About the Sony WH-CH720N
Sony's lightest over-ear noise-canceling headphones yet
Sony's lightest over-ear noise-canceling headphones yet
With their ultralight design and premium Sony noise-canceling technology, the WH-CH720N headphones offer a lot of value.
Sony has earned quite the reputation for their noise-canceling headphones, and they've loaded the wireless WH-CH720N 'phones with a lot of value and premium features. Not that they weighed them down — at a mere 6.8 ounces, these are among the lightest over-ear noise cancelers I've ever seen. So while you won't get quite the level of performance as what many customers consider the best-in-class Sony WH-1000XM5s, there is a lot to love here.
You get a well-padded, relaxed fit and music plays wirelessly via Bluetooth 5.2 — the strongest, most reliable Bluetooth yet. Sony's sophisticated V1 chip works in concert with a new dual mic system to monitor external sounds and cancel noise in real time. The chip also adds a bit of refinement to the sound and helps strengthen the battery life.
Long-lasting battery
You get up to 35 hours of wireless noise-canceling use on fully charged battery. Great for those of us who constantly forget to recharge our headphones. Good news if you do run out of juice: 10 minutes of recharging provides enough power for over an hour of listening. (You can even go "old school" and plug them into a headphone jack with the included 3.5mm audio cable.)
Sound tuned for strong bass
These headphones feature 30mm drivers tuned for clear vocals and hard-hitting bass. They also feature Sony's DSEE feature that promises to restore clarity and substance to compressed digital tracks.
Download the free Sony Headphones Connect app to your phone, and you can customize the sound to suit your listening preferences. Tweak the equalization, sound presets, and more. You can even choose MORE bass.
Sony's signature pleasant fit
I always like the way Sony over-ears fit. I haven't had a chance to try the WH-CH720N headphones yet, but I have worn the model they are replacing. Those stayed in place well, but never clamp too tightly — crucial if you wear glasses like I do. Sony slightly tweaked the headband and oval ear cup designs this time around, so I expect they should feel even more comfortable.
Earth-conscious packaging
Like most Sony headphones these days, these headphones arrive inside a low-key, yet substantial carton made of a recyclable blended material. Sony has told me that this sustainable packaging is made "from bamboo, sugarcane fibers, and post-consumer recycled paper, all of which are available around the world's largest manufacturing hubs in Asia." It's refreshing to see big companies like Sony becoming mindful of their packing materials — and trusting their products to do the talking.
Product highlights:
- closed-back, over-ear Bluetooh headphones
- relaxed headband and soft oval earpads for comfort
- Sony's lightest over-ear noise canceling headphones
- Bluetooth 5.2 for wireless music listening and phone calls with compatible smartphones
- NFC-compatible for one-touch pairing with compatible Android™ devices
- multipoint connection for pairing to two devices at once
- DSEE™ (Digital Sound Enhancement Engine) processing restores high-frequency signals to compressed digital formats
- 30mm dynamic drivers tuned for deep, tightly controlled bass
Active noise cancellation and ambient mode:
- active noise-canceling circuitry to minimize external noise
- dual-microphone system helps cancel human voices and other higher-frequency sounds
- includes Sony's new Integrated Processor V1 chip
- helps strengthen noise cancellation, audio quality, wireless connection, and battery life
- ambient mode allows in external sounds to keep you better aware of your surroundings
- dedicated button for toggling noise cancelling and ambient modes
Easy controls:
- earcup controls let you answer calls, play/pause music, skip tracks, and control volume
- built-in microphone for making calls with a smartphone
- free Sony Headphones Connect app for Apple® and Android allows you to adjust sound levels
- select from sound presets like Outdoor Stage, Club, Hall, or Arena
- dedicated earcup button summons Google Assistant or Amazon Alexa on your smartphone or tablet
- say "OK Google" or "Alexa" to access voice assistant (optional, requires one-time setup)
- available for Apple® and Android™
- must repurpose the earcup Noise Cancellation button using the Headphone Connect app
General info and accessories:
- built-in rechargeable battery offers up to 35 hours of wireless use with noise cancellation
- 10 minutes of recharging provides enough power for 60 minutes of listening
- detachable cable with 3.5mm miniplug connector for wired use
- includes USB-C cable for charging
- frequency response: 7-20,000 Hz (wired), 20-20,000 (Bluetooth)
- sensitivity: 108 dB
- impedance: 325 ohms (when connected via headphone cable with noise-cancellation "on")
- weight: 6.8 oz.
