Trust me, £100 off these Sony noise-cancelling headphones isn't worth it – choose one of these five-star alternatives instead

Sony ULT Wear over-ear headphones
(Image credit: What Hi-Fi?)

A pair of Sony headphones for £100 off? Normally we'd be recommending that you throw caution to the wind, boot up that laptop, stretch your clicking finger and get those cans into your digital basket, because that sounds, on paper, like a Prime Day deal worth taking.

This is one of the rare instances, however, when we'd advise you to look elsewhere. The Sony ULT Wear are a rare misfire from Sony, and while they're down from £180 to just £88 on Amazon, we just don't feel that they're worth your time. Save your cash and pick up a pair of five-star alternatives (listed below, obviously) instead.

Sony ULT Wear deal

Sony  ULT Wear
Save £92
Sony ULT Wear : was £180 now £88 at Amazon

This is a colossal, less-than-half-price saving on Sony pedigree, so you'd be forgiven for thinking that it's a deal worth snapping up. Sadly, we don't really think the Sony ULT Wear are worth your cash at any price, especially when there are far finer alternatives available at this level. Heed our advice and spend your cash more wisely.

Hooray, a pair of heavily discounted Sony headphones! They’ve got noise cancelling, a comfortable design, loads of high-performance Sony features and a majorly knocked down right, so what exactly isn’t there to love?

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The problem is that the ULT Wear don’t sound as good as we had hoped. In fact, they are a rare sonic misfire for Sony, with a sound that sounds either too enthusiastic and bass-heavy, or simply too lacking in the basics of dynamics and detail to have us singing their praises. Great Sony headphones abound at the moment, but sadly, the ULT Wear are quite a long way from greatness.

Consider these alternatives instead

Sony  WH-CH720N
What Hi-Fi? Awards winner
Save £39
Sony WH-CH720N: was £99 now £60 at Amazon

The affordable Sony WH-CH720N headphones sound great, boast solid build quality and deliver impressive active noise cancellation for the money. Add 35 hours of battery life into the equation, and you can’t go wrong, especially for £60.
Lowest price on Black finish

Austrian Audio  Hi-X25BT
What Hi-Fi? Awards winner
Save £20
Austrian Audio Hi-X25BT: was £149 now £129 at Richer Sounds

No noise cancelling, no problem. The Austrian Audio Hi-X25BT are awesome in terms of their detail retrieval, clarity and sonic nuance, far outstripping the ULT Wear in terms of how delicate and crisp they are capable of sounding. Their feature set is thinner, and their brand isn’t as recognised as Sony, but the Hi-X25BT are a truly exceptional pick for those in the know.

Sennheiser  Momentum 4 Wireless
Five stars
Save £140
Sennheiser Momentum 4 Wireless : was £300 now £160 at Sevenoaks Sound and Vision

The smart person’s choice if you’re keen to save but still want five-star quality. The Sennheiser Momentum 4 Wireless remain a fantastic choice. The new Momentum 5 Wireless have come to steal some of their thunder, but the fourth-gen headphones remain a superb buy at a great price.

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Harry McKerrell
Senior staff writer

Harry McKerrell is a senior staff writer at What Hi-Fi?. During his time at the publication, he has written countless news stories alongside features, advice and reviews of products ranging from floorstanding speakers and music streamers to over-ear headphones, wireless earbuds and portable DACs. He has covered launches from hi-fi and consumer tech brands, and major industry events including IFA, High End Munich and, of course, the Bristol Hi-Fi Show. When not at work he can be found playing hockey, practising the piano or trying to pet strangers' dogs.

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