With the Inzone Buds, Sony has introduced in-ear headsets for PC and PS5. MeinMMO editor Benedikt Schlotmann was able to test the Inzone Buds.
With the Inzone Buds, Sony has introduced new in-ear headsets for gamers. They advertise long battery life, excellent sound, and low latency. At the same time, they also promote compatibility with the PS5.
I was able to test the new in-ears from Sony and explain in the review who should buy the in-ears. Because these are really good, but come with an annoying limitation.
Who tested this?
I now own over 20 gaming mice and have tested over 15 keyboards privately. I also own over 10 sets of in-ear headphones. At MeinMMO, I have been testing hardware for our readers since 2019. Besides the PC and PS5, I am also now using the Steam Deck.
The Sony Inzone Buds were provided to me by the manufacturer for testing. I purchased the WF-1000XM4 mentioned in the article privately.
Benedikt Schlotmann
Hardware Editor MeinMMO
Features and technical details:
| Design/Interface | In-ear headphones |
| Software | Software (PC) |
| Lighting | No |
| Compatibility | PC, PS5, possibly mobile |
| Scope of delivery | In-ear headphones, attachments, manual, and charging cable |
| Special features | Compatibility with PlayStation, dongle. |
| Other features: | Bluetooth LE connection or via included dongle; 360 Spatial Audio |
| Price (RRP) | 199.99 |
| |
Keine Produkte gefunden.
Design and Build
Scope of delivery: Included with the in-ear headphones and case is a charging cable, attachments for the in-ears, and the obligatory manual. Inside the charging case is a USB dongle with which you can connect the in-ears either to your PC or PS5.
How are the headphones built? The charging case of the Inzone Buds is quite large and bulky. This is particularly noticeable compared to Sony’s own XM4 or other products. The in-ears themselves are also quite large, but they have the advantage that only a very small part touches the ear itself.
The Inzone Buds are available in both black and white.
Build Quality
The Build Quality: Essentially, the case and the in-ears feel robust and stable. Although the case is made entirely of plastic, the hinge is wide enough and appears break-resistant.
The case is unfortunately quite scratch-prone, and scratches are quite visible on the housing. Fingerprints are also easily noticeable on the in-ears. The USB-C port on the back cannot be covered or sealed to protect it from dirt.
The in-ears are also rated IPX4 and should therefore not break even in the rain. However, it is still not advisable to swim or bathe with them.
Software
For the Inzone Buds, Sony’s Inzone Hub is used. This can be easily installed on the PC. No software can be used on the PS5 or mobile. This is unfortunate, as Sony offers an extensive and good app called “Headphones Connect” for its XM4 for its own in-ears and other headphone products. According to Sony, support for the “Connect” app is planned for the second quarter of 2024.
The Inzone Hub itself is very clearly structured, and you can quickly find your way around. The software offers preset “equalizers,” and the equalizer can also be adjusted freely. Noise cancellation can also be turned on or off
Additionally, spatial sound can be set, which Sony calls 360 Spatial Sound. However, this mode is only supported by certain music streaming services (Amazon Music Unlimited, nugs.net, TIDAL).
On the next page, you can read how the Inzone Buds perform in terms of comfort, audio quality, and other details. In the concluding review, you will find out whether I can recommend the Inzone Buds without hesitation.
- 1
- 2
