Sony provides a fantastic selection of Sony in-ear monitors if you want high-quality wired earbuds.
All of the Sony models listed here have respectable battery life, and some of them include active noise-canceling to make your surroundings quieter if you use wireless headphones. Even wired buds made of the same material as trombones are available.
Battery life and comfort are some things you should pay special attention to. Of course, more technology is needed to compensate for poor audio. Thankfully, the audio prowess of all the models listed below has won me over, making me more confused!
Best Sony In-Ear Monitors You Should Buy In 2023
The best Sony in-ear monitors that you can use in 2023 are:
1. Sony WF-1000XM4
With more comfortable, innovative technology and even better sound, these Sony in-ear monitors continue on the enormous popularity of their superb WF-1000XM3 earbuds.
These Sony in ear monitors provide the most vivid, nuanced, and well-equalized performances I’ve ever heard. Vocals exude elegance and sophistication, while the bass is tight and textured. Their musical style captivates you and makes you grateful for the eight hours of battery life, which is best in class in this category.
They are also comfortable to wear. These in-ear monitors are excellent with touch-like controls and noise-isolating ear-tip designs. You can use this with Sony’s outstanding noise canceling to create a set of headphones that effectively filter out background noise.
The WF-1000XM4 comes with IPX4 water resistance, Sony’s smart Headphones Connect software for iOS and Android and ingenious features like Quick Attention and Speak-To-Chat.
Simply said, the WF-1000XM4 are the most excellent earbuds you can purchase, period, not just the finest Sony earbuds.
| PROS | CONS |
|---|---|
| • Good audio quality with excellent bass • Amazing battery life | • Doesn’t gesture Sony’s Multipoint feature • No multiple choices for ear tips provided • Cannot use aprX HD |
2. Sony WF-C500
The prize-winning WF-C500 incorporates many features that make Sony’s expensive Sony in-ear monitors, such as the WF-1000XM4, popular without compromising anything.
You also get ‘quick pair’ communication with Android smartphones, swift pair’ connectivity with Windows 10 PCs, and an IPX4 grade for moisture- and splash-resistance. Although neither platform is integrated, it is possible to manage these earbuds using Google Assistant or Siri.
The sound is well-distributed and well-balanced; the mid-range is rich in detail, and the voices are coherently delivered. The WF-C500: Can it be improved? Yes, there are more persuasive alternatives to punching. However, it’s a respectable, sound performance for the money.
Downsides? The buds’ battery life is 10 hours, and the case’s battery life is an additional 10 hours. When compared to the competition, there is actually nothing extraordinary. However, the Sony WF-C500 should be on your shortlist if you’re looking for a fantastic pair of earbuds for around £100.
| PROS | CONS |
|---|---|
| • Compact and comfy design • Great sound equalization • App for better equalization and sound tweaks | • Sub-par battery life • The sound might be less loud compared to competitors |
3. Sony MDR-EX650AP
The EX650s Sony in-ear monitors will satisfy you if you want value. Despite the low price, they pack a powerful bass punch and are dynamic, immersive, and well-balanced. To help produce a wide soundstage, Sony even used trombone material for the exterior enclosures and internal sound pathways.
Since four different sizes of earbuds are included with the EX650APs, comfort is not a concern. If you enjoy the brassy style, you’ll discover that these Sony earbuds will outperform many competitors with similar prices.
| PROS | CONS |
|---|---|
| • Compact and comfy design • Punchy bass and sound quality | • Pretty basic compared to alternatives |
4. Sony LinkBuds
Sony’s LinkBuds should be praised for their ingenious construction. They employ a 12mm driver in the form of a ring with a hole in the center, allowing you to hear the outside environment while your music is playing in the background. The LinkBuds are intended to be worn all day while working, playing, and socializing.
I absolutely adore the LinkBuds. The high-frequency sounds lost in compressed digital music files may be restored with Sony’s DSEE (Digital Sound Enhancement Engine) technology. They are cozy and incredibly light. Even the touch controls are creative: a unique sensor allows you to select between tapping the central bud’s surface and the space in front of the bud.
The LinkBuds’ shortcomings in terms of sound quality are a drawback. For the money, detail levels are impressive. However, how much of that you can hear depends on the background noise. They could be more active.
Leaving that aside, if you prefer something other than Sony in-ear monitors, the LinkBuds are something to consider.
| PROS | CONS |
|---|---|
| • Well balanced sound • Lightweight and comfy design | • Less dynamic audio quality • Sub-par battery lifeNo wireless charging |
5. Sony INZONE H9 Wireless
The Sony INZONE H9 Wireless are excellent Sony in-ear monitors to consider. Although they may also be used on PCs, these are the top-tier headphones in Sony Electronics’ INZONE series and were created with the PS5 in mind. Unfortunately, Xbox players must go elsewhere for wireless gaming headphones that work.
They enable Bluetooth and offer minimal latency due to their wireless USB dongle, allowing you to connect to your console and smartphone simultaneously.
They even include an active noise cancellation (ANC) technology that, while not as effective as the Sony WH-1000XM4 Wireless’s, can effectively block out noises like background talk and the hum of a standing fan. They last 22 hours with their ANC on and linked to two devices simultaneously.
You can alter their sound using the graphic EQ and presets in the Sony | Headphones Connect app, and its somewhat bass-heavy sound profile give your mixes more thump and punch. They are robust and have a roughly 37-hour continuous battery life.
They could be better for phone conversations since the embedded microphone has poor recording quality, and if you’re phoning from a noisy or busy location, background noise could drown out your speech. The WH-1000XM5’s microphone, on the other hand, has increased recording quality and excellent noise control capability, making the newer model a preferable choice for calls.
| PROS | CONS |
|---|---|
| • Great Active Noise Cancelation • More than 22 hours of battery life | • Unequal audio equalization • Has stability issues when wearing them |
Conclusion
With so many Sony in-ear monitors in the market, choosing the best one can take time and effort. This is why I have decided to test the top five Sony IEMs and tell you which one you should buy in 2023.
In this list above, the Sony WF-1000XM4 is the clear winner here. However, if you want earbuds, go for the Sony LinkBuds. On the other hand, if you amt a gaming headset, then I recommend buying the Sony INZONE H9 wireless.
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