At a price of over 4 million VND, ULT Wear offers a rich feature set and powerful bass, but its sound presentation may be controversial for those who love balanced sound.
Perfect design and quality
The ULT Wear headphones echo the bold look of Sony’s WH-1000XM series, presenting an elegant and modern design with smooth earcups, neat headbands and a minimalist matte plastic finish. While certainly, the design may be a bit plain for some, especially when compared to Sony’s usual design refinement in their high-end product lines. The headphones are available in three colors: black, gray and white, with subtle touches like the hologram “ULT” button on the left earcup, giving it a unique touch.
Weighing about 253 grams, ULT Wear is a bit heavy for over-ear headphones in the same segment. When worn for a long time you will gradually feel its weight, but Sony has minimized this to some extent with well-finished ear cushions and a head cushion designed for a snug fit. Balanced clamping force, providing sufficient stability without excessive pressure.
The foldable design is a thoughtful addition, with a flat fold mechanism that makes it easy to stow in the included carrying bag for on-the-go. This portability, combined with a durable design, makes ULT Wear a practical choice for frequent travelers.
Features and connectivity
Sony has equipped ULT Wear with an impressive range of features, especially for a mid-range headphone. This headset supports Bluetooth 5.2, ensuring a stable and energy-efficient connection with minimal latency, especially beneficial for video streaming and casual gaming. Additionally, the headphones also support Sony’s proprietary LDAC codec, allowing high-resolution audio streaming up to 32-bit/96kHz at 990kbps. This codec offers a significant sound quality advantage to Android users, although iPhone users are limited to AAC.
A standout feature of ULT Wear is its integration with the Sony Headphones Connect app, where users can access customizations like EQ, noise cancellation levels, and even Sony’s 360 Reality Audio. The app enables multipoint pairing, allowing users to connect to two devices at the same time, a useful feature for multitasking between a phone and a laptop, for example. Quick pairing is available for Android devices, although iOS users don’t have this convenience.
ULT Wear has a very impressive battery, with up to 30 hours of playtime with active noise cancellation (ANC) enabled and up to 50 hours without. Sony has integrated fast charging technology, providing an additional 90 minutes of music playback after just three minutes of charging.
Sound quality
Bass range
The Ult button is used to switch between Ult 1 and Ult 2 profiles, by default it will increase Clear Bass to +2 and +10.
The Sony ULT Wear headphones are definitely designed for bass lovers. The signature “ULT” button allows users to toggle between bass intensity levels – off, ULT 1 (moderate boost) and ULT 2 (maximum boost). From the start, ULT Wear’s sound signature leans heavily toward the low end, delivering a deep and powerful bass response that remains present across a variety of genres.
For bass-focused music, such as hip-hop and electronic dance music, ULT Wear delivers a powerful, engaging experience with powerful low frequencies that create good resonance. With ULT 1 enabled, tracks receive an additional bass boost, enhancing low-range response without overwhelming the rest of the mix. However, the ULT 2 takes the bass to the extreme, resulting in an overwhelming presence that can distort the sound and mask finer details. This setting is best for listeners who prioritize bass above all else, as it can easily overwhelm the midrange and highs.
Mid and high range
The ULT Wear’s midrange is decent but lacks the clarity and precision found in Sony’s higher-end models. Vocals and instruments, especially in the midrange, were clear but lacked some warmth and definition. The high range is a bit pushed back, which can make the overall sound a bit “dark,” especially for genres that require high-frequency precision, such as classical or jazz. While this creates a smoother listening experience, it sacrifices detail, which may disappoint users looking for a more neutral sound.
ULT Wear’s high-range performance is mixed; there’s a peak around 8kHz, which provides some brightness, but overall, the treble lacks the “jangle” that audiophiles might expect. For casual listeners, tweaking the EQ may be enough, but more demanding listeners may find that high-frequency details, such as horns or acoustic strings, are blurred.
360 Reality Audio and custom EQ
Sony has integrated 360 Reality Audio for spatial audio, which works well with compatible tracks on streaming platforms like Tidal and Deezer. By analyzing ear shape through the app, Sony promises a personalized listening experience, and when enabled, 360 Reality Audio creates a more immersive sound stage. However, its effectiveness varies depending on the music and personal preferences.
The Headphones Connect app allows users to adjust EQ settings, essential for those who want to tone down the default bass. EQ adjustments help balance the overall sound but have their limits. Excessive bass cannot be completely contained, and users may still find that the midrange and highs are masked in certain genres.
Active noise cancellation (ANC) and crosstalk mode
While not up to the level of the high-end Sony WH-1000XM5, ULT Wear’s ANC does a good job of blocking low-frequency noise, such as engine noise or general voices. In noisier environments, such as busy streets or buses, ANC is effective but allows some high-frequency sounds to pass through. ULT Wear’s ANC may not satisfy those accustomed to high-end noise-canceling headphones, but it works well enough for daily commuting or office use.
Sony also offers an environmental sound mode that allows outside noise to filter in, adjustable on a scale of 1 to 20. This mode is handy when you need to be aware of your surroundings. However, users may notice that with high ambient settings, music clarity drops slightly, which can reduce the listening experience in noisy environments.
Conclusion: Is Sony ULT Wear worth buying?
Sony ULT Wear (WH-ULT900N) aims to provide a powerful bass experience for music lovers while integrating many of Sony’s advanced features, such as high-resolution audio support, 360 Reality Audio and ANC are customizable. At over $4 million, they’re an attractive option for listeners focused on bass-heavy music genres like hip-hop and EDM, where their powerful low-range response shines. Additionally, comfortable designs, good battery life, and comprehensive app-based customization options enhance their appeal to everyday users.
However, ULT Wear’s sound signature, a strong preference for bass, isn’t for everyone. In particular, ULT 2 mode can overwhelm the sound stage to the point of clutter, obscuring other details. While the midrange is decent, the highs may lack the “tinkiness” that some audiophiles seek, making these headphones less ideal for those who appreciate balanced or refined sound.
ULT Wear is best suited to bass enthusiasts or casual listeners who appreciate Sony’s feature set and are willing to adjust settings to find an acceptable balance. For listeners who prefer a more balanced sound, there are alternatives in this price range that may provide greater satisfaction.