Choose WH-CH720N if active noise cancellation or an analog listening option matters. Choose WH-CH520 if you prefer its lighter on-ear design and can do without those features. The better purchase depends on your listening environment and fit, rather than a battery number taken out of context.
This guide covers those two exact Sony models. Primary manufacturer information was checked on October 5, 2026. We have not tested sound, comfort, microphone performance or real battery runtime. This article includes purchase links; SEFP Journal may earn a commission from qualifying purchases through affiliate links, without an additional charge to you.
WH-CH520 vs WH-CH720N: the useful differences
Sony identifies CH520 as on-ear and CH720N as over-ear. The specifications below come from the official Japanese CH520 specifications and CH720N specifications, together with Sony’s model-specific help guide.
| Decision | WH-CH520 | WH-CH720N |
|---|---|---|
| Wearing style | On-ear | Over-ear |
| Listed weight | Approximately 147g | Approximately 192g |
| Active noise cancellation | No | Yes; Ambient Sound Mode also available |
| Listed music runtime | Up to 50 hours | Up to 35 hours with ANC; up to 50 hours without ANC |
| Bluetooth codecs | SBC, AAC | SBC, AAC |
| Two-device multipoint | Supported | Supported |
| Analog cable listening | No supplied analog input option | Supplied headphone cable and stereo mini-jack input |
Both support DSEE and companion-app sound adjustment. Multipoint is not a CH720N-only upgrade: Sony describes it for both models. It lets you connect two Bluetooth devices, but should not be read as a promise to mix two music streams. Neither specification lists LDAC or aptX, so an Android phone does not add those codecs to these headphones.
Pay for ANC when the environment calls for it
CH720N is the relevant choice between these two if you want active noise cancellation for travel or a room with steady background noise. Sony’s noise-cancellation explanation says its effect is mainly in lower-frequency noise such as vehicles and air conditioning, and depends on fit and the noise itself. It does not promise complete silence.
If you mostly listen in a quiet room and do not need ANC, ask whether CH720N’s other differences justify your local price gap. CH520’s lower listed weight may matter when packing, but does not prove better comfort. An on-ear pad sits on the ear while an over-ear cup surrounds it; check pad fit, headband pressure, glasses and the seller’s return policy before a long-session purchase. We have not ranked their comfort or isolation.
Compare 50 hours with the same operating mode
Comparing CH520’s 50-hour claim against CH720N’s 35-hour ANC-on claim hides the operating condition. With ANC off, CH720N also lists up to 50 hours. Sony’s Japanese CH520 product page and CH720N product page qualify the advertised music figures with AAC, DSEE/equalizer off and other functions at default settings. These are manufacturer ceilings, not our measured results. Volume, settings and usage can change your runtime.
If you intend to use ANC throughout a journey, plan around the CH720N’s stated ANC-on condition. If you do not need ANC, the battery headline by itself does not establish a CH520 advantage. Music playback figures also should not be reused as call-duration promises.
The CH720N cable is a listening backup, with limits
The CH720N wired-use instructions say you can listen with the headset switched off. ANC and Ambient Sound Mode need headset power. Connecting the supplied headphone cable disables Bluetooth, and the volume/playback buttons do not work in that wired mode; control playback on the source device.
For a wired phone call, Sony instructs you to speak into the phone’s microphone while hearing the other person through the headphones. Do not buy this supplied analog cable as a guaranteed wired headset microphone for a laptop or games console. Check the actual audio socket, any required adapter and the communication setup you need. CH520 does not offer this same analog backup.
Who should choose each model?
- CH520: quiet-room Bluetooth listening, an on-ear fit you like, and a local complete price that makes sense. Main compromises: no ANC and no comparable analog listening backup.
- CH720N: ANC is a requirement, you prefer over-ear fit, or you need the supplied wired listening option. Main compromises: higher listed weight, shorter advertised runtime with ANC on, and wired controls/microphone limitations.
- Check another product: you need a verified wired boom microphone, a listed codec beyond SBC/AAC, or protection against rain and sweat. Sony’s CH520 help guide and CH720N help guide state that the headsets are not waterproof.
FAQ and purchase checks
Can I add ANC to the CH520 later? These are different headphone models. App adjustment does not make CH520 a CH720N with ANC hardware. Choose for the functions you require now.
Which is better value? Verify current model-specific offers and returns. The linked official Sony Japan CH520 purchase page and CH720N purchase page serve Japan and use Japanese; they do not guarantee international shipping or local stock. Include taxes, delivery and any adapter in your comparison. For a separate cross-brand decision, see CH520 vs Soundcore Q20i.
Manufacturer sources are linked at the relevant claims and were checked October 5, 2026. Buying recommendations are deductions from documented features. Actual ANC effectiveness, sound, fit, call quality, runtime and your local complete price remain unmeasured or unverified here.
