Sony refreshed its best-selling budget ANC line in September 2026, and the Sony WH-CH730N is the result: a direct replacement for the WH-CH720N that finally folds, stretches battery life to a claimed 50 hours with ANC on, jumps to Bluetooth 6.0, and adds LC3 alongside SBC and AAC.
Verdict: a real upgrade where it counts
The WH-CH730N is the easiest recommendation in budget noise cancelling we’ve seen from Sony in years — with one caveat. The foldable redesign fixes the 720N’s biggest travel complaint, battery life is genuinely class-leading, and the Sound Connect app’s 10-band EQ gives you enough control to fix the bass-forward stock tuning. But lab testing by SoundGuys shows the ANC still falls apart between 300 and 1000 Hz — exactly where voices live — so treat this as excellent noise reduction rather than a cheaper flagship. If you want strong ANC for commutes and offices plus two weeks of battery per charge, this is the one to beat. If you want silence, you’ll need to spend up to Sony’s 1000X line.
Scoring note: we haven’t put these on our own heads. Our scores are editorial judgments based on Sony’s published specs, SoundGuys’ lab measurements, and early independent reviews.
| Sound Quality | 7.5 |
| Noise Cancelling | 7.5 |
| Comfort & Design | 8.0 |
| Battery Life | 9.5 |
| Call Quality | 8.0 |
| Value | 8.0 |
Specifications
| Driver | 30 mm dynamic |
| Noise cancelling | Dual Noise Sensor, AI-optimized; Ambient Sound Mode with 20 levels |
| Battery life | Up to 50 hrs music (ANC on), up to 75 hrs (ANC off); 35 hrs talk time (ANC on) |
| Charging | USB-C, ~3 hrs full; 3-min quick charge ≈ 1 hr playback |
| Bluetooth | Version 6.0 (6.02); SBC, AAC, LC3; multipoint (2 devices) |
| App / EQ | Sony Sound Connect; 10-band custom EQ, Game EQ, DSEE, 360 Reality Audio |
| Calls | Precise Voice Pickup: beamforming mics + AI noise reduction |
| Wired | 1.2 m detachable 3.5 mm cable included; passive operation supported |
| Weight | Approx. 207 g |
| Design | Foldable over-ear; physical button controls (no touch); no IP rating |
| Colors | Black, White, Pink, Blue; Oat exclusive to Sony/Amazon US |
| Released | September 2026 (replaces WH-CH720N) |
Specs per Sony’s official spec sheet and product documentation, corroborated by independent reviews.
Pros and cons
✔ Pros
| ✘ Cons
|
Sound quality
The 30 mm dynamic drivers are carried over in size from the 720N, but the tuning is new. The WalkManBlog, which bought a retail unit before launch, describes the stock sound as bass-heavy — though slightly more balanced than the 720N — and found the upper mids and highs respond well to EQ. That matters because the 730N doubles the EQ bands: the Sound Connect app now offers a 10-band custom EQ (plus a Gaming EQ preset) where the 720N had only five.
SoundGuys’ verdict is measured: the WH-CH730N “sounds decent for a set of inexpensive ANC headphones, but won’t make you forget more high-end headphones.” Codec support is SBC, AAC, and LC3 — no LDAC, so Android users chasing hi-res wireless should know exactly what they’re giving up. DSEE upscaling and 360 Reality Audio are included via the app. If you like a warm, punchy signature, see also our best bass noise cancelling headphones roundup — the CH730N’s tuning leans that way before EQ.
Noise cancelling
Here’s where engineering truth matters most. Sony’s Dual Noise Sensor ANC with AI optimization is genuinely better than the 720N’s — but SoundGuys’ lab measured 79% noise reduction by perceived loudness, and the cancellation has a clear hole between 300 and 1000 Hz. That’s the band where vocal sounds, squealing brakes, and breaking glass live, so office chatter and announcements will still leak through.
For low-frequency drone — engines, HVAC, train rumble — the 730N is very good for its tier. The Ambient Sound Mode offers 20 levels of adjustment, and transparency processing is reported to be above average for the category. Bottom line: strong commuter ANC, not flagship ANC. If you want Sony’s top-tier silence, that’s what our WH-1000XM4C review covers.
Comfort and design
Sony redesigned the chassis entirely: sharp edges and flat surfaces gave way to soft curves, and — critically — the earcups now fold for travel instead of merely swiveling flat. The reference guide lists the weight at approximately 207 g, about 15 g heavier than the 720N, with a slightly thicker headband cushion.
