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We've recently released our Test Bench 1.6 update for Headphones! Read the Latency R&D Article to learn more.

Sony WH-CH710N Wireless Headphones Review

Tested using Methodology v1.5
Review updated Jun 16, 2023 at 09:08 am
Sony WH-CH710N Wireless Picture
7.1
Neutral Sound
6.7
Commute/Travel
6.9
Sports/Fitness
6.8
Office
5.3
Wireless Gaming
6.9
Wired Gaming
6.5
Phone Calls
These headphones were replaced by the Sony WH-CH720N Wireless

The Sony WH-CH710N Wireless are mid-range noise cancelling (ANC) headphones. These over-ears don't support a companion app, multi-device pairing, or even come with a carrying case, unlike higher-end models from this manufacturer, like the Sony WH-1000XM4 Wireless. However, they're equipped with an ANC system to help cut down some background sound, although it's not quite powerful enough to make a sizeable dent in high-noise environments like train stations or inside a plane.

Our Verdict

7.1 Neutral Sound

The Sony WH-CH710N are decent for neutral sound. They have a very accurate mid-range that helps make voices and lead instruments clear and present in the mix. However, their bass-heavy sound profile isn't ideal for all listeners. They also have an inconsistent audio delivery in the mid and treble ranges, depending on their fit, seal, and positioning on your head. Unlike many other Sony headphones, they aren't compatible with the Sony | Headphones Connect app, so you can't customize their sound profile.

Pros
  • Comfortable fit.
Cons
  • Inconsistent audio delivery.
6.7 Commute/Travel

The Sony WH-CH710N are reasonable for commuting and travel. They're comfortable enough to wear for long periods without much fatigue, and their long continuous battery life can get you through long international flights. Unfortunately, their bulky design isn't very portable. They also don't block out much background noise, especially in the bass range, so you'll still hear bus and plane engines while wearing these headphones.

Pros
  • Comfortable fit.
  • Long continuous battery life.
Cons
  • ANC has a very hard time blocking out bass-range noise.
  • Not very portable.
6.9 Sports/Fitness

The Sony WHCH710N are okay for sports and fitness. However, they're still over-ear headphones and have a bulky design that isn't very portable. While they have a comfortable fit, they can move around and fall off during tough workouts.

Pros
  • Comfortable fit.
Cons
  • Not very portable.
6.8 Office

The Sony WH-CH710N are okay for office use. These comfortable over-ears have a long battery life that can get you through multiple work days without recharging. They don't leak much sound at high volumes, so you can enjoy your favorite tunes without bothering your coworkers. Their ANC can also cut down some sound around you, like coworkers talking and the hum of AC units. However, they don't support multi-device pairing, so you can't connect them to your phone and PC simultaneously.

Pros
  • Comfortable fit.
  • Long continuous battery life.
Cons
  • No multi-device pairing.
  • Inconsistent audio delivery.
5.3 Wireless Gaming

The Sony WH-CH710N are Bluetooth-only headphones you can't use wirelessly with PlayStation or Xbox consoles. They're compatible with Bluetooth-enabled PCs, but their latency is likely too high to be suitable for wireless gaming.

6.9 Wired Gaming

The Sony WH-CH710N are satisfactory for wired gaming. You can plug these headphones into your Xbox or PlayStation controller to receive audio; however, you can't use the microphone to communicate with your teammates. Their comfortable fit is ideal for long gaming sessions, and their bass-heavy sound profile adds an extra punch to action-packed scenes.

Pros
  • Comfortable fit.
Cons
  • Don't support mic when wired.
6.5 Phone Calls

The Sony WH-CH710N are just okay for phone calls. Their integrated microphone makes your voice sound clear but also thin and unnatural. However, you won't have an issue being understood clearly. The mic struggles to separate your voice from background noise in noisier settings, like a train station. Also, they don't isolate much background noise, which may be distracting during phone calls.

