Sony ULT WEAR

Measured

Three rigs agree closely with the ULT button off. On RTINGS' B&K 5128 the response sits 6.5–8.6 dB above RTINGS' own target from 20 to 100 Hz, about 3 dB below it at 2 kHz and 6.7–8 dB below at 3–4 kHz, with a 3.5 dB bump at 8 kHz. Against an HD 600 measured on the same rig it carries about 10.5 dB more at 100 Hz and 8–10 dB less at 3–4 kHz on RTINGS', Kuulokenurkka's and SAI's rigs alike. Against the WH-1000XM5 on RTINGS' rig it has about 4 dB more bass and 8–9 dB less at 3–4 kHz; against the WH-CH720N, about 2.5 dB more bass. RTINGS calls it more bass-heavy than the XM5 with a de-emphasized treble. Turning noise cancelling off barely changes the curve (under 2 dB below 10 kHz, per Kuulokenurkka), but used passively on the cable it loses another 5–7 dB at 2–3 kHz.

Measured

With ULT off, RTINGS' 5128 curve sits 6.5 dB over target at 20 Hz and 8.6 dB over at 100 Hz, and Kuulokenurkka's rig reads +8.8 dB at 100 Hz — a lift that reaches all the way into the sub-bass rather than a mid-bass hump. ULT 1 adds another 5–6 dB below 50 Hz; ULT 2 adds 14–17 dB at 30–50 Hz and almost 9 dB at 100 Hz (Kuulokenurkka and SAI agree). Fnac's lab finds distortion very well controlled in the deepest bass but notes some at 200 Hz.

vs. listeners — One reviewer pulls the other way: Loud and Wireless found 'not a lot of sub bass gravity' with ULT off, while every rig measures the lift running down to 20 Hz — a reminder that a deep-bass seal varies with head shape, glasses and hair.

Measured

Every rig shows a deep presence-region dip: RTINGS' 5128 curve is 3 dB under its target at 2 kHz, 5.5 dB at 2.5 kHz, 6.7 dB at 3 kHz and 8 dB at 4 kHz; Kuulokenurkka reads −6 dB at 2 kHz and −8.7 dB at 4 kHz; SoundGuys measures lower output around 3 kHz. RTINGS itself calls the mids 'quite balanced' while warning that voices can get lost in busy mixes.

Measured

Both camps are hearing the same curve: a recessed 3–5 kHz region (RTINGS −6.7 to −8 dB at 3–4 kHz against its target) with a narrow peak near 8 kHz (+3.5 dB on RTINGS' rig; SoundGuys sees it too) and less energy again above 10 kHz. Above about 8 kHz the rigs disagree on how much falls away — RTINGS reads −2.9 dB at 10 kHz, Kuulokenurkka −14 dB — so no single figure for the top octave is reliable. Missing presence can read as 'smooth' to one listener and 'dull' to another; the 8 kHz peak is what SoundGuys calls 'a little on the grating side'.

Measured

Sony lists 255 g — about the same as the WH-1000XM5, and well over the 192 g WH-CH720N. SoundGuys says the faux leather traps heat; Amazon owners mention comfort favourably by about 133 to 28.

Measured

Sony India's support notice confirms that cracks 'may occasionally occur on the rotating shaft in the joint between the headband and the headphone housing' and offers free repair for specified serial numbers until January 31, 2027; Sony UK runs a serial checker. Among owners in the Reddit and Head-Fi threads reviewed here, about 14 report their own hinge or headband breaking — some after two months, most between six months and two years, including at least one unit outside the affected serial range — against about 7 reporting a year or more without trouble. Amazon's durability mentions run 128 negative to 32 positive, the only net-negative topic on the listing.

vs. listeners — The press praise largely predates the failures: nearly every editorial review was written in the first weeks, while the owner breakage reports cluster in 2025–26. Kuulokenurkka, reviewing later, already found loose tolerances that creak when the headphones are moved.

Measured

SoundGuys measures more than 25 dB of attenuation above 80 Hz. RTINGS rates the ANC excellent but finds the WH-1000XM5 better against bass-frequency noise such as engine rumble; Kuulokenurkka finds Bose's QuietComfort SE clearly stronger. Amazon owners mention noise cancelling favourably by 155 to 19.

Measured

Launched at $199.99; as of this writing Amazon lists it at $249.99 and sells it at $145. Amazon owners mention value favourably by 128 to 66.