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Sony ULT Wear problems

Of the 43 channels counted here, 9 of 23 objected to design and build quality — the most common complaint about the Sony ULT Wear. Next: sound quality (6 of 28); comfort and fit (4 of 30).

43 channels 54 videos Page generated How this is counted

6 of 43 were sponsored by Sony or got a free unit; 6 disclosed another paid promotion or ad; public editorial analysis; commissioned reports are a separate paid service.

Sony ULT Wear: where the complaints land

Ranked by how many channels objected, not by score — a topic most people liked can still be the one that trips buyers up. Pick a topic for the complaints behind it.

liked it had a problem split Each square is one channel

  1. Design and build quality9 of 23 had a problem12 liked it · 2 split
  2. Sound quality6 of 28 had a problem22 liked it
  3. Comfort and fit4 of 30 had a problem24 liked it · 2 split
  4. Price and value2 of 20 had a problem18 liked it
  5. Noise cancellation1 of 28 had a problem26 liked it · 1 split
  6. Transparency mode1 of 8 had a problem7 liked it
  7. The carrying case1 of 10 had a problem8 liked it · 1 split
The exact counts, including channels with no tie to the brand
TopicLiked itNo disclosed relationship with SonyComplaints
Design and build quality52% 12 of 2350% 8 of 169 objected · 2 split
Sound quality79% 22 of 2886% 18 of 216 objected
Comfort and fit80% 24 of 3083% 19 of 234 objected · 2 split
Price and value90% 18 of 2092% 12 of 132 objected
Noise cancellation93% 26 of 2890% 18 of 201 objected · 1 split
Transparency mode88% 7 of 83 of 31 objected
The carrying case80% 8 of 1075% 6 of 81 objected · 1 split

This page covers complaints only. See what all 43 channels concluded, including what they praised.

Sony ULT Wear: what they actually said

Every topic channels objected to, the complaints first. One voice per channel, only from channels counted on that side; those with no disclosed tie to the brand come first.

Design and build quality

9 of 23 had a problem · 12 liked it · 2 split

Had a problem 9

“Despite the weight, you would think that, you know, it feels pretty sturdy and hefty in the hand. It doesn't. It feels kind of cheap.”
Babbling BooleanMay 2024at 3:52 (watch on YouTube, opens in a new tab)

Liked it 12

“The ULT Wear has another advantage over the XM5s. It is the fact that these use a different hinge which actually allows the headphones to twist inwards and rest down around your shoulders here comfortably when you're not wearing them.”
WhatGearApr 2024at 4:01 (watch on YouTube, opens in a new tab)
More from both sides (6 more quotes)
“while they weigh right about the same as the XM5s at 250 grams they lack the more premium unlook and feel of the XM5s”
CNETApr 2024at 1:34 (watch on YouTube, opens in a new tab)
“you cannot fold them or anything, which is quite unfortunate”
SimplyPopsApr 2024at 2:53 (watch on YouTube, opens in a new tab)
“And unfortunately both are not sweat or water resistant.”
Occupied StudiosAug 2024at 5:51 (watch on YouTube, opens in a new tab)
“If you end up getting one of the older models, they developed cracks over time, just the act of taking them on and off, folding and unfolding them, and lengthening and shortening the adjustable frame puts enough stress on the thin plastic…”
The Bass ArenaNov 2025at 12:32 (watch on YouTube, opens in a new tab)
“With the Ultwear, you have kind of a generic hard plastic finish compared to a very smooth soft matte finish on the XM5.”
CEONTHEMAKINGMay 2024at 1:02 (watch on YouTube, opens in a new tab)
“they're extremely portable, they can go ahead and fold up as you can see, but not only that, if you want to lay them flat on a surface, they got you covered.”
TecH MoENov 2024at 1:40 (watch on YouTube, opens in a new tab)