Pros
  • Mic transmits voice clearly.
Cons
  • ANC has a very hard time blocking out bass-range noise.
  • 7.1 Neutral Sound
  • 6.7 Commute/Travel
  • 6.9 Sports/Fitness
  • 6.8 Office
  • 5.3 Wireless Gaming
  • 6.9 Wired Gaming
  • 6.5 Phone Calls
  1. Updated Jun 16, 2023: We've updated this review's text to improve its clarity and accuracy.
  2. Updated May 17, 2023: We've lowered the Noise Handling's Speech + Pink Noise Handling score from '6.5' to 6'.0' to better reflect the microphone's performance.
  3. Updated May 08, 2023: We've added a comparison between these headphones and the Sony WH-CH720N Wireless in Noise Isolation.
  4. Updated Sep 21, 2021: Updated review for accuracy and clarity.
  5. Updated Aug 04, 2021: Converted to Test Bench 1.5.
  6. Updated Sep 29, 2020: Review published.
  7. Updated Sep 22, 2020: Early access published.
  8. Updated Sep 09, 2020: Our testers have started testing this product.
  9. Updated Sep 04, 2020: The product has arrived in our lab, and our testers will start evaluating it soon.
  10. Updated Aug 26, 2020: We've purchased the product and are waiting for it to arrive in our lab.

Differences Between Sizes And Variants

The Sony WH-CH710N come in four different colors: Black, Gray, White, and Blue. We tested the Black model but expect the other models to perform similarly. You can see the label for the model we tested here. If you encounter a variant that isn't mentioned, let us know in the forums, and we'll update our review.

Compared To Other Headphones

The Sony WH-CH710N are fairly straightforward wireless over-ears without a lot of features. Their bass-heavy sound profile adds extra thump and punch to the mix. However, they don't have any customization features, as they aren't compatible with the Sony | Headphones Connect app. Their ANC feature also struggles to block out background noise, like the low rumble of bus engines, and they have a worse noise isolation performance than their successor, the Sony WH-CH720N Wireless.

If you're looking for other headphones, check out our recommendations for the best headphones under $200, the best noise cancelling headphones, and the best wireless Bluetooth headphones.

Sony WH-CH720N Wireless

The Sony WH-CH720N Wireless are the next generation of the Sony WH-CH710N Wireless and have a few positive updates to their design. While both headphones are comfortable and decently well-built, the WH-CH720N have a more neutral sound profile. Although it's still bassy, their ANC does a better job of blocking out background noise, and they have companion app support so you can adjust their sound to your liking using the graphic EQ and presets. They also support multi-device pairing.

Sony WH-XB910N Wireless

The Sony WH-XB910N Wireless are better over-ear headphones than the Sony WH-CH710N Wireless. The XB910N are more comfortable, feel better built, and have significantly better battery performance. Their continuous battery life lasts longer, they have a companion app with a graphic EQ and presets to help you adjust their sound to your liking, and they support multi-device pairing. The CH710N have a more neutral sound profile, which some users may prefer, and support NFC pairing.

Sony WH-H910N/h.ear on 3 Wireless

The Sony WH-H910N/h.ear on 3 Wireless are better, more versatile headphones than the Sony WH-CH710N Wireless. The WH-H910N are better-built, have a more neutral default sound profile, and feature a more effective ANC system. They also have a longer continuous battery life, and they're more customizable thanks to the graphic EQ and presets in their companion app.

Sony WH-XB900N Wireless

The Sony WH-XB900N Wireless are better headphones for most uses than the Sony WH-CH710N Wireless. The WH-XB900N are better-built, more comfortable, have a longer continuous battery life, and block out more background noise. However, as part of Sony's Extra Bass series, they have a much more bass-heavy sound profile than the WH-CH710N. You can customize their sound using the graphic EQ and presets in the companion app, which the WH-CH710N lack. That said, the WH-CH710N leak less sound.

