Sony WH-XB900N, A Deep Dive into Extra Bass Noise Cancellation

by Samuel Kalenga on Oct 05, 2024

Sony is a company long at the forefront of the evolution of wireless headphones, and the WH-XB900N is just the latest in a long line of superlative products. Sitting proudly at the heart of their Extra Bass range means that this pair of headphones delivers the serious thump of the firm’s audiophile models, but also bolts on class-leading noise cancellation and a light touch on the head that makes them wearable for marathon listening sessions. I have owned these headphones for about a year now so, in this review, I’m going to really dive into what made me buy them, and whether they have stood the test of time.

Unveiling the Extra Bass Experience

Per the WH-XB900N’s name, it delivers Extra Bass – the one people want from Sony, in other words – and I’m pleased to report that it’s rich, dense, punchy stuff, the audiophile’s equivalent of a succulent, hearty meal. Finely tuned 40mm drivers were built to make it so. Whether you’re listening to EDM, hip-hop, classical music with some deep, satisfying bass, this headset brings you that lower frequency in full, stentorian force. Every bump in a song is surprisingly well-captured – the WH-XB900N magazines your music’s bass line and delivers it with every beat.

Exploring the Bass Spectrum

What’s more, the WH-XB900N shows it doesn’t just provide a hefty bass, it does so with an abundance of balance and nuance. Sony’s audio engineers have crafted the headphones so as to keep the bass response calibrated in a way that it doesn’t drown out the mid and upper-ranges with overwhelming avalanches of low end. By doing this, Sony’s engineers maintain the WH-XB900N’s delicate sonic balance even if your listening habits veer toward genres that often lean on over-the-top basslines.

The bass response feels defined, where the individual notes ring through the low frequencies with a certain separation from one another. This makes it possible to hear individual notes and frequencies – even at higher volumes. It also means that, if you’re an audiophile, you’ll actually be able to determine the nuance between the various sonic elements within a song’s bassline.

Noise Cancellation: A World of Quiet

The WH-XB900N’s greatest strength isn’t just its big booming sound; it’s that big booming sound enjoyed with superlative noise cancellation. Sony’s noise-cancelling headphones are the equal of any on the market, and the power of their noise cancelling transfers to the WH-XB900N. Want to sit in peace on a noisy train? Get this wireless model and focus on your tunes to block out the sound of the fare dodger shouting at his mum while his phone plays a train whistle ringtone.

Do you want to dig into your favourite podcast or music when working at your desk in the midst of a busy open plan office? Same principle. Or just sit in peace in the closet while the kids brutally massacre your faction in a game of Halo. No problem. The WH-XB900N gives you all that good noise cancelling fabricated entities, the figments of mathematics that require energy to cancel even bigger (and bolder!) energy objects, ensure your favourite things stay the same: noise cancelling technology. Because there is no such thing as arbitrarily cancelling noise.

Noise is just another wave, which means it’s got to be cancelled in the same way as any other wave. Two waves applied back to back (or applied to one another as joises producing figments of mathematics) can equal zero. But not waves applied cancelling directly. Analysing the noise around you, noise cancelling tech creates counter-phase sound waves that can cancel out unwanted booms and buzzes.

Beyond the Basics: Noise Cancellation Modes

The WH-XB900N includes a number of discrete noise cancellation modes, enabling you to adapt it to your needs on the fly. For example, selecting ‘Full Noise Cancelling’ mode will block out all noise around you for maximum immersion, while using the Ambient Sound mode will let you choose a level of ambient sound that you want to hear, for example to listen to announcements, or so you can hear when someone is speaking to you.

A nice touch is that the ‘Ambient Sound’ mode allows you to control, via a volume slider, exactly how much ambient sound you want to introduce. This gives you lots of flexibility when it comes to being able to balance noise cancellation and ‘situational awareness’. So whatever situation you find yourself in, you can adjust the WH-XB900N to suit your needs.

Comfort and Design: A Perfect Fit

(Comfort is key; after all, if you’ll love your headphones, you’ll want to use them to listen for long periods of time. Today’s audio tech depends on satisfying background audio, and the WH-XB900N doesn’t want to compromise your ability to make the most of it.) Sony prioritises comfort in the WH-XB900N, with generously padded earcups lined in a soft, breathable material to keep them feeling comfy on your head for long stretches. Thick, plush earpads wrap comfortably around your ears, nestling into the natural contours of your head and providing a soft, secure seal that’s comfortably tight.

