- They have a long battery life.
- They’re comfortable enough to wear for long periods.
- They’re packed with helpful features.
AP Buyline’s content is created independently of The Associated Press newsroom. Our evaluations and opinions are not influenced by our advertising relationships, but we might earn commissions from our partners’ links in this content. Learn more about our policies and terms here.
Updated June 13, 2024
Sony is known for making some of the best wireless headphones in the business, with the high-end Sony WH-1000XM5 headphones consistently ranked as the go-to in their price range. But those headphones are also expensive and not everyone wants to spend $400+ on a pair of headphones. That, however, is where the Sony WH-CH700N headphones come in, as a way to get some of the features that make Sony headphones so great, at a lower price.
These headphones clearly aren’t up to the same standard as Sony’s top noise-canceling headphones. But are they still a compelling option, given the cost savings? I’ve been using them for a while now to find out — you can find my full Sony WH-CH720N headphones review below.
Sony WH-CH720N-Noise Canceling Wireless Bluetooth Headphones- Black
Unboxing and first impressions of the Sony WH-CH720N
When you first take the headphones out of the box, you’ll immediately see why they’re cheaper than Sony’s more expensive headphones. The Sony WH-CH720N are covered in a light protective fabric in the box, but there’s very little else included with them. You will get a USB-A to USB-C charging cable and a 3.5mm aux cable, but there’s no case or carry bag, which is a little disappointing, even in this price range.
First impressions of the headphones themselves aren’t bad. The headphones look and feel a little cheaper than higher-end headphones I’ve tested recently — including the WH-1000XM5 — but they’re also very lightweight, which can make for a more comfortable fit.
Pros:
Cons:
- The plastic build feels a little cheap.
- The noise cancellation is only fine.
- There’s no case or travel bag included.
Key Specifications
- Weight: 6.8 ounces.
- Headphone type: Over-ear.
- Battery life: 35 hours with active noise cancellation.
- Water-resistant: No.
- Bluetooth: Bluetooth 5.2 Multipoint.
- Colors: Black, white.
- Warranty: One-year limited warranty.
Key features of the Sony WH-CH720N
Battery life
One of the best things about these headphones is their relatively long battery life, which beats most of the top-tier wireless headphones out there. These headphones are rated for up to 35 hours of use with noise cancellation turned on, which is quite good. The Sony WH-1000XM5 headphones last for 30 hours on a single charge, while the Bose QuietComfort Ultra headphones only offer 24 hours and the AirPods Max 20 hours.
Of course, your mileage may vary depending on how you use these headphones. If you listen really loudly, you may not quite hit 35 hours, while if you turn noise cancellation off, you may actually beat Sony’s rating.
Sony Headphones Connect app
The Sony Headphones Connect app isn’t the best-designed headphone app out there, but it’s packed with features that can help make the experience of using these headphones better. Through the app, you can tweak the EQ of the headphones, set up Bluetooth Multipoint and more.
The app also allows you to set up other more advanced features, such as Amazon Alexa, automatic power-off settings and more. Again, it’s not the prettiest app, but it certainly gets the job done, and allows the user to customize the headphones more than other headphone apps do.
Connectivity
The WH-CH720N headphones connect through Bluetooth 5.2, with support for Bluetooth Multipoint. That’s pretty handy, and it means that you can connect the headphones to two sources simultaneously, such as your phone and your laptop.
That’s not as impressive as the AirPods' ability to seamlessly switch between any Apple device connected to your iCloud account. There are headphones that support Bluetooth Multipoint with up to three connections, but two connections are the standard, and it’s nice to see these headphones offer them.
Performance
Sound quality
The Sony WH-CH720N headphones are built to deliver solid audio quality at a reasonable price, and they largely succeed in doing so. They won’t sound as good as much more expensive headphones, but you wouldn’t expect them to. Ultimately, they do produce a mostly natural listening experience that will help make your music sound great.
Out of the box, I found the headphones to be a little muddy and to tuck highs away a little more than I would have liked. The EQ in the app could fix some of the muddiness, but it wasn’t precise enough to fix all of it. I did find that the highs could be boosted enough to make for a more detailed sound overall.
But those are minor issues. In general, the headphones delivered greater depth and detail than I would have expected. Most listeners will find that they can create a sound that they really like with a few simple tweaks of the EQ or by using one of the presets.
Noise cancellation
Sony is known for great noise cancellation, and I did find that the noise-cancellation tech on the headphones was perfectly fine, but it wasn’t quite as impressive as I would have liked. It doesn’t reach the levels of the WH-1000XM5 headphones by any means, and while it is good at cutting out consistent noises, it doesn’t do a great job of blocking out more random sounds.
To be fair, these days we’re spoiled for choice when it comes to noise cancellation, but most of the development in that area is in the high-end. These offer pretty good noise cancellation for a pair of headphones in this price range, but don’t expect it to be class-leading.
Comfort
The Sony WH-CH720N headphones are some of the more comfortable headphones out there, thanks in large part to their super lightweight design. These headphones don’t have a ton of padding under the headband, but they also don’t need it. They’re light enough that even after hours of use, I found that they didn’t get uncomfortable at the top of the head.
