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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 · 6 min read · Independent comparison
• Sony WH-CH720NB — biggest strength: Dual Noise Sensor tech plus the Integrated Processor V1 (the same processor family Sony uses in its flagship over-ears) for adaptive-feeling ANC and DSEE-enhanced, balanced sound.
• Sony WH-CH720NB — biggest trade-off: No headphone jack at all, so wireless is your only option, and the listed battery figure is the conservative 35-hour number.
• PHILIPS H6509 — biggest strength: Up to 70 hours of playtime with ANC off, a 5-minute quick charge for 3 extra hours, and a 2.5 mm jack so you can go wired when the battery is flat.
• PHILIPS H6509 — biggest trade-off: Button-and-app control instead of touch, and a heavier 270 g build than Sony's 192 g.
• Pick Sony WH-CH720NB if you care most about noise cancelling quality, light weight and immersive audio features.
• Pick PHILIPS H6509 if you care most about battery endurance, connectivity flexibility and folding storage.
The WH-CH720NB is the headphone for someone who wants the Sony noise-cancelling formula without stepping up to the flagship tier. Sony pairs Dual Noise Sensor technology with an Integrated Processor V1, and that same V1 silicon shows up in Sony's premium line — which tells you the noise cancelling here isn't an afterthought. The Digital Sound Enhancement Engine (DSEE) is the other headline feature: it's designed to rebuild the detail in compressed digital files so streaming audio sounds closer to the original recording. Add 360 Reality Audio certification and the Sony Sound Connect app, and you get a headphone you can actually tune to your own taste rather than accept as-is.
Comfort is where this one quietly wins. At 192 g it's one of the lighter over-ear designs in this comparison, and Sony explicitly built it for long work-from-home sessions and extended listening. The earpads are rounded and over-ear, the enclosure is plastic with a faux-leather carry case in the box, and the package includes a connection cable and USB cable. Multipoint connection lets you run two Bluetooth devices at once — laptop and phone, for example — and voice control plus touch controls handle playback without you hunting for buttons. Bluetooth 5 with a 10-metre range covers normal room-to-room use.
Here's the honest trade-off: there is no headphone jack. Connectivity is wireless only, so if you like plugging into an in-flight entertainment system or a desktop DAC, this isn't the headphone for that. The listed battery life is 35 hours, and while Sony's own description mentions a longer figure, the spec sheet's 35-hour average life and 35-hour charge time are what I'd plan around. Skip this one if you're a wired-listening person or you want the absolute longest runtime per charge.
The H6509 is built around one idea: keep going. Philips rates it at up to 70 hours of playtime with ANC off, and a 5-minute charge buys you 3 more hours — the kind of number that matters on a long-haul flight or a week where you keep forgetting to plug in. It also charges fully in about 2 hours, which is quick for a battery this size. Critically, there's a 2.5 mm jack and a 3.5–3.5 mm stereo cable in the box, so you can keep listening passively when the battery gives out. USB-C audio is supported too, meaning you can plug straight into a USB-C phone or laptop.
Noise Cancelling Pro here is adaptive rather than fixed: it suppresses external sound in real time, including wind, and Awareness Mode lets the outside back in when you need it. You switch modes through the Philips app, which also handles Dynamic Bass, sound styles, and even an auto power-off timer. The 40 mm drivers are tuned for detailed sound with strong bass, and a dedicated mic with a noise-reduction algorithm keeps your voice clear on calls. Bluetooth 5.3 with multipoint means the newer, more stable version of the standard, and the headphones pair to two devices at once — notifications from your phone while video streams from your laptop.
Comfort and storage are the other angle. Memory foam cushions are there for long sessions, the ear cups fold and swivel inward so they slip into a bag or a big pocket, and Philips uses a round ear-cup design with a faux-leather finish. The controls are buttons, not touch, which some people genuinely prefer because you can find them by feel. The trade-offs: at 270 g it's noticeably heavier than the Sony, and if you love swipe gestures you won't get them here. The app is also effectively required if you want the full feature set.
Side-by-Side: Which Should You Choose?
• Best for noise cancelling → Sony WH-CH720NB. Dual Noise Sensor tech plus the Integrated Processor V1 is the more sophisticated ANC architecture on paper.
• Best for battery life → PHILIPS H6509. Up to 70 hours with ANC off versus 35 hours, plus a 5-minute charge for 3 extra hours.
• Best for long listening comfort → Sony WH-CH720NB. 192 g versus 270 g is a real difference over a full workday.
• Best for wired listening → PHILIPS H6509. A 2.5 mm jack and a bundled stereo cable; the Sony has no jack at all.
• Best for sound customisation → Sony WH-CH720NB. DSEE, 360 Reality Audio and the Sound Connect app give you more ways to shape the output.
• Best for call clarity → PHILIPS H6509. A dedicated mic with a noise-reduction algorithm is the more explicitly call-focused design.
• Best for touch controls → Sony WH-CH720NB. Touch and voice control versus Philips' button-and-app approach.
I'd buy the Sony WH-CH720NB. In my opinion, the combination of proper adaptive-feeling noise cancelling, processor-backed sound tuning, 192 g of comfort and multipoint makes it the better everyday headphone for commuting, working and streaming at home. The Philips H6509 is the smarter pick only if runtime is your number one priority — 70 hours and a wired fallback are genuinely useful — but for most people, the Sony is the one I'd recommend reaching for first. Check the current price on Amazon before you decide, since that's the one variable that can flip this call.
what is the best selling headphones
There isn't a single verified answer, and this page deliberately doesn't rank products by sales. What I can tell you is that both of these sit in the mainstream over-ear Bluetooth segment — Sony with its noise-cancelling line and Philips with its 6000 series — which is where the bulk of buyer attention goes. Treat "best selling" as a signal of popularity, not proof of fit.
what is the most popular brand of headphones
Sony is one of the most widely recognised names in consumer audio, and its noise-cancelling over-ears are a big reason why. Philips has decades of audio history too, though it competes more on value and battery endurance than on premium ANC. Popularity tells you who's known; specs tell you what's right for you.
what are the best selling headphones in the world
No sales data is published here, so I won't invent a list. The practical takeaway: over-ear Bluetooth headphones with active noise cancelling are the category most shoppers land in, and both the WH-CH720NB and H6509 fit that mould. Compare on battery, comfort, connectivity and controls instead.
what is the best selling headphones of all time
That's a historical question no spec sheet can answer, and I won't guess. For your decision it barely matters — what matters is whether you want Sony's lighter, ANC-and-app-focused design or Philips' 70-hour, foldable, wired-capable one.
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