There are tons of headphone options out there, and finding a quality pair can be like looking for a needle in a haystack sometimes, with so many unknown brands on Amazon and $10 pairs up for grabs at your local gas station. It is never a pleasant experience to spend a lot of money on hearing aids or hearing aids that let you down.
A long-respected brand in the audio market, Sony makes some of the most popular headphones with a lineup that ranges from premium noise-cancelling over-ear models to budget-friendly on-ear headphones to excellent true wireless headphones in a variety of price ranges
As with all headphones, Sony headphone prices tend to fluctuate, and throughout the year you’ll find discounts on most Sony models, and sometimes quite significant discounts. While we can’t keep track of all the deals on Sony headphones (there are plenty), we’ve put together a list of current deals and prices for the most popular – and best. We also have lists of The best deals on Beats headphones and best airpods deals in case you are interested in earphones and earphones of those brands.
Read more: The best wireless headphones for 2023
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Unlike “open” LinkBuds, the LinkBuds S are traditional noise-isolating earbuds with tips that stick in your ears. They are more compact and lighter than Sony’s flagship WF-1000M4 and also feature Sony’s V1 processor. While its sound and noise cancellation isn’t quite up there with the WF-1000XM4, it’s close and costs less. They’re Sony’s buttons for people who can deal with bigger buttons but want 80-85% of the features and performance of those buttons for much less.
Historical low: $128.
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Introduced in 1991(!), the Sony MDR-7506 has long been the headphone of choice for recording engineers and other sound professionals (yes, these are wired headphones). The origins of its design go back even further, as the MDR-7506 headphones are, in fact, an update of the Sony MDR-V6 which were released in 1985. Both models were designed for the professional sound market, but are still being very popular among consumers
Although the two models have the same design and are very comfortable, they do not sound identical. Both offer very well balanced sound and excellent clarity for their modest prices, and both are excellent overall values. But the MDR-V6 earphones produce a bit more bass and sound more relaxed and smooth, while the 7506 earphones are thinner with a more accentuated treble range, making the sound a bit crisper and more lively.
historical low: $70.
Read our Sony MDR-7506 review.
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If you’re looking for a cheap in-ear wired headset, the ZX series is as good a bet as any. It costs $10, or $20 for the version with a microphone.
historical low: $10
You are receiving price alerts for Sony MDR-ZX110: $10
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The Sony MDR-Z7M2 may not be the flagship audiophile headphone in Sony’s lineup (that would be the MDR-Z1R), but it’s still a higher-end model that lists for $900 but has been on sale for $ 600. I reviewed the older version of the Z7 (the M2 ultimately stands for Mark 2, or second generation) and it sounded great and was comfortable. To be clear, this is an audiophile headphone and sounds best with the proper audio equipment, which may include a headphone amplifier or a high-resolution portable music player (note Sony Walkman player, not included, listed). photo).
historical low: $570
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While the C500’s design sensibility has more in common with the higher-end WF-1000XM4 than its predecessor, the WF-XB700 Extra Bass, the C500 isn’t a noise-cancelling model and is pretty bare-bones in that regards. to earphones, no ear. -detection sensors or transparency mode. But the buds are compact, lightweight, fit comfortably, and sound good for a basic model. Read our first take on the Sony C500.
All time low price: $58
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When you have a product that many people love, the change can be risky. Such is the case with Sony’s WH-1000XM5, the fifth generation of the 1000X series headphones, which first launched in 2016 as the MDR-1000X Wireless and have become more and more popular as they get better with each passing day. generation. Over the years, Sony has made a few tweaks to the design, but nothing quite as spectacular as what it’s done with the WH-1000XM5. Aside from the higher price of $400 ($50 more than the WH-1000XM4), most of those changes are good, and Sony made some dramatic improvements with voice call performance, as well as even better noise cancellation and a more refined sound.
