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Audio review

Sony WH-CH730N review

The best budget noise-cancelling headphones for most UK buyers, with a lively sound and about 50 hours of battery, as long as you can live with merely decent noise cancelling.

By Writer Agent · Reviewed by Anthony · How we work

Published 11 Nov 2026 · Last updated 14 Nov 2026

A woman wearing the Sony WH-CH730N over-ear headphones in pink
Image: Sony

What it is

The WH-CH730N is Sony’s budget noise-cancelling over-ear headphone, announced in September 2026 at around £100. It replaces the WH-CH720N at the same UK price and sits well below Sony’s flagship WH-1000XM6. Sony’s headline claims are up to 50 hours of battery with noise cancelling on, a 3-minute quick charge for about an hour of listening, multipoint Bluetooth and improved call quality.

It’s light at 207 g, folds up, and comes in black, white, pink, beige and blue. You get a 3.5 mm socket for wired listening and Sony’s Sound Connect app for the 10-band equaliser and noise-cancelling modes. UK retailers were selling it for around £79 to £99 when we checked, with most at about £84.

Who it’s for

This is a sensible pair for anyone who wants good noise cancelling and a long battery without spending flagship money: commuters, students, and people working from home who want to dull the background hum. It works with iPhone and Android alike, though Android owners who care about high-resolution Bluetooth codecs will find none here.

Skip it if you need the best noise cancelling for flights or a busy office. Reviewers are clear that Sony’s dearer models do much better there.

What reviewers say

Sound. What Hi-Fi? gave it five stars for sound and a 2026 Award, calling it the best budget noise-cancelling headphone you can buy. There’s a catch that every major review mentions: out of the box the tuning sounds a little muffled and bass-heavy. What Hi-Fi? and TechRadar both found that switching to the Clear EQ preset in the app, and turning on Sony’s DSEE upscaling, opens it up considerably. After that, reviewers describe a punchy, entertaining sound with strong, controlled bass. Tom’s Guide notes it can sound a bit tinny at high volume.

Noise cancelling. This is the main compromise. What Hi-Fi? calls it satisfactory, Expert Reviews says it’s solid rather than excellent, and TechRadar calls it middling. All three say it handles low, steady noise such as traffic and engine hum well, but lets voices and sudden sounds through. Tom’s Guide was more positive, finding it blocked office chatter and train noise well.

Comfort and build. Reviewers agree it’s comfortable, with plush ear cushions and a well-padded headband. Tom’s Guide compares the comfort with Sony’s WH-1000XM5. The trade-off is the plastic build: TechRadar calls it plasticky and Expert Reviews mentions the occasional creak, though What Hi-Fi? found the folding hinges reassuringly sturdy.

Battery and calls. Sony rates it at up to 50 hours with noise cancelling on and 75 hours with it off. Expert Reviews’ battery drain over three hours suggests well over 40 hours in real use. Call quality divides opinion a little: What Hi-Fi? rates it excellent even by a busy road, while Expert Reviews found voices slightly processed but always clear.

What’s missing. There’s no LDAC or aptX, no wear detection to pause music when you take them off, and no case in the box.

How it compares

The Anker Soundcore Space 2, at around £130, is the one Expert Reviews suggests if you can spend more: it has stronger noise cancelling and LDAC.

The Nothing Headphone (a), at around £149, has an even bigger battery, rated at up to 75 hours with noise cancelling on. TechRadar and Expert Reviews note it’s much heavier, at 310 g, with a firmer grip. Both appear in our best wireless headphones under £200 guide.

Buy now or wait?

Buy now. It only launched in September 2026, so it is Sony’s current model, and UK retailers are already selling it below its £100 launch price. Shop around: we saw prices from £79 to £99 on the same day.

Sources

FAQs

Is the WH-CH730N worth it over the older WH-CH720N?

Reviewers think so. The WH-CH730N launched at the same £100 UK price as the WH-CH720N, and Sony says it brings longer battery life and better call quality. What Hi-Fi? and Tom's Guide both recommend the new model over its predecessor.

Does the Sony WH-CH730N support LDAC?

No. What Hi-Fi? lists SBC and AAC only, and TechRadar and Expert Reviews both note the lack of LDAC. If high-resolution Bluetooth on an Android phone matters to you, Expert Reviews suggests the Anker Soundcore Space 2 at around £130.

Can you use it with a cable?

Yes. Expert Reviews, TechRadar and EE all list a 3.5 mm socket for wired listening. It doesn't play audio over USB-C.

Does it come with a case?

No. Expert Reviews and Tom's Guide both point out that there's no carry case in the box, though the headphones fold flat.

Last updated 14 Nov 2026.