Comfort reports are broadly positive for long sessions, but with caveats: the earpads are the same depth as the 720N’s (shallow), clamping force is slightly higher, and SoundGuys notes the light weight means less clamping force overall, which can make a consistent seal tricky. Controls are physical buttons — power/pairing on the left with the USB-C and 3.5 mm ports, volume/playback/NC-AMB on the right. No touch plates, no wear detection, no IP rating. Note the box includes no travel case and, per the reference guide, the WH-CH730N variant ships without a USB cable — the WH-CH735N is the identical headphone with a cable included.
Battery life
This is the 730N’s headline stat: 50 hours of music with ANC on, 75 hours with it off — 15 hours more than the 720N in both modes. Talk time is rated at 35 hours (ANC on). A full charge takes about three hours over USB-C, and a 3-minute quick charge returns roughly an hour of playback.
The sleeper feature is battery care in the Sound Connect app: it caps maximum charge and rate to reduce long-term capacity loss. SoundGuys singled it out as one of the best battery features they’ve seen on headphones recently — over two or three years of daily charging, it should meaningfully slow degradation. A user-replaceable battery (documented in the reference guide) is a welcome bonus for longevity.
Call quality
Sony upgraded the call hardware: more microphones, Precise Voice Pickup beamforming, and AI noise reduction. SoundGuys’ lab mic samples found call quality “pretty decent… comparatively speaking,” a genuine step up from the 720N. For remote workers on multipoint between phone and laptop, this is one of the strongest budget options — though if calls are your primary use case, also consider our comparison of Sony’s flagship ANC models for the top-tier mic systems.
Features and app
The Sony Sound Connect app is required to unlock the 730N’s full value: 10-band EQ, ambient sound control, 360 Reality Audio setup, firmware updates, and battery care. Notable inclusions for this tier:
- Multipoint — two simultaneous connections, easy phone-to-laptop switching.
- Bluetooth 6.0 with LC3 — Sony’s official documentation lists LE Audio, positioning the 730N for Auracast broadcast audio as the ecosystem matures.
- Passive wired listening — the included 3.5 mm cable works with the power off. No USB-C audio, though.
- DSEE and 360 Reality Audio — carried over from Sony’s higher lines.
What’s missing: touch controls, wear detection, an IP rating, and a travel case. Sony clearly spent the budget on battery, ANC hardware, and connectivity.
WH-CH730N vs WH-CH720N: should you upgrade?
If you own the 720N, the 730N gives you folding earcups, 15 extra hours of ANC battery, Bluetooth 6.0 with LC3, a 10-band EQ, better call mics, and slightly improved ANC. The WalkManBlog found the 730N sounds marginally more balanced and its new curved design more comfortable. Whether that’s worth it depends on how much the 720N’s swivel-only design and 35-hour ANC battery annoy you — those are the two upgrades you’ll feel daily.
Frequently asked questions
When was the Sony WH-CH730N released?
September 2026. Sony announced it on September 7, 2026 alongside the WH-1000XM4C and WH-CH530, as a direct replacement for the WH-CH720N.
What is the difference between the WH-CH730N and the WH-CH720N?
The 730N folds for travel (the 720N only swiveled flat), extends ANC battery life from 35 to 50 hours, upgrades Bluetooth from 5.2 to 6.0, adds the LC3 codec, doubles the EQ to 10 bands, adds microphones with AI noise reduction for calls, and weighs slightly more at 207 g. Sound is tuned a touch more balanced, though still bass-leaning.
Does the Sony WH-CH730N support LDAC?
No. The WH-CH730N supports SBC, AAC, and LC3. Sony reserved LDAC for its premium 1000X line — if hi-res wireless is a priority, that’s the tradeoff of the budget tier.
Does the WH-CH730N have multipoint?
Yes. It connects to two Bluetooth devices simultaneously, so you can take a call on your phone while staying connected to a laptop.
What is the difference between the WH-CH730N and WH-CH735N?
They’re the same headphones. Per Sony’s reference guide, the WH-CH735N variant includes a USB charging cable in the box; the WH-CH730N does not. Check the box contents if that matters to you.
How good is the WH-CH730N’s noise cancelling?
Good for its tier, not flagship-level. SoundGuys’ lab testing measured 79% noise reduction by perceived loudness, with a weakness between 300 and 1000 Hz — meaning voices and sudden midrange sounds leak through. It’s excellent at low-frequency drone like engines and HVAC.
I am the founder of Sound Mavericks, where I provide the polite truth about audio equipment. I started this site because consumer electronics reviews are often too technical. Instead of using a silent lab, I test headphones, earbuds, and Bluetooth speakers in the real world – like on a noisy subway or in a busy coffee shop.
To stay independent, I buy my own review units (mostly from the United States) rather than accepting free gifts from brands. Once I finish testing a product, I sell it locally to our community. My goal is to help you understand sound quality, active noise cancellation (ANC), and battery life without the marketing hype.
