellation in the 1970s to help pilots land aircraft, so it's no secret that the company delivers excellent ANC in its listening gear), but in terms of the best headphones and earbuds, it's a closely run race. Ultimately, it will come down to your priorities.

The Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds, for example, offer excellent noise cancellation that just about trounces Sony's output, but for us the Sony WF-1000XM4 beat them for sound quality – and even though they're newer, the Bose option doesn't offer wireless charging where Sony's does. Also, Bose's flagship earbuds are a little bulky by today's standards, although some users report that they love the security of the fins in the latest design. 

In the over-ear category, the Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones also offer excellent ANC, but the 24-hour battery life is a little weak (Sony's like-model boasts 30 hours) and they're a lot more expensive than anything Sony has to offer. It comes down to what you prioritise.

How we test the best Sony headphones

Why you can trust TechRadar

☑️ More than 3,000 headphones reviewed
☑️ 15 years of product testing
☑️ Over 16,000 products reviewed in total
☑️ Nearly 200,000 hours testing tech

Every year, we test countless headphones and earbuds at TechRadar, which means we know exactly which features and specs to look out for – and we know good sound-per-pound performance when we hear it. 

We arrive at our fully star-rated reviews by comparing the capabilities of each product (including sound quality, design, features, battery life, noise cancellation and spatial audio processing) of each set of each set of headphones or earbuds not just in isolation but against the class-leaders at the level – and by 'level' we mean 'for similar money'. Whether you have $2,000 or $20 to spend, we want you to buy the best thing within that budget. 

We also test the audio performance using a wide range of musical genres and by streaming from various sources (including the gamut of music streaming services, plus downloaded music from dedicated hi-res audio players), using carefully curated playlists which we've been adding to and finessing over more years than we'd care to admit.

Naturally, we test noise cancellation in real-world environments, such on public transport, or walking in traffic in cities.

We put our hearts and souls into what we do (if it's a set of fitness-focused earbuds we're testing, you'd better believe we're out there before work running that 5k) and we're truly confident that our star-rated reviews are the best indication of the quality of the Sony headphones and earbuds in this list.

The latest updates to this Sony headphones guide

29 February, 2024
This guide was overhauled to add new Sony releases, and to make it easier to navigate.

Becky Scarrott
Senior Audio Staff Writer

Becky is a senior staff writer at TechRadar (which she has been assured refers to expertise rather than age) focusing on all things audio. Before joining the team, she spent three years at What Hi-Fi? testing and reviewing everything from wallet-friendly wireless earbuds to huge high-end sound systems. Prior to gaining her MA in Journalism in 2018, Becky freelanced as an arts critic alongside a 22-year career as a professional dancer and aerialist – any love of dance starts with a love of music. Becky has previously contributed to Stuff, FourFourTwo and The Stage. When not writing, she can still be found throwing shapes in a dance studio, these days with varying degrees of success.