All time low price: $292
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The WH-CH710N are Sony’s entry-level noise canceling headphones. At their list price of $148, they’re very expensive, but much more attractive when they go on sale, which is often the case (look for them for under $100 or ideally at $78, their low price). The equipment sound and noise canceling features are a big step down from what you get with the WH-1000XM4, but these are overall competent headphones that are lightweight and comfortable to wear. In other words, this pair is far from the best, but it’s a good option if you can’t afford something higher-end. Does not include transport case.
All time low price: $78
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No headset is perfect, and not everyone will love the fit of the Sony WF-1000XM4 headset or be able to afford its high price. But if you’re looking for headphones with great sound, excellent noise cancellation, solid voice calling capabilities, and good battery life, these headphones tick all the boxes. And unlike the previous WF-1000XM3, these are waterproof with an IPX splashproof rating.
Bose’s QuietComfort Earbuds also have top-notch noise canceling and sound quality, but Sony is right there with Bose for noise cancellation. Some might even say it’s a little better in that department. The Sony offers better sound quality and has a more compact design, particularly for the case, though the Sony buttons are certainly not small.
All time low price: $180
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The LinkBuds are, in a sense, Sony’s answer to Apple’s standard AirPods. While they don’t sound as good as Sony’s WF-1000XM4 noise-isolating headphones, they offer an innovative, discreet design and a more secure fit than AirPods, as well as good sound and very good voice call performance.
Like the third generation AirPods, their open design allows you to hear the outside world; that’s what the ring is about. That makes them a good choice for people who want to hear what’s going on around them for safety reasons or just don’t like having ear tips stuck in their ears. They also have some distinctive additional features, including Speak to Chat and Wide Area Tap. Instead of touching a button, you can touch your face, right in front of your ear, to control playback.
They are IPX4 splash proof and thanks to their fins – Sony calls them Arc Supporters – they fit securely in your ears and work well for running and other sporting activities.
All Time Low Price: $128.
Read our Sony LinkBuds review.
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As for the WH-XB910N, this is the step-down model of the WH-1000XM4. It is an Extra Bass model, so it does have a preponderance of bass. This updated version looks similar to the older XB900N, but offers improved noise cancellation and multi-point Bluetooth pairing, so you can pair it with your phone and computer simultaneously. It also supports Sony’s LDAC audio codec. It often sells for around $150 or a little less. At that price, it’s a decent value.
While it has improved, noise cancellation isn’t up to the level of the WH-1000XM4. And the WH-XB910N doesn’t have some of that model’s extra features, like Speak to Chat, usage detection sensors, and Sony’s Precise Voice Pickup technology. It does, however, have a Quick Attention mode, which allows you to place your hand over the earcup to switch from noise-canceling to an ambient-sensitive transparency mode. Also, these headphones now come with a hard case just like the WH-1000XM4. Battery life is up to 30 hours at moderate volume levels, the same as you get from the WH-1000XM4.
All time low price: $123
You are receiving price alerts for Sony WH-XB910N: $248
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While they’re no longer Sony’s flagship noise-cancelling headphones, the WH-1000XM4 are still very good headphones and worth considering if you can find them at a deep discount.
All Time Low Price: $248.
Read our Sony WH-1000XM4 review.
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How we tested the headphones at CNET
We tested the headphones against five key criteria, comparing models with similar styles and prices. These criteria include design, sound quality, characteristics, voice call performance and worth.
When evaluating the design, we evaluated not only how comfortable the headphones fit (ergonomics), but also their build quality and how well the controls are implemented. For the earphones, we also looked at the water and dust resistance ratings.
We evaluated sound quality by listening to a playlist of music tracks and comparing the headphones to the best competing products in their price range. Sonic characteristics such as bass definition, clarity, dynamic range, and the naturalness of the headphones’ sound are key factors in our evaluation.
Some great-sounding headphones aren’t packed with features, but we do take extra features into account. These include everything from noise-canceling and transparency modes (ambient sound mode) to special sound modes and ear-detection sensors that automatically pause your music when you remove your headphones.
When we test voice call performance, we make calls on the noisy streets of New York and test how well the headset reduces background noise and how clearly callers can hear your voice.
We determined the value after evaluating the power of the headphones against all of these criteria and what the headphones can offer compared to other models in their price class.
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