Audio T Verdict
The Sony WH-CH730N cover the things most people want from a pair of everyday travel headphones: effective noise cancelling, a comfortable over-ear fit and a battery that will last well beyond a typical working week. Sony quotes up to 50 hours of music with noise cancelling switched on, so there is no need to treat charging as a nightly chore.
There is useful flexibility here too. The headphones fold for travel, connect to two Bluetooth devices at once and include a conventional headphone cable. Sony's Sound Connect app gives you unusually thorough control over the sound and how much of the outside world you hear.
If commuting, flying or working around other people is a regular part of your week, the noise cancelling is the main reason to choose the WH-CH730N over Sony's simpler WH-CH530. The 207g weight, padded ear cups and wired listening option make them a practical choice at home as well.
Wireless Headphones Built Around Everyday Listening
The WH-CH730N are closed-back, over-ear Bluetooth headphones with 30mm dynamic drivers. Sony combines its Dual Noise Sensor technology with an adjustable Ambient Sound Mode, so you can reduce distractions when you want to concentrate or let more of your surroundings through when you need to hear them.
Music, calls and day-to-day controls are handled on the ear cup. The Sony | Sound Connect app adds a ten-band equaliser, listening presets, noise-control settings and other personalisation options without making the headphones dependent on the app for ordinary Bluetooth playback.
Control the Outside Noise
Two microphones in each ear cup help the noise cancelling system detect surrounding sound. Ambient Sound Mode offers 20 adjustment levels when you want greater awareness.
Make the Sound Yours
Sony's DSEE processing, ten-band EQ and Game EQ presets give you more choice over the sound than a fixed factory tuning.
Keep Listening Longer
Battery life reaches up to 50 hours with noise cancelling on, or up to 75 hours with it off, under Sony's stated test conditions.
Connect Your Way
Multipoint Bluetooth handles two devices, while the supplied 3.5mm headphone cable offers a wired option when Bluetooth is inconvenient.
Dual Noise Sensor Noise Cancelling
Sony places two microphones in each ear cup to detect surrounding noise for its Dual Noise Sensor system. This helps reduce the steady background sound of a journey, a busy workspace or a café, leaving you more room to focus on music, a podcast or a call.
Noise cancelling is only one side of the story. Ambient Sound Mode lets external sound through, with 20 levels available in the Sony | Sound Connect app. Voice Passthrough gives particular attention to speech, which is handy for announcements or a quick conversation. Adaptive Sound Control can also adjust the ambient settings in response to your activity and locations you visit regularly.
Choose the Right Listening Mode
Noise cancelling is useful when you want fewer distractions. Ambient Sound Mode is the better choice when you need to remain aware of conversations or activity around you. Your level of awareness will still depend on the setting, playback volume and your surroundings.
Sony Sound, Adjusted to Suit You
The 30mm dynamic drivers are supported by Sony's Digital Sound Enhancement Engine, or DSEE. This processing is designed to recover some of the high-frequency information lost from compressed digital music. It can be particularly useful with the everyday streamed and downloaded tracks that most of us listen to on a phone.
Through the Sony | Sound Connect app, you can adjust a ten-band equaliser rather than being limited to a few broad bass and treble settings. Sony also provides Game EQ presets developed with its INZONE expertise. For compatible music services and content, the headphones are certified for 360 Reality Audio, with personalisation options available through the app.
50 Hours with Noise Cancelling On
Sony specifies up to 50 hours of music playback with noise cancelling or Ambient Sound Mode active, rising to 75 hours with both switched off when using the standard SBC or AAC Bluetooth formats. A three-minute quick charge can provide around one hour of playback; ten minutes can provide around four and a half hours. A full charge takes approximately three hours.
Those figures are maximums rather than a promise for every setting. Listening volume, DSEE, EQ and connection type can all affect the result. In particular, Sony rates playback over compatible LE Audio using the LC3 codec at up to 45 hours with noise cancelling on.
Comfort That Travels Well
At approximately 207g, the WH-CH730N are reasonably light for a full-size over-ear headphone with active noise cancelling. Sony uses soft, thermo-formed ear cushions and a headband designed to distribute pressure comfortably during longer sessions. The headphones also fold, making them easier to fit into luggage or a work bag.
Sony lists five finishes: Black, White, Blue, Pink and Beige. The colours available to order from Audio T may vary, so check the options on this page or speak to your local store if you have a particular finish in mind.
Clearer Calls and Two-Device Convenience
Sony's Precise Voice Pickup technology uses beamforming microphones and AI processing to concentrate on your voice while reducing competing background sound. Sony has also revised the microphone positioning to help reduce wind interference during calls and while using noise cancelling or Ambient Sound Mode outdoors.
Multipoint Connection allows the WH-CH730N to remain connected to two compatible Bluetooth devices, such as a laptop and phone. Google Fast Pair can simplify setup with a compatible Android device, while Microsoft Swift Pair provides pairing prompts on compatible Windows 11 computers. Physical buttons handle playback, volume and calls without requiring you to reach for your phone.
Bluetooth, LE Audio and Wired Listening
The WH-CH730N use Bluetooth 6.0 and support SBC and AAC for conventional Bluetooth audio. LC3 is available when connected through LE Audio with a compatible device and the appropriate Sony app setting. Sony also provides a five-step maximum volume setting in the app, allowing you to set a ceiling that suits your listening preferences.
A supplied 1.2m cable connects the headphones to a standard 3.5mm headphone socket. They can play through the cable even when switched off, although noise cancelling requires the headphones to be powered on. The USB-C socket is used for charging.
Listening with the Cable
When using the supplied headphone cable, playback and volume are controlled from the connected device rather than the headphone buttons. The headset microphone is not used for calls through this cable; your phone's own microphone handles your voice.
WH-CH730N or WH-CH530?
The choice largely comes down to fit and where you listen. The WH-CH730N surround your ears and provide active noise cancelling, adjustable Ambient Sound Mode and a supplied cable for wired listening. The lighter WH-CH530 sit on your ears and concentrate on straightforward wireless listening with long battery life. If you regularly travel or work in noisy places, the WH-CH730N offer the more useful set of features.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do the WH-CH730N have active noise cancelling?
Yes. Sony's Dual Noise Sensor system uses two microphones in each ear cup to detect surrounding sound. The headphones also offer adjustable Ambient Sound Mode.
How long does the battery last?
Sony quotes up to 50 hours of music with noise cancelling on and up to 75 hours with it off using SBC or AAC. Battery life varies with settings and use.
Can I use them without Bluetooth?
Yes. A 1.2m headphone cable is supplied for a compatible 3.5mm output. Wired music playback is possible even when the headphones are switched off, but noise cancelling needs battery power.
Can they connect to a phone and laptop at the same time?
Yes. Multipoint Connection supports two compatible Bluetooth devices simultaneously.
Do the WH-CH730N support LDAC?
Sony lists SBC and AAC for standard Bluetooth audio, and LC3 for compatible LE Audio connections. LDAC is not listed among the supported formats for this model.
Find Your Sony Headphones at Audio T
Comfort, fit and the amount of noise cancelling you need are easier to judge with a pair of headphones on your head. Audio T can help you compare over-ear and on-ear designs, check compatibility with your phone or computer and talk through the differences between Sony's noise cancelling and standard wireless models.
Contact your local Audio T store to check availability or arrange a demonstration. You can also explore Sony at Audio T or browse our Bluetooth headphones.