Sony WH-CH720N Over Ear Headphone Comprehensive Review
I recently had the opportunity to test out the Sony WH-CH720N headphones, which are a mid-tier option from Sony that offer active noise cancelling and Sony 360 Reality Audio. While they may not have all of the bells and whistles of the top-of-the-line Sony WH-1000XM5, they come at a more affordable price point and still offer some great features.
In this review, I’ll share my thoughts on the comfort, design and build quality, controls, battery life, noise cancelling, sound quality, and microphone of the Sony WH-CH720N headphones. Additionally, I’ll weigh the pros and cons of these headphones and help you decide if they’re the right choice for you.
Key Takeaways
- Sony WH-CH720N headphones offer active noise cancelling and Sony 360 Reality Audio at a more affordable price point than the top-of-the-line Sony WH-1000XM5.
- These headphones are lightweight and have a good battery life, making them a great option for travelers and remote workers who use headphones for hours daily.
- Clamping force is just right; may be uncomfortable for glasses wearers.
Specifications
Size & Weight
Approx. 192 g
General Features
Closed
Dynamic, 30 mm
325 ohms (1 kHz) (when connecting via the headphone cable with the unit turned on) , 31 ohms (1 kHz) (when connecting via the headphone cable with the unit turned off)
7 Hz – 20 000 Hz (JEITA)
7 Hz – 20 000 Hz (JEITA)
20 Hz – 20 000 Hz (Sampling frequency 44.1 kHz)
108 dB / mW (when connecting via the headphone cable with the unit turned on) , 99 dB / mW (when connecting via the headphone cable with the unit turned off)
Yes
Single-sided (detachable)
approx. 1.2 m
Gold-plated L-shaped stereo mini plug
Stereo Mini Jack
Over Ear
Yes
Yes
Yes
Battery
Approx. 3.5 hrs
USB
Max. 35 hrs (NC ON) , Max. 50 hrs (NC OFF)
Max. 35 hrs (NC ON) , Max. 40 hrs (NC OFF)
Bluetooth® Specification
Bluetooth Specification Version 5.2
Approx. 10 m
2.4 GHz band (2.400 0 GHz – 2.483 5 GHz)
A2DP, AVRCP, HFP, HSP
SBC, AAC
SCMS-T
Noise Cancelling
Yes
Comfort, Design and Build Quality
I found the Sony WH-CH720N headphones to be comfortable to wear for extended periods. The ear cups are well-padded and do not exert too much pressure on the ears. One of the biggest selling points for me is the weight. For what you are paying, I think you are getting exceptional value. The headphones are lightweight in the world of over ear headphones, weighing in at 192g, making them easy to wear for long periods without experiencing any discomfort. These headphones have become my go-to gear whether I’m going to the gym or traveling from point A to B. The ear cups rotate and adjust easily to fit most ear sizes. However, the padding can heat up and feel sticky at room temperature, which may be a concern
In terms of design, the Sony WH-CH720N headphones have a reasonably stylish design and strong enough build quality. The controls for the headphones are baked into the buttons on the ear cup, and all the controls, except for the power button, are on the right ear cup. The buttons work just fine, but the volume and pause/play buttons feel so similar that you need to learn to recognize them. A couple of times, I hit the wrong one. The buttons definitely signal the budget nature of the Sony headphones, compared to the Sony WH-1000XM5, which use touch controls and gestures.
The Sony WH-CH720N headphones do not fold down, which may be a concern for some users who prefer more portable headphones. The headphones do not come with a carrying pouch or case, so you’ll need to purchase one separately if you plan to travel with them. They do not have water resistance, which may be a concern for users who want to wear them in light rain.
How do you control Sony WH-CH720N
Controlling the Sony WH-CH720N headphones is easy and intuitive. The headphones feature several buttons and controls that allow you to adjust the volume, skip tracks, and activate noise canceling.
Here is a table that outlines the various controls and buttons on the headphones:
| Control/ Button | Function |
|---|---|
| Power/Pairing button | Turn the headphones on or off, or put them into pairing mode |
| Volume buttons | Adjust the volume up or down |
| Play/Pause button | Play or pause audio playback |
| Next/Previous track buttons | Skip to the next or previous track |
| Ambient Sound/Noise Canceling button | Toggle between ambient sound and noise canceling modes |
To turn on the headphones, simply press and hold the power button until the LED light flashes. To pair the headphones with your device, press and hold the power button until the LED light flashes rapidly.
To adjust the volume, use the volume buttons located on the side of the headphones. To skip tracks, use the next/previous track buttons. To play or pause audio playback, press the play/pause button.
The Ambient Sound/Noise Canceling button allows you to toggle between ambient sound and noise canceling modes. In ambient sound mode, the headphones allow you to hear your surroundings while still listening to your audio. In noise canceling mode, the headphones block out external noise for a more immersive listening experience.
