Noise cancellation headphones are the real deal in the market. Thanks to that feature, it’s possible to have a full-immersive audio experience without external interference. But that also means that it doesn’t come cheap.
However, there are options for people who want something that’s a bit pocket-friendly and comes with all the amazing features of a good headphone. And Sony has been stepping up their game in this area. Whether it’s the WH-1000X series or the CH510, they’ve really shown how committed they are in putting out products eligible to cut from both sides of quality and cost-effectiveness. The WH-CH710N is the latest among this line of products to promise premium audio quality and affordability at the same time. You won’t believe how much it takes to score a headset like this.
Every headset comes with its strong points and weakest, and the release of the WH-CH710N has got people drawing comparisons and evaluating if it’s really quite the steal Sony says it is.
This article breaks up the WH-CH710N into its individual attributes and explores them in the hopes of answering your biggest questions and reservations.
Who It’s For
Due to its slight handicap with bass and certain high-end and low-end sounds, the WH-CH710N will definitely not be a top pick for music aficionados. However, if you want a piece of the noise cancellation feature but you are not willing to shell out an enormous sum, then you can settle for this. It’s great for blocking outside noise while on the go. The noise cancellation isn’t as solid as the Sony WH-1000XM3 for instance, but hey, it’s your money doing the talking.
If you’re a sucker for durability, hop on the train because the WH-CH710N’s swagger lies on its battery life. It can work for an average of 35 hours. We all know how company estimates are. So, you can use the WH-CH710N for more than the 35-hour estimate.
Sound Quality
The sound of the WH-CH710N is great. But it depends on who you ask. If you’re a sucker for bass, you might not want this headset because its sound performance on low endnotes isn’t exactly stellar. The bass sound isn’t totally absent from the spectrum, but it has no obvious presence. Rather, it’s kind of in there with other sounds. Although, there are moments in songs when there is a high bass boost. The bass quality is discernible then, but not by much.
Also, it’s not exactly striking when it comes to vocals. The highs in particular, tend to be slightly unclear. If you’re a fan of Adele, Sia, or Mariah Carey, and love to hear every aspect of their high tones hit you crystal clear, the WH-CH710N may be a little underserving.
However, it’s not a bad fit. The sound is neutral, which makes it a feasible option for a lot of people.
Connection
The WH-CH710N comes with dual wireless connectivity options. The first choice is through Bluetooth, and the other is through NFC. To connect to the NFC, you’d have to hold your android phone up to the logo, and you’d receive a connection command.
The headset uses Bluetooth 5.0, but quite unfortunately, only allows the AAC codec.
If the wireless isn’t working for you, there’s always the 3.5mm jack option. Just plug in your cable and jam to some music.
Design
One of the first things you notice about the WH-CH710N is how light it is. You get to wear your headphones over your head without feeling like you’re carrying the rest of the world with you. If you love moving around and jamming to music with headphones, this is ideal. To achieve this level of lightness, Sony had to tone things down a little and go all out for a plastic build, which some people may find a little uncomfortable.
However, the slim and rounded design kind of makes up for this. It’s a minimal design that doesn’t draw attention. So, you can go about your day without attracting stares from people. The earcups and headband are padded with plush memory foam, which may not be premium material, but does its job of keeping the headphone light and comfortable.
The right cup holds all the buttons, which are really easy to click, while the left cup holds a power/pairing button, USB Type-C port, and a 3.5 mm aux port.
Portability
If you’re one who likes to hit the road a lot and pack your headphones with you, the WH-CH710N might be a bit of a letdown. The headband doesn’t fold because it lacks hinges, but the earcups turn by 90 degrees so they can lie flat. If you’re up to it, and can really find a way to carry this along with you in your bag, then there’s nothing to worry about.
Comfort
The lightweight design and plush padding are the highlights of the WH-CH710N as far as comfort is concerned. However, the earcups aren’t deep enough and could be a problem for people with big ears. If your ears are normal or small-sized, the WH-CH710N should be a ride. Lol!
There’s a small snag to Sony’s choice of an all-out plastic build. It may be beneficial for the weight of the headphones, but it does have a tendency to amplify scratches or nudges along the body. Hearing noises from impact in between your music may not be the most pleasant of experiences. But asides from that, the WH-CH710N is good to go.
Durability
The WH-CH710N ticks all our boxes on battery life/durability. Sony are no slouches when it comes to the durability of their products, and they carry that legacy on with this headphone. Sony claims the headphone can go for as long as 35 hours. However, we were able to squeeze longer than that, 41 hours 35 minutes to be exact, when we played music on the headphones at a steady 75dB with active noise cancellation. You can also get about an hour from its quick charge feature.
The WH-CH710N may not be the best of the best when it comes to its design and performance, but it deserves a second look, at least, for its durability.
Pros and Cons
Pros
- Comfortable
- Affordable
- Great Battery Life
- Simplicity
- AAC Bluetooth Codec
Cons
- Poor Build Quality
- Sound Quality
- No LDAC support
- Portability
- Non-stellar Noise Cancellation
Final Thoughts
The Sony WH-CH710N may not be up to par with the expensive noise cancellation headphones in the market. The design isn’t exactly a statement, the plastic is quite cheap, and the audio quality doesn’t particularly meet high standards. But it cuts its own slack for the price tag it comes in. It’s not really possible to find affordable and big-budget features all in one place. So, if affordability is what’s on your list, I’d say go for the Sony WH-CH710N. It’s not bad at all.