Sennheiser HD 450BT Wireless

The Sennheiser HD 450BT Wireless are slightly more versatile headphones than the Sony WH-CH710N Wireless. The Sennheiser are more stable, and they have better noise isolation performance. Their default sound profile is a bit more balanced than the bass-heavy Sony, which some users may prefer, and they also have a graphic EQ and presets in their companion app, which the Sony lack. Unlike the Sony, the Sennheiser can be paired with up to two devices at the same time. However, the Sony are a more comfortable pair of headphones.

Sony WH-CH700N Wireless

The Sony WH-CH700N Wireless and the Sony WH-CH710N Wireless are very similar headphones, and depending on your listening habits, you may prefer one over the other. The WH-CH700N have longer continuous battery life and more customization features thanks to the graphic EQ and presets in their companion app. They have a V-shaped default sound profile, but some listeners may prefer the WH-CH710N's bass-heavy sound. The WH-CH710N also leak less sound.

Beats Solo Pro Wireless

The Beats Solo Pro Wireless are better than the Sony WH-CH710N for most uses. The Beats are sturdier and have a more neutral sound profile, which some may prefer. Their ANC feature is also much better at blocking out ambient sound. However, the Sony have a much more comfortable fit. They support NFC pairing and can be used wirelessly or with a wired connection. 

Avantree HT5009 Wireless

If you're looking for more versatile headphones that you can still use for watching TV, then the Sony WH-CH710N Wireless are better than the Avantree HT5009 Wireless. The Sony headphones are more comfortable, better built, and have a more neutral sound profile, which some users may prefer. They also have ANC to help block out some background noise. However, if you only want to watch TV shows, the Avantree headphones have lower latency and better battery life.

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Test Results

perceptual testing image
Design
Design
Style
Type Over-ear
Enclosure Closed-Back
Wireless Yes
Transducer Dynamic

The Sony WH-CH710N are simple wireless over-ears. They have a straightforward design with Sony's logo modestly placed on the left side of the ear cup. They're not particularly flashy, but you can purchase them in different colorways: 'Black', 'White', 'Gray', and 'Blue'.

7.5
Design
Comfort
Weight 0.49 lbs
Clamping Force
0.9 lbs

These over-ears have a comfortable fit. They're lightweight and don't fit too tightly on the head. The headband and ear cups are well-padded too. However, the ear cups are a bit shallow, and your ears can touch the drivers, which is annoying.

7.6
Design
Controls
OS Compatibility
Not OS specific
Ease Of Use Good
Feedback Decent
Call/Music Control Yes
Volume Control Yes
Microphone Control No
Channel Mixing
No
Noise Cancelling Control On/Off
Talk-Through
On/Off
Additional Controls Voice Assistant

These over-ears have a good control scheme. There are four physical buttons, each with a dot or indentation, making it easy to know which one you're pressing. Unfortunately, the buttons aren't very clicky, but you hear voice prompts for some commands.

On the left ear cup:

  • Power button
    • Single press: Turns on and off the headphones.
    • Press and hold: Enters Bluetooth pairing mode.

On the right ear cup:

  • ANC/AMB button
    • Single press: Cycles between ANC on and transparency mode. You can add ANC off or adjust this mode to your preference via the app.
  • Volume controls
    • Single press the '+' button: Raises the volume.
    • Single press the '-' button: Lowers the volume.
  • Multi-function button
    • Single press: Plays and pauses audio. Also answers and ends calls.
    • Double press: Skips to the next track.
    • Triple press: Skips to the previous track.
    • Press and hold: Launches voice assistant. Also rejects calls.

5.8
Design
Breathability
Avg.Temp.Difference 7.4 °C

These cans have sub-par breathability, like most over-ear headphones. They can warm your ears if worn for long periods, even if you use them at your desk. If you're using them while on the go, they can also trap in sweat.