- warranty: 1 year
- MFR # WHCH720N/B
- Item # 158CH720NB
What's in the box:
- Wireless over-ear headphones (black)
- 49" Audio cable (Straight 3.5mm plug on one end and right-angled 3.5mm plug on other end)
- 8" USB charging cable (USB-A on one end and USB-C on other end)
- Reference Guide
- Limited Warranty
More details on the Sony WH-CH720N
Features & specs
| General | ||
|---|---|---|
| Fit Style | Over-the-ear | |
| Earcup Type | Closed | |
| Earcup Width x Height | 3.164" x 3.85" | |
| Noise-canceling | Yes | |
| Bluetooth | Yes | |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.2 | |
| Single-earbud Operation | No | |
| Mic For Taking Calls | Yes | |
| Battery Life | 50 hours | |
| Total Battery With Charging Case | N/A | |
| Voice Assistant Access | ||
| Amazon Alexa | Yes | |
| Google Assistant | Yes | |
| Siri | Yes | |
| Connectors | ||
| 3.5mm | Yes | |
| 1/4" | No | |
| Lightning | No | |
| 4.4mm balanced | No | |
| XLR4 balanced | No | |
| 2.5mm | No | |
| Other | None | |
| Specs | ||
| Frequency Response | 7-20k Hz | |
| Sensitivity | 99 dB | |
| Impedance | 31 Ohms | |
| Weight | 6.6 ounces | |
| Cord Length | 49" | |
| Parts Warranty | 1 Year | |
| Labor Warranty | 1 Year | |
Product Research
Features
Overview: The Sony WH-CH720N Wireless Noise Cancelling Headphones are lightweight and super comfortable, so you can enjoy wearing them for hours at a time. Features like Adjustable Ambient Sound and Adaptive Sound Control let you choose how much of the outside world you want to let in while you listen to music or talk on the phone. The headphones feature Bluetooth 5.2 with multipoint so you can switch from music to phone call at the touch of a button. When you're finished listening, the headphones fold flat so you can easily toss them in your briefcase or purse. The headphones come with a 4' audio cable for wired listening, and a charging cable to keep them charged.
Drivers: The headphones are equipped with large 30mm drivers that reproduce a wide range of frequencies. You'll hear lots of detail and solid bass from your music, and clear, hands-free conversations.
Bluetooth 5.2: The WH-CH720N has Bluetooth 5.2 for wireless listening from your smartphone, tablet, or Bluetooth music player from up to 30 feet away. The headphones are compatible with A2DP, AVRCP, HFP, and HSP profiles, and feature SBC and AAC codecs for enhanced sound quality. The headphones can be paired with two Bluetooth devices at the same time (Multipoint). This lets you listen to digital music files on your computer and immediately switch to an incoming call on your phone with the touch of a button.
Sound Quality Modes: The Sony Sound Connect app lets you choose between two sound quality modes during Bluetooth playback. You can choose "Priority on Sound Quality" for the best sound possible from your Bluetooth sound source. If you are experiencing audio dropouts or lower sound quality, you can select "Priority on Stable Connection" to improve the signal strength from your Bluetooth source to your headphones.
DSEE: The Digital Sound Enhancement Engine (DSEE) function restores high frequency details that are typically lost from compressed sound sources. Audio from streaming playback, MP3, and other compressed sources are played back with a more natural, expansive sound. The DSEE function can be set up in the Sony Sound Connect app, and is only available when listening wirelessly.
