Sony CH720N review: Affordable ANC

Sony leads the way when it comes to headphone active noise cancellation (ANC) – its critically acclaimed WH-1000XM5 are basically the bee’s knees.

However, it also comes with a hefty price tag, and a large portion of people would rather get reliable ANC at a lower price than spend the money for the best. As a result, the CH720N is more affordable, less fancy, but probably more popular. We’ve been testing it.

Active noise cancellation (ANC) headphones have dominated the audio market over the past decade. Market leader Sony has released its fair share of ANC headphones and earbuds, and while these models are market-leading, they come with hefty price tags.

A year ago, Sony released the WH-CH720 headphones – a budget-friendly ANC option. Having been wearing headphones for six months now, I can say they are my lifesaver, allowing me to fall asleep to my baby’s cries on the plane, drown out the noise on the subway, and hear my favorite songs in high-quality audio. They deserve it.

The Sony WH-CH720N active noise-canceling headphones offer great value at a mid-range price of $150. While there are a lot of benefits to these headphones, there are bound to be some trade-offs when you choose to buy a lower-budget version instead of a more expensive “best in the industry” offering. Sony’s WH-720N headphones were released in March 2023, and they still hold the distinction of being great value for money.

Complete specifications and reasonable price

Better sound quality than $150 worth

I found the sound quality of the Sony WH-CH720N to be excellent, especially for a daily music listener like me. It’s hard to tell the difference between the sound quality of these headphones compared to more expensive models.

The sound of these headphones is equally impressive, even to ears trained on professional music. In fact, I asked classically trained violinist and music industry professional Julia Hawkins to try out these headphones, and she reported that she “couldn’t tell the difference between these and the Audio Technica classic models. It’s great to be able to adjust the headphones.” EQ levels personalize the way you listen. “

I asked a classically trained violinist to try these headphones, and she reported that they sounded great—emphasis on the best points without the instrument overpowering the vocals.

I asked a classically trained violinist to try these headphones, and she reported that they sounded great—emphasis on the best points without the instrument overpowering the vocals.

The default equalizer (EQ) settings are fairly balanced. Sony’s Headphones Connect app gives you full EQ control to play with different sound settings. The app allows you to create custom equalizer settings to save and switch, suitable for those who like different listening experiences for different music genres. The application also provides a setting to turn on DSEE, which automatically improves the sound of old or low-quality audio sources.

Wallet-friendly ANC, but sounds budget-friendly

While the WH-720N don’t completely cancel outside noise, they are very effective at blocking static sounds (such as airplane and train noise), but have some difficulty with changing frequencies (such as conversations happening next to you). Even when there’s no audio playing, the headphones’ active noise cancellation works great, maintaining near-silence no matter where you are.

If you prefer to hear some outside noise, you can also choose to listen without ANC. You can do this by pressing the NC/Ambient button on the right side of the ear cup. As someone who loves switching between ANC and transparency modes, I love how easy this button is to use—especially during my commute.

Even when there’s no audio playing, the headphones’ active noise cancellation works great, maintaining near-silence no matter where you are.

Big battery is a big benefit

The CH720N headphones have excellent battery performance. When fully charged, the battery life is expected to be over 30 hours when ANC is used, and up to 50 hours when the feature is turned off. You can easily check the battery percentage of your headphones by clicking the power button while listening. It takes 3.5 hours to charge the earphones from dead to 100% using the USB-C port.

Unfortunately, unlike Sony’s 1000XM4 and XM5 models, the CH720N model doesn’t pause music after detecting you’ve taken off the headphones, which puts a strain on battery life. However, the headset automatically turns off 15 minutes after disconnecting from Bluetooth. If you’re like me and forget to disconnect your headphones or turn them off, be aware that you may lose battery when you’re not actively listening.

Connections and microphone

The CH720N’s Bluetooth connection is reliable and simple, making it perfect for streaming, listening, and calling. Even the microphone performed well, as I found no static or graininess when talking on the headset. The people I spoke to also reported a clear experience.

I also like that these headphones come with a 3.5mm jack in case you need or want to use wired audio, as I sometimes do when traveling.

Lightweight design has some disadvantages

The WH-CH720N has a very standard design. Ultimately, the overall look is more refined than expected for the price point. Plus, they are adjustable in size and very comfortable.

While the plastic material contributes to the lightweight fit and comfortable fit, it also makes them more susceptible to breakage than Sony’s premium options. The CH720Ns don’t fold, which makes it awkward for me to stuff them into my backpack. This product also doesn’t come with a carrying case or bag, but there are a variety of low-cost travel cases available to house the CH720N and its charger. You can also buy from sellers on Amazon that include insurance, or sign up for a Product Protection Plan through Sony.

I find myself wanting to wear them for longer periods of time when traveling, but they are very comfortable for my daily commute.

The cushioning on the headband and each ear cup is soft and comfortable, but thinner than on the deluxe model. While this won’t noticeably affect comfort in the short term, they may start to seem less comfortable after multiple hours of continuous use. I find myself wanting to wear them for longer periods of time when traveling, but they are very comfortable for my daily commute.

judgment

Sony’s WH-CH720N headphones offer a premium listening experience, ANC that isolates external noise, and an effective Transparency mode, and they’re certainly impressive even a year after their initial release. Sony’s corresponding app offers listeners a wide range of customizable options, and the headphones’ long battery life and comfortable fit will keep you listening for hours.

While the WH-CH720N still isn’t a stunning budget option, you get what you pay for. In this case, I even think you’re getting a pretty good deal. Music lovers looking for solid mid-range ANC headphones without investing too much money would do well to consider Sony’s WH-CH720N.

Top 5 songs listened to on my Sony WH-CH720N headphones:

1. glass animal slices
2. “Eat Your Young” by Hozier
3. Let him come back!by Olivia Rodrigo
4. Is this a stroke?
5. Wurli by Dominic Fike