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We compare products from their published specs and features; the verdicts below are our independent editorial opinions.
Updated: 2026-10-02 · 7 min read · Independent comparison
• Sony WH-CH720N — biggest strength: a slim, lightweight build (6.72 ounces) with up to 35 hours of playback and a 3.5 mm jack when you want to go wired.
• Sony WH-CH720N — biggest trade-off: it leans on voice-assistant control rather than touch gestures, and it uses a plastic enclosure without a bundled carry case in the listed contents.
• Amazon Renewed Sony ULT WEAR — biggest strength: bass-emphasized ULT sound modes, touch media controls, and moldable thermo-foamed cushions with a bundled protective case.
• Amazon Renewed Sony ULT WEAR — biggest trade-off: it's heavier at 8.96 ounces, has no headphone jack at all, and its noise cancelling drops its battery life to 30 hours.
• Pick Sony WH-CH720N if you travel, commute, or work long stretches and want the lightest possible over-ear ANC pair with a corded fallback.
• Pick Amazon Renewed Sony ULT WEAR if your priority is punchy bass, touch controls, and a case you can toss in a bag.
The WH-CH720N is built around two ideas: staying light and staying on your head for a long time. The headband is slimmer and restructured to open up more space around the ears, and the whole thing lands at 6.72 ounces. That matters more than it sounds. If you wear over-ears for a full workday or a long flight, weight is the spec you feel first, and this is Sony's lightest wireless noise-cancelling design in the CH line.
On the noise side, it pairs Dual Noise Sensor Technology with Sony's Integrated Processor V1. I'd frame that as a design promise rather than a measurement — the two-mic-plus-processor approach is aimed at cutting steady background noise. What I find more useful in daily life is the Ambient Sound mode with 20 level settings. You can dial in how much traffic, café chatter, or station announcements get through, which is exactly the kind of control you want when you're between a noisy commute and a quiet desk.
Who should buy it: commuters, remote workers, and long-haul listeners who want low weight, a long battery window, and the option of a wired connection. Who should skip it: anyone who wants touch controls, heavy bass tuning, or a carry case in the box.
Amazon Renewed Sony ULT WEAR: Who It's For
The ULT WEAR sits in Sony's ULT POWER SOUND line, and that tells you the design intent immediately: deep, physical bass rather than neutral reproduction. The ULT button switches between two bass-emphasized profiles — a punchy one built to feel the beat, and a deeper boost for a more relaxed low-end vibe. If your library is bass-heavy, this is the pair of the two tuned for you.
Noise cancelling uses Sony's dual noise sensor technology as well, so both products share that core approach. The difference is what wraps around it. The ULT WEAR uses moldable cushions made with a thermo-foaming process — the idea being a snug, wrinkle-free fit that seals well and stays balanced over long sessions. The earpieces are listed as rounded, and the design uses recycled plastic for both the headphones and the bundled carry case, which is a nice practical touch if you actually travel with your gear.
The battery story is more layered. You get up to 30 hours with noise cancelling on, and Sony says a 3-minute charge adds about 90 minutes of playtime. Switch noise cancelling off and the ceiling rises to as much as 50 hours. Controls are touch-based media controls rather than buttons, and Bluetooth is version 5.2 versus 5 on the CH720N. There is no headphone jack here — this is a wireless-only pair, so plan accordingly.
Who should buy it: bass lovers, touch-control fans, and people who want a snug sealing fit plus a protective case for commuting or travel. Who should skip it: anyone who needs a wired option, wants the lightest possible pair, or prefers a more neutral sound signature.
Side-by-Side: Which Should You Choose?
• Best for bass and low-end punch → Amazon Renewed Sony ULT WEAR. The ULT button and two bass profiles are the whole point of this model.
• Best for long-wear comfort → Sony WH-CH720N. At 6.72 ounces with a slimmer, restructured headband, it's the lighter of the two on paper.
• Best for fit and seal → Amazon Renewed Sony ULT WEAR. Thermo-foamed moldable cushions are designed to conform and keep a snug over-ear seal.
• Best for wired listening → Sony WH-CH720N. It has a 3.5 mm jack; the ULT WEAR has none.
• Best for touch controls → Amazon Renewed Sony ULT WEAR. Touch media control versus voice-assistant control on the CH720N.
• Best for travel extras → Amazon Renewed Sony ULT WEAR. It ships with a protective carry case; the CH720N's listed contents are the headphones and cables.
• Best for ambient awareness → Sony WH-CH720N. The 20-level Ambient Sound mode gives you fine-grained control over how much outside sound gets in.
In my opinion, if you're buying over-ear noise cancelling headphones to live in all day, I'd take the Sony WH-CH720N. The 35-hour battery, the sub-7-ounce build, and the 3.5 mm jack make it the more flexible everyday pair, and the 20-step Ambient Sound mode is genuinely useful in real environments. I'd pick the Amazon Renewed Sony ULT WEAR instead if bass is your priority and you want touch controls, a sealing moldable fit, and a carry case — just accept the extra weight and the loss of the wired option. Check the current price on Amazon for both before you commit, since renewed stock and pricing shift.
FAQ
what is the best over ear noise cancelling headphones
There's no single answer, and I won't pretend otherwise. Both of these use dual noise sensor technology, so the real split is priorities: the WH-CH720N wins on weight, battery life (35 hours), and a wired fallback, while the ULT WEAR wins on bass tuning, touch controls, and a snug moldable fit. In my opinion the CH720N is the better all-rounder for most people.
Which one fits you comes down to how you'll use them. Choose the Sony WH-CH720N if you want the lighter pair (6.72 ounces), up to 35 hours of playback, and a 3.5 mm jack. Choose the Amazon Renewed Sony ULT WEAR if you want ULT bass modes, touch media controls, Bluetooth 5.2, and a bundled protective case.
what are the most comfortable over ear noise cancelling headphones
Comfort is personal, but the specs point in different directions. The WH-CH720N is the lighter option at 6.72 ounces with a slimmer headband restructured for more ear space. The ULT WEAR is heavier at 8.96 ounces but uses thermo-foamed moldable cushions designed to conform snugly. For all-day wear I'd lean toward the lighter CH720N.
how to on noise cancelling headphones
Both products handle it the same way: flip on Active Noise Cancellation and let the dual noise sensors and processing do the work. On the WH-CH720N you can also cycle the 20-level Ambient Sound mode to let traffic, café noise, or announcements through. On the ULT WEAR, note that switching ANC off extends battery life from up to 30 hours to as much as 50.
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