We compare products from their published specs and features; the verdicts below are our independent editorial opinions.
Updated: 2026-09-21 · 6 min read · Independent comparison
If you want proven Sony noise-cancelling tech, app-based sound tuning and a featherweight fit for long listening sessions, choose Sony WH-CH720N; if you need marathon battery life, adaptive noise cancelling that also handles wind, and ear cups that fold away for travel, choose PHILIPS H6509.
• Sony WH-CH720N — biggest strength: Integrated Processor V1 with DSEE, 360 Reality Audio support and EQ customisation through the Sony Headphones Connect app, plus Precise Voice Pickup Technology with a wind noise reduction structure for clearer calls.
• Sony WH-CH720N — biggest trade-off: Rated at up to 35 hours with noise cancelling on, which is roughly half the Philips figure, and quick charge tops you up rather than giving you days of playback.
• PHILIPS H6509 — biggest strength: Up to 70 hours of playtime with ANC off, Adaptive Noise Cancelling Pro that suppresses wind in real time, Awareness Mode, and ear cups that fold and swivel inward for storage.
• PHILIPS H6509 — biggest trade-off: Controls are button-based and the app is where the deeper sound settings live, so anyone who wants touch gestures or Sony's immersive 360 Reality Audio format won't find it here.
• Who each pick is for: Sony WH-CH720N suits commuters and call-heavy users who want customisable sound and a very light build; PHILIPS H6509 suits frequent flyers, shift workers and travellers who prioritise battery life and packability.
The WH-CH720N is Sony's take on an everyday over-ear headphone, and the spec sheet reads like it. The headline is the Integrated Processor V1 paired with Digital Sound Enhancement Engine (DSEE), which Sony positions as delivering natural vocals and balanced tuning rather than a bass-heavy party sound. If you like the idea of shaping that tuning yourself, the EQ settings in the Sony Headphones Connect app are the reason to care — you're not stuck with one house sound.
The second thing that stands out is the weight. At 0.41 kg it's the heavier of these two on paper, but Sony pairs that with an ergonomic over-ear construction and frames the whole design around long sessions. The 35-hour figure is quoted with noise cancelling on, which matters: many brands quote battery with ANC off. Ten minutes on the charger gets you roughly an hour of playback, so a forgotten charge before a commute isn't fatal.
Call quality gets real attention here. Precise Voice Pickup Technology, beamforming mics and a wind noise reduction structure are aimed squarely at people who take meetings and calls on the move. Add Multipoint Connection, Swift Pair and Fast Pair, and it's built for juggling a laptop and a phone without fiddling. There's also 360 Reality Audio support, which analyses your ear shape in the app for a spatial mix — a genuinely differentiating feature if you listen to supported content.
Who should buy it: commuters, remote workers and podcast or call-heavy listeners who want app-tuned sound, Sony's processing, and a light, comfortable over-ear they can wear for hours. Who should skip it: anyone who wants the longest possible battery between charges, or who prefers physical buttons and folding ear cups for travel.
The H6509 plays a different game. Philips leads with Noise Cancelling Pro — adaptive cancellation that suppresses external sound in real time, including wind — and pairs it with Awareness Mode so you can let the outside in without removing the headphones. You switch between ANC modes in the Philips app, which is a nice touch if you move between a noisy train, a windy street and a quiet office in the same day.
Then there's the number that jumps off the page: up to 70 hours of playtime with ANC off, which Philips explicitly frames around long flights and all-day listening. A five-minute charge adds about three hours, and you can also run it over USB-C into any device with a USB-C port rather than relying on Bluetooth. That wired-over-USB option is genuinely useful on a plane seat-back or a laptop with a flaky connection.
Sound comes from 40 mm dynamic drivers with Dynamic Bass, and the app exposes sound styles and a bass setting rather than an open EQ. A dedicated mic with noise reduction handles calls. Bluetooth 5.3 with Multipoint lets you stay connected to two devices at once, and a power button toggles a low-latency mode for video and games. Physically, the round ear-cup design uses memory foam cushions, and the cups fold and swivel inward — at 0.27 kg it's the lighter of the two and the easier one to throw in a bag.
Who should buy it: frequent flyers, long-shift workers, students and anyone who hates charging headphones, plus travellers who value a compact folding design. Who should skip it: listeners who want Sony's 360 Reality Audio, touch controls, or deep EQ control beyond the app's presets and bass slider.
• Best for battery life → PHILIPS H6509. Up to 70 hours with ANC off versus Sony's up to 35 hours with ANC on — not a close contest.
• Best for lighter weight and packability → PHILIPS H6509. 0.27 kg with ear cups that fold and swivel inward, against Sony's 0.41 kg fixed design.
• Best for sound customisation → Sony WH-CH720N. EQ settings in the app plus DSEE processing and 360 Reality Audio support give you more ways to shape what you hear.
• Best for clear calls in windy or noisy places → Sony WH-CH720N. Beamforming mics plus a wind noise reduction structure are purpose-built for voice pickup.
• Best for wind and adaptive noise handling → PHILIPS H6509. Adaptive Noise Cancelling Pro adjusts in real time, including wind, with Awareness Mode for when you need to hear your surroundings.
• Best for wired flexibility → PHILIPS H6509. USB-C audio into any compatible device, plus a 3.5–3.5 mm cable in the box.
• Best for touch controls and instant pairing → Sony WH-CH720N. Touch media control, Swift Pair and Fast Pair make daily switching effortless.
• Best for long-haul travel → PHILIPS H6509. Folding cups, low weight, huge battery and a quick-charge top-up add up to less to think about on the road.
If I were buying one of these for myself, I'd pick the PHILIPS H6509. The 70-hour playtime, 0.27 kg weight and folding ear cups solve the two things that actually annoy me about over-ear headphones: charging them and carrying them. Adaptive ANC with Awareness Mode and USB-C audio round out a very practical package.
That said, I'd steer you to the Sony WH-CH720N if sound tuning and call clarity matter more than endurance. In my opinion, Sony's processing, EQ control and 360 Reality Audio support make it the more interesting headphone for listening and talking, and 35 hours with ANC on is still plenty for most weeks. Decide which of those two priorities is yours, then check the current price on Amazon before you commit.
FAQ
Yes. Philips rates the H6509 at up to 70 hours with ANC off, while Sony quotes up to 35 hours with noise cancelling on. If you hate charging, Philips wins clearly.
They take different approaches. Sony uses Active Noise Cancellation with a wind noise reduction structure focused on calls; Philips uses Adaptive Noise Cancelling Pro that adjusts in real time, including wind, plus an Awareness Mode. Philips offers more situational control.
Yes. It ships with a 3.5–3.5 mm stereo cable and can also play over USB-C into any compatible device. The Sony WH-CH720N includes a connection cable and a USB cable too.
The Philips H6509 at 0.27 kg, with ear cups that fold and swivel inward. The Sony WH-CH720N is 0.41 kg and doesn't fold, though its ergonomic design is built for long wear.
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