Sound quality

6 of 28 had a problem · 22 liked it

Had a problem 6

“So the ULT Wears, they were very heavy on the bass. ULT1 had a good amount of bass, but ULT2 I felt like was a little too much bass for me.”
New Stuff TV 2Apr 2024at 3:14 (watch on YouTube, opens in a new tab)

Liked it 22

“the sound of the Ultwear headphones is very good, they have crisp highs, good mids, and good lows”
Knowledge Sharing TechJan 2026at 3:14 (watch on YouTube, opens in a new tab)
More from both sides (3 more quotes)
“I got to admit, out of the box, I wasn't super impressed with the overall sound quality. I thought there was a little bit of a dull kind of sound and that the overall sound stage and separation of instruments seemed kind of muddied”
Brian MacDuffFree unit from SonyMay 2024at 7:43 (watch on YouTube, opens in a new tab)
“I can tell already it's not as loud as this and the bass kind of sound distorted. I ain't even press the O button yet.”
Latrell JenningsFree unit from SonyMay 2024at 8:20 (watch on YouTube, opens in a new tab)
“the ult button is another good feature and functionality of these headphones that I find as a pro”
JayTechDec 2024at 6:46 (watch on YouTube, opens in a new tab)

Comfort and fit

4 of 30 had a problem · 24 liked it · 2 split

Had a problem 4

“the fake leather can heat up your ears a little bit”
Mike O'BrienMay 2024at 1:55 (watch on YouTube, opens in a new tab)

Liked it 24

“The headphones themselves are really light and at times it actually feels kind of cheap it is plastic it doesn't have any kind of weight to it which is a plus if you're going to wear these for you know running or jogging it's not going to…”
GameskyApr 2024at 1:26 (watch on YouTube, opens in a new tab)
More from both sides (1 more quote)
“the ULT Wear features ear cups that are wider and deeper than the XM5s, meaning that the ULT wear gives you more room for your ears and the headband and ear pads also just have a lot more cushion than the flagship XM5s.”
SoundGuysApr 2024at 0:37 (watch on YouTube, opens in a new tab)

Price and value

2 of 20 had a problem · 18 liked it

Had a problem 2

“but these are like $200 cheaper so of course the quality is not going to be as good as those”
JEBUSMay 2024at 1:53 (watch on YouTube, opens in a new tab)

Liked it 18

“At $200, the ULT Wear represents a significant step up from the budget ANC option offered by the WHCH720N, but avoids the premium price tag associated with the feature-packed WH-1000XM5, which currently sits at $399.”
Audio Zoneat 6:27 (watch on YouTube, opens in a new tab)

Noise cancellation

1 of 28 had a problem · 26 liked it · 1 split

Had a problem 1

No quotable complaint among the 1 who objected. A quote has to be found in the video’s captions, state a clear verdict and come from a review rather than a setup guide. Hear them at the moment they raised it:

Liked it 26

“I feel like the noise cancelling is actually pretty impressive I wouldn't necessarily put it up there with the XM4 or the XM5 because it doesn't block out people talking as well but everything else I feel like it's pretty on par with…”
GameskyApr 2024at 3:43 (watch on YouTube, opens in a new tab)
More from both sides (1 more quote)
“Touching on the ANC performance, these perform very good in this department and using them right after my 1000XM5s, there really was not a world of difference in between the two that I could pick up.”
TecH MoENov 2024at 4:48 (watch on YouTube, opens in a new tab)

Transparency mode

1 of 8 had a problem · 7 liked it

Had a problem 1

No quotable complaint among the 1 who objected. A quote has to be found in the video’s captions, state a clear verdict and come from a review rather than a setup guide. Hear them at the moment they raised it:

