Sony ULT WEAR WHULT900N/H

Flagship ANC and fun, bass-heavy sound in a plastic body that feels cheaper than it should. Buy it for the silence and the thump, not the build.

The ANC is the standout. We're talking best-in-class territory, right up there with headphones that cost twice as much. The 40mm drivers pump out a sound signature that's warm and bass-heavy by default, but the ULT modes let you dial it from tasteful thump to skull-rattling. Battery life is solid at 30 hours with ANC on, and the quick charge is genuinely useful, 10 minutes gets you 4 hours. The mic setup is fine for calls but nothing special, landing at 84th percentile. The build quality is where things get shaky. It's mostly plastic, and while it feels okay in hand, the 37th percentile build score tells you this isn't a tank.

The Sennheiser MOMENTUM 4 beats the Sony on build quality and sound refinement, but it costs more and the ANC isn't as aggressive. The Bose QuietComfort is the comfort king and has comparable ANC, but it's pricier and the bass isn't as customizable. If you want the most bass for your buck, the Sony wins. If you want something that feels premium in your hands, the Sennheiser is the better call. The JBL Tune 670NC is cheaper but the ANC is a noticeable step down.

Pricing is all over the place. In the US, you'll see listings from $70 to $248, which is a wild spread. The $70 renewed units are tempting, but one buyer got a scratched, clearly used pair, so caveat emptor. In Canada, prices range from CAD 173 to CAD 350. The sweet spot is finding a new unit at the lower end of that range. At full retail, you're paying for the ANC and the Sony name, not the build quality.

The Sony ULT WEAR WHULT900N/H is Sony's bass-forward answer to the mid-range wireless ANC market, and it mostly nails it. The headline feature is the ULT button, which toggles between ULT1 for deep lows and ULT2 for what Sony calls ultra-bass. It's a party trick, sure, but it's a fun one. The real story here is the noise cancelling, which lands in the 99th percentile in our database. That's flagship-level silence at a mid-range price.

If you want a premium-feeling headphone with metal and leather, this isn't it. Go get the Sennheiser MOMENTUM 4 instead. If you're an audiophile who wants a neutral, reference sound, the bass-heavy tuning will annoy you. And if you need something for sweaty workouts or rainy commutes, the lack of any weather resistance is a dealbreaker, look at something with an IP rating.

The Sony ULT WEAR is a bass lover's dream with flagship-level noise cancelling at a mid-range price. The build quality and heat buildup are real annoyances, but they don't kill the deal. If you can find these under $150 USD or CAD 250, they're an easy recommendation. Just don't expect a premium feel to match the premium sound.