Out of all the newest devices added to the INZONE lineup this year, I think the H9 II might be one of the most “important” in the bunch. This being said as the these are the successor to the original INZONE M9 gaming headphones we covered a few years back. They have a major redesign and are even flaunting the same driver setup that is in their flagship XM6 headphones. But are they just as good?
Style
Sony set out to make these as distinct from their predecessor. They are lightweight coming in at just 260g whereas the original H9 was 330g. The boom mic is detachable (adds on 13g), and the headband has nice push button system for adjustments. This means it stays locked in place no matter all the movements and hours you put into it. Underneath the headband is a bit of padding. The earcups themselves are spacious, not too tight, and very plush. I’ll say they will manage well with those that get sweaty ears afterward too based on the material. The H9 II comes in two colors, black and white.
On the left earcup is your volume toggle, NC/AMB button, USB-C port, Mic Mute Button, and Boom Mic on front. Right side is Bluetooth button, Power button, and buttons for Game and Chat. The Mic has a indicator light on it which will showcase whether you are muted or not.
Included with the H9 II is an audio cable, USB-C cable, USB-C transceiver, and a carrying pouch.
Features
There are two ways to connect to the INZONE H9 II and that is either through wired or wireless. Going the wireless route means using the included USB-C dongle which has two modes of “PC” or “Other.” This will give you a 2.4Ghz connection. Also there is bluetooth, more on that later.
To adjust H9 II you need to have the INZONE Hub on your PC. There you have access to EQ settings, dynamic range control, Noise Cancelling, and Spatial Sound. You can also adjust the volume and microphone as well. If you are on the go, the H9 II are compatible with the Sony Sound Connect app which you may use for their earbuds and headphones like the XM6. This is nice as the wired M9 doesn’t work with that mobile app.
With the H9 II on the app you will get battery life, EQ settings, and 360 Reality Audio settings. This is wonderful as you can adjust these headphones outside or at home. You get 30 hours of battery life with the ability to get 1hr off a 5min charge. So, you can rock out with these all day without issue. You can connect to your mobile device either via Bluetooth or with the 2.4Ghz wireless dongle for lag-free audio. I mostly used with my Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra.
Sound
These have the same 30mm driver units that are inside the Sony XM6. While you would think they will sound the same, that’s not entirely the case. Working with Fnatic they are more accustomed for listening out for opponents trying to run on behind you or just catching movements in the quietest areas. They do provide some nice bass too which is nice for hand-to-hand combat in fighting games or gunplay in FPS titles such as Borderlands 4 or even hearing some enemies creeping up on you in the woods via Black Myth Wukong. But on the music side they sound okay but not as focused in as XM6. You can tinker around with the EQ and adjust it a bit more to your liking.
Experience
Using them for lengthy periods of time I didn’t find myself getting too fatigued which is in part because of the light weight. They are snug and the material of the earcup padding didn’t irritate me much either. I like the ability to use these for gaming and then causally flipping over to take in some music or movie content on my mobile device.
Verdict
Sony built a nice pair of headphones that feel premium and that also matches its $349.99 price tag. Using them for hours felt good and they aren’t bad overall using them for gaming. They provide a nice balance of sound but might be geared more towards the FPS gamer. Using it with other titles I’m not getting the same immersion as I have with other headsets, especially in the same price range. You will need to have some nice tuning to adjust your goals. Active Noise Cancelling on these are pretty superb though.
You can check our unboxing of the Sony INZONE H9 II on Instagram / TikTok / YouTube