The padded headband’s adjustable design can be loosened or tightened to accommodate a variety of head sizes. The headband’s soft, breathable material and adjustability let listeners find the perfect strap tension, regardless of their head shape or width, ensuring a secure, comfortable, non-pinching fit that won’t give listeners a headache even after hours of listening. The headband’s soft surface feels great against your skin, and is packed with breathable, comfortable materials that maintain their texture even after warming up.

A Design That Speaks Volumes

With their tribal, sleek design and newer, fresh look to it, WH-XB900N headphones’ aesthetics is not merely about wow factor, but one that’s useful and practical too. These headphones are sturdy and designed to last. Its minimalistic, timeless design with no unnecessary, fancy attachments and hardware will go with a variety of your clothing styles and fits. You can take the WH-XB900N on any occasion. It’s available in a variety of creative colours you can always match your headphones to your style every time. It’s foldable – portable to take anywhere and it fits right into your suitcase or work bag. Not just packing handy, it’s protection.

Connectivity and Features: A Seamless Experience

The WH-XB900N is connected wirelessly by Bluetooth 5.0. You can connect this headphone as long as your device has this version of Bluetooth such as smartphones, laptops, and tablets. (As of i-device, it has Bluetooth 5.0. For android devices it depends depending on the manufacturer or on the specs of the device.

If the device has an auto update of the Bluetooth, it should be updated. If not, you can manually update it via Google Play.) Between your device and this headphone, you can check on which codec were used to stream the audio signal. It supports only two codecs, the SBC and the AAC for richer sound. The average Bluetooth wireless range is up to 30 feet or 10 metres. The WH-XB900N is equipped with a microphone so that when you receive a call, you can talk or answer without touching your device. The hand-free microphone has a clear audio quality for talking to someone.

Beyond the Essentials: Added Convenience

Sony’s WH-XB900N has a host of small but not insignificant convenient features that improve the overall experience. Quick Attention mode lets you mute your playing tracks, listen to ambient noise all around you, and respond to an announcement or a quick question without removing your headphones. Just place your hand over the right earcup and the music volume is lowered.

This mode is helpful whenever you want to listen to announcements, have a quick conversation without removing your headphones, or are on a long bus/train ride where hearing the station or destination announcements can help. The headphones support Google Assistant and Siri via your phone so you can control music playback, call controls and access voice commands and other features without taking out your phone.

Battery Life: Long-Lasting Performance

The WH-XB900N pumps out sound for up to 30 hours while noise cancellation is on, which is great for those long commutes or extended flights, or extended music, podcast, or audiobook listening if that’s your thing. Ten hours of quick charging also gives you an incredible 10 hours of playback after a 10-minute charge. If you realised you left your headphones charging after you left home, there’s no need to turn around to get them; you should be good to head out the door.

Who is the WH-XB900N for?

The Sony WH-XB900N is a great option for anyone looking for powerful bass and a pair of headphones that can successfully cancel out background noise while still being completely comfortable for an entire day. Perfect for:

Anyone who is a fan of music with lots of bass – EDM, hip-hop or even just pop music – is likely to experience sound too.
Commuters seeking to shield themselves from the roar of the train, bus or plane, and escape into their music or podcasts.
For students and professionals requiring a pair of headphones for studying and working from home, enabling focus in the midst of surrounding distractions.
anybody in search of a good-sounding, comfortable and stylish pair of headphones to use on a daily basis, for listening to music while walking about, doing exercises or relaxing at home.
Gamers looking for a deeply immersive gaming experience with strong audio and crisp sound effects.
Travellers looking for relaxing, undisturbed flights or overland journeys in which they don’t have to shout above the ambient hubbub.

Final Verdict: A Powerful and Versatile Audio Companion

The Sony WH-XB900N is a great pair of headphones with a very good performance, reasonable price and comfortable wear. The Sony create an excellent balance of all these features and this contributes to an excellent consumer experience. Using those headphones, you get strong bass and excellent noise cancelling.

The headphones are very comfortable and easy to wear for a long period of time. It is evident that Sony prioritises high-quality audio experience with its products. This might be a disadvantage for people who are seeking for a less bassy experience, but all in all the WH-XB900N is a great pair of headphones. Therefore, I would highly recommend the Sony WH-XB900N to audiophile and less keen listeners as it represents an excellent quality/price ratio.

Where to Buy: Your Next Audio Adventure Awaits

You can pick up the Sony WH-XB900N at most online and brick-and-mortar retailers. You can get it right away and start taking your new audio buddy for a spin. Below are a few of the retailers I’ve seen the WH-XB900N at.