**Sony WH-CH720N review: Budget-friendly headphones with premium sound**
Sony has a great track record when it comes to budget headphones. The company’s WH-CH710N (https://www.engadget.com/2020-04-01-sony-wh-ch710n-headphones-announced-price-specs-availability.html) were excellent, but overpriced initially. Sony made them an incredible value at $150 after it cut the price shortly after their debut in 2020. Great sound quality, capable ANC, good battery life and a comfy fit made the WH-CH710N a compelling, affordable alternative to the premium WH-1000XM3 (https://www.engadget.com/2018-09-18-sony-1000xm3-review.html), which was the company’s flagship model at the time. Earlier this year, the company debuted the follow-up (https://www.engadget.com/sonys-new-midrange-headphones-borrow-the-premium-wh-1000xm5s-v1-chip-173338347.html) to that three-year-old set: the WH-CH720N (https://shopping.yahoo.com/rdlw?merchantId=66ea567a-c987-4c2e-a2ff-02904efde6ea&siteId=us-engadget&pageId=1p-autolink&featureId=text-link&merchantName=Amazon&custData=eyJzb3VyY2VOYW1lIjoiV2ViLURlc2t0b3AtVmVyaXpvbiIsInN0b3JlSWQiOiI2NmVhNTY3YS1jOTg3LTRjMmUtYTJmZi0wMjkwNGVmZGU2ZWEiLCJsYW5kaW5nVXJsIjoiaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuYW1hem9uLmNvbS9Tb255LVdILUNINzIwTi1DYW5jZWxpbmctSGVhZHBob25lcy1NaWNyb3Bob25lL2RwL0IwQlMxUUNGSFgvP3RhZz1nZGd0MGMtcC1vLXYwLTIwIiwiY29udGVudFV1aWQiOiI1MmYzNWY5OC1jN2FjLTQ4MTctYTVmYS03NWQzYzNhZjliN2QifQ&signature=AQAAAUP0ioUlPwdnkQyTavC6vmJpmXsPPls5tUiwAIrGUODa&gcReferrer=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.amazon.com%2FSony-WH-CH720N-Canceling-Headphones-Microphone%2Fdp%2FB0BS1QCFHX%2F).
On paper, the 2023 edition should keep Sony’s reputation for solid mid-range and budget headphones as alternatives to the pricey WH-1000XM5 (https://www.engadget.com/sony-wh-1000xm5-review-160045478.html). The WH-CH720N houses the same V1 chip from the M5, which powers both active noise cancellation (ANC) and overall sound quality. There’s also an updated design and a lower price following another early cut ($130), but battery life remains the same at 35 hours. So, is the WH-CH720N another mid-range hit for Sony?
Let’s start with the design. The WH-CH720N takes cues from Sony’s more recent 1000X headphones and the WH-XB910N (https://www.engadget.com/sony-wh-xb910n-anc-headphones-best-price-134525061.html), primarily the headband and ear cup hinges. The outside of the ear cups are flatter and they’re just hard plastic – no soft-touch material here. Like previous mid-range Sony models, the WH-CH720N has physical controls with a power/pairing button on the left beside the USB-C charging port and 3.5mm jack. On the right side, there’s a dedicated noise canceling button that cycles between ANC and transparency mode. There’s also the typical three-button array with volume controls flanking the multi-function track and call button. That center control also summons your preferred voice assistant. While the buttons work reliably, the raised dash on the middle button is low, so it’s difficult to place your thumb quickly.
Like the WH-CH710N, this new model is supremely lightweight and comfy. I can easily wear these for hours at a time. There’s also ample cushioning in the ear pads and the headband hinge isn’t wound so tight it pinches my head. I liked a lot of what the 710N had to offer, but overall comfort was near the top of the list, so it’s great to see that Sony didn’t overlook this aspect when designing the follow-up version. The only real issue is that it uses _a lot_ of plastic. While this helps keep the weight down, it also ensures the 720N look decidedly cheap.
The suite of features for the WH-CH720N inside the Sony Headphones app is where you’ll notice key differences from the WH-1000XM5. Most notably, the 720N doesn’t have Speak-to-Chat, a feature that automatically pauses audio when it detects you’re talking. Related, this new model also doesn’t have automatic pausing when you take them off your head.
https://s.yimg.com/os/creatr-uploaded-images/2023-04/1ee40cc1-e55b-11ed-b5ff-f790b59d3fb2
Photo by Billy Steele/Engadget
Despite a few omissions, there are still some handy tools available. First, Adaptive Sound Control allows the app to automatically adjust settings based on your location or activity. This allows you to turn on ANC when you arrive at the office or activate transparency mode when you start a run, for example. Here, and in the general sound settings, you can specify a level of ambient sound and choose to pipe in voices while this mode is active.
Additionally, Sony offers an EQ slider for manual adjustments as well as a separate bass adjustment. There’s also a collection of audio presets if you’re in a hurry. 360 Reality Audio is available on the WH-CH720N (with a compatible streaming subscription) and the app gives you the option of DSEE upscaling to improve compressed content. The app also allows you to activate multipoint Bluetooth for two devices and a Safe Listening feature is there to help preserve …
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