Sony WF-LS900N Review: Great price, surreal audio!

If you’re a frequent traveler like me, then it is certain that you appreciate good quality earphones. The clamour of people in the bus or metro, after a long and tiring day at work, simply adds to the frustrations and stress. Thankfully, all the noise is drowned out when you put on your earphones and get lost in the world of rock, pop or whatever else you prefer. However, with some earphones even that isn’t enough. What you really need is the Active Noise Cancellation feature to get the best experience. Although the budget earphone segment offers much more now than it did 5 years ago, it still does not stand against the quality that high-end stuff that Sony and Bose provide. Notably, Sony’s newest addition has hit the market. Sony WF-LS900N aims to bridge the gap between ultra-high-end earbuds and premium yet somewhat affordable earbuds.

I have been using the Sony WF-LS900N for quite some time now and here’s how it went.

Sony WF-LS900N: Design

The Sony WF-LS900N is part of the LinkBuds series yet it is drastically different from the last LinkBuds. Instead of the open-ear design, the WF-LS900N now features an in-ear design which means tight ear-seal, improving not only the audio quality but the ANC as well. Sony has offered various-sized silicone ear tips to match your ear size. Although it is a premium offering from Sony, the build quality of the charging case feels not up to par and could’ve been better.

Although Sony’s other premium offering is the WF-1000XM4, it is bulky when compared to its competitors like the AirPods Pro. The Sony WF-LS900N is quite the opposite, weighing in at just 4.8 grams, making them considerably lighter than the Airpods Pro and the WF-1000XM4. The small charging case along with the lightweight design is a boon for someone like me and your ears won’t get tired even after a full day of use. The WF-LS900N comes in three colours with a matte texture, meaning you’re not likely to scratch the case unless it takes heavy damage.

Sony WF-LS900N: Audio Performance

Despite a few shortcomings with the build quality, the Sony WF-LS900N excels when it comes to offering great audio. Out of the box, the WF-LS900N offers mid-heavy range, which was way too much for me, but it can be tamed thanks to Sony’s excellent mobile app. Therefore, it might need some tinkering before the sound is perfect for you. The companion app not only offers a plethora of pre-set audio profiles such as Bright, Excited, Vocal and more, but you can also create and save custom EQ profiles which suit you. With Sony’s LDAC codec, you get Hi-Res audio, but only on Android as Apple still does not support it.

Sony WF-LS900N features the same Integrated Processor V1 as the more expensive WF-1000XM4, meaning you’ll get nearly the same level of Noise Cancellation. While I was travelling in the metro, the WF-LS900N kept out all the noise. The WF-LS900N also features Adaptive Sound Control which, on paper, can cycle the sound modes from Noise Cancelling to Ambient Sound depending on your environment. However, I found this particular feature to be inconsistent as it cycled between modes very frequently.

Sony WF-LS900N: Battery life

The WF-LS900N also excels when it comes to battery life, especially compared to my old Airpods Pro. Sony promises up to 6 hours of battery life with Active Noise Cancellation on and a total 20 hours with the charging case. In my usage, it exceeded that with nearly 6.5 hours of audio playback at almost 70-75% volume most of the time.

Sony has also offered quick charge functionality with up to 60 minutes of playback with just 5 minutes of charge.

Sony WF-LS900N: Verdict

If you’re looking for a good audio experience that is also quite easy to carry, then the Sony WF-LS900N is one of the best options in the market. It is priced at Rs. 16990, which is considerably lower than the WF-1000XM4 but you get a surreal listening experience, thanks to the same Integrated V1 processor. The ANC is excellent but the EQ will take some tinkering to find the perfect sound profile for you. With up to 6 hours of battery life, the Sony WF-LS900N can become the go-to earbuds in the sub-20K segment, going against the likes of Airpods and Bose Sport.