Sony WH-CH720N

The Sony WH-CH720N delivers flagship-level noise cancelling at a budget price. The 91st percentile ANC and 35-hour battery life are the standout specs, all in a 100g frame that disappears on your head. Sound quality is average and the build feels cheap, but at $127 USD, the trade-offs are easy to accept. If you want quiet without spending $300, this is the one to get.

The ANC is the headline act here. At the 91st percentile, the noise cancelling punches way above what the price suggests. Dual Noise Sensor tech and the V1 processor do real work on airplane hum, office chatter, and the general low-frequency drone of daily life. You also get 20 levels of ambient sound adjustment in the app, which is more granular control than most headphones at this price offer. The transparency mode is genuinely useful for ordering coffee without yanking the headphones off.

Sound quality is... fine. The 30mm drivers and DSEE upscaling help compressed tracks sound less muddy, and the EQ in the Sony Headphones Connect app lets you nudge the tuning toward your taste. But the 55th percentile sound score tells the story: it's competent, not captivating. Bass is present but not punchy, mids are clear, and highs can get a little sharp at volume. If you're coming from cheap earbuds, this will feel like an upgrade. If you've heard the WH-1000XM5, you'll notice what's missing.

The Sennheiser MOMENTUM 4 is the obvious upgrade path. It has better sound, better build, and a more premium feel, but you'll pay a lot more for it. If sound quality is your top priority, the Sennheiser wins. The Bose QuietComfort is the comfort king with slightly better ANC, but again, the price gap is substantial. The Technics EAH-A800 offers better sound and build but is heavier and pricier.

On the budget side, the JBL Tune 670NC and TOZO HT3 both undercut the Sony on price. But neither matches the CH720N's ANC performance or app support. The TOZO is a solid ultra-budget pick, but the Sony's noise cancelling and multipoint connection make it the better daily driver. If you can stretch to $127, the Sony is the sweet spot.

At $127 USD, the WH-CH720N is a screaming deal for the ANC alone. You're getting noise cancelling that competes with headphones costing $200 to $300 more. The battery life is also well above average at the 81st percentile. When you stack those two features against the price, the value proposition is hard to beat.

Compare that to the Bose QuietComfort, which typically runs significantly higher, or the Sennheiser MOMENTUM 4, which costs more than double. You're giving up build quality and sound refinement, sure. But if your priority is quiet on a budget, the CH720N delivers where it counts. The 4.5-star average across 1,342 reviews backs that up.

The Sony WH-CH720N is one of those products that makes you wonder why you'd spend twice as much on flagship headphones. At 100 grams, these are some of the lightest over-ear ANC headphones we've tracked. Sony stuffed their Integrated Processor V1, the same chip family that powers their premium WH-1000XM series, into a budget-friendly frame. That's a big deal for anyone who wants the Sony sound without the Sony price tag.

Who's this for? Commuters, students, remote workers, and anyone who wears headphones for hours at a stretch. The 35-hour battery life with ANC on means you can go most of a work week without reaching for a charger. And the multipoint connection lets you bounce between a laptop and phone without re-pairing. It's a practical, everyday headphone that doesn't ask much of you.

But there's a catch. The build quality sits in the 36th percentile, which means it's flimsier than most over-ears we've seen. The sound signature is middle of the pack at the 55th percentile. So you're trading some refinement for that low price and featherweight comfort. Whether that trade works depends on what you value most.

If you care about sound quality above all else, the CH720N will leave you wanting. The 55th percentile sound score means it's average at best, and the 38.4/100 studio rating is a clear warning for anyone doing critical listening or music production. Look at the Sennheiser MOMENTUM 4 or the Technics EAH-A800 instead, both offer noticeably better audio fidelity.

Also skip these if build quality matters to you. The 36th percentile build score reflects the plasticky, creaky feel that some owners have noted. If you're rough on your gear or want something that feels premium in the hand, the Bose QuietComfort is a sturdier alternative. And if you have larger ears, the shallow earcups may cause discomfort over long sessions.

For commuters and office workers who want to block out the world without breaking the bank, the WH-CH720N is an easy recommendation. The ANC is genuinely impressive, the battery lasts forever, and the lightweight design means you'll forget you're wearing them. The multipoint connection is a nice bonus for anyone juggling a work laptop and a personal phone.

But if you're an audiophile or someone who cares about how headphones feel in the hand, look elsewhere. The plasticky build and average sound will bother you. Studio users should absolutely skip this, the 38.4/100 score in that category is a clear signal. For everyone else, this is one of the best value ANC headphones on the market right now.