By Tech Gear Hub • Last updated: November 15, 2026
Tech Gear Hub may earn a commission from links on this page. Prices change often — the prices below were checked on November 14, 2026.
Quick Verdict: The Sony WH-CH720N is still one of the best budget ANC headphones you can buy in 2026. At around $88 on Amazon, you get 35 hours of noise-cancelling battery life, a feather-light 192-gram fit, multipoint Bluetooth and genuinely good call quality. The plasticky build and the lack of LDAC are real compromises — but at this price, almost everything else is right.
Tech Gear Hub reviewed the Sony WH-CH720N based on its official specifications and the published measurements of independent labs and reviewers. Sony launched the CH720N in early 2023 as the successor to the WH-CH710N, and it remains the company's cheapest over-ear with proper noise cancelling. The street price changes the proposition from its $149.99 launch price: it now sells for around $88 on Amazon (checked November 14, 2026), with Sony's own US store listing it at $89.99 against a $179.99 list price.
Table of contents: Specs at a glance · Design and comfort · Sound quality · Noise cancelling · Battery and charging · Calls and multipoint · What is missing · Our assessment · Alternatives · Common mistakes · FAQ
Sony WH-CH720N specs at a glance
| Specification | WH-CH720N |
|---|---|
| Driver | 30 mm dynamic, closed-back |
| Noise cancelling | Dual Noise Sensor + Integrated Processor V1 |
| Battery (music) | Up to 35 hours (ANC on), up to 50 hours (ANC off) |
| Quick charge | 3-minute charge = up to 1 hour of playback |
| Weight | Approx. 192 g — Sony's lightest wireless ANC headband |
| Bluetooth | 5.2 with multipoint (2 devices at once) |
| Codecs | SBC and AAC only — no LDAC, no aptX |
| Sound extras | DSEE upscaling, 360 Reality Audio, Sony Sound Connect app with custom EQ |
| Calls | Precise Voice Pickup beamforming mics, wind-noise reduction |
| Wired | 3.5 mm input, cable included (~1.2 m) |
| In the box | Headset, USB-A to USB-C cable (~20 cm), headphone cable — no carry case |
| Colors (US) | Black, Pink, White (blue is sold in some other regions, not in the US) |
| Price | Around $88 on Amazon (checked November 14, 2026); $89.99 at Sony US store |
Design and comfort: 192 grams changes everything
The first thing you notice about the WH-CH720N is how little it weighs. At approximately 192 grams, it is Sony's lightest wireless noise-cancelling headband — headphones you can wear for a full workday without the neck fatigue heavier over-ears cause. Independent hands-on reviewers rated its comfort a perfect 10/10, and that matches the spec sheet: soft earcups, a light clamping force and a headband that disappears on your head.
The blue WH-CH720N shown above is sold in some regions — US buyers get black, pink or white.
The trade-off is the build. The CH720N is almost entirely plastic — several reviewers call it "toy-like" to the touch — and owner reports mention hinge breaks over time, so do not throw it loose into a bag. Sony includes no carry case, the earcups swivel flat but do not fold inward, and there is no water-resistance rating: these are indoor and commute headphones, not gym headphones.
Sound quality: warm, punchy and fixable
The 30 mm drivers deliver a warm, bass-forward sound — RTINGS' lab measurements call the bass "very emphasized," and What Hi-Fi? praised the "warm but level-headed bass, strong instrument separation, and plenty of treble clarity." Out of the box the treble is a little uneven, per RTINGS, but the Sony Sound Connect app's custom EQ fixes the worst of it in a minute.
The hard limit is the codec support: the WH-CH720N does not support LDAC or aptX — SBC and AAC only, per Sony's official spec sheet. That matters for hi-res streaming on Android; on an iPhone, AAC is all you would get anyway, so nothing is lost. Tom's Guide still scored the Sony 23/25 for sound in its Sennheiser Accentum face-off, calling it "a superb low-cost alternative" — while noting that "the absence of LDAC also hurts."
