Sony unveiled the ULT Wear wireless headphones globally back in April 2024, followed by its Indian release in May. Since its initial announcement, I have been excited to check them out as I already own the WH-1000XM4 and have used the WH-1000XM5 as well.
Officially, the ULT Wear sits right below the flagship 1000XM lineup but these are built for a completely different audience. I’ve had the headphones for a couple of weeks now and let’s just say it had started to convert me into a basshead. But for a Rs 16,990 price tag, is it really worth it?
1. Sony ULT Wear has a familiar face
Sony’s new ULT Wear features a design that is quite similar to the XM4s. Right off the bat, this was good news for me since they felt right at home around my ears. But it’s not just the shape but also its form factor that is familiar. These retain the ability to fold (this was skipped on the XM5) which makes them more compact and you can keep them safe in the hardshell case. This is pretty handy when you’re traveling. The model I reviewed was the off-white version.
But to keep the price tag lower than their flagship lineup, some trade-offs were made. It feels less premium than the 1000XM series. You lose out on the premium soft touch finish for a more rigid plastic finish. The buttons also add to this hollow plastic feel.
The difference was surprising since these looked so similar to the XM4s. But these are mid-range headphones, so the ULT Wear gets a pass. You get a dedicated button for ANC/Transparent mode, a ULT button for the new bass boost mode, and the power buttons. For ports, you get a USB Type-C for charging and a 3.5mm audio jack. There’s a Type-C cable and an AUX cable in the box as well.
2. New sound that packs a punch!
Recent Sony audio products (like the high-end XM5) have moved to a more natural sounding balanced audio profile. But the ULT Wear clearly leans towards the bass. The 40mm neodymium drivers offer impressive lows and deep bass even in the default mode.
However, there were times when instruments got drowned in the song as the bass line was always more pronounced. Meanwhile, the vocals were clear and songs were usually brighter when I hit ‘ULT’ mode. As I mentioned above, there is a dedicated ULT button and it plays a major role here.
The ULT Wear can be used in default mode, ULT 1, and ULT 2. The first option is the closest you can get to a balanced option without tweaking the equalizer, while the other two are made to get the party started. ULT 1 makes the bass punchier and adds more punch to a song.
If you’re into hip-hop and electronic genres, these will liven up the listening experience of your favorite tracks. Things get out of hand when you get to ULT 2. You have left behind all restrictions and just put the bass into full throttle. It is so powerful that it reminds me of cars with modded sound systems that can get obnoxiously bass heavy.
3. How’s the call quality, ANC, & battery life?
Sony ULT Wear is a good pair of headphones for making calls. It has good noise canceling from its microphones, but it did struggle a bit when removing some background noise in loud environments like a busy street. On the other hand, ANC (Active Noise Cancellation) is where these headphones shine.
The ULT Wear packs Sony’s integrated V1 chip for noise cancellation and the brand’s expertise can be seen here. It is easily one of the better ANC headphones in the market right now, comparable even to the flagship 1000XM5. These also come with Wind Noise Reduction tech that covers the mic with a mesh that lowers wind and background noise.
It houses a sensor that detects when you take off these headphones and pauses media and even supports gesture touch controls from the right cup. Sony promises up to 30 hours of battery life with ANC on and 50 hours with ANC off. The claims are accurate since I did get over the 24 hour mark with ANC enabled throughout. The quick charge is another boon with just a few minutes offering juice for a couple of hours.
4. Who’s it for? Is it worth it?
For about Rs 17,000 (AMAZON), Sony ULT Wear isn’t exactly affordable. So who are these made for and is it worth its price? To put it simply, these were designed to meet the needs of a certain group of people. These are made for the bass heads. Personally, I have always preferred a more balanced sound profile.
But the fun I had by turning up the bass in some of my favorite hip-hop and electronic tracks made the entire experience very enjoyable. Audiophiles and audio engineers would likely steer clear from the ULT Wear. In a market like India, where bass becomes the main selling point, the ULT is easily recommendable. Many people love that extra bass and this hits just right.