Noise Cancelling: The WH-CH720N Noise Cancelling Headphones feature microphones near the top of each earcup for picking up ambient noise. When the Noise Cancelling function is activated, the Integrated Processor V1 generates sound that is out-of-phase with the ambient noise picked up by the microphones. The ambient noise is significantly reduced, though not fully cancelled. The Noise Cancelling function works primarily on noise in the low frequency band, including traffic or the mechanical hum from HVAC systems. Using Noise Cancelling in a relatively quiet environment is typically less effective. You can use the Noise Cancelling function while listening wirelessly or with the audio cable connected.
Ambient Sound: To maintain awareness of your surroundings, the Ambient Sound Mode picks up external noise with the microphones on the earcups and amplifies it. This improves safety as you walk down the street, allowing you to hear traffic noise, and allows you to better hear public announcements at the airport or train station. The Ambient Sound Mode offers 20 level settings so you can fine tune the amount of ambient noise you want to hear. You can switch between Noise Cancelling and Ambient Sound modes via the dedicated button on the right ear cup, or in the Sony Sound Connect app.
Adaptive Sound Control: Adaptive Sound Control senses where you are and what you're doing, and adjusts the Ambient Sound settings for the ideal listening experience. This smart function learns your behavior and recognizes places you frequently visit, including your workplace or favorite restaurant, and tailors the sound to suit the situation.
Voice Assistant: The WH-CH720N is compatible with the Google Assistant that comes with the Android smartphone, and with Siri with the iPhone. It is also compatible with Amazon Alexa and the Google Assistant app, when installed on your smartphone. When connected to your device via Bluetooth, you can speak voice commands ("OK, Google or "Alexa") through the headphones' in-line microphone to operate your device.
Rechargeable Battery: The Sony WH-CH720N over-ear headphones have a built-in 3.85-volt Lithium-ion rechargeable battery, which charges in approximately 3.5 hours via the included USB-C cable. Music playback and communication times vary when using Noise Cancellation (NC), Ambient Sound Mode, or with NC off (see Specifications below). The headphones have a Quick Charge feature that provides about 60 minutes of music playback after only 3 minutes of charging, or 4.5 hours after 10 minutes of charging.
Sony Sound Connect App: The Sony Sound Connect (formerly Headphones Connect) app lets you customize your headphones to fit your lifestyle, and to optimize its performance. The app has an EQ for fine-tuning the sound to your personal tastes, and has several presets to choose from. The app provides a central location to set up and control features such as DSEE, Noise Cancelling, Ambient Sound, and Adaptive Sound Control. You can choose your favorite Voice Assistant, and keep your headphones up to date with firmare updates, when available. The app makes pairing easier and lets you view the headphone's battery status at a glance. The Sony Sound Connect App is compatible with Apple devices running iOS 16.0 or later, and with Android smartphones (version varies with device).
Specifications:
- Frequency Response (Passive): 7Hz - 20kHz (unit on)
- Bluetooth Frequency Range: 20Hz - 20kHz (@ 44.1kHz)
- Driver Size: 30mm
- Impedance: 325Ω (at 1 kHz with cable, unit on), 31Ω (at 1 kHz with cable, unit off)
- Sensitivity: 108 dB / mW (with cable, unit on), 99dB / mW (with cable, unit off)
- Battery:
- Charge Time: Approx. 3.5 hours
- Music Playback Time: 35 hours max (NC on); 35 hours max (Ambient Sound Mode); 50 hours max (NC off)
- Communication Time: 35 hours max (NC on); 35 hours max (Ambient Sound Mode); 40 hours max (NC off)
- Quick Charge: 60 minutes playback time after 3 minutes charging; 4.5 hours playback time after 10 minutes charging
- Usage Time (with headphone cable): 35 hours max (NC on); 35 hours max (Ambient Sound Mode); 50 hours max (NC off)
- Dimensions:
- Ear Cups: Width 3.164" Height 3.85" Depth 1.715"
- Headband: Width 0.88"
- Weight: 6.6 ounces
The Sony WH-CH720N replaces these items
- over-ear headphones with active noise-canceling circuitry to minimize external noise
- Bluetooth 5.0 connectivity for wireless music listening and phone calls
- built-in rechargeable battery offers up to 35 hours of wireless use with noise cancellation
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