Made for PC, but with specifications for full use of the PS5, along with the Xbox Series X, the InZone M9 $ 899 is the top product in the package. It is a 27-inch 4K IPS game screen that has been made to match the aesthetics of the PS5, while it has basically all the specifications that one can imagine that gamers may want worldwide, without OLED panels, of course. It has a refresh rate of 144 Hz (which is not so common for a 4K display), a response time of 1 ms, a variable refresh rate (VRR for both consoles and G-Sync compatibility for Nvidia GPUs), and DisplayPort and HDMI 2.1 ports. It can also display videos via USB-C. It is worth noting that the M9 has full 96-zone local array lighting, along with the DisplayHDR 600, both of which allow for brighter spots, darker blacks, and the ability to jiggle both without excessive halo effect. Some of the features that are unique to this screen (and derived from state-of-the-art Bravia TVs) include automatic HDR tone mapping, which automatically recognizes the M9 when connected to a PS5 and claims to optimize the screen’s HDR output. There’s also an auto-image mode that can automatically switch to movie mode when you start a video streaming service or Blu-ray, and then return to a low-delay mode when you restart the game. In a striking move, Sony does not include video cables with the M9 $ 899. Sony spokeswoman Chloe Canta shared a statement with The Verge that the company chose not to do so because “the required cable type, version and length vary depending on the customer’s use case”. I guess Sony is not wrong there, but not including video cables is simply not right. Games with details and environments rich in contrast, such as Returnal, shine with the local dimming of the M9 full array. The rear LEDs can change color on the M9 screen, but do not support effects – only solid colors. There is a cheaper $ 529 M3 display coming this winter that makes some omissions to cover the lower price. Removes full array brightness adjustment, drops to 1080p and reduces HDR to 400 nits of maximum brightness. Otherwise, the feature set is similar to one exception: the refresh rate goes up to 240 Hz. Moving on to the other product category launched by Sony InZone: headphones. The H9 is at the top of its new range, it shakes large containers above the ear and has the ability to simultaneously operate 2.4 GHz wireless and Bluetooth. The design is nothing like the Pulse 3D headphones released by Sony with the PS5. Instead, it looks more like a competitive gaming headset, with highly adjustable side arms, a microphone that can deliver a healthy dose of sidetone (listening to yourself on the headset), and ear pads that Sony says borrows materials from latest of WH-1000XM5. The H9 claims to offer 32 hours of battery life per charge and is the only model in Sony’s line to feature digital noise cancellation. During my internship, I tried them with my personal Sony WH-1000XM3 kit and they were comparable in value, with great comfort, effective noise cancellation (Sony says it was “inherited” from the 1000X series, but not the did look as good as the XM3) and excellent sound quality. One downside, however, is that they are just huge in your head. There is a shot in the video above that shows how big they look while I am in my head. The H9 only comes in this black and white color. This toggle switch does what you expect. Like its screens, Sony has a unique angle with the H9 that other hardware manufacturers have not tried, as far as I know. PC players can install the accompanying InZone app with Sony’s 360 Spatial Sound Personalizer for a more customized spatial audio profile. Surprisingly, to do this you need to take pictures of your ears and yes, Sony claims that this will really improve your sound. In my brief practice test of the feature, I noticed no difference, but I will try to test it more thoroughly for review. Sony has another cordless handset, the H7 $ 229 and a wired gaming headset H3 $ 100. The H7 has a slightly reduced feature set, but retains the design and dual wireless connectivity. You will not receive noise cancellation, although this axial function increases the battery life to 40 hours per charge. The H3, on the other hand, offers decent sound performance, but is more restrained in style compared to the H9 and H7. The Sony that released its own game screens was not exactly on my bingo card for 2022, or, well, never – not that it has not tried before. But his new InZone material looks and feels like fully realized ideas coming true. It remains to be seen whether Sony intends to repeat these products annually, as its competitors do. But what comes out in 2022 looks like about the future. Stay tuned for the final reviews coming soon.
