Sony WH-CH720N Wireless Headphones Review

What the Sony WH-CH720N actually is

This is Sony's cheap-but-not-nasty wireless headphone, sitting well below the flagship WH-1000XM5. It runs roughly $100 to $150 on Amazon depending on color and sales, and it leans on the same processor family Sony uses in its pricier cans. So you get real active noise cancelling, not the token kind that just muffles a bit of low hum.

It's light. Around 192 grams, which you notice the moment you put it on after wearing something heavier. The trade-off is a plasticky build that creaks if you squeeze it. Nobody buys these for the unboxing experience.

How it performs day to day

The noise cancelling is the headline, and it earns the attention. Droning sounds get knocked down hard: plane engines, AC units, the rumble of a train car, office HVAC. It won't fully erase a coworker two desks over or a crying toddler, because those are the higher frequencies ANC always struggles with. For commuting and focus work it does the job that matters.

Battery is the other reason to care. Sony rates it at 35 hours with ANC on, and that holds up in normal use. A quick three-minute charge buys you about an hour, which covers the 'I forgot to plug it in' panic before you leave. Bluetooth multipoint is built in, so it pairs to a laptop and a phone at once and switches without drama.

Sound is tuned warm with a confident low end. Out of the box the bass is a little forward for purists, but the Sony Headphones Connect app lets you flatten it with an EQ. Call quality is fine for video meetings and merely okay in a windy street. The lack of wear detection means it won't auto-pause when you take them off, which is a small annoyance you'll feel after using headphones that do.

The honest pros and cons

Wins: genuinely effective ANC for the money, 35-hour battery, very light, multipoint pairing, a 3.5mm jack for wired backup, and a useful companion app. For a sub-$150 headphone that's a strong sheet.

Compromises: the build feels budget and a bit creaky. There's no wear detection. Touch-free physical buttons are reliable but basic. And the WH-1000XM series still beats it clearly on ANC depth, sound refinement, and microphone quality if you spend the extra money.

Who should buy it, and who should skip it

Buy it if you want competent noise cancelling and long battery for commuting, working from a noisy room, or travel, without paying flagship prices. It's our default pick in this price band, and most people genuinely won't need the pricier model.

Skip it if you're an audiophile chasing detail, if you make a lot of calls in noisy places, or if premium materials matter to you. In those cases save up for the WH-1000XM5 or look at the Bose QuietComfort line. If you want earbuds instead of over-ears, that's a different shopping trip entirely.

The verdict

The WH-CH720N nails the two things budget shoppers actually rank: noise cancelling that works and a battery that lasts. The plastic build and missing extras are exactly the corners Sony cut to hit the price, and they're the right corners to cut. For around $100 to $150 it's a confident recommendation and an easy starting point for anyone who's never owned ANC headphones.

Frequently asked questions

Does the Sony WH-CH720N have good noise cancelling?

Yes, surprisingly good for the price. It strongly reduces steady low-frequency noise like plane engines, trains, and AC hum. It's less effective against sudden high-pitched sounds like voices, which is normal for ANC at any price.

How long does the battery last?

Sony rates it at about 35 hours with noise cancelling on, and that's realistic. A three-minute quick charge gives roughly an hour of playback, enough to get you out the door.

Is it worth upgrading to the Sony WH-1000XM5?

Only if you want deeper noise cancelling, better sound refinement, and clearer call quality, and you're fine paying significantly more. For most commuters and casual listeners, the WH-CH720N covers the essentials for far less.