Noise cancelling: good, not flagship
The CH720N uses Sony's Dual Noise Sensor technology with the Integrated Processor V1 — the same ANC approach as the step-up models, with a smaller implementation. In practice it is very good at steady low-frequency noise: SoundGuys' measurements show around 20 dB of attenuation across most lower frequencies, peaking near 28 dB at 80 Hz. That is the drone of an airplane cabin, a bus engine or an office air conditioner — exactly the noise budget buyers want gone.
Voices and sudden sounds are a different story. RTINGS' lab gave the CH720N 6.3/10 for noise isolation, against 9.7/10 for the flagship WH-1000XM6 on the same scale, and hands-on reviewers call the ANC "mediocre" next to the flagship. Ambient Sound mode (20 levels in the app), Focus on Voice and Adaptive Sound Control help you tune how much of the world you let in — but for silence in a loud open office, the XM5/XM6 class is a different league. At $88, though, this level of ANC has almost no competition.
Battery life and charging: the headline feature
Sony rates the CH720N at up to 35 hours of music with noise cancelling on, and up to 50 hours with it off. Independent lab testing did even better: RTINGS measured 40 hours 11 minutes of battery life, and GSMArena's testing reported more than 47 hours with ANC on. In real use, expect a full work week of listening between charges.
Charging is the weak spot: a full charge takes about 3.5 hours over USB-C. Get the quick-charge figure right — a 3-minute charge gives up to 1 hour of playback; the "10 minutes = 4.5 hours" figure belongs to the WH-1000XM5, not this model. With this much battery, you will rarely be caught flat.
Calls and multipoint: genuinely strong
Call quality is one of the CH720N's quiet strengths. Sony's Precise Voice Pickup uses beamforming microphones with a wind-noise reduction structure, and RTINGS rated its microphone "much better" than the rival Soundcore Space One. If you take calls on your headphones all day, this matters more than a spec sheet suggests.
Bluetooth 5.2 multipoint connects to two devices at once, so the headphones can stay paired to your laptop and your phone — a call on the phone pauses the laptop audio automatically. Google Fast Pair is included, and voice assistants (Google Assistant and Siri) are supported.
What is missing
- No LDAC or aptX — SBC/AAC only, per Sony's official specs.
- No folding design and no case — earcups swivel flat only; buy a third-party case if you travel with them.
- No water-resistance rating — keep them out of the gym and the rain.
- Slow full charge — about 3.5 hours from empty.
- Plasticky build — light and comfortable, but it feels cheaper than it sounds, and hinge durability is a known owner complaint.
Our specification-based assessment
The scores below are our specification-based assessment, based on Sony's published specifications and the independent measurements cited here — not hands-on testing. Our full methodology is on our How We Test & Review page.
| Criterion | Score (out of 10) | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Sound quality | 8.5 | Warm, punchy bass; treble uneven out of the box but fixable in the app; no LDAC caps the ceiling |
| Noise cancelling | 7.5 | Strong on steady low-frequency noise; weaker on voices than flagship Sony models (RTINGS 6.3/10 isolation) |
| Battery life | 9.0 | 35-hour rating, 40+ hours measured by RTINGS; slow 3.5-hour full charge |
| Comfort | 9.5 | 192 g — the lightest ANC headband Sony makes; hands-on comfort rated 10/10 |
| Value | 9.5 | ANC, multipoint, great calls and 35-hour battery for around $88 |
| Overall | 8.8 | Almost everything that matters is right; the compromises are honest ones at this price |
Sony WH-CH720N vs the alternatives
If your budget is tighter, our Soundcore Life Q20i vs Sony WH-CH720N comparison shows where the $50-class Q20i wins on price and where the Sony pulls ahead on calls and comfort. For longer battery and a tougher build, our JBL Tune 770NC vs Sony WH-CH720N comparison pits the Sony against a 44-hour rival. And if you want a cheaper on-ear Sony, our Sony WH-CH520 vs JBL Tune 510BT comparison covers the $50 on-ear class, while our best wireless headphones under $50 for commuting guide is the cheaper starting point.
