2021-10-23T20:00:00
Rated 5 out of 5
An excellent product that misses the mark
It pains me to review another Sony product that comes so close, but misses the mark. The Sony WH-L600 RF headphones are my third purchase of surround sound headphones for use in a home theater system in which I've added, but never replaced any other components. More on that later.
Pros: Outstanding virtual surround sound, comfortable ear cups, good build quality, convenient charging cradle, excellent listening duration, multiple sound modes
Cons: ARC connectivity not compatible with most sound bars, home theater receivers. IR input supports only 5.1 surround sound.
Sony truly owns the virtual surround sound space and these headphones are no exception. They employ some of the best psychoacoustic algorithms available and manage to provide an amazingly realistic virtual surround sound environment. Used in conjunction with Apple TV+, which streams in true Dolby Atmos, or with a Blu-ray disk, sounds seem to originate from around the listener with pinpoint realism. It's truly eerie to hear something from behind me when wearing headphones - so much so that I find myself looking to verify that nothing is really there. I can heartily recommend these headphones for listening to surround sound content.
When it comes to listening to music, no amount of psychoacoustics can make a $300 retail pair of consumer-oriented headphones sound anything like an audiophile DAC and headphones costing several times more. Its disappointing to read reviews from people making that comparison, or complaining that the build quality seems cheap, which frankly it doesn?t - not at this price point. These aren?t $300 headphones and they aren?t a $300 DAC, either of which would be considered the low end by most audiophile enthusiasts. A better comparison would be a $100 DAC and $200 headphones, to which these compare quite favorably. Sony?s own WH-1000XM4 Bluetooth noise canceling headphones sound better for listening to music wirelessly, but they?re designed for listening to music, and they cost more. These are designed for home theater.
The WH-L600 RF headphones have five built-in sound modes that work reasonably well for their intended purposes. The Cinema mode simulates a large theater and is ideal for watching movies, but vocals are somewhat muddled, making dialog more difficult to understand. The Game and Sports modes are supposed to improve sound quality for those respective purposes, although if you're a hardcore gamer, you'll probably want a dedicated pair of gaming headphones, as these don't even have a microphone. The Voice setting makes dialog significantly easier to understand, at the expense of the virtual surround sound environment, and the Direct setting functions essentially as a DSP bypass, yielding unfiltered stereo sound. In addition, there is a Matrix switch that implements or disables simulated surround sound when the source material is in stereo, and there is an HDMI control switch that when on, turns the TV off when the headphones are turned off.
Some reviewers have complained about having to remove their headphones to adjust the volume. I can't imagine the need to do so. The controls on the headphones are easily discerned and a ridge on the volume-up side of the volume rocker makes it trivial to make adjustments to volume with the headphones on the head. There are only two other buttons - the power button is above the volume rocker and a mode selector button is below it, both of which function easily.
So how do these miss the mark? Connectivity. As with my first home theater wireless headphone, the Sony MDRHW7, Sony seems to have assumed that the headphones are the only means by which the user will listen to their home theater. The MDRHW7 included an HDMI switch that could only be controlled from the headphones. A 3-port HDMI switch without its own IR remote was pure idiocy, made worse by the lack of a charging cradle and by RF that frequently dropped out. They did sound great, though.
The WH-L600 RF headphones do something even worse - they limit HDMI input to use of the TV's ARC function. The audio return channel was intended for use of a TV with a separate video receiver, so that the two could be connected with a single cable. A number of sound bars on the market have taken advantage of the ARC as an easy way for users to hook them up to a TV. Most people who buy sound bars have at most a cable box and streaming stick or a game console, all of which can be connected to the TV?s other HDMI ports, and it?s fine if you only listen to the TV using the sound bar. However, using the WH-L600 RF headphones with that same ARC function is impossible if one already is using it for a sound bar. I cannot fathom how Sony?s engineers could have made such a blatant design error.
However, anyone who cares enough about surround sound to buy these headphones often has a true home theater, with a video receiver and surround sound speakers. Most video receivers or processors have a dedicated second HDMI output, which these headphones don?t support, and lack an IR output, which these headphones do. My Yamaha video receiver fully supports Dolby Atmos and I have a 9-speaker home theater setup, but there is no way tp connect these headphones to my receiver, and the IR output that my TV has is limited to 5.1 surround sound. My TV does have an ARC function, but it requires that the user actually view the input from the ARC channel to select the ARC output from a menu that can?t be seen when using these headphones. Hence although I have a home theater with true Dolby Atmos DTS capabilities, I?m limited to using the IR output, which only supports a 5.1 connection. The alternative is to buy an eARC adapter that sells for as much as the headphones, or to buy a new TV, neither of which would be worth it.
Sony wrote the book on quality and style more than fifty years ago. One would hope they would be beyond the point of bringing a products to market with obvious flaws that should have been caught in pre-production tests. My first surround sound headphones had a useless HDMI switch, lacked a charging cradle and had frequent dropouts. My Sony camera is a CNET editor?s choice, yet the menus are in ?Japanese English?. Now, I have a pair of surround sound headphones that?s not compatible with my surround sound receiver. It's no wonder Sony's consumer electronics division is doing so poorly, in spite of introducing blockbuster products.
SFLinNYC
Originally posted at
2021-03-22T20:00:00
Rated 3 out of 5
A Bit Underwhealming
Upgrading after two Sony RF Series headphones, the WH-L600 don't feel like much of an upgrade, going by sound, design, and overall experience.
Pros: bigger ear-cups, HDMI + Optical options.
