Sony ULT WEAR Over-Ear Noise Canceling Headphones: A Full Review

I usually wear my headphones on the subway, where the screech of the tracks easily drowns out most podcasts. Sony has a reputation in the audio world, mostly because their flagship models are constantly labeled the best noise cancelling headphones you can buy. The ULT WEAR over-ear headphones essentially borrow the active noise cancellation tech from that expensive 1000X series but package it with a heavy emphasis on bass. The first thing I noticed is the dedicated ULT button on the ear cup. Pressing it immediately pushes the low-end frequencies forward. If you listen to hip-hop or EDM, the heavy bass response is exactly what you want, but classical or acoustic tracks sound a little muddy with the feature turned on. The thermo-foaming ear cushions do a good job of creating a physical seal around my head, which helps block out background chatter before the digital ANC even kicks in. Battery life is reliable. Getting thirty hours of playback means I only have to plug them in once a week, and the three-minute quick charge is genuinely helpful when I realize they are dead right before a flight. The off-white color looks clean out of the box, though I worry about makeup or sweat staining the pads over time. They fold up nicely into a compact case for travel. While they might not unseat the absolute top-tier models for audiophiles who want a flat sound profile, if you want aggressive bass and high-end isolation without paying flagship prices, these are a strong contender in the search for the best noise cancelling headphones.