The best Sony headphones come in all shapes and sizes, including over-ear headphones, earbuds and true wireless earbuds. Because there are lots to choose from, it’s safe to say that Sony makes many of the best headphones you can buy today. But with different styles, models and price points, it can get confusing. That’s why we’ve created this guide to help you decide which are right for you.
Several pairs of Sony headphones will blow you away with their top sound quality and excellent performance. This includes the Sony WF-1000XM4 earbuds, which are our top pick for the best true wireless earbuds of 2022. The same goes for Sony’s over-ear headphones. Many of Sony’s over-ear models, like the Sony WH-1000XM4 headphones, deliver best-in-class noise-cancelling, sound quality and offer wireless connectivity.
The good news is, you don’t have to spend a fortune for a good pair of headphones or earbuds from Sony. Even some of the cheaper Sony headphones you can buy right now are fantastic choices if you’re on a budget or looking for a second pair to keep at work or wear to the gym.
Whether you're looking for cheap headphones or a pair of audiophile-grade cans, read on for our selection of all the top Sony headphones and buds that we’ve tested, reviewed and ranked over the past few years.
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Our top Sony headphones picks
The best Sony headphones of 2022
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The Sony WH-1000XM4 deliver excellent noise-cancellation and surprising sound quality all in a lightweight, comfortable design.
While they don't look significantly different from their predecessors, the Sony WH-1000XM3, a number of new features including multipoint pairing, DSEE Extreme upscaling, conversational awareness and auto-play/pause using a built-in sensor all help the WH-1000XM4 claim the title of best headphones in 2022.
By every possible metric, the Sony WH-1000XM4 are a wonderful pair of wireless noise-cancelling headphones. They deliver exactly what they promise and then some thanks to their exceptional noise cancellation and cutting-edge codec support.
On top of the adjustments listed above, the Sony WH-1000XM4 support Sony’s 360 Reality Audio format that enables spatial audio on stereo headphones plus the LDAC codec that can send a bitrate of up to 990 kbps. The unfortunate bit there, though, is that they no longer supports aptX or aptX HD, so your Hi-Res Audio support mileage may vary.
Read more: Sony WH-1000XM4 Wireless Headphones review
The Sony WH-1000XM3 were our overall favorite headphones, wireless headphones, and noise-cancelling headphones two years in a row – before being usurped by the XM4.
They might still be better for audiophiles though, thanks to aptX HD and Sony's LDAC, two of the best ways to listen to hi-res audio, and as they're wireless, you don't need to mess around with cumbersome wires.
The WH-1000XM3's also come with Google Assistant integration, and as of 2019, Amazon Alexa integration, which means you have instant access to a voice assistant wherever you are.
This alongside the stellar noise-cancellation capabilities makes the WH-1000MX3s perfect for commuting, whether you need a pair of cans to get your through your daily journey to work, or a long haul flight.
Read more: Sony WH-1000XM3 review
Sony is largely responsible for the rude health of the active noise-cancelling true wireless earbuds market, and with the WF-1000XM4, the company has combined performance, ergonomics, and build quality more effectively than ever before.
Compared to their predecessors, the Sony WF-1000XM3, the new wireless earbuds offer enough quality-of-life features to make them worth upgrading to, even if they are more expensive.
While other true wireless earbuds surpass the Sony WF-1000XM4 in particular areas – noise cancellation, for example – no other model comes close to offering such excellent quality across the board. That’s why the Sony WF-1000XM4 are hands-down the best true wireless earbuds you can buy today.
Read more: Sony WF-1000XM4 review
For nearly two years, the Sony WF-1000XM3 were best true wireless earbuds you could buy – until they were usurped by the WF-1000XM4.
However, the Sony WF-1000XM3 are still worth considering, not least because you can usually find them discounted by significant amounts.
The Sony WF-1000XM3 still manage to offer a level of noise-cancellation that's exceedingly good for a pair of earbuds, fist-pumping musicality, a sleek design, and a decent battery life.
Read more: Sony WF-1000XM3 review
- Apple AirPods Pro vs Sony WF-1000XM3: which buds are best?
There's a lot of competition in the true wireless space at the moment – even on budget buds like these from Sony. But the WF-C500 true wireless earbuds are sensibly specified, very light and comfortable, and have a choice of control methodologies that all work well.
At 20 hours, the all-in battery life is a little disappointing. However, 10 hours from the buds alone isn’t all that bad and should suit more people.
The sound is rapid, detailed and thoroughly engaging with some areas of real expertise. But there's a confined soundstage and lack of bass extension, which means if audio performance is your top priority it might be worth spending a bit more.
Read more: Sony WF-C500 review
With solid audio, great battery life, and Bluetooth connectivity, the Sony WH-CH510 are excellent bang for your buck. A slightly flimsy build may be a dealbreaker for some, but for most it’ll be a worthy sacrifice at this price; these wireless on-ear headphones will set you back only $59 in the US, £50 in the UK and AU$89 in Australia.
If you’re looking for headphones at this price point, you’re likely already willing to make a few sacrifices. Thankfully, most of the compromises Sony has made with the WH-CH510 haven’t been too crucial – the lack of analog input mirrors the loss of the 3.5mm port on most modern smartphones while the lightweight, plastic construction improves their portability and comfort.
For those chasing something that is substantially more sturdy or sporting a 3.5mm port, you’re unlikely to find an alternative at the same price point that’s also wireless, let alone boasts solid battery life and sound.
Read more: Sony WH-CH510 review
The Sony LinkBuds are the strangest true wireless earbuds we’ve seen. They’re the world’s first open-ring in-ear headphones, a design that leaves your ear canals totally free to hear your environment while you enjoy music, listen to podcasts, or take phone calls. A great option for listening on-the-move to stay aware of your surroundings or in a shared office space.
They’re also Sony’s smallest earbuds to date, much daintier than the Sony WF-1000XM4. They boast ingenious controls that mean you don’t have to fumble with the miniature housings to adjust music playback. Instead, you can tap your face to skip tracks, change the volume, and take calls.
The audio quality is exceptional, with a remarkably wide soundstage that gives every instrument in your favorite songs the room they need to shine. Detail, clarity, and rhythmic accuracy are also excellent.
The open fit does come with some drawbacks, though; the bass response isn’t particularly powerful, and being able to hear your environment means the detail you get from the LinkBuds can be obscured by whatever’s going on in the background.
Read more: Sony LinkBuds Review