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Though these are mid-range noise cancelling headphones they're certainly not inexpensive, so it's great that they look and feel very nice. The headband is chunkier and size adjustments feel more substantial than on the more delicate, made-for-air-travel 1000XM3, and if you're worried about scuffing them in your bag they come with a microfibre-lined soft pouch.
The audio doesn't disappoint, with Sony's boosters picking up the low end to create powerful but confident bass. It's not overwhelming, with vocal clarity and imaging across the mid and high ranges remaining very impressive. It's the warm and well-rounded sound you might expect from Sony headphones, just with more resounding lows.
The headphones have visible bass ducts beneath the hinges.
Noise cancelling is very effective, though can't match the depth of the 1000XM3 which includes a dedicated ANC chip. It's potentially the best noise cancelling at this price, but won't totally silence your train commute or a plane cabin. You still get the option to cancel noise to a desired degree, amplify ambient sound or turn off the ANC mics altogether, and you can still listen over a wired connection with the included cable with the headphones on or in passive mode. And you still get 30 hours of battery life.
Aside from brilliant sound, battery and noise cancellation, the WH-XB900N also borrows a lot of its controls and features from the higher-end 1000X series.
For example you can tap the right cup to pause or answer a call, swipe to change volume or tracks or hold with your palm to temporarily amplify ambient noise when you need to hear what's going on. For hi-res audio the headphones are compatible with LDAC and aptX HD Bluetooth, and there's built-in support for Google Assistant and Amazon Alexa.
Sony's app isn't mandatory but you'll get a lot more out of the headphones if you use it. Adaptive Sound Control guesses whether you're walking, working or commuting and adjusts noise cancelling accordingly, and it's generally reliable. Meanwhile you can also tweak virtual surround settings, an EQ with presets and custom slots and more.
The headphones can use your smartphone's sensors to detect if you're on the move or staying still and adjust noise cancelling automatically.
These might not be the best noise cancelling headphones, or the cheapest, but they offer an extremely attractive balance of cost, functionality and high-end sound. For most people, but especially those who like thumping bass and would like to have a bit of control over the ambient sound around them, the WH-XB900N offers heaps of boom for your buck.