Battery Life and Charging
The Sony WH-CH720N boasts an impressive battery life of up to 40 hours and 11 minutes with ANC turned on. This means that you can enjoy your music for more extended periods without worrying about running out of battery. Additionally, the extended battery life means fewer recharges. For instance, I only need to recharge these headphones once every two weeks!
If you do run out of battery, you can still use the headphones passively using the 3.5 mm audio jack. The included USB-C cable allows for easy and convenient charging. With the Sony Headphones Connect app, you can also set an auto-off timer to help conserve battery life. One exciting feature of the Sony WH-CH720N is its quick charging capability. A mere three minutes of charging supplies about an hour of playback, according to Sony. This is perfect for those moments when you need to rush out the door and forgot to charge your headphones.
Noise Cancelling
I have found that the Sony WH-CH720 headphones ANC performance rather impressive. It effectively reduces external noises such as traffic, conversations, and other ambient sounds, especially with music at around 50% volume, which blocks out about 80% of the noise. Indoors, it’s nearly perfect except for the occasional phone ringing. However, the ANC struggles with high-frequency noises like crying babies, high-pitched sounds, or street traffic. Despite this, the combination of isolation and ANC cancels most noise frequencies reasonably well.
Sound Quality
When listening to the Sony WH-CH720N headphones, the bass is quite strong in their default setting, and the treble is also a bit too high. Adjusting the volume of these lower and higher sounds can significantly improve the overall sound quality.
For example, when I tested the headphones with different music genres like pop and hip-hop track, the strong bass suited the song well. However, it was hard to distinguish between different instruments due to the reduced volume of the middle sounds. The vocals were clear but sounded slightly congested.
The Sony WH-CH720N headphones can also be used with a headphone jack, maintaining the same sound quality as long as they are powered on and charged. In passive mode, without power, the sound quality changes, cutting the treble and boosting the lower and midrange sounds.
In summary, the Sony WH-CH720N headphones have a strong bass and treble in their default setting, but adjusting these can improve the sound quality.
Microphone
In my experience, the embedded microphone of the Sony WH-CH720N performs surprisingly well as a pair of over-ear headphones. In an office setting, the speaker’s voice is clear and background noise is attenuated, although some keystrokes may still be audible. The microphone also filters out wind noise particularly well, making speech still clear and precise even in windy conditions.
I think the microphone of the Sony WH-CH720N is a good choice for making calls and conducting voice chats, especially in an office setting. Its ability to handle background noise effectively ensures professional-sounding communication. Whether you’re on a conference call or chatting with friends, the microphone delivers reliable performance.
Pros and Cons
After researching and testing various headphones in the same price range as the Sony WH-CH720N, I have compiled a list of pros and cons to help you make an informed decision.
Pros
- The Sony WH-CH720N headphones have excellent noise canceling capabilities, making them a great choice for those who want to block out external noise.
- The headphones are lightweight and comfortable to wear for extended periods of time.
- The app support with EQ allows for customization of the sound profile to your liking.
- The LDAC codec provides high-quality audio streaming for compatible devices.
- The microphone quality for phone calls is great considering that it is a over ear headphones.
Cons
- The frequency response of the Sony WH-CH720N headphones is not as accurate as some other headphones in the same price range.
- The build quality feels a bit plasticky and may not be as durable as other headphones.
- The buttons used to control functions may not be as intuitive as touch controls found on other headphones.
If you are looking for an alternative to the Sony WH-CH720N headphones, consider the Sennheiser ACCENTUM Wireless or the JBL Tune 770NC. The Sennheiser ACCENTUM Wireless offers excellent noise canceling and a more premium design, while the JBL Tune 770NC has similar noise canceling and app support but may not be suitable for those with larger ears.
Should you buy the Sony WH-CH720N?
If you’re looking for an affordable pair of noise-canceling headphones, the Sony WH-CH720N is worth considering. At under $150, they’re a great choice for most people who can’t afford the more expensive big-name ANC headphones.
The Sony WH-CH720N has a light-weight design, active noise-canceling, and up to 35 hours of battery life, making them serious contenders for the best portable wireless headphones. They also have Alexa built-in, and the ambient sound mode offers twenty levels of control.
While the noise canceling may not be the very best, it performs relatively well. The default EQ is wonky, but it’s pleasant enough, like most recent Sony offerings, and you can tweak it using the app with some equalization.
The Sony WH-CH720N is also comfortable, with a perfectly useable microphone, and wired or Bluetooth listening. However, the build quality is somewhat plasticky, so if you’re looking for a more premium feel, these may not be the right choice for you.
In summary, at US$149.00 the Sony WH-CH720N is a decent set of headphones that offer good value for the money. If you’re looking for a pair of affordable noise-canceling headphones that are comfortable to wear and have a long battery life, these are definitely worth considering.
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Why choose Sony WH-CH720N
Superb Battery Life
Get at least 35 hours of battery life
Lightweight & Comfortable
Lightweight and comfortable with ample cushioning
Great Sound Quality
30mm dynamic drivers with wired and Bluetooth listening options