5.6
Design
Portability
L 7.4" (18.8 cm)
W 6.6" (16.8 cm)
H 3.2" (8.1 cm)
Volume 156.00 in³ (2,556.37 cm³)
Transmitter Required No

Like most over-ears, these over-ears have a bulky design. Luckily, the ear cups swivel down to allow the headphones to lay flat so they can fit easier into your bag. However, they don't fold up to shrink their footprint.

0
Design
Case
Type No case
L N/A
W N/A
H N/A
Volume N/A
7.0
Design
Build Quality

These headphones have a decent build quality. They're mostly made of plastic with a metal headband, while the padding is made of faux leather. While they can handle a couple of drops without significant damage, they don't feel extremely sturdy, and the ear cup hinges seem particularly weak. If you're looking for better-built Sony headphones, consider the Sony WH-XB910N Wireless.

7.0
Design
Stability

These headphones are decently stable. They easily stay in place during casual listening sessions at your desk but aren't intended for use during tough workouts since they can fall off your head with large head movements. On the plus side, their wired design means you don't need to worry about a cable snagging on something and yanking them off your head.

Design
Headshots 1
Design
Headshots 2
Design
Top
Design
In The Box

  • Sony WHCH710N headphones
  • USB-A to USB-C charging cable
  • 1/8" TRS audio cable
  • Manuals

Sound
Sound
Sound Profile
Bass Amount
1.54 dB
Treble Amount
-4.31 dB

These cans have a bass-heavy sound profile. They pack in extra thump and punch in the bass range, making them well-suited for genres like EDM and hip-hop but still versatile enough for most genres. However, a dip in the low and mid-treble ranges hurts the detail of instruments and lead vocals and makes sibilants like cymbals dull. Unfortunately, there aren't any sound customization options for these headphones.

6.5
Sound
Frequency Response Consistency
Avg. Std. Deviation
0.74 dB

These headphones have alright frequency response consistency. Their audio delivery varies based on the headphones' fit, seal, and positioning on your head. You may also notice a drop in bass delivery if you wear glasses or have thick hair, as these features can break the ear cup's seal on your head. As a result, you'll want to adjust the headphones each time you use them to get a more consistent sound.

Sound
Raw Frequency Response
7.6
Sound
Bass Accuracy
Std. Err.
3.52 dB
Low-Frequency Extension
12.07 Hz
Low-Bass
2.28 dB
Mid-Bass
3.9 dB
High-Bass
4.64 dB

These headphones have good bass accuracy. It's slightly overemphasized across the range, which adds extra thump, punch, and boom to the mix. However, it's also somewhat muddy and cluttered.

8.7
Sound
Mid Accuracy
Std. Err.
1.68 dB
Low-Mid
2.42 dB
Mid-Mid
0.32 dB
High-Mid
-0.5 dB

The mid accuracy of these cans is excellent. The overemphasized low-mid can slightly clutter vocals and lead instruments. However, the rest of the range is flat and balanced, so lead instruments and vocals are mostly clear and present.

5.0
Sound
Treble Accuracy
Std. Err.
7.09 dB
Low-Treble
-0.37 dB
Mid-Treble
-3.13 dB
High-Treble
-12.39 dB

These headphones have poor treble accuracy. The dip in the low and mid-treble ranges hurts the detail and articulation of instruments and lead vocals, making sibilants like cymbals lispy. In a song like Bohemian Rhapsody by Queen, the high-pitched voice of Roger Taylor is veiled and dull compared to the simultaneous but deeper voice of Brian May during the operatic interlude, which is much more full-bodied. Remember that their treble delivery varies depending on the headphones' positioning and seal. As a result, it's important to take the time to ensure a good fit each time you use them to get a more consistent sound.

6.5
Sound
Peaks/Dips
Peaks
2.16 dB
Dips
2.56 dB

The Sony WH-CH710N have passable peaks and dips performance. Most peaks and dips are minor, except in the treble range. The slight peaks in the low and high-bass ranges add a touch of thump and boominess to mixes. However, the peak in the low treble makes instruments harsh and painful. The large, deep dip in the low and mid-treble makes instruments and lead vocals sound veiled, while some sibilant sounds and cymbals are dull. However, a peak in the mid-treble makes some sibilant sounds piercing.

