Sony WH-CH720N launch as new cheaper alternative to WH-1000XM5 headphones
Sony has started selling the WH-CH720N, a cheaper alternative to the WH-1000XM5. To recap, retailers and the likes of The Walkman Blog extensively leaked the WH-CH720N in the run-up to its release. Hence, there are no great shocks here.
Still, it is surprising to see Sony undermining the WH-1000XM5 to sell the WH-CH720N. As the embedded tweet below shows, Sony markets the WH-CH720N as its lightest pair of over-ear wireless headphones yet. Additionally, the company points out that the WH-CH720N features the same noise-cancelling chip (Integrated Processor V1) as the WH-1000X series.
Introducing the ✨NEW✨ WH-CH720N: Our lightest-ever overhead wireless headphones! ????
— Sony UK (@SonyUK) February 21, 2023
???? the same Noise Cancelling chip from our 1000X Series headphones
???? up to 35-hour battery
???? Precise Voice Pickup technology & Wind Noise Reduction#SonyAudio #Sony #Headphones pic.twitter.com/gGQnB70Tkl
Sony has made some compromises with the WH-CH720N to hit a lower price point, though. Namely, the WH-CH720N features smaller 30 mm dynamic drivers and lacks high-fidelity audio format support like LDAC or Qualcomm aptX. Moreover, the WH-CH720N supports the older Bluetooth 5.2 standard. For reference, the WH-CH720N weighs 192 g, 31 g lighter than its predecessor and 58 g less than the WH-1000XM5.
Furthermore, the WH-CH720N should last up to 50 hours of continuous music playback with ANC switched off or 35 hours with the feature enabled. Sony offers the headphones in black, blue and white colourways for £99.99 in the UK, US$149.99 in the US and €149 in the Eurozone. Please note that while the WH-CH720N is orderable in the UK and the US, Sony lists the headphones as 'coming soon' in the Eurozone.
Source(s)
Sony via The Walkman Blog