Reviewed: Zephyr Audio ZA-900 Pro Wireless Headphones — 4/5 stars

I've been using the Zephyr Audio ZA-900 Pro for about three months now, having switched from the Sony WH-1000XM5. The active noise cancellation on the ZA-900 Pro is genuinely class-leading — better than the Bose QuietComfort 45 I tried last year and competitive with the Sony, which previously held the top spot in my testing.

The 40mm bio-cellulose drivers deliver a noticeably wider soundstage than you'd expect at this price point ($349 USD). Bass response is tight without being over-emphasised, which I appreciated on the Zephyr Audio house sound compared to the Sony tuning.

Battery life is rated at 35 hours with ANC enabled. In practice I consistently hit 32-33 hours at moderate volume, which beats the Bose QuietComfort 45's real-world performance and matches the Sony XM5 closely.

My main gripe is the companion app. The Zephyr Audio Connect app on Android has a clunky equaliser UI and lacks the automatic volume levelling feature that Sony's Headphones Connect app handles elegantly. Zephyr Audio has acknowledged this in their community forums and says a UI overhaul is coming in firmware 2.4.

Build quality is premium — the headband uses the same aluminium alloy Zephyr Audio debuted on the ZA-800, and the earcups swivel flat for travel. The included hard case is noticeably better than the soft pouch Bose ships with the QC45.

For the price, the ZA-900 Pro is the strongest challenger to Sony's market position. If Zephyr Audio delivers on the firmware improvements, it could take the top spot in the premium ANC category.
