If you ever want to experience what ANC headphones are like but do not want to pay a lot for it, then the Sony WH-CH710N could be something you might be looking for. Retailing at S$249, it offers ANC at an affordable price point.
Unboxing
Inside the box, you cna find the following items:
- Sony WH-CH710N ANC headphones
- USB-C to USB-A cable
- 3.5mm audio cable
- User manual
Tech specs
| Driver Size | 30mm |
| Frequency Response | 20 – 20,000 Hz |
| Battery Life | 35 hours per full charge (with ANC on) |
| Weight | 223 g |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.0 |
| Audio Codecs | AAC, SBC |
Build quality and features
The Sony WH-CH710N are really lightweight. They weigh 218g and don’t feel heavy on your head. The lightness is pretty much attributed to the materials of this headphones. The Sony WH-CH710N are made completely from plastic. They have a matte black finish to it and looks very simple and minimal.
Build quality won’t be one of its strengths unfortunately. Just shaking the headphones, you can hear some rattling of the plastic. But then agin for an ANC headphones of this price, I kind of expected it. The plastic used feels a little hollow, unlike those plastic we seen on other headphones or earbuds case. The leatherette on the ear cups do feel cheaper, especially when I compare them to my Harman Kardon FLY ANC. Thankfully, the headband and hinges feel strong and durable. However, the Sony WH-CH710N cannot be folded down at the hinges for ease of carrying it around.
Overall, the build quality of the Sony WH-CH710N is a nice compromise for its price. Sony kept the essentials untouched, and cut costs those on parts that will not ruin the overall experience.
Controls
The Sony WH-CH710N only have physical button implementation of which the buttons are located on both ear cups. On the left ear cup, you can find the power button, USB-C port, and a 3.5mm audio jack. And on the right, you can find the volume controls, play/pause, and the ANC/AMB sound mode button.
I do find the play/pause and volume controls a little hard to distinguish at the start. Once you get used to the button layout, it should be a quick press away.
Ambient sound mode
The ambient sound mode lets in some outside noise into the headphones. It lets in a fair bit of sound in, but not enough to discern voices in a conversion. If you wanna hold a conversion, it’s still better to take off the headphones.
Battery life
Sony claims the battery life can last up to 35 hours from a single charge with ANC turned on. And if you ever need to juice up the battery real quick, just 10 minutes of charging will give you 60 minutes of music playback. A nice surprise on the Sony WH-CH710N was that it charges via USB-C!
Fit
The Sony WH-CH710N is actually quite comfortable to wear. It is not as comfortable as the Sony WH-1000XM3 or Bose QC35II but those are in a different league. Thanks to its lightweight and sufficiently sized ear cups, the Sony WH-CH710N provides enough room for your ears to breathe and wearable for long hours of use. The clamping force is also just right. It would have greater comfort if the leatherette used was more plush.
Pairing, connectivity, and latency
You can pair the Sony WH-CH710N in two ways. Either via Bluetooth, or if you are using an Android phone, you can leverage on the NFC capabilities by simply putting your phone next to the left ear cup. Connection is strong and reliable, as expected from a Bluetooth 5.0 device. However, I did find a very slight audio-video latency when watching YouTube videos on the YouTube app on my iPhone 11.
Sound quality
The Sony WH-CH710N is focused more on bass than the other frequencies. Bass is has noticeable presence but not as impactful with what you will get with the Sony WH1000XM3 for example. Sub-bass is supportive enough to accompany most modern pop songs. The mids however is where the WH-CH710N ANC headphones falls short. Vocals and instruments are not as forward so audio doesn’t sound as engaging. As for highs, they are decent and warm sounding, again not as exciting as I’d like. Detail and clarity in the mids and highs can sound a little muddied in my opinion. Overall, the WH-CH710N ANC headphones offers a pretty flat and neutral audio experience with a noticeable bump in bass.
ANC performance
The ANC has average performance when if you compare it to the holy grail of ANC lie the Sony WH-1000XM3 or Bose QC35II. The ANC you get is a milder implementation which still does the job pretty well. The low rumbling such as in buses are minimised quite effectively, while the high-pitched sounds when in the MRT tunnels are reduced enough to not affect your music. I’d say that for its price point, the ANC punches above its weight and deliver ANC performance that can rival other mid-tier ANC headphones.
Conclusion
The Sony WH-CH710N offers you a decent ANC experience for just S$249, which is relatively affordable compared to most ANC headphones in the market. The affordable price point is achieved through some compromises on build quality and sound, but retains basics right such as a comfortable fit. If you interested, purchase them on Qoo10 as you can usually stack coupons to get a lower purchase price.