What feature would you want in a true wireless stereo headset asides from Active Noise Cancellation? This seems to be the question that Sony was thinking about when they came out with the Sony WF-H800 h.ear in 3 as it comes with DSEE HX audio upscaling, NFC, infrared sensors and a built-in Google Assistant feature that reads out your notifications. Is it enough to justify the below RM1K price tag Sony is asking for it? Read on in our review of the Sony WF-H800.
In terms of design, the Sony WF-H800 retains that same round shape as the Sony WF-XB700 but makes it a bit thinner so it isn’t as bulky. The overall design may look a bit unwieldy but twist the earpieces in and they slip into the grooves of your inner ear for an almost natural fit. Our head-banging attempts did not manage to dislodge them so you can easily bring them jogging or for a workout.
The Sony WF-H800 h.ear in 3 TWS headset
The WF-H800 is slightly thinner
They pack in infra-red sensors to detect if they're in your ears or not
The button is still easy to access but can now be customized
They fit nicely and once twisted in, won't easily come out
Like the WF-XB700, the WF-H800 retains the previous physical buttons on each earpiece and like before, both are easy to access and press. Unlike the previous WF-XB700 the WF-H800 has infrared sensors on the inside to detect whether or not you have the earpieces stuck into your ears. Removing them from your ears will cause them to automatically stop your music, potentially saving energy in the long run.
Placing them in the charging case recharges them, and you can recharge them in the case in 2.5 hours via the USB Type C port. While the rounded almost suede type grey case does look and feel premium, there’s only one way you can set them down. Battery life is awesome, but while it’s 8hr + 8hr, it’s been 2 weeks since we last charged them and they’re still at 100%.
The charging case automatically charges and now has NFC
Looks premium
You can only lay it down one way
It can be charged via USB Type C
While you can connect them manually, the user manual and even box encourage you to connect using the Sony Headphones Connect app which you can do via the QR code, NFC or Bluetooth. This allows you to customize the audio equalizer and what each of the 2 buttons do and you can set the DSEE HX or the 360 Reality audio. Like previous Sony TWS, bluetooth connectivity is quite good even at the maximum 10m range and works through walls or doors with not much issue.
Sound quality is good and clear for all types of music and audio, except for gaming, which still suffers from the usual lag of most bluetooth headsets. Does Sony’s DSEE HX upscaling audio feature work? I probably don’t have the ears for it, but when it is activated to me there is a slight difference in my usual music. Tones are crisper, drums sound clearer and the audio feels like there’s a bit more depth or space to it but there is a price to pay for it.
You can customize settings in the Sony Headphones Connect app
According to Sony, you have to not only turn on the DSEE HX option in the Sony Headphones app but you also have to set the sound quality mode to Priority on Sound Quality (by default it is set on Priority on Stable Connection). This results in occasional skips in the Bluetooth connectivity and music on the outer range of the 10m distance or behind walls but if you’re listening right in the same room or in front of your smartphone, this shouldn’t be an issue.
Does 360 Reality Audio work? Yes. But you’ll have to let it analyze your ear shape (you have to let it take pictures of your ears) and it only works for certain apps (Deezer, Tidal, nugs.net). Testing it out, it certainly adds a bit more depth to the feeling of space generated by the earpieces. However, since they only work for those 3 apps, it’s a bit crippled if you don’t actually use said apps. In the future, I hope it comes to movie streaming apps too (at least Netflix) but only time will tell.
It's awesome when Google Assistant reads your WhatsApp notifications
Surprisingly, the WF-H800 doesn’t work well with Zoom but it seems to work fine for calls and other online meeting apps like Webex. They also work for iOS smoothly for the most part with some issues connecting at first. I also experienced a brief burst of disconnection or pure static, but this was probably just a one off thing as I didn’t experience it again throughout testing.
Overall, the Sony WF-H800 offers a few more features for the more discerning Sony TWS user. The ability to read out your notifications (even WhatsApp!) and answer them via the Google Assistant is particularly useful for those people who don’t get distracted by such things when driving while the other features like DSEE HX and 360 Reality Audio are only applicable for people with better ears than average or those who use the aforementioned music streaming apps. NFC is nice but since you're only going to use it once, it doesn't add much.
Is it worth the RM849 price Sony is asking for it? Only if you use those features above. If not, then I have to say I’m a bit more inclined to get the Sony WF-XB700 we previously reviewed but this is just my personal preference. If you’re just looking for an upper end Sony TWS to match your workout clothes then do take a good look at the Sony WF-H800 though. They’re still very good, long lasting TWS earpieces for the discerning audiophile. Or you can try out the more sports oriented Sony WF-SP800N, which is also priced at RM849 (stay tuned, the review is coming soon at TechNave.com).
Tech Specs and Features
Here are the Sony WF-H800 features and tech specs:
- Closed Dynamic type
- 6mm (Dome type) driver unit
- Neodymium Magnet
- 20Hz - 20000Hz (44.1KHz Sampling) Bluetooth frequency response
- Supports Bluetooth 5.0, A2DP, AVRCP, HFP, HSP, SBC, AAC, SCMS-T, Google Assistant, Alexa Built-in
- Effective range - line of sight 10m
- Features NFC (Case), DSEE HX
What's in the box?
Pros and Cons
Pros: Supports DSEE HX, NFC, 360 Reality Audio with great sound, long lasting battery life and stable bluetooth range and audio quality. Customizable.
Cons: A bit pricey and most features only support certain types of apps or users. No ANC.
Summary: Still very good premium Sony TWS headset for the more discerning Sony audiophile.
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