8.7
Sound
Imaging
Weighted Group Delay
0.33
Weighted Phase Mismatch
6.31
Weighted Amplitude Mismatch
0.1
Weighted Frequency Mismatch
1.85

These headphones have excellent imaging performance. Sony produces many headphones with good quality control and ergonomics, which helps ensure consistent driver matching. Imaging varies between units, though. Our unit's L/R drivers are well-matched in group delay, excluding a small peak in the left driver in the low-bass, which indicates a slightly loose bass in this range. The rest of the response falls beneath the audibility threshold, resulting in mostly transparent imaging. The L/R drivers are also well-matched in amplitude, frequency, and phase response, which helps ensure the accurate placement of objects like voices in the stereo image. While there are some small peaks in the phase response, they aren't audible with real-life content.

5.3
Sound
Passive Soundstage
PRTF Accuracy (Std. Dev.)
3.53 dB
PRTF Size (Avg.)
11.16 dB
PRTF Distance
14.58 dB
Openness
4.6
Acoustic Space Excitation
2.9

They have a disappointing passive soundstage performance. Although they're over-ear headphones, sound is perceived to come from inside your head rather than from speakers set in the room around you. Also, while the soundstage seems fairly large, it's not as open or spacious as most open-back headphones.

0
Sound
Virtual Soundstage
Head Modeling
No
Speaker Modeling
No
Room Ambience
No
Head Tracking
No
Virtual Surround
No App
6.7
Sound
Weighted Harmonic Distortion
WHD @ 90
0.707
WHD @ 100
0.327

The Sony WH-CH710N have a reasonable weighted harmonic distortion performance. There's some distortion in the treble range at both normal and high volumes, but it's difficult to hear with real-life content, resulting in fairly clean and pure audio reproduction.

Sound
Test Settings
Firmware
Unknown
Power
On
Connection
Bluetooth 4.2
Codec
SBC, 16-bit, 48kHz
EQ
No EQ
ANC
On
Tip/Pad
Default
Microphone
Integrated

These are the settings we used to test these headphones. Our results are only valid using these settings.

Isolation
5.3
Isolation
Noise Isolation
Isolation Audio
Overall Attenuation
-13.71 dB
Noise Cancelling Yes
Bass
-3.55 dB
Mid
-12 dB
Treble
-26.32 dB

The Sony WH-CH710N have a sub-par noise isolation performance. Though they have an ANC system, they struggle to block out bass-range noises like rumbling buses and plane engines. However, they better isolate you from sounds like ambient chatter or humming A/C units. Their successors, the Sony WH-CH720N Wireless, offer a better overall noise isolation performance.

7.5
Isolation
Leakage
Leakage Audio
Overall Leakage @ 1ft
36.64 dB

These headphones have a good leakage performance. They don't leak a lot of sound, and the leakage isn't very loud, so even if you're listening to audio at high volumes, your music won't bother people sitting near you at the office.

Microphone
Microphone
Microphone Style
Integrated
Yes
In-Line
No
Boom
No
Detachable Boom
No
Mic Yes
7.4
Microphone
Recording Quality
Recorded Speech
LFE
265.23 Hz
FR Std. Dev.
2.77 dB
HFE
6,088.74 Hz
Weighted THD
0.523
Gain
3.27 dB

The integrated microphone has decent recording quality. Your voice is clear but also sounds muffled and unnatural. Your voice is still easy to understand, though.

6.2
Microphone
Noise Handling
SpNR
13.04 dB
Noise Gate
Always On
Speech + Pink Noise Handling
6.0
Speech + Pink Noise Audio Sample
Speech + Subway Noise Handling
6.5
Speech + Subway Noise Audio Sample

The microphone has a mediocre noise handling performance. It has trouble separating speech from background sound, and noise cuts in and out, which can be distracting. If you use them to take a call somewhere loud, like a subway station, your voice can get completely drowned out.

