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If you want Sony noise-cancelling headphones without paying flagship prices, two models come up again and again: the bass-heavy ULT WEAR and the lightweight WH-CH720N. Both are on offer below RRP on Amazon.ie right now. Here’s how they compare, based on independent reviews.
The short answer
- Get the Sony ULT WEAR if you love big, punchy bass, want a sturdier build, and like having lots of features and sound modes.
- Get the Sony WH-CH720N if comfort and light weight matter most, you prefer a more natural, balanced sound, or you want the cheaper of the two.
- Don’t need noise cancelling? The Sony WH-CH520 is a great budget pair with around 50 hours of battery.
Side by side
| Feature | 8.2 Sony ULT WEAR Wireless Noise Cancelling HeadphonesSee today’s price See today’s priceat Amazon.ie | 8.6 Sony WH-CH720N Noise Cancelling Wireless HeadphonesSee today’s price See today’s priceat Amazon.ie |
|---|---|---|
| Overview | ||
| Store | Amazon.ie | Amazon.ie |
| Price | See today’s price | See today’s price |
| You save | – | – |
| Buyer rating | – | – |
| DealDepot score | 8.2/10 | 8.6/10 |
| Best for | Bass lovers | Commuters |
| Our verdict | Comfortable, feature-packed noise cancelling headphones with big bass at a mid-range price. The bass boost can be too much and call quality is mixed, but for music lovers they’re very… | Comfortable, light and easy to wear all day, with noise cancelling that handles buses, trains and offices well. Not flagship-level, but excellent value on offer. |
| What we like |
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| Watch out for |
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| Specifications | ||
| Type | Over-ear | – |
| Noise cancelling | Yes | Yes, Dual Noise Sensor |
| Battery | About 30 hours (ANC on), 50 hours (ANC off) | Up to 35 hours (ANC on) |
| Quick charge | 3 minutes for about 90 minutes | – |
| Drivers | 40mm | – |
| Weight | – | About 192 g |
| Multipoint | – | Yes |
| Bluetooth | – | 5.2 |
| App | – | Sony Headphones Connect |
| ULT WEAR | WH-CH720N | |
|---|---|---|
| Type | Over-ear, noise cancelling | Over-ear, noise cancelling |
| Battery (ANC on) | About 30 hours | About 35 hours |
| Sound | Big bass, ULT button with two bass modes | Balanced, easy to listen to |
| Build | Sturdy, foldable, case included | Very light (about 192g), plasticky |
| Best for | Bass lovers, travel | All-day comfort, commuting |
Sound
This is the biggest difference. The ULT WEAR is built around bass: press the ULT button and you get two extra bass modes. TechRadar found the overall sound good, but warned the bass boost can overwhelm the rest of the music, and it takes some fiddling in the app to get the best sound. The WH-CH720N is tuned to be more balanced and natural, which many people find easier to listen to for hours.
Noise cancelling
Both handle everyday noise like buses, the Luas and busy offices well for the price. Neither matches Sony’s flagship WH-1000XM range on deep, low rumble, but either is a big step up from headphones without noise cancelling.
Comfort and build
The WH-CH720N is one of the lightest over-ear noise-cancelling headphones around, which makes it very comfortable for long wear. The ULT WEAR feels sturdier and more premium, folds down and comes with a case, so it suits travel better.
Battery
Both last a long time. Sony quotes around 30 hours for the ULT WEAR with noise cancelling on (50 hours off), and about 35 hours for the WH-CH720N. Either will last a week of commuting between charges.
Calls
TechRadar found the ULT WEAR’s call quality inconsistent. If you take lots of calls on your headphones, the WH-CH720N is the safer choice.
Our verdict
For most people, the WH-CH720N is the easy recommendation: light, comfortable and balanced. If you want more bass, a tougher build and more features, the ULT WEAR is worth the step up, especially while it’s on offer.
Still deciding? See our best budget headphones guide and Sony WH-CH720N vs Soundcore Q30.
We haven’t tested these products ourselves. Our picks are based on independent expert reviews (linked below) and the manufacturers’ specifications. Prices change often, so each product links to today’s price.
Sources: TechRadar: Sony ULT Wear review, TechRadar: Sony WH-CH720N review.