Sony WH-CH500 vs WH-CH400 Wireless: Which Headphones Are Better? - RTINGS.com

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Products

Sony WH-CH500 Wireless

Sony WH-CH400 Wireless

Tested using Methodology v1.4

Updated May 30, 2025 01:03 PM

Tested using Methodology v1.4

Updated Jan 12, 2024 02:59 PM

Sony WH-CH500 Wireless Picture

Sony WH-CH400 Wireless Picture

TypeOn-ear

EnclosureClosed-Back

Noise CancellingNo

WirelessYes

TransducerDynamic

MicYes

TypeOn-ear

EnclosureClosed-Back

Noise CancellingNo

WirelessYes

TransducerDynamic

MicYes

Our Verdict

Sony WH-CH500 Wireless

Sony WH-CH400 Wireless

The Sony WH-CH400 Wireless are slightly better headphones than the Sony WH-CH500 Wireless. While the WH-CH500 model feels better made, there’s a big difference in sound quality that favors the WH-CH400. They also have a better wireless range, but they don’t have the same great 20-hour battery life as the WH-CH500. They also offer better value overall since they're cheaper.

Variants

WH-CH500 (Black)

WH-CH400 (Black)
WH-CH400 (Blue)

Review

See Sony WH-CH500 Wireless Review

See Sony WH-CH400 Wireless Review

Check Price

Black

WH-CH500

Black

WH-CH400

Black

WH-CH500

Blue

WH-CH400

Black

WH-CH500

Red

WH-CH400

Black

WH-CH500

Black

WH-CH500

Main Differences for

Mixed Usage

Threshold

0.10

Mixed Usage

0.0

0.0

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Full Comparison

Mixed Usage

0.0

0.0

Neutral Sound

0.0

0.0

Commute/Travel

0.0

0.0

Sports/Fitness

0.0

0.0

Office

0.0

0.0

Wireless Gaming

0.0

0.0

Wired Gaming

0.0

0.0

Phone Calls

0.0

0.0

Design

Style

Design Picture 2

Sony WH-CH500 Wireless Design Picture 2 Sample

SAMPLE

for pictures & test results

Sony WH-CH400 Wireless Design Picture 2 Sample

SAMPLE

for pictures & test results

Type

Locked

Locked

Enclosure

Locked

Locked

Wireless

Locked

Locked

Transducer

Locked

Locked

Show Text

Comfort

N/A

N/A

Comfort Picture

Sony WH-CH500 Wireless Comfort Picture Sample

SAMPLE

for pictures & test results

Sony WH-CH400 Wireless Comfort Picture Sample

SAMPLE

for pictures & test results

Weight

Lock lbs

Lock lbs

Clamping Force

Lock lbs

Lock lbs

Show Text

Controls

N/A

N/A

Controls Picture

Sony WH-CH500 Wireless Controls Picture Sample

SAMPLE

for pictures & test results

Sony WH-CH400 Wireless Controls Picture Sample

SAMPLE

for pictures & test results

OS Compatibility

Locked

Locked

Ease Of Use

Locked

Locked

Feedback

Locked

Locked

Call/Music Control

Locked

Locked

Volume Control

Locked

Locked

Microphone Control

Locked

Locked

Channel Mixing

Locked

Locked

Noise Cancelling Control

Locked

Locked

Talk-Through

Locked

Locked

Additional Controls

Locked

Locked

Show Text

Breathability

N/A

N/A

Breathability After Picture

Sony WH-CH500 Wireless Breathability After Picture Sample

SAMPLE

for pictures & test results

Sony WH-CH400 Wireless Breathability After Picture Sample

SAMPLE

for pictures & test results

Avg.Temp.Difference

Lock °C

Lock °C

Show Text

Portability

N/A

N/A

Portability Picture

Sony WH-CH500 Wireless Portability Picture Sample

SAMPLE

for pictures & test results

Sony WH-CH400 Wireless Portability Picture Sample

SAMPLE

for pictures & test results

L

Lock"

