Sony WH-CH720N Review: Premium ANC Audio Under $100

The Best Value in Audio Just Got Better: Why Sony’s WH-CH720N is the Smartest Buy This Month

The tech world moves fast, and it is easy to feel like you are falling behind if you are not sporting the latest four-hundred-dollar flagship headphones. But let’s look at the numbers. Sony’s WH-1000XM5 remains the gold standard for many, but its price tag is a significant investment for a daily driver. Enter the Sony WH-CH720N. While these mid-range powerhouses typically retail for a reasonable $149.99, a recent price drop has brought them down to just under $100. At this price point, we are no longer just talking about a good deal; we are looking at a market-shifting value that makes high-quality audio accessible to everyone.

The WH-CH720N represents a masterclass in strategic compromise. Sony has stripped away the luxury materials and touch-sensitive gestures found on their premium models, but they kept the internals that actually matter. These headphones use the same Integrated Processor V1 found in the flagship series to handle noise cancellation and sound processing. The result is a pair of cans that punches significantly above its weight class, offering a premium listening experience without the premium tax.

The Flagship Comparison: What You Gain and What You Give Up

When you compare the WH-CH720N to the top-tier WH-1000XM5, the differences are immediately apparent, but they might not be the deal-breakers you expect. The XM5 features a sleek, seamless design and utilizes carbon fiber parts, whereas the CH720N is unapologetically plastic. However, that plastic build leads to one of its greatest strengths: weight. The CH720N weighs in at a mere 192 grams (about 6.8 ounces), making it significantly lighter than the 250-gram XM5. When you are wearing headphones for an eight-hour workday, those 58 grams make a world of difference in preventing "headphone fatigue."

You do give up the touch-sensitive earcups of the higher-end models. On the CH720N, you will find physical, tactile buttons on the underside of the earcups. While some might see this as a downgrade, there is a certain reliability to a physical click that touch sensors sometimes lack, especially if you are wearing gloves or commuting in the cold. You also lose the "Speak-to-Chat" feature and some of the more advanced multi-mic arrays, but for the average listener, the trade-off for a $250 savings is an easy choice to make.

Sensory Comfort and Build Quality

The first thing you notice when picking up the CH720N is the texture. Sony has used a high-quality matte finish that does an excellent job of resisting the oily fingerprints that plague glossier models. The earpads are wrapped in a soft, synthetic leather that feels supple against the skin. Unlike cheaper budget headphones that use stiff foam, these pads have enough "give" to create a proper seal around your ears, which is essential for both comfort and noise isolation.

The headband tension is dialed in perfectly—it is secure enough to stay put while you are walking to catch a train, but it does not feel like your head is in a vice. Because they are so lightweight, the pressure is distributed evenly across the top of the arch, meaning you won't experience that annoying "hot spot" on the crown of your head after an hour of use. It is a design built for the long haul, whether that is a cross-country flight or a marathon study session.

A Sound Signature for the Modern Listener

Sony has a very specific "house sound," and the WH-CH720N leans into it beautifully. Out of the box, these headphones offer a warm, consumer-friendly V-shaped sound profile. This means the bass is punchy and emphasized, giving modern pop, hip-hop, and electronic music a satisfying kick. The highs are crisp without being piercing, which helps with clarity in podcasts and phone calls.

For those who prefer a more neutral or "flat" sound, the Sony Headphones Connect app is your best friend. It allows you to tweak the EQ settings to your heart's content. If the bass feels a bit too aggressive for a folk album, you can dial it back in seconds. The inclusion of DSEE (Digital Sound Enhancement Engine) also helps upscale compressed digital music files, restoring some of the high-frequency detail that is often lost in streaming.

The Active Noise Cancellation (ANC) is remarkably capable for this tier. While it won't create the "void-like" silence of the XM5s in the middle of a jet engine roar, it excels at neutralizing the consistent hum of an air conditioner or the low-frequency rumble of a bus. It turns a chaotic environment into a manageable one, allowing you to focus on your audio without cranking the volume to dangerous levels.

The 50-Hour Powerhouse

Perhaps the most impressive stat in the CH720N’s arsenal is the battery life. Sony claims up to 35 hours of playback with ANC turned on, and a staggering 50 hours if you turn noise cancellation off. In real-world testing, these numbers hold up. For the average user who listens for three to four hours a day, this means you only need to reach for a USB-C cable once every two weeks.

If you do find yourself running low, a quick ten-minute charge provides up to an hour of playback. This kind of reliability removes the "range anxiety" often associated with wireless tech. You can throw these in your bag for a weekend trip and leave the charger at home with total confidence.

Who Should Be Buying These?

With the current price dip, the WH-CH720N has moved from a "good option" to a "must-buy" for several specific groups:

The Dedicated Student: If you are trying to find focus in a noisy dorm or a busy library, the ANC and 50-hour battery are life-savers. They are durable enough to be tossed into a backpack and cheap enough that you won't be devastated if they pick up a few scuffs during the semester.

The Daily Commuter: If your morning involves a train or bus, these are your new best friend. They provide the peace you need to start your day right, and the lightweight design won't add bulk to your carry-on.

The Thoughtful Gifter: If you want to give a gift that looks, feels, and performs like a premium product without actually spending $300, this is the sweet spot. The Sony branding carries weight, and the performance backs it up. It is a gift that will actually get used every single day.

Final Thoughts: The Verdict

In a market often obsessed with incremental upgrades and "luxury" branding, the Sony WH-CH720N is a refreshing reminder of what smart engineering can do. By focusing on the fundamentals—comfort, battery life, and the V1 processing chip—Sony has created a product that delivers 80% of the flagship experience at about 25% of the cost.

If you have been waiting for the right time to upgrade your audio game or need a reliable pair of over-ears that you don't have to baby, the time is now. At under $100, you are getting an incredible piece of technology that respects your budget while refusing to compromise on the listening experience. Go ahead and make the move—your ears (and your wallet) will thank you.