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You don’t need to spend €300+ for good noise-cancelling headphones. Two budget favourites keep coming up in reviews: Sony’s WH-CH720N and Soundcore’s Q30 (also sold as the Life Q30). Here’s how they compare.
The short answer
- Get the Sony WH-CH720N if you want something very light and comfortable with a balanced, natural sound, and you take calls on them.
- Get the Soundcore Q30 if you want the longest battery life and lots of bass, and you’re happy to tweak the sound in the app.
Side by side
| Feature | 8.6 Sony WH-CH720N Noise Cancelling Wireless HeadphonesSee today’s price See today’s priceat Amazon.ie | 8.2 Soundcore by Anker Q30 Noise Cancelling 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 | 8.6/10 | 8.2/10 |
| Best for | Commuters | Budget pick |
| Our verdict | 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. | Huge battery and solid noise cancelling for very little money. Turn the bass down in the app and they’re a brilliant budget pick. |
| What we like |
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| Watch out for |
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| Specifications | ||
| Battery | Up to 35 hours (ANC on) | Up to 40 hours (ANC on), 60 hours (ANC off) |
| Weight | About 192 g | – |
| Noise cancelling | Yes, Dual Noise Sensor | – |
| Multipoint | Yes | – |
| Bluetooth | 5.2 | – |
| App | Sony Headphones Connect | Soundcore app with EQ |
| Quick charge | – | 5 minutes = 4 hours |
| Noise cancelling modes | – | Transport, Outdoor, Indoor |
| Drivers | – | 40 mm |
Noise cancelling
Both handle everyday noise like buses, the Luas and busy offices well for the price. Neither matches flagship models on deep, low rumble. The Q30 lets you pick between three noise-cancelling modes; the Sony adapts automatically.
Sound
Reviewers describe the Sony as balanced and easy to listen to for hours. The Q30 is very bass-heavy out of the box, but its app has a full equaliser to tone it down.
Comfort and battery
The Sony is noticeably lighter (about 192 g) and very comfortable. The Q30 wins on battery: up to 40 hours with noise cancelling on, versus about 35 hours for the Sony.
Our verdict
For commuting and all-day wear, the Sony edges it on comfort and sound. If battery life and bass matter most, or you want the cheapest good option, the Q30 is hard to beat.
Sources: TechRadar, Expert Reviews.