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We compare products from their published specs and features; the verdicts below are our independent editorial opinions.
Updated: 2026-09-28 · 7 min read · Independent comparison
• Amazon Renewed Sony WH-CH720N/P — biggest strength: real active noise cancellation with dual noise sensor technology and Sony's Integrated Processor V1, in a 192g over-ear design that Sony calls its lightest wireless noise cancelling headband.
• Amazon Renewed Sony WH-CH720N/P — biggest trade-off: it is a renewed unit with a 90-day limited warranty, it has no headphone jack at all, and its 35-hour battery takes about 3.5 hours to fully charge.
• AOTONOK Open Ear Headphones — biggest strength: open-ear hook design that keeps your ears open to traffic and surroundings, IPX7 waterproofing, and up to 50 hours of total playtime with a 15-minute quick charge for 2 hours.
• AOTONOK Open Ear Headphones — biggest trade-off: open-ear buds do not seal your ear canal, so there is no active noise cancelling — its "noise cancelling" claim applies to the microphones for calls, not to blocking the world around you.
• Who each pick is for: the Sony renewed pair is for desk workers, commuters, flyers and anyone who wants to shut out noise in a full over-ear package; the AOTONOK pair is for runners, gym-goers and cyclists who need to hear what is happening around them.
This is a full-size over-ear headphone built around one job: quieting the room. Sony's dual noise sensor setup pairs with the Integrated Processor V1, and that is the same chip family driving the sound tuning. In practice, that means the noise cancelling and the audio are handled by the same brain, which is why the noise control here is described as active rather than passive. You get an Adjustable Ambient Sound mode and Adaptive Sound Control that shifts based on your surroundings, so you can drop into silence on a plane and then let a little of the world back in when you step onto a platform.
The physical design is the other half of the story. At 192g it is Sony's lightest wireless noise cancelling headband, and the over-ear enclosure uses metal and recycled plastic. For someone wearing headphones through a full workday — calls in the morning, focus blocks in the afternoon — that weight matters more than any single spec on the box. Precise Voice Pickup Technology with beamforming microphones handles the hands-free calling side, and the 20Hz–20,000Hz frequency range with DSEE processing is aimed at natural vocals and balanced tuning rather than a bass-heavy party sound.
AOTONOK Open Ear Headphones: Who It's For
The AOTONOK pair solves the opposite problem. Instead of sealing you off from the world, it hangs on soft silicone ear hooks and leaves your ear canal completely open. That is the whole point: you hear your music and you hear the car behind you. For running, cycling, gym sessions and outdoor commutes, that is a safety feature, not a compromise. IPX7 waterproofing backs it up, so sweat, rain and splashes are not a concern.
The audio hardware is surprisingly substantial for the category — 14.2mm dynamic drivers with acoustic tuning meant to minimize sound leakage, so the person next to you on the treadmill is not hearing your podcast. Bluetooth 5.4 handles the connection, and dual microphones with ENC handle calls in busy or windy conditions. Battery is where this thing really separates itself: up to 50 hours total, split as 8 hours per charge plus 42 hours from the charging case, and a 15-minute quick charge buys you 2 hours. Charging is over USB-C and takes about 2 hours.
Who should buy it: runners, walkers, cyclists, gym regulars, delivery riders, and anyone whose job or hobby means they cannot block out their surroundings. Touch controls on the buds themselves mean you can play, pause, skip and take calls without pulling out your phone, and it works with both iOS and Android. Who should skip it: anyone who wants genuine active noise cancellation for a flight or a loud office. Open-ear buds physically cannot seal out engine drone or chatter the way an over-ear ANC headphone can. The AOTONOK's noise cancelling is in the microphones, for your callers — not in your ears.
Side-by-Side: Which Should You Choose?
• Best for noise cancelling → Amazon Renewed Sony WH-CH720N/P. Active Noise Cancellation with dual noise sensors and the Integrated Processor V1 is the entire reason to buy it.
• Best for comfort over long sessions → tie, but differently. The Sony wins on lightness at 192g with an over-ear fit; the AOTONOK wins on zero ear-canal pressure thanks to the hook design.
• Best for running and workouts → AOTONOK Open Ear Headphones. IPX7 waterproofing plus open-ear awareness is a combination the Sony simply does not offer.
• Best for calls in windy or noisy places → AOTONOK Open Ear Headphones on paper, with dual ENC microphones; the Sony counters with beamforming Precise Voice Pickup, so this one is close.
• Best for immersive, detailed listening → Amazon Renewed Sony WH-CH720N/P. DSEE processing, a 20Hz–20,000Hz range and a proper over-ear seal give it the edge for music and movies.
• Best for commuting on public transport → Amazon Renewed Sony WH-CH720N/P. Adaptive Sound Control and Ambient Sound mode are built for exactly this.
• Best for people who need a wired option → neither. The Sony has no headphone jack and is Bluetooth-only; the AOTONOK charges over USB-C but is also wireless-only.
If I had to pick one, I would buy the Amazon Renewed Sony WH-CH720N/P — but only because my priority is blocking out noise, and that is the one thing the AOTONOK cannot do by design. The Sony gives me active noise cancelling, a 192g over-ear fit I could wear all day, app and voice control, and 35 hours of playback, and the renewed status is the trade-off I accept for getting there.
If your priority is movement rather than silence, my recommendation flips entirely. For running, cycling, gym work or any situation where hearing your surroundings keeps you safe, the AOTONOK is the better tool: IPX7, 50 hours, open-ear awareness and a 12-month warranty. In my opinion these two are not really competitors — they are answers to two different questions.
how to on noise cancelling headphones
On the Sony WH-CH720N/P, noise cancelling is active and controlled through the app or by voice, with an Adjustable Ambient Sound mode and Adaptive Sound Control that adjusts to your environment. On the AOTONOK, there is no active noise cancelling for your ears — its noise-cancelling microphones work on your voice for calls. If blocking out sound is the goal, the over-ear Sony is the one that does it.
what is the best over ear noise cancelling headphones
In my opinion, among these two, the Amazon Renewed Sony WH-CH720N/P is the better over-ear noise cancelling choice because it is the only one here with genuine active noise cancellation, dual noise sensor technology and an over-ear seal. The AOTONOK is not over-ear in the same sense — it is an open-ear hook design that deliberately lets sound in.
which over ear noise cancelling headphones
Which one you pick depends on whether you want to block noise or stay aware of it. Choose the Sony WH-CH720N/P if you want active noise cancelling, a 192g over-ear fit and up to 35 hours of playback. Choose the AOTONOK if you want open-ear comfort, IPX7 waterproofing and up to 50 hours for sport.
what are the most comfortable over ear noise cancelling headphones
Comfort is personal, but the Sony WH-CH720N/P makes a strong case on paper: at 192g it is described as Sony's lightest wireless noise cancelling headband, with metal and recycled plastic in the build. The AOTONOK takes a different route to comfort — soft silicone ear hooks that never press into your ear canal, which many runners prefer for long sessions.
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