Sony WH-CH730N review: Cheat sheet
Price: 2.5/5
Sound quality:4/5
Comfort: 4.5/5
ANC: 4.5/5
Battery life:4.5/5
Features:4/5
Overall score: 4/5
Best for:If you can’t stretch to Sony’s flagship headphones
If anyone asks me for a recommendation of the best noise-canceling headphones, I’m more than likely going to recommend a set of cans from Sony. And while I am in love with the sound and features of the Sony WH-CH730N, the price tag in the U.S. makes it hard to recommend them to everyone.
But if you want headphones with great sound quality, effective ANC, a super comfy design and battery life that lasts for days, they’re well worth your consideration. So if you’re in the U.K., where the headphones are a lotcheaper, I don’t think you can go wrong.
To find out more, keep reading this full Sony WH-CH730N review.
Sony WH-CH730N review: Specs
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Beige, Black, Blue, Pink, White |
Sony WH-CH730N review: What we like
- Great sound quality
- Impressive ANC
- Comfortable
- Exceptional battery life
I’ve got to say, there’s a lot that I like, and even love, about the Sony WH-CH730N headphones. I’ve found myself reaching for them more than my flagship Sony headphones.
Sound quality
While it may not be flagship quality, the sound of the WH-CH730N is still something to behold. I heard an impressive level of detail across all my favorite tracks.
I tested these headphones using Qobuz, our choice for one of the best music streaming services. I first listened to She Moves In Her Own Way by the Kooks. The song sounded bright, and none of the layers competed with each other — there was enough space for the guitars, drums and vocals to shine.
I also listened to Shout by Tears For Fears. This track has a bassy synth tone that carries on throughout the song, and it was always consistent without rumbling when the higher-frequency harmonies complemented it. Again, vocals were strong here even though they are very breathy.
To further test the bass, I listened to Supercutby Lorde. The bass in this song is so deep that it can often sound like it’s rattling, but with the Sonys the sound was clear, and I was still experiencing the sheer force of the beat.
One thing I noticed when testing the headphones is the volume. If you listen too loud, that’s a sure-fire way to make them tinny. I recommend listening at around 40-50% volume to get the best sound replication. I liked that I could make changes to the sound EQ in the Sound Connect app too if I needed to, but I decided to stick with the default EQ as this was perfect for me.
The Sony WH-CH730N ANC is very impressive. It completely blocked out the chatter around me in the office, made me feel like I was the only person sitting on the train, and allowed me to stay completely focused on my book at the coffee shop.
There are two mics in each earcup to help isolate ambient noise. You also have adaptive control with an ANC button on the earcup to allow ambient sound in if you need to. I found this particularly useful when travelling on public transport as I could listen out for travel announcements and block out the outside world whenever I needed to.
Comfort
The Sony WH-CH730N are just as comfortable as my WH-1000XM5 headphones. They only weigh 7.3 ounces, so they didn’t feel heavy on my head, and the padded headband ensured there wasn’t too much pressure. The headband is also adjustable, so you can create a looser fit if you need to. The foam ear pads are also very comfy.
Even when I was running, the headphones felt secure, which I love as there’s nothing worse than feeling like your headphones are slipping out of place.
Design and build
Despite being cheaper than Sony’s flagship cans, the WH-CH730N feel pretty sturdy. Everything from the button controls to the headband adjustment is easy to use and responsive — the controls on the headphones are very easy to get to grips with. I also enjoy the color options, my favorites being beige and pink, as I think they make the headphones seem more expensive than they are.
At a glance, they also look a lot like older versions of Sony’s flagship headphones, like the Sony WH-1000XM4s, which again reinforce the whole ‘premium looks; affordable price’ mindset.
The headphones are foldable, so I’ve found it easy to take them with me everywhere. Even though the headphones don’t come with a carry case, I can just throw them in my bag whenever I need to and not worry about them taking up too much space.
Impressive battery life
The battery life here is seriously impressive. I mean, a possible runtime of 75 hours? You have to be kidding me, right? That’s with ANC turned off, but with ANC turned on, you can still get up to 50 hours of battery life. After a week of listening whilst commuting and working out, I’ve found this to be about right.
As someone who is constantly forgetting to charge their audio gear, I tend to opt for a model that can hold its own in the battery department, so I won’t need to charge two or three times a week. It just adds an extra dose of convenience to my life.
Sony WH-CH730N review: What we don’t like
- Price in the U.S.
Like I said, using these headphones is a real treat, and there’s hardly anything wrong with them. It’s just that price tag in the U.S. — yikes.
Price (in the U.S.)
Let me start off by saying that if you’re in the U.K., you’re in for a real treat with these headphones. At just $99 on Amazon U.K., the Sony WH-CH730N are the definition of a pair of headphones that are worth every penny. But a trip across the pond tells a different story.
In the U.S., the Sony WH-CH730N will cost you $179 on Amazon. Given their relative affordability in other markets, this seems down to tariffs. But it makes these headphones hard to recommend. At this price, they’re not exactly budget anymore. The price difference is also confusing since the WH-CH530, which were released at the same time, cost $68 yet £48 in the U.K. — nowhere near as big a gap.
How do the Sony WH-CH730N compare?
The Sony WH-CH730N have impressed me, but they sit in a very populated field of budget (or mid-range if you’re in the U.S.) headphones. The Soundcore Space One Pros are a better choice if you’re in the market for some seriously thumping bass. They cost $199 and have 40 hours of battery life with ANC turned on.
Another set of cans in the sub-$200 price range is the Nothing Headphones (a) for $199. These look a little funky but also have an IP52 durability rating so won’t get damaged by working out or getting caught in the rain. They could be the right choice if you want the longest battery life possible since they can offer a whopping 135 hours.
The previous version of these cans, the WH-CH720N, is cheaper than the new model, but I’d still recommend forking on the newer headphones, as there are huge improvements to battery, sound, and design.
It’s well worth noting that Sony’s flagship WH-1000XM5 can often be found on sale for as little as $179. Yep, that’s right, the same price as the new “budget” cans. So, I’d recommend waiting for a price drop and getting your hands on all of the latest features, including better ANC and premium sound quality.
Should you buy the Sony WH-CH730N?
Are the Sony WH-CH730N worth your money? In short, no. At least in the U.S.
But first, let’s go over what I like. The sound quality is some of the best out there in the price range — it makes the headphones feel a lot more premium. The ANC is also very effective and kept me in my own little bubble during a busy commute. They’re comfortable to wear all day long and for exercising if you need to, and the battery life is very impressive.
What lets them down is the price tag in the U.S. They’re not very competitive in the market since flagship models like the XM5 are in a similar price range when on sale. That said, if you’re in the U.K., I’m telling you to go and grab a pair of these headphones right now because there, they really are a budget wonder.
