Sony ULT Wear review: All about that bass

Sony enjoys its reputation as one of the few — and most premium — audio brands with an easily recognisable sound signature. It is mostly a balance between bass and treble optimised to give you a good blend for most genres. However, I have found the existing XM lineup of wireless headphones a bit bland for Bollywood dance music, EDM, and the kind of music that can compel me to break into dancing anytime, anywhere. I am not saying they sound bad, but I have often struggled to find the oomph. And maybe Sony knew this, which is why the Japanese behemoth came up with the ULT range of personal audio products. ULT stands for ULTIMATE, but I think it stands for bass-heavy.

The new Sony ULT Wear is a part of that series, focusing on customers who want bass-laden music to fill their ears. That means the company had to steer away from its sonic signature to a more bassy sound output, all in favour of the audience that enjoys wearing headphones while dancing. I have been using the Sony ULT Wear for over a month for my distraction-free time at the office, sporadic commute, and solo dancing sessions. I have mostly enjoyed listening to music on the ULT Wear headphones, but I think the experience could have been better.

Sony ULT Wear review in 3 points

1. The ULT Wear is an embodiment of minimalism, which most users will appreciate. It has a matte finish all over with different colour shades you can choose from. The headphones are not too heavy, so while I never had a problem wearing them for prolonged times, I came across a comfort issue. The clamp force is a bit too much for people with larger-than-average heads (like me). Thankfully, the rubber pads on ear cups are soft so intermittently adjusting the headphones helps with the discomfort. You can also adjust the height of the ear cups according to your head size. The headphones have a power on/off button that doubles as a pairing button, a button to change noise cancellation modes, and a dedicated button for ULT equaliser modes. More on these later. You also get a port to connect the headphones to devices through a 3.5mm jack for a better audio experience, especially with gaming consoles or video editing machines. While connectivity is good, the headphones could have been more comfortable. I also found the battery good enough to last three to four days with moderate daily usage of 1-2 hours.
   
2. I mentioned what ULT stands for at the beginning of this review, so let us get to that part: the sound. Sony’s ULT Wear is out and out a product for Indian customers who like listening to dance music. The headphones use an integrated Processor V1 with Dual Noise Sensor technology, so you get thumping sounds to get you grooving. The ULT Wear 2 mode, which you can turn on with the press of a button, activates super-bass mode. Dua Lipa’s Training Session, David Guetta’s and OneRepublic’s I Don’t Wanna Wait, and NSYNC’s Bye Bye Bye were a delight to dance to with the headphones on. Turning it down a notch, the ULT 1 mode fizzles out some bass so that treble can kick in more effectively. Songs like Kinni Kinni by Diljit Dosanjh and Tauba Tauba by Karan Aujla sound good in this mode, but the moment you turn on ULT 2, bass distortion spoils the experience. The most neutral mode, ULT 0, is perfect for songs with more stringed instruments and when watching a movie. But it is not best suited for classics or retro music, so an 80s melody will sound like it was fused with an EDM track mindlessly. I think it goes easy on lo-fi and tracks with metal sounds, such as Hotel California by Eagles, which otherwise sound washed in the other modes. I would not recommend these headphones to an audiophile. However, for EDM lovers and dancers, ULT Wear cannot be the wrong choice.
   
3. The ULT Wear comes with in-built microphones, so while they help with active noise cancellation, they also let you talk over phone calls. I never faced an issue with calls on these headphones. I was properly audible on the other side of the call, while I could hear the other person clearly, thanks to the environmental noise cancellation. For active noise cancellation, the headphones are among the best ones I have used. The dedicated button instantly activates and deactivates ANC, but you can also use the Headphones app for that. In full-blown ANC mode, I could hardly hear the humdrum around me in the office. It can also block the noise of a whirring fan or a kitchen appliance. But it is not too effective when commuting on a public bus or metro. The transparency mode lets you listen to your surroundings, but if you want it when you have to talk, tap the right ear cup with three fingers to activate the mode temporarily.

Sony ULT Wear review verdict

ULT Wear is an important product in Sony’s trajectory in India, especially when several homegrown brands are doubling down on undercutting it. It is far from the flagship XM range, but good enough to pull the crowd that wants a premium and, more importantly, bass-heavy music experience. Its design is appealing, while the seamless control with dedicated hardware and software makes the experience smoother. There are some minor gripes like high clamp force or fewer ways to equalise the music, but they are not offputting. Someone who does not like loud or thumping music can go for other options with more ways to refine the audio. But if you are a bass head, the Sony ULT Wear is a good option if you are willing to pay Rs 16,990.