Sony Inzone E9: This Should Be Your Next Gaming IEM

When it comes to gaming headphones, brands like Strauss & Wagner, Sennheiser, and Final Audio have some great options for wired in-ear listening. Sony has always been a big name in audio, and their latest release for wired IEMs is proving to be an excellent value option. The Sony Inzone E9 is a $149.99 gaming IEM that is perfect for on-the-go listening, or just as a compact solution for your desk. Equipped with a USB-C DAC and a small carrying case, these IEMs pack a punch to make it an excellent value. Could this be your next upgrade? 

The Sony Inzone E9 looks like a pretty standard IEM. The shell comes in your choice of black or white, with 'INZONE' written clearly on the side with clear distinctions between the left and right sides. The soft silicone is comfortable to wear in the ear, and the wire is also unobtrusive for a sleek design. The E9 comes with various eartips to optimize your personal fit, and a lot of third-party eartips will fit on the nozzle as well. The design is subtle and pairs well with any outfit for a fashionable and incognito look. The cable itself is detachable, but be warned: the connection point is recessed and may not fit all third-party cables. 

The E9 comes with quite a few accessories apart from the assorted eartips. Sony also gives you a USB-C audio box, which is basically a DAC that goes from 3.5mm to USB-C. This makes it super simple to plug and play right out of the box. The You also have a handy zippered carrying case that stores the E9 and DAC side by side comfortably. You can take these IEMs anywhere and know they are well protected.

• Weight: Approx. 4.7 g (without cable)
• Cord Length: Approx. 1.8m
• Cord type: Detachable Y-type
• Plug: Gold-plated L-shaped stereo mini plug
• Driver Unit: Dynamic
• Headphone Type: Closed
• Impedance (Ohm): 16 ohm (1kHz)
• Sensitivities (dB/mW): 101 dB / mW

SOUNDSTAGE & IMAGING

I could listen to this earphone for hours. I was immediately hit with a smooth and detailed sound signature that made tracks sound colorful and natural. It wasn't anything that blew me away, but the comfortable fit paired with the familiar sound I knew from my favorite tracks made the E9 easy to listen to. The soundstage itself was fairly wide, and it had exceptional imaging. There was a good balance between all the frequency ranges and the layers that came out as well. The signature is dynamic and doesn't lie too flat to be boring, but the timbres across the frequency ranges were honest and natural. With the addition of the Sony DAC, there isn't too much sonic difference. You get a smoothed-out sound and a boost of clarity throughout the entire signature, which is a nice enhancement that is included with the earphones. 

The E9 was exceptionally good at the performance of instruments. In every frequency range, there was precise attention to detail in the timbres and the placement in the stereo field. This makes the E9 the perfect companion for gamers, and even some traveling engineers who need a reliable earphone for quick mix edits while they're on the road. 

BASS FREQUENCIES

Sony has always been known to produce a good bass sound, and the Inzone E9 follows that trend. The bass in the E9 is full and rich, providing color to the sound signature without losing its naturalness. When you have a good seal with the right eartips, its easy to get a natural extension into the sub-bass. You get plenty of clarity and detail, which keeps the low end clean. Its easy for a bass response to get muddy, but the E9 has good power and punch to make things clear and recognizable. It matches energy for high-paced tracks and slows down with smooth jazz or R&B. 

MIDRANGE FREQUENCIES

The midrange shows off impressive detail and layering, which is a highlight in a gaming IEM. The E9 has a midrange that comes slightly forward, maintaining detail with excellent staging. Layers are extended outwards to create more depth in the signature. I really enjoyed the textural detail in guitars and and other midrange instruments, and the vocals also had a very natural reproduction to make them sound like they were singing right in front of me. I could see the E9 being good for dialogue-heavy games that require a lot of conversation for the plot. Overall, the midrange impresses and provides some good imaging and separation for the value of $150.  

TREBLE FREQUENCIES

At the top of the signature, the treble of E9 rounds everything out to create an excellently balanced signature. It is bright and airy, lightening up the frequency ranges and keeping the bass response in check. I could see the E9 becoming too bass-heavy without a decent treble response, so it is good that the higher frequencies have power behind them to match the bass. The high frequencies reached a shelf at the top that wasn't too jarring to make things sound to keep it from becoming too bass-heavy. I like the element of sparkle in this range; it makes sound effects and other instruments have an extra layer of brightness. 

The Sony Inzone E9 proves to be a great addition to the Sony lineup. Any gamer will appreciate the imaging and high attention to detail. Gameplay is sure to be immersive and hyper-realistic with the smooth sound and excellent seal from the eartips. Even casual listeners looking for a decent on-the-go IEM or budding audiophiles looking to start their collection can appreciate and enjoy the dynamic sound signature that the E9 provides. For only $149.99, the E9 is an excellent value for a beginner or upgrade IEM. 

You can get the Sony Inzone E9 at Audio46.