Liked it 7

“the ambient sound mode sounds great. My voice sounds very natural. It doesn't have that robotic tint to it”
Flossy CarterApr 2024at 8:40 (watch on YouTube, opens in a new tab)
More from both sides (1 more quote)
“my favorite thing about the ambient mode on the old wear is that it sounds supernatural. I actually feel that the ambient mode on the old wear sounds more natural than the ambient mode on the XM5s and it almost sounds like you're not…”
GYMCADDYIncludes a paid adJun 2024at 14:05 (watch on YouTube, opens in a new tab)

The carrying case

1 of 10 had a problem · 8 liked it · 1 split

Had a problem 1

No quotable complaint among the 1 who objected. A quote has to be found in the video’s captions, state a clear verdict and come from a review rather than a setup guide. Hear them at the moment they raised it:

Liked it 8

“Also I do believe there will be some people out there who will prefer the carry case that comes with the ULT Wear because it has a smaller footprint in comparison to the XM5s which are slightly taller but thinner.”
WhatGearApr 2024at 4:34 (watch on YouTube, opens in a new tab)
More from both sides (1 more quote)
“In comparison to the case that you get with the XM5s, I do prefer this one that you get with the old wear as it is smaller and much more easier to transport.”
TecH MoENov 2024at 1:13 (watch on YouTube, opens in a new tab)

Back to the ranking

Quick answers

What are the biggest downsides of the Sony ULT Wear?
The flaws and issues most often raised, ranked by how many of the 43 channels objected: design and build quality (9 of 23 objected), sound quality (6 of 28 objected), comfort and fit (4 of 30 objected).
What is the reception among channels with no disclosed relationship?
On comfort and fit, 24 of 30 channels rated it positively (80%). Counting only the 23 who disclosed no sponsorship, free unit or ad from Sony, it is 19 of 23 (83%).

Sony ULT Wear channels and sources

Every channel counted on this page, most-watched first — the one you have already seen is probably near the top. Thumbnails open the video on YouTube.