The short version: the CH720N sits in the sweet spot between the $50 class and the $200+ class. It is the one to buy if you want real ANC, real battery life and real call quality without paying flagship money.
Common mistakes to avoid
- Expecting LDAC. The CH720N is SBC/AAC only. If hi-res LDAC streaming is a must-have, you need a different model — check the spec sheet before you buy, not after.
- Expecting it to fold. The earcups swivel flat but do not fold inward, and no case is included. Buy a hard case if you travel with them.
- Buying the blue color in the US. Blue is sold in some regions but is not a US color — US buyers get black, pink or white. Order the color that is actually listed for your region.
- Judging the sound before touching the EQ. The out-of-box treble is uneven; spend two minutes in the Sony Sound Connect app before deciding you do not like the sound.
- Paying the $179.99 list price. The CH720N is almost always on sale — around $88 on Amazon at the time of writing. Check the current price before paying full price anywhere.
Who should buy it — and who should not
Buy it if you want light, comfortable ANC headphones for work, commuting and calls under $100. At around $88, the combination of 35-hour battery, multipoint and genuinely good microphones is hard to beat. Check the current price of the Sony WH-CH720N on Amazon.
Do not buy it if you need hi-res LDAC audio, a folding travel design, water resistance for workouts, or flagship-level silence in noisy offices. In those cases, save for the WH-1000XM5 class — or accept the trade-offs with your eyes open.
Frequently asked questions
Is the Sony WH-CH720N worth it in 2026?
Yes, for most buyers. At around $88 it offers 35-hour ANC battery life, a 192-gram fit, multipoint Bluetooth and strong call quality — a combination no rival matches at this price. The missing LDAC and plasticky build are the only real compromises.
Does the Sony WH-CH720N support LDAC?
No. Per Sony's official specifications, the WH-CH720N supports SBC and AAC only — there is no LDAC and no aptX. iPhone users lose nothing, since iPhones use AAC; Android users who want LDAC need a different model.
How long does the Sony WH-CH720N battery last?
Sony rates it at up to 35 hours with noise cancelling on and up to 50 hours with it off. RTINGS measured 40 hours 11 minutes in its lab test, so the 35-hour rating is conservative in real use.
Is the WH-CH720N good for calls?
Yes. Sony's Precise Voice Pickup beamforming microphones with wind-noise reduction earned a "much better" microphone rating than the Soundcore Space One in RTINGS' comparison, and multipoint lets you stay connected to a laptop and a phone at once.
Does the WH-CH720N fold?
No. The earcups swivel flat for wearing around your neck, but they do not fold inward, and Sony does not include a carry case. Buy a third-party hard case if you travel with them.
What is the difference between the WH-CH720N and the WH-1000XM5?
The XM5 is the flagship: better ANC, LDAC support, better microphones and a folding design — at roughly three times the price. The CH720N is lighter (192 g vs 250 g) and gives you most of the everyday experience for around $88.
Sources & references
- Sony — WH-CH720N official product page and specifications (electronics.sony.com): 30 mm drivers, 35/50-hour battery, 192 g, Bluetooth 5.2, SBC/AAC only
- RTINGS — WH-CH720N lab measurements, via reporting sources: 6.3/10 noise isolation, 40h 11m measured battery, 290 ms Bluetooth latency
- Tom's Guide — Sennheiser Accentum vs Sony WH-CH720N face-off: Sony 80/100 total, sound 23/25, ANC 17/20 (tomsguide.com)
- RecordingNow — Sony WH-CH720N hands-on buyer review: 8.1 Editor's Choice, comfort 10/10 (recordingnow.com)
- MacObserver — Amazon price check, November 14, 2026: around $88, Amazon.com as seller
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