Active Features
8.0
Active Features
Battery
Battery Type
Rechargable
Continuous Battery Life
29.4 hrs
Additional Charges
0.0
Total Battery Life
29.4 hrs
Charge Time
5.3 hrs
Power-Saving Feature
Standby mode
Audio While Charging
No
Passive Playback
Yes
Charging Port USB-C

These over-ears have a great battery performance. They last for just under 30 hours of continuous use on a single charge, which is less than the 35 hours the manufacturer advertises, but it means you don't need to charge them daily. However, keep in mind that battery performance varies with real-life usage. They also have standby mode to conserve battery when they aren't in use, and you can even use them passively if the battery dies. Unfortunately, they take a long time to recharge.

0
Active Features
App Support
App Name No App
iOS No
Android No
macOS No
Windows No
Equalizer
No
ANC Control
No
Mic Control No
Room Effects
No
Playback Control
No
Button Mapping No
Surround Support
No

Unlike the Sony WH-CH700N Wireless, these cans don't support the Sony | Headphones Connect app.

Connectivity
7.6
Connectivity
Bluetooth
Bluetooth Version
5.0
Multi-Device Pairing
No
NFC Pairing
Yes
Line Of Sight Range
276.00 ft (84.12 m)
PC Latency (SBC)
255 ms
PC Latency (aptX)
N/A
PC Latency (aptX HD)
N/A
PC Latency (aptX-LL)
N/A
iOS Latency
164 ms
Android Latency
220 ms

The Sony WH-CH710N have good Bluetooth connectivity. They support NFC pairing, but you can only connect them to one device at a time, which may be inconvenient if you use your headphones with your computer and phone simultaneously. They have high latency on PC, iOS, and Android, so they aren't ideal for watching videos or movies. However, some apps compensate for latency differently.

0
Connectivity
Non-Bluetooth Wireless
Non-BT Line Of Sight Range
N/A
Non-BT Latency
N/A
9.5
Connectivity
Wired
Analog Audio
Yes
USB Audio
No
Detachable Yes
Length 4.00 ft (1.22 m)
Connection
1/8" TRS
Analog/USB Audio Latency
0 ms

These headphones come with a 1/8" TRS cable that doesn't have an in-line microphone. There's also a USB-A to USB-C charging cable.

Connectivity
PC Compatibility
Analog
Audio Only
Wired USB
No
Non-BT Wireless
No

These headphones are compatible with PCs using their 1/8" TRS audio cable. However, you can only receive audio and can't use their mic. Luckily, you can use them wirelessly with full compatibility via Bluetooth-enabled PCs.

Connectivity
PlayStation Compatibility
PS4 Analog
Audio Only
PS4 Wired USB
No
PS4 Non-BT Wireless
No
PS5 Analog
Audio Only
PS5 Wired USB
No
PS5 Non-BT Wireless
No

These headphones are compatible with PlayStation consoles via analog connection if you plug the 1/8" TRS audio cable into a controller. However, you can only receive audio and can't passthrough mic audio.

Connectivity
Xbox Compatibility
Xbox One Analog
Audio Only
Xbox One Wired USB
No
Xbox One Non-BT Wireless
No
Xbox Series X|S Analog
Audio Only
Xbox Series X|S Wired USB
No
Xbox Series X|S Non-BT Wireless
No

You can plug these headphones into your Xbox One and Xbox Series X|S controller using their 1/8" TRS cable, but you can only receive audio. Unfortunately, they don't have mic support with this connection.

0
Connectivity
Base/Dock
Type
No Base/Dock
USB Input
No
Line In
No
Line Out
No
Optical Input
No
RCA Input
No
Dock Charging
No
Power Supply
No Base/Dock