INZONE H9 II Fnatic Edition and Purple E9

Sony has put the INZONE E9 in Glass Purple, and I was trying to be sensible about gaming headphones. Honestly. The October 6 announcement also adds an INZONE H9 II Fnatic Edition. These are new looks for existing models, not a new generation. Very pretty, Sony. Now let’s see what we’re actually buying.

First, the bit underneath the colour.

Two new looks for existing gaming headphones

The H9 II is a wireless noise-cancelling headset. The E9 is a wired in-ear design with passive isolation. Sony says both were developed with esports team Fnatic, and the new finishes join the existing black and white versions. The choice is still between two quite different ways of wearing and connecting your audio.

Sony INZONE E9 wired in-ear headphones in Glass Purple. — INZONE E9 adds a Glass Purple finish. Image: Sony. Source.

If you already own either model, a new finish doesn’t make the working pair suddenly inadequate. We can admire the purple without arranging a farewell ceremony. Buying for the first time? Choose the shape and connection you want before letting the colour quietly take over the whole decision.

The battery number needs a little context, too.

Read the conditions before comparing numbers

Sony’s up-to-30-hour figure for H9 II uses a 2.4GHz connection with noise cancelling off and active chat. It’s a manufacturer figure, not our test result. The H9 II product page also details the boom microphone and USB-C wireless dongle. Keep those test conditions beside the number when comparing it with another headset.

Close-up of the existing INZONE H9 II boom microphone. — The existing H9 II microphone design, shown for context rather than as a new feature. Image: Sony. Source.

Try the microphone position, check the connections for your system and wear the headset for more than a quick mirror inspection. Something can look adorable and still squeeze your head like it’s trying to keep a secret in. With in-ears, the seal matters just as much. A purple shell can’t negotiate that fit for you.

DeviceCritique’s take

Our order of operations: format, fit, then the lovely colour. This announcement doesn’t establish new sound-quality results or give one universal price or launch date. Our audio coverage follows more listening gear, and MSI’s 340Hz monitor announcement covers another part of the gaming desk. Once the practical bits work, though? Go ahead and enjoy the pretty headphones. I wasn’t going to pretend the purple was irrelevant.

Featured image: Sony. Image source.