Lock"

W

Lock"

Lock"

H

Lock"

Lock"

Volume

Lock in³

Lock in³

Transmitter Required

Locked

Locked

Show Text

Case

N/A

N/A

Case Picture

Sony WH-CH500 Wireless Case Picture Sample

SAMPLE

for pictures & test results

Sony WH-CH400 Wireless Case Picture Sample

SAMPLE

for pictures & test results

Type

Locked

Locked

L

N/A

N/A

W

N/A

N/A

H

N/A

N/A

Volume

N/A

N/A

Show Text

Build Quality

N/A

N/A

Build Quality Picture

Sony WH-CH500 Wireless Build Quality Picture Sample

SAMPLE

for pictures & test results

Sony WH-CH400 Wireless Build Quality Picture Sample

SAMPLE

for pictures & test results

Show Text

Stability

N/A

N/A

Stability Picture

Sony WH-CH500 Wireless Stability Picture Sample

SAMPLE

for pictures & test results

Sony WH-CH400 Wireless Stability Picture Sample

SAMPLE

for pictures & test results

Show Text

Headshots 1

Angled Picture

Sony WH-CH500 Wireless Angled Picture Sample

SAMPLE

for pictures & test results

Sony WH-CH400 Wireless Angled Picture Sample

SAMPLE

for pictures & test results

Side Picture

Sony WH-CH500 Wireless Side Picture Sample

SAMPLE

for pictures & test results

Sony WH-CH400 Wireless Side Picture Sample

SAMPLE

for pictures & test results

Headshots 2

Front Picture

Sony WH-CH500 Wireless Front Picture Sample

SAMPLE

for pictures & test results

Sony WH-CH400 Wireless Front Picture Sample

SAMPLE

for pictures & test results

Rear Picture

Sony WH-CH500 Wireless Rear Picture Sample

SAMPLE

for pictures & test results

Sony WH-CH400 Wireless Rear Picture Sample

SAMPLE

for pictures & test results

Top

Top Picture

Sony WH-CH500 Wireless Top Picture Sample

SAMPLE

for pictures & test results

Sony WH-CH400 Wireless Top Picture Sample

SAMPLE

for pictures & test results

In The Box

In The Box Picture

Sony WH-CH500 Wireless In The Box Picture Sample

SAMPLE

for pictures & test results

Sony WH-CH400 Wireless In The Box Picture Sample

SAMPLE

for pictures & test results

Show Text

Sound

Sound Profile

Frequency Response

Sony WH-CH500 Wireless Frequency Response Sample

SAMPLE

for pictures & test results

Sony WH-CH400 Wireless Frequency Response Sample

SAMPLE

for pictures & test results

Bass Amount

Lock dB

Lock dB

Treble Amount

Lock dB

Lock dB

Frequency Response Consistency

N/A

N/A

Consistency L

Sony WH-CH500 Wireless Consistency L Sample

SAMPLE

for pictures & test results

Sony WH-CH400 Wireless Consistency L Sample

SAMPLE

for pictures & test results

Consistency R

Sony WH-CH500 Wireless Consistency R Sample

SAMPLE

for pictures & test results

Sony WH-CH400 Wireless Consistency R Sample

SAMPLE

for pictures & test results

Avg. Std. Deviation

Lock dB

Lock dB

Show Text

Raw Frequency Response

Raw FR L

Sony WH-CH500 Wireless Raw FR L Sample

SAMPLE

for pictures & test results

Sony WH-CH400 Wireless Raw FR L Sample

SAMPLE

for pictures & test results

Raw FR R

Sony WH-CH500 Wireless Raw FR R Sample

SAMPLE

for pictures & test results

Sony WH-CH400 Wireless Raw FR R Sample

SAMPLE

for pictures & test results

Bass Accuracy

N/A

N/A

Bass

Sony WH-CH500 Wireless Bass Sample

SAMPLE

for pictures & test results

Sony WH-CH400 Wireless Bass Sample

SAMPLE

for pictures & test results

Std. Err.