The clamp is also solidly tight — it’s not too tight but also not too loose, so it doesn’t move around too much. If you’re looking for a pair of highly comfortable headphones, these fit the description.
Design
The Sony WH-CH720N headphones offer a reasonably stylish design and strong enough build. The headphones are mostly made of plastic, and it’s true that they don’t have the strongest build out there, but they use metal where it counts, which is in the frame. This helps ensure that they’re stronger and more durable.
The left ear cup features a USB-C port, a power button and a 3.5mm aux port for wired listening. On the right ear cup, you’ll find buttons to control volume and playback, along with a button to control noise modes. The buttons are laid out so that they’re easy to use.
Perhaps the biggest issue I had with the headphones' design is that they don’t fold. This makes them much less portable and harder to store in a bag or backpack. That’s compounded by the fact that they don’t come with a case or bag.
Is it for you?
The Sony WH-CH720N headphones are some of the best in their price range, but definitely not Sony’s best noise-canceling headphones. They’re not perfect — they have a slightly cheap feel and their noise-cancellation tech isn’t amazing — but these headphones get the basics right. They’re comfortable to wear, even for longer periods of time, and they sound pretty good. Plus, you can customize their sound using the well-designed app. Ultimately, they’re probably the best headphones under $150, but if you can stretch your budget a little more, you can get the JBL Live 770 NC, which are better than these headphones in almost every way.
User reviews
User reviews for the Sony WH-CH720N are excellent overall. One user on Amazon noted that they’re excellent headphones for the price. “These are probably the best all-around headphones I have owned and for the $120 I paid for them it's a steal. They may be more expensive as I got them on sale, but I have used headphones multiple times the price that are poorer quality and less functional than these. I'd have paid upwards of twice the price for what I got.”
Another reviewer noted how lightweight the headphones were, while still offering plenty of features. “These are the lightest headphones I could find that had active noise canceling, transparency, USB-C charging and support multiple device transitioning. I bought them open-box for $75 and ended up selling my expensive Beats Studio 3s because these were just superior.”
Sony WH-CH720N Alternatives
Sony WH-1000XM5
Sony WH-1000XM5
The Sony WH-1000XM5 headphones are better than the WH-CH720N headphones in almost every way, but they’re also almost triple the price. They have superior audio quality, better noise cancellation, a more comfortable fit and a nicer design, as you can see in my Sony WH-1000XM5 review.
Anker Soundcore Space One
Anker Soundcore Space One
The Anker Soundcore Space One headphones are worse than the Sony WH-CH720N headphones in every way, except they have a slightly better battery life. They don’t sound as good, aren’t as customizable, aren’t as comfortable and don’t have the same level of features. Check out this Anker Soundcore Space One review for more information about the headphones.
JBL Tour One M2
JBL Tour One M2
The JBL Tour One M2 headphones are better than the Sony WH-CH720N headphones, but they’re also double the price. They sound better, have a more customizable sound and have better noise cancellation. However, the battery life isn’t quite as long-lasting, though this JBL Tour One M2 review notes that it’s still quite good.
JBL Live 770 NC
JBL Live 770 NC
The JBL Live 770 NC headphones are only slightly more expensive than the Sony WH-CH720N headphones, but they are quite a bit better. They offer better audio quality and more customizable sound, plus they have a longer battery life, which is 50 hours. As many JBL Live 770 NC reviews note, the JBL Live 770 NC headphones are among the best headphones under $200.
The AP Buyline takeaway:
The Sony WH-CH720N are the best headphones in their price range, with solid audio quality, long battery life and incredibly comfortable fit.
Sony WH-CH720N-Noise Canceling Wireless Bluetooth Headphones- Black
Frequently asked questions (FAQs)
How do you control the Sony WH-CH720N?
The Sony WH-CH720N headphones can be controlled using buttons built into the headphones themselves, which control volume, playback and noise modes. They can also be controlled using the Sony Headphones Connect app.
How do the Sony WH-CH720N connect?
The Sony WH-CH720N headphones connect through Bluetooth 5.2 and have an aux port for a wired connection. They also support Bluetooth Multipoint, so they can connect to up to two devices simultaneously.
How long does the Sony WH-CH720N battery last?
The Sony WH-CH720N headphones' battery lasts 35 hours with noise cancellation turned on. This is a great battery life and better than many of the alternatives.
How well does the Sony WH-CH720N cancel noise?
The Sony WH-CH720N headphones have decent noise-cancellation tech, but they’re not as impressive as Sony’s more expensive WH-1000XM5 headphones.
Is the Sony WH-CH720N worth buying?
Yes. The Sony WH-CH720N headphones are among the best headphones in their price range. They’re comfortable and they sound great, too.
Is the Sony WH-CH720N waterproof?
No. The Sony WH-CH720N headphones are not waterproof at all, so while they might survive light rain, it’s probably best to keep them out of water altogether.
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AP Buyline’s content is created independently of The Associated Press newsroom. Our evaluations and opinions are not influenced by our advertising relationships, but we might earn commissions from our partners’ links in this content. Learn more about our policies and terms here.