Sony ULT Wear and WH-1000XM5 Reviewed & Compared by an AUDIO ENGINEERThis is Tech Today811k viewsSony ULT WEAR - Honest Review After 1 MonthMike O'Brien448k viewsUltimate Battle! 🔥 Sony ULT WEAR vs XB910N vs CH720N vs WH-1000XM5Aaron X Loud and Wireless226k viewsSony 2024 Headphone Line Up Explained - Sony ULT Wear Vs Sony 1000XM5 Vs Sony 1000XM4 Vs…GYMCADDY167k viewsSony ULT Wear REVIEW - Don't Make a MISTAKE...Brian MacDuff163k viewsSONY ULT WEAR - Sony’s Most Bass Heavy HeadphonesFlossy Carter152k viewsSony ULT Wear Headphones Review With Extra BassCNET135k viewsSony WH-1000XM6 vs. Sony ULT WEAR - Which Sony headphones should you buy?SoundGuys80k viewsSony ULT WEAR vs. Skullcandy Crusher ANC 2: Battle of Bass!Occupied Studios65k viewsSony ULT WEAR VS Sony WH-1000XM5 | Closer Than You Think!CEONTHEMAKING61k viewsRecensione esclusiva: SONY ULT WEAR - Le Migliori CUFFIE del 2024Gesualdo Lo Monaco45k viewsSony ULT Wear: $200 King or Nah?EL JEFE REVIEWS44k views
Show all 43 channels
Sony ULT Wear Review! ( SUPER BASS POWER )WhatGear37k viewsSony ULT WEAR vs XM5: Closer than you think! ($200 vs $400)SimplyPops33k viewsSony ULT WEAR: SONY vuole SPACCARE!Gianluca Bocci30k viewsComo reparar Diadema Sony ULT Wearreparaciones de audifonos26k viewsSony ULT Wear: REAL Bass Is BACK!New Stuff TV23k viewsThe Surprising Truth About Sony's Newest BASS Headphones - Sony ULT Wear ReviewLeechTM19k viewsSony ULT Wear vs WH-1000XM5New Stuff TV 217k viewsThe Sony ULT Wear’s Are the Weirdest Headphones I’ve Ever Used...Latrell Jennings17k viewsSony ULT Wear: The Best Features & Functions #sonyheadphonesHowToDevices 16k viewsSony ULT Wear Headphones | Unboxing & ReviewRonOnTech15k viewsSony ULT Wear vs Skullcandy Crusher ANC 2 | Bass BattleThe Bass Arena12k views(Major flaw) Sony ult wear hinge problem!Wyatt_nothing HD11k viewsSony Ult Wear Bass Headphones: Skullcandy Crushers Dethroned?!TecH MoE9k viewsSony ULT Wear Headphones Review | Sound Quality & ANC TestKnowledge Sharing Tech9k viewsSony ULT WEAR Review - Big Bass, Big ReviewBabbling Boolean8k viewsSony ULT WEAR Review: Winner of the Bass Race?RTINGS Audio6k viewsQUESTE CUFFIE CAMBIERANNO PER SEMPRE IL MODO IN CUI ASCOLTI MUSICA 😨🔊: SONY ULT WEARMario Beatrice5k viewsSony ULT Wear | Queste sono le cuffie migliori che io abbia mai ...Alessio Gugliandolo 4k viewsSony ULT Wear | Black | UnboxingJEBUS4k viewsSony ULT Wear vs Sony WH-1000XM5 - Which One You Should Pick?Audio Zone4k viewsIs this the best budget Headphones | Sony ULT Wear Review & UnboxingJayTech3k viewsSony ULT WEAR vs Sony WH-1000XM5 – Which is BETTER?Which is Better3k viewsSony ULT WEAR Cuffia Esplosiva🔥🎵" ANC + ULT Mode = Boom Bass! 🎧"GiPiPSB2k viewsLe cuffie ANC da avere - Sony ULT WearR-Tech2k viewsAn Unhinged Rant about the Sony WH-CH720N (and comparison to Soundcore Q30s and Sony ULT…Sibai2k viewsSony ULT Wear Bluetooth Headphones Unboxing & Review: Sound, Comfort & Features!Greg Toope2k viewsSony ULT WEAR Unboxing, Build Quality & Full SpecsStuff around the house583 viewsSony ULT Wear (Malaysia) Review: Adds deep BASS effect, but not for every musicTrendGrnd184 viewsSony's NEW Bass Wireless Headphones! : ULT WEARGamesky82k viewsSony's big oops! ULT Wear Full ReviewErin Lawrence22k viewsWH-1000XM6 vs Sony CH520 vs CH720N vs ULT WEAR: cuál comprar en 2026DAS.9k views

How this is counted

One channel, one vote per topic. A channel who makes six points about sound counts once, so the numbers measure reception rather than talkativeness. Specifications and stated personal preferences are excluded; only assessments and direct comparisons count. A topic appears only where at least eight channels discussed it.

Split means a channel’s praise and criticism of a topic cancelled out. They count in the total and on neither side.

We have not tested this product. Counts describe channels with eligible assessments. Selected quotations link to their located caption passage. 6 of the 43 were sponsored by Sony or got a free unit from them, and 6 more disclosed a paid promotion or an ad. Each is marked wherever they are quoted, and the summary shows every verdict with and without them.

No disclosed relationship is the subset without a recorded sponsorship, gifted-unit classification or generic paid-promotion marker. Unrelated ads can be labelled separately; affiliate disclosures are not comprehensively audited by this table. Missing arrangements remain unknown. This subset does not prove independence or a sponsorship effect.

Selected quotations are located in saved captions. Location is distinct from semantic support, product attribution and model checks; it is not comprehensive human review.

These public editorial pages take no affiliate commission or sponsorship. Commissioned reports are a separate paid service. Page generated from saved observations, not newly collected reviews.

A commissioned report scopes the products, questions and available evidence with your team. It can distinguish recurring observations, meaningful exceptions and open questions.

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