I’ve spent hours at the biggest electronic stores around the world, inspecting headphones over a 9-year career as a tech writer. It gives me joy reading about headphones and knowing people’s experiences while buying all kinds of headphones. Every day, I am surprised to learn something new about the headphones market which is changing pretty quickly. For instance, a recent trend that is shaking up the headphones market is a multitude of mid-range options. These are lower-priced than their high-end counterparts but offer a premium feel and terrific audio quality. And this is proving enticing for consumers. Sony’s new WH-CH720H over-ear headphones not only offer an affordable alternative to its flagship WH-1000XM5 but also signal the opening of the Japanese signature style and sound to a wider audience. I have had them for a few days and here’s an in-depth review of the Sony WH-CH720N noise-cancelling headphones.
Sony WH-CH720N over-ear headphones price in India (as reviewed): Rs 9,990
Sony WH-CH720N Specs
Bluetooth version: 5.2| Noise cancellation: yes|Ambient mode: yes|Multipoint: yes|Battery life: 30 hours (NC on), 50 hours (ANC off)|Recharge time: approx. 3.5 hours over USB-C|App: Sony Headphones Connect for Android and iOS
How do the Sony WH-CH720N look and feel?
Although not luxury noise-cancelling headphones, the WH-CH720N are engineered to look and feel like premium over-ear headphones. The aesthetic is very Sony-like: clean and minimalistic. The headphones are covered in matte soft-touch coating – and while they are made of plastic, they hold up perfectly fine in daily use. The headband is slightly thinner and the ear pads are a bit wider and have more memory foam, which maximizes comfort. I got a white model to review. They also come in two other colours (blue and black). From the outside, their oval ear cups were large enough to fit over my entire ear but your experience may differ if you have got larger ones. The headset charges via USB-C with the option to connect via a 3.5mm connection. The right earcup has physical buttons for volume controls and toggling noise-cancellation and transparency. But one thing that annoyed me was that Sony’s new over-ear headphones can’t be folded. Instead of folding down, these headphones lay flat. So basically, I need a dedicated compartment in my backpack to keep them safe. That means I have to be more mindful when bringing them along when I am travelling. And, on top of it, Sony does not provide a case for these headphones which I believe is to keep the price down. Anyway, I recently bought the universal over-ear headphone case from Amazon and it seems like a logical choice if you want to keep your headphones from regular wear and tear.
Are they comfortable to wear?
After wearing the Sony WH-CH720N on a flight to Dubai, the comfort level was excellent. In fact, I took a nap and didn’t realise I put the headphones on. Because they are designed in such a way, the headphones felt extremely comfortable without being overly bulky. The Sony WH-CH720N weigh just 192 grams. These are the lightest over-ear headphones I have used in a long time. In comparison, the Bose 700 and Sony WH-1000XM4 weigh 249 grams and 251 grams, respectively.
I’d encourage you to go for a jog while wearing the Sony WH-CH720N. I think it’s the headphone that allows the weight to be distributed so evenly that I never felt uncomfortable wearing the headphones for a long time whether sitting upright at the desk in front of my laptop or chilling on my couch.
How do they sound?
I am sure everyone seeks maximum comfort in headphones, but sound is still the single most important reason for buying any audio product. Thankfully, the Sony WH-CH720N didn’t disappoint in the audio department. They may not deliver audiophile-level sound, but the Sony-made headphones did a phenomenal job of producing good sound. I was particularly impressed at their performance when listening to vocals. Lata Mangeshkar and Kishore Kumar’s Kya Yahi Pyar Hai sounded incredible with crisp vocals and great instrument separation. Jasleen Royal and Prateek Kuhad’s Kho Gaye Hum Kaha was a joyful listen. The good thing about these headphones is that they somehow manage to deliver music with zero distortion and nothing gets lost. The only time I felt the Sony WH-CH720N struggled with was when listening to thumpy and energetic dance tracks. They aren’t as punchy as I hoped they would be. You can always use the EQ controls in Sony’s Headphones Connect app on Android or iOS to tweak the sound of these headphones the way you want to listen to. That being said, the WH-CH720N are unmistakably Sony headphones. You won’t be disappointed with the sound.
Do they support noise cancelling?
I’ve tested the noise cancellation of the Sony WH-CH720N in many situations – in traffic, by a noisy open compound of a Dubai Mall, and even at the airport. These headphones do cut down the outside nearby voices and handle street noise well. However, if you compare the Sony WH-CH720N noise-cancelling capability to Bose 700 or Apple AirPods Max, it’s still not enough to completely silence the world around you. The Ambient Sound mode is impressive. It worked for me, at least, during the time of testing. I think the Ambient Sound mode is perfect for those who don’t want to miss conversations without taking their headphones off.
Observations
Sony’s new over-ear headphones are great for attending audio calls which I did a lot. Many people I called using the Sony WH-CH720N said they could not hear external noise and the usual echo that wireless headphones produce when making calls. Battery life is great too — 35 hours is more than enough for anyone with noise cancelling on and up to 50 hours with noise cancelling turned off. These headphones also support multipoint, meaning you can connect to two Bluetooth devices at once. Unfortunately, LDAC, Sony’s codec for higher-quality wireless audio is not there but these headphones still have Google Assistant and Alexa integration as well as support for the 360-degree reality audio tech.
Should you buy them?
Flagship headphones are expensive, costing anywhere between Rs 30,000 to Rs 60,000. Sony’s own WH-1000XM5 over-ear noise-cancelling headphones cost Rs 30,000 which is an absurd amount of money for a pair of headphones. And so, enter the Sony WH-CH720N, an affordable alternative to premium over-ear headphones. In a way, the WH-CH720N is an attempt to create a signature Sony style and sound but at a lower price point. The existence of the WH-CH720N proves there can be space for a pair of over-ear headphones that cost half the price of over-ear favourites like the Sony WH-1000XM5. For me, the biggest takeaway is that the headphone market is changing. The arrival of headphones like the WH-CH720N on the market will give brands like Sony little more confidence in bringing more affordable, premium-grade over-ear headphones without the hefty price tags flagship NC cans are known for.
