Sony INZONE H5 review

At $149, the H5 aims for the goldilocks zone of the Sony INZONE series of gaming headsets. Situated between the cheaper Sony INZONE H3 and the more expensive Sony INZONE H7, the Sony INZONE H5 hopes to bring enough features to satisfy the masses. Find out if this gaming headset is just right in our Sony INZONE H5 review.

Editor’s note: this is the first version of the article. Updates will follow as the market changes.

What’s it like to use the Sony INZONE H5?

The Sony INZONE H5 headset continues the matte white aesthetic of Sony’s recent gaming products. While the plastic construction doesn’t feel premium, it is very lightweight. The weight and super soft nylon ear pads provide a very comfortable feel. I had no comfort issues wearing these headphones for hours while gaming, although heat and sweat buildup eventually became a problem.

Since this headset is designed almost exclusively for gaming with a PS5 or PC, it’s not meant for taking outdoors. You have to keep the dongle plugged into your device to listen wirelessly, or you can use the included cable to listen wired. There’s no IP rating for water or dust resistance, so be careful not to get the headset dirty or wet. The Sony INZONE H5 really shouldn’t stray far from your gaming setup.

How do you control the Sony INZONE H5?

The headset has limited onboard controls. You get a power button, a volume dial, and a rocker to adjust the mix between game and chat audio. Simple controls are ideal for gaming, as you can quickly change the mix or overall volume without memorizing a series of touch controls. That said, if you are listening to music, you’ll miss the ability to pause or skip a track quickly.

Should you use the Sony INZONE Hub for the Sony INZONE H5?

To unlock the full capabilities of the Sony INZONE H5, you need to download the Sony INZONE Hub software on a PC. Specifically, it needs to be a machine running Windows 10 or newer. There’s no support for the INZONE Hub on MacOS, iOS, or Android, so you shouldn’t plan on using this headset on those device types.

Within the INZONE Hub, you can access important customization options, such as an equalizer to adjust the headset’s sound. You’ll also find Spatial Sound functionality within the software, which you can set up using the 360 Spatial Sound Personalizer app on your mobile device to scan the size and shape of your ears.

How does the Sony INZONE H5 connect?

An included USB-A dongle connects the Sony INZONE H5 to your PS5 or PC over a 2.4 GHz connection. While the dongle ensures a stable connection with minimal latency, it is annoying to bring the dongle wherever you want to use the headset. The fact that it is USB-A instead of USB-C may also be limiting with some PC setups. A small switch on the dongle changes it from PS5 to PC mode, so you’ll also have to remember to put the dongle in the correct mode before using it. There’s no Bluetooth support, but you can use the headset with other devices wired using the included 3.5mm auxiliarily cable.

How long does the Sony INZONE H5 battery last?

In our battery testing, the Sony INZONE H5 lasted 33 hours and 23 minutes on a single charge. This is about average for a gaming headset and exceeds Sony’s promised 28 hours of battery life. If you run out of juice, you can switch to a wired connection to continue gaming.

How well does the Sony INZONE H5 isolate noise?

Unlike the more expensive Sony INZONE H9, the Sony INZONE H5 does not have active noise canceling. Therefore, you rely on passive isolation from the ear pads to block out any noise around you. If the headset fits you well, the ear pads will block out some mid and high-frequency noise above 300Hz. Mid-frequency noise around 1kHz sounds 50% quieter, while high-frequency noise sounds about 90% quieter using the headset. This helps to block out the background noise of people talking or cooking in a kitchen.

How does the Sony INZONE H5 sound?

The Sony INZONE H5 sounds nearly identical to other INZONE headsets. It’s a consumer-friendly sound with a lot of bass that most people will enjoy.

Multi-Dimensional Audio Quality Scores (MDAQS)

The chart below shows how the sound of the Sony INZONE H5 was assessed by the Multi-Dimensional Audio Quality Score (MDAQS) algorithm from HEAD acoustics.

The simulated panel of listeners MDAQS represents rates the Sony INZONE H5 highly in Timre and Immersiveness. This means that most people will likely enjoy the default sound of the headset when listening to music and gaming.

Reviewer’s notes

Editor’s note: this review uses a hover-enabled glossary to describe sound quality based on a consensus vocabulary. You can read about it here.

Objective Measurements

The default frequency response of the Sony INZONE H5 shares similarities with most other gaming headsets. As you can see in the chart above, above 400Hz, the sound loosely follows our headphone preference curve, which is a sound we think most people will enjoy when listening to music. The INZONE H5 emphasizes sounds around 100-300Hz more than our preference curve, which results in bass notes sounding very prominent.

How good is the Sony INZONE H5 microphone?

The microphone quality on the Sony INZONE H5 is very good. Your friends will understand what you are saying, and the microphone relays voices clearly. That said, if you plan on recording your gameplay or streaming, you should probably get an external microphone.

Sony INZONE H5 microphone demo (Ideal conditions):

Should you buy the Sony INZONE H5?

If you are a PS5 or PC gamer, the Sony INZONE H5 is a fine option. There’s no wow factor that makes this headset stand out from the crowded market, but for the most part, it achieves everything it sets out to accomplish. You get low-latency wireless listening with your PS5 or PC and not much else. If that’s all you need, and you can find a good deal on the INZONE H5, then you won’t regret your purchase.

How do Sony INZONE H7 compare to Sony INZONE H5?

There’s one major reason why you should get the Sony INZONE H7 instead of the Sony INZONE H5: Bluetooth support. This opens up a much greater variety of compatible devices that you can use the headset with, such as smartphones and tablets. You can even connect your console using the dongle and connect it to your phone or laptop using Bluetooth at the same time as the INZONE H7. That said, the H7 does not support wired listening, so you will always have to ensure the headset is fully charged.

What should you get instead of the Sony INZONE H5?

Worth considering instead of the Sony INZONE H5 is the SteelSeries Arctis Nova 7 Wireless, $152.99 at Amazon. This headset is a similar price but brings Bluetooth support so that you can use the headset with a wide variety of devices. You also still get a USB dongle for low-latency gaming.

If you don’t want to worry about running out of charge, consider the HyperX Cloud Alpha Wireless, $151 at Amazon. This headset has an astonishing 300 hours of battery life, ten times as much as the INZONE H5. You can also save a few bucks by picking up its wired cousin, the HyperX Cloud Alpha, $69 at Amazon.

Check out our best gaming headsets and best PS5 headsets lists.

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