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We compare products from their published specs and features; the verdicts below are our independent editorial opinions.
Updated: 2026-09-18 · 7 min read · Independent comparison
• SONY WH-CH720N — biggest strength: Active Noise Cancellation with Dual Noise Sensor technology and an Integrated Processor V1, in a headband Sony calls its lightest wireless noise-cancelling model at 192g.
• SONY WH-CH720N — biggest trade-off: It's a wireless Bluetooth 5.0 headphone with no headphone jack, so you're tied to battery and charging; sound tuning is fun and balanced rather than studio-flat.
• Liquid Audio Audio-Technica ATH-M50X — biggest strength: 45mm large-aperture dynamic drivers with a wide 15 Hz – 28,000 Hz range and a genuinely wired 3.5mm connection, plus a bundle of three detachable cables and a 25ft extension.
• Liquid Audio Audio-Technica ATH-M50X — biggest trade-off: No Bluetooth, no active noise cancelling, and no battery — it's a passive, wired, closed-back monitor that needs a source with a headphone output.
• Who each pick is for: the WH-CH720N is for commuters, remote workers and call-takers who want one pair that handles noise, calls and a long day wirelessly; the ATH-M50X bundle is for producers, DJs, podcasters and detail-focused listeners who want a wired reference pair and a cable for every situation.
The WH-CH720N is built around a single idea: make noise cancelling easy to live with. Sony's Dual Noise Sensor technology paired with the Integrated Processor V1 does the heavy lifting on ambient sound, and the whole thing weighs 192g. That number matters more than it sounds — it's the kind of weight that disappears on your head during a long workday, which is exactly the scenario Sony keeps pointing at with this model. The headband was restructured to open up more space around the ears, so the fit is meant to stay comfortable for hours rather than minutes.
Feature-wise, it's a modern wireless headphone with the conveniences that implies. Bluetooth 5.0 with a 10-metre range, multipoint pairing to two devices at once so you can jump between a laptop and a phone, touch and voice controls, and an adjustable Ambient Sound mode with 20 levels so you can dial in how much of the outside world leaks through. Adaptive Sound Control goes further and adjusts based on where you are and what you're doing. There's Precise Voice Pickup Technology using beamforming microphones for hands-free calls, plus "Focus on Voice" for chatting without taking the headphones off, and wake words for Google or Alexa. DSEE upscales compressed streaming audio, and the frequency range runs 7 Hz – 20,000 Hz with 25-ohm impedance and 108 dB sensitivity.
Battery is the headline: up to 35 hours, with quick charging that gives roughly an hour of playback from a three-minute top-up over USB-C. That's a pair you charge on the weekend and forget about during the week.
Liquid Audio Audio-Technica ATH-M50X: Who It's For
This is a bundle, and the bundle is the point. At its core is the ATH-M50X, a closed-back circumaural studio monitor with 45mm large-aperture dynamic drivers covering 15 Hz – 28,000 Hz and 38-ohm impedance. That impedance and driver size tell you it's designed to be driven properly by real audio gear — an interface, a mixer, a headphone amp, or just a decent output — and it rewards that with the kind of accuracy people want when they're mixing, mastering or critically listening rather than casually streaming.
The design is unapologetically professional. The ear cups swivel 90 degrees for single-ear monitoring, which is a DJ and studio staple. The construction mixes aluminium, faux leather and plastic, with a foldable frame and detachable cables — the classic recipe for a headphone that gets thrown in a bag, used hard, and keeps going. Passive noise isolation comes from the closed-back, circumaural fit rather than any electronics, which is worth understanding: it blocks sound by sealing around your ears, not by generating anti-noise. Volume and media controls are handled on the cable via touch control, so there are no on-board buttons to fumble with.
Then there's the accessory list, and it's generous: three detachable cables (a 1.2m–3.0m coiled, a 3.0m straight, and a 1.2m straight), a Pig Hog 25-foot headphone extension cable, a screw-on 1/4" adapter, a carrying pouch, and a polishing cloth. That's eight items total and it covers almost every studio and home scenario — short cable at the desk, long coiled cable for tracking, 25ft extension to reach across a room, quarter-inch adapter for a proper amp.
Buy it if you're a producer, mixer, podcaster, DJ or detail-obsessed listener who wants a wired, repairable, accessory-complete monitor pair and doesn't care about Bluetooth. Skip it if you mainly listen on a phone with no headphone jack, you need active noise cancelling for flights or trains, or you want the freedom of wireless. This bundle is wired only.
Side-by-Side: Which Should You Choose?
• Best for battery life → SONY WH-CH720N. Up to 35 hours, with a three-minute charge giving about an hour of playback. The ATH-M50X has no battery at all.
• Best for calls and remote work → SONY WH-CH720N. Beamforming Precise Voice Pickup Technology, multipoint pairing and voice-assistant support make it the better meeting headphone.
• Best for studio accuracy → Liquid Audio Audio-Technica ATH-M50X. 45mm drivers, 15 Hz – 28,000 Hz, 38-ohm closed-back monitoring with 90-degree swiveling cups.
• Best for cable flexibility → Liquid Audio Audio-Technica ATH-M50X. Three detachable cables plus a 25ft extension and a screw-on 1/4" adapter cover desk, studio and DJ use.
• Best for travel and commuting comfort → SONY WH-CH720N. At 192g it's Sony's lightest wireless noise-cancelling headband, and it folds into a bag without cable fuss.
• Best for long-term durability and repair → Liquid Audio Audio-Technica ATH-M50X. Metal-and-faux-leather build, foldable frame and detachable cables mean a worn cable is a swap, not a replacement.
• Best for streaming and everyday listening → SONY WH-CH720N. DSEE upscaling, Adaptive Sound Control and touch controls make casual listening effortless.
If I could only buy one, I'd buy the SONY WH-CH720N. In my opinion it wins on versatility: active noise cancelling, 35 hours of battery, multipoint Bluetooth and a 192g frame cover commuting, working and casual listening in a single pair, and that's what most people actually need. The Liquid Audio Audio-Technica ATH-M50X bundle is the better tool if your listening is critical and wired — it's a superb studio monitor with an unusually complete accessory kit — but it can't do wireless, calls or noise cancelling, and it has no battery to lean on. Buy the Sony for life; buy the M50X for the desk.
Not universally. The WH-CH720N is better for wireless listening, active noise cancelling, calls and battery life. The ATH-M50X is better for wired studio monitoring, accuracy and cable flexibility. They solve different problems.
No. The WH-CH720N is wireless only — it has no headphone jack, so it connects over Bluetooth 5.0. If you need a wired connection, the ATH-M50X is the one with a 3.5mm jack.
No to both. It uses passive sound isolation from its closed-back, circumaural design rather than active noise cancelling, and it's a wired headphone with no Bluetooth.
The SONY WH-CH720N. Active noise cancelling, a 192g lightweight frame and up to 35 hours of battery are built for travel. The ATH-M50X is wired with passive isolation, which is great in a quiet room but less practical on the move.
They're tuned for different jobs. The ATH-M50X aims for flat, accurate studio monitoring with 45mm drivers and a 15 Hz – 28,000 Hz range. The WH-CH720N aims for balanced, natural sound with DSEE upscaling for streaming. Which is "better" depends on whether you want reference accuracy or everyday enjoyment — and since prices move around, check the current price on Amazon before deciding.
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