How We Research
We compare products from their published specs and features; the verdicts below are our independent editorial opinions.
If you want a dedicated gaming headset with spatial audio, a boom mic you can detach, and a low-latency wireless connection for PC gaming, choose Razer BlackShark V2; if you need everyday noise-canceling headphones for commuting, work and music with much longer battery life, choose Sony WH-CH720N. These two look like they compete on the shelf, but they were built for completely different people, and picking the wrong one is an easy mistake to make.
• Razer BlackShark V2's biggest strength: a gaming-first design — THX 7.1 spatial audio, 50mm Triforce Titanium drivers tuned for highs, mids and lows separately, and a detachable supercardioid mic for clear voice chat.
• Razer BlackShark V2's biggest trade-off: battery life tops out around 24 hours, and it's a closed, sound-isolating gaming headset rather than an active noise-canceling pair for travel.
• Sony WH-CH720N's biggest strength: up to 35 hours of battery with active noise cancellation, multipoint Bluetooth, and a lightweight over-ear build made for long listening sessions.
• Sony WH-CH720N's biggest trade-off: no boom mic and no low-latency 2.4GHz gaming connection — its mic is built in, and it's a Bluetooth headphone first, not a competitive gaming tool.
• Buy the Razer BlackShark V2 if you game on PC or console and want immersive positional audio plus a proper voice mic.
• Buy the Sony WH-CH720N if you want one comfortable pair for music, calls, commuting and noise canceling all day.
The BlackShark V2 is built around gaming, and the spec sheet says so plainly. The THX 7.1 spatial surround capability is there to give you accurate directional cues — footsteps behind you, a reload to your left — which is exactly the kind of information competitive players lean on. The 50mm Triforce Titanium drivers are split into three parts so the highs, mids and lows can be tuned separately, which in practice means clearer audio with more distinct detail instead of one muddy wall of sound. The frequency range runs from 12 Hz to 28 kHz, and impedance sits at 32 ohm, so it's easy to drive.
Who should buy it: PC and console gamers who want positional audio, a real boom mic, and a headset that stays comfortable through long sessions. It also works for business and personal calls thanks to that mic. Who should skip it: if your main use is music on a commute or you want active noise cancellation to silence a plane or train, this isn't the tool — its isolation is passive, not active, and 24 hours of battery is good but not the endurance champ here.
Sony WH-CH720N: Who It's For
The WH-CH720N is the opposite kind of product: an everyday wireless headphone that happens to do a lot of things well. Its headline feature is active noise cancellation, which uses mics and processing to reduce ambient sound rather than just blocking it with padding. That's the difference between "quieter because the cups are sealed" and "quieter because the headphone is actively fighting the noise." For commuting, open offices and noisy homes, that matters.
Sound is handled by Sony's Integrated Processor V1 and the Digital Sound Enhancement Engine, which aims for natural vocals, crystal-clear sound and balanced tuning. You can also tailor the sound with EQ in the Sony Headphones Connect app, and it's 360 Reality Audio certified if you want to set up an immersive spatial profile based on your ear shape. Battery life is rated up to 35 hours with noise canceling on, and a 10-minute quick charge gives you roughly 60 minutes of playback — genuinely useful when you're walking out the door.
Comfort is a stated design goal: a lightweight, ergonomic over-ear build meant to stay comfortable over long sessions. Connectivity is Bluetooth with a 10-meter range, plus multipoint so you can stay connected to two devices at once, Swift Pair and Fast Pair for easy setup, and voice control. Calls get Precise Voice Pickup Technology, a wind noise reduction structure and beamforming mics. It's also rated for all ages, which tells you Sony sees this as a family-friendly everyday headphone.
Side-by-Side: Which Should You Choose?
• Best for gaming and positional audio → Razer BlackShark V2. THX 7.1 spatial sound and 50mm drivers tuned for gaming detail.
• Best for voice chat and streaming → Razer BlackShark V2. The detachable supercardioid mic is purpose-built for clear voice pickup.
• Best for battery life → Sony WH-CH720N. Up to 35 hours versus roughly 24 on the Razer.
• Best for noise canceling → Sony WH-CH720N. Active noise cancellation beats passive isolation for travel and open offices.
• Best for low-latency wireless → Razer BlackShark V2. The 2.4GHz connection is designed to keep audio synced to your game.
• Best for everyday music and calls → Sony WH-CH720N. Multipoint Bluetooth, EQ in the app and beamforming mics for clearer conversations.
• Best for multi-device work → Sony WH-CH720N. Multipoint keeps your laptop and phone connected at the same time.
• Best for console gaming without a dongle → Razer BlackShark V2. The 3.5mm jack plugs straight into a controller.
In my opinion, most people should buy the one that matches their primary use, not the one with the longer spec list. If you game seriously on PC or console and talk to teammates, I'd buy the Razer BlackShark V2 — the spatial audio, detachable mic and low-latency wireless are exactly what that job needs. If you want a single pair for music, commuting, calls and noise canceling with all-day battery, I'd buy the Sony WH-CH720N. Only you know which of those is your real daily routine — and before you commit, check the current price on Amazon using the button on this page.
FAQ
Yes. Sony rates the WH-CH720N at up to 35 hours with noise canceling on, while the Razer BlackShark V2 is rated up to 24 hours. Sony also quick-charges to about 60 minutes of playback in a 10-minute charge.
You can. It lists business, gaming and personal as intended uses, and the detachable mic handles voice. But it relies on passive sound isolation, not active noise cancellation, and its battery life is shorter than the Sony's.
Both are built for it, but differently. Razer uses breathable memory foam cushions to reduce heat and pressure during gaming sessions. Sony leans on a lightweight ergonomic design to make the most of its 35-hour battery. For all-day music and travel, I'd lean Sony; for long gaming sessions with a mic, I'd lean Razer.
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