Cons: Sound Field modes mostly sound horrible, generally the sound feels as flat as on the RF series.
Blais
Originally posted at
2021-01-11T19:00:00
Rated 4 out of 5
Great Headphones Shame about the Range
Great set of headphones just a shame about the range. I had the Sony MDR-RF895RK before this new set and the Sony MDR-RF895RK had a range of 100m and these only cost £99 so seeing that the Sony WH-L600 were £233 you would expect these to have the same range 100m or even more not a measly 30m range, I can no longer go outside to put rubbish in the bin or even go outside to put the washing on the line wearing these as it loses the connection the Sony MDR-RF895RK I could walk down the street without losing any connection or sound, so wasn't quite happy with the range of the new Sony WH-L600 but it is what it is, as long as I'm able to wear them around the house without losing connection or sound, which upto now in the house have been spot on. My other little gripe is connecting these to the arc tv via hdmi as soon as you switch the headphones on using the hdmi connection you lose the sound from the tv speakers, so listening to the headphones this way hdmi was no good so head to use them using the fibre optic cable, this way could listen to the headphones at the same time as the rest of the family being able to listen to the sound from the on board tv speakers. Would of preferred using the hdmi cable as then you'd get the full 7.1 experience hence why I paid so much for these headphones. But again this wasn't enough for me to return these as again the sound quality from these headphones are amazing, crystal clear and crisp.
Jonnyb1970
Originally posted at
2020-12-18T10:00:29
Rated 5 out of 5
Sony headphones
It took a long time but received it in Excellent condition and it works very well
JOSEPH N.
2020-08-10T20:00:00
Rated 3 out of 5
good sound but
quality is not too good. after several months of medium usage, the ear piece starts to tear. I've been trying to locate a replacement for it with no success. I'm afraid I have to buy a new one and if I do... I may select another brand.
boloz
Originally posted at
2020-07-18T20:00:00
Rated 4 out of 5
Great sound!!
I have owned this headset for 6 months and use it almost every day for watching TV, movies, and gaming. Having 3 different connection options is awesome, add in the 4 sound field options and this headset is at the top of its field. I bought these as an upgrade to my 8 year old MDR-RF925R headphones and the improvement is amazing. The only reason I gave 4 stars not 5 is because the connection dropped a few times and would not reconnect the last time it happened. I am returning it for a replacement.
Highway13
Originally posted at
2020-05-20T20:00:00
Rated 4 out of 5
Nice Surround sound simulation
I am satisfied with the overall performance of these headphones. Not the most comfortable headphones. They do have a good reception. The sound fields perform well.
Was F.
Originally posted at
2019-01-15T19:00:00
Rated 4 out of 5
quite perfect, just quite
The only issue is the loss of connection that happens when other devices using the 2.4 ghz band are in the same room. It is something unavoidable because of the band is the same used by most of the wifi modems.
lcico3
Originally posted at
2018-10-30T20:00:00
Rated 3 out of 5
Good sound, poor product quality.
I wanted a good pair of wireless headphones for film watching and gaming. For both I wanted surround sound.
On unboxing first impressions are not good. Everything seems to be of low quality in feel, robustness and look. The stand in particular is lightweight and the headphone connector is really tacky - it does not inspire confidence in its use, indeed already I have placed the headphones on the stand without them connecting properly. This just should not happen.
The earcups seem to be a really light plastic and get sweaty when worn. Not good when compared to my older far cheaper headphones that have a soft material finish.
So for pride of ownership - you want something that looks and feels great - I'd give these two out of ten.
Regarding operation and use they fair better. They were easy to install for use on my PC via an optical connection. The sound modes do make a difference, I'm still deciding which I prefer but for the moment have matrix on and the game setting for games. Sound fields off seems to be best for music.
I'll be trying them with my TV next.
whyhaveone
Originally posted at
2018-10-05T20:00:00
Rated 3 out of 5
Very Very Downgraded Version of MDR-HW700DS
i dont know whay sony stop to produce his dolby digital wireless headphones with MDR-HW700DS in 2015! after this geart legand model sony downgraded his dolby wireless models!!!
FerdosParadise
Originally posted at
2018-07-09T20:00:00
Rated 4 out of 5
Solid Performer
Solid decoding of formats, that is Dolby Digital, Dolby Prologic IIX, & DTS. Love to hear newer formats decoded though, but the unit would cost more and there are challenges in achieving this. Nevertheless, I enjoy the unit -- solid performer!
1701jim
Originally posted at
2018-07-09T20:00:00
Rated 4 out of 5
Solid Performer
Solid decoding of formats, that is Dolby Digital, Dolby Prologic IIX, & DTS. Love to hear newer formats decoded though, but the unit would cost more and there are challenges in achieving this. Nevertheless, I enjoy the unit -- solid performer!
Jim1701E
Originally posted at
2018-05-23T20:00:00
Rated 4 out of 5
Recommend for Movie Lovers
I kept my eyes on this product since announced. Purchased a week ago. Some improvement over mdr-ds6500. Perfect for Movies and Sports but not music.
PROS:
1. Creates nice sound fields.
2. Comfy and light earcup. Feels better than mdr-ds6500.
3. Great bass. Not much as beats headphone but enough for movies.
CONS:
1. Expensive.
2. No bluetooth connection.
3. Voice still echoes a bit like mr-ds6500(due to a surround field) and Sounds a bit muddy.
Overall I would recommend this headphone. There is a good surround sound field but still haven’t felt true 5.1 sound.
Mink
Originally posted at