Lock dB

Lock dB

Low-Frequency Extension

Lock Hz

Lock Hz

Low-Bass

Lock dB

Lock dB

Mid-Bass

Lock dB

Lock dB

High-Bass

Lock dB

Lock dB

Show Text

Mid Accuracy

N/A

N/A

Mid

Sony WH-CH500 Wireless Mid Sample

SAMPLE

for pictures & test results

Sony WH-CH400 Wireless Mid Sample

SAMPLE

for pictures & test results

Std. Err.

Lock dB

Lock dB

Low-Mid

Lock dB

Lock dB

Mid-Mid

Lock dB

Lock dB

High-Mid

Lock dB

Lock dB

Show Text

Treble Accuracy

N/A

N/A

Treble

Sony WH-CH500 Wireless Treble Sample

SAMPLE

for pictures & test results

Sony WH-CH400 Wireless Treble Sample

SAMPLE

for pictures & test results

Std. Err.

Lock dB

Lock dB

Low-Treble

Lock dB

Lock dB

Mid-Treble

Lock dB

Lock dB

High-Treble

Lock dB

Lock dB

Show Text

Peaks/Dips

N/A

N/A

Peaks/Dips Graph

Sony WH-CH500 Wireless Peaks/Dips Graph Sample

SAMPLE

for pictures & test results

Sony WH-CH400 Wireless Peaks/Dips Graph Sample

SAMPLE

for pictures & test results

Peaks

Lock dB

Lock dB

Dips

Lock dB

Lock dB

Imaging

N/A

N/A

Group Delay

Sony WH-CH500 Wireless Group Delay Sample

SAMPLE

for pictures & test results

Sony WH-CH400 Wireless Group Delay Sample

SAMPLE

for pictures & test results

Phase Response

Sony WH-CH500 Wireless Phase Response Sample

SAMPLE

for pictures & test results

Sony WH-CH400 Wireless Phase Response Sample

SAMPLE

for pictures & test results

Weighted Group Delay

Lock

Lock

Weighted Amplitude Mismatch

Lock

Lock

Weighted Frequency Mismatch

Lock

Lock

Weighted Phase Mismatch

Lock

Lock

Show Text

Passive Soundstage

N/A

N/A

PRTF

Sony WH-CH500 Wireless PRTF Sample

SAMPLE

for pictures & test results

Sony WH-CH400 Wireless PRTF Sample

SAMPLE

for pictures & test results

PRTF Accuracy (Std. Dev.)

Lock dB

Lock dB

PRTF Size (Avg.)

Lock dB

Lock dB

PRTF Distance

Lock dB

Lock dB

Openness

0.0

0.0

Acoustic Space Excitation

0.0

0.0

Show Text

Virtual Soundstage

N/A

N/A

Virtual Soundstage

Sony WH-CH500 Wireless Virtual Soundstage Sample

SAMPLE

for pictures & test results

Sony WH-CH400 Wireless Virtual Soundstage Sample

SAMPLE

for pictures & test results

Head Modeling

Locked

Locked

Speaker Modeling

Locked

Locked

Room Ambience

Locked

Locked

Head Tracking

Locked

Locked

Virtual Surround

Locked

Locked

Weighted Harmonic Distortion

N/A

N/A

Weighted Harmonic Distortion

Sony WH-CH500 Wireless Weighted Harmonic Distortion Sample

SAMPLE

for pictures & test results

Sony WH-CH400 Wireless Weighted Harmonic Distortion Sample

SAMPLE

for pictures & test results

WHD @ 90

Lock

Lock

WHD @ 100

Lock

Lock

Test Settings

Firmware

Locked

Locked

Power

Locked

Locked

Connection

Locked

Locked

Codec

Locked

Locked

EQ

Locked

Locked

ANC

Locked

Locked

Tip/Pad

Locked

Locked

Microphone

Locked

Locked

Isolation

Noise Isolation

N/A

N/A

Noise Isolation

Sony WH-CH500 Wireless Noise Isolation Sample

SAMPLE

for pictures & test results

Sony WH-CH400 Wireless Noise Isolation Sample

SAMPLE

for pictures & test results

Isolation Audio

Overall Attenuation

Lock dB

Lock dB

Noise Cancelling

Locked

Locked

Bass

Lock dB

Lock dB

Mid

Lock dB

Lock dB

Treble

Lock dB

Lock dB

Show Text

Leakage

N/A

N/A

Leakage

Sony WH-CH500 Wireless Leakage Sample

SAMPLE

for pictures & test results

Sony WH-CH400 Wireless Leakage Sample

SAMPLE

for pictures & test results

Leakage Audio

Overall Leakage @ 1ft

Lock dB

Lock dB

Show Text

Microphone

Microphone Style

Integrated

Locked

Locked

In-Line

Locked

Locked

Boom

Locked

Locked

Detachable Boom

Locked

Locked

Mic

Locked

Locked

Recording Quality

N/A

N/A

Microphone Frequency Response

Sony WH-CH500 Wireless Microphone Frequency Response Sample

SAMPLE

for pictures & test results

Sony WH-CH400 Wireless Microphone Frequency Response Sample

SAMPLE

for pictures & test results

Recorded Speech

LFE

Lock Hz

Lock Hz

FR Std. Dev.

Lock dB

Lock dB

HFE

Lock Hz

Lock Hz

Weighted THD

Lock

Lock

Gain

Lock dB

Lock dB

Show Text

Noise Handling

N/A

N/A

SpNR

Sony WH-CH500 Wireless SpNR Sample

SAMPLE

for pictures & test results

Sony WH-CH400 Wireless SpNR Sample

SAMPLE

for pictures & test results

Speech + Pink Noise

Speech + Subway Noise

SpNR

Lock dB

Lock dB

Show Text

Active Features

Battery

N/A

N/A

Battery Type

Locked

Locked

Continuous Battery Life

Lock hrs

Lock hrs

Additional Charges

Lock

Lock

Total Battery Life

Lock hrs

Lock hrs

Charge Time

Lock hrs

Lock hrs

Power-Saving Feature

Locked

Locked

Audio While Charging

Locked

Locked

Passive Playback

Locked

Locked

Charging Port

Locked

Locked

Show Text

App Support

N/A

N/A

App Picture

Sony WH-CH500 Wireless App Picture Sample

SAMPLE

for pictures & test results

Sony WH-CH400 Wireless App Picture Sample

SAMPLE

for pictures & test results

App Name

Locked

Locked

iOS

Locked

Locked

Android

Locked

Locked

macOS

Locked

Locked

Windows

Locked

Locked

Equalizer

Locked

Locked

ANC Control

Locked

Locked

Mic Control

Locked

Locked

Room Effects

Locked

Locked

Playback Control

Locked

Locked

Button Mapping

Locked

Locked

Surround Support

Locked

Locked

Show Text

Connectivity

Bluetooth

N/A

N/A

Bluetooth Version

Locked

Locked

Multi-Device Pairing

Locked

Locked

NFC Pairing

Locked

Locked

Line Of Sight Range

Lock ft

Lock ft

PC Latency (SBC)

Lock ms

Lock ms

PC Latency (aptX)

N/A

N/A

PC Latency (aptX HD)

N/A

N/A

PC Latency (aptX-LL)

N/A

N/A

iOS Latency

Lock ms

Android Latency

Lock ms

Lock ms

Show Text

Non-Bluetooth Wireless

N/A

N/A

Non-BT Line Of Sight Range

N/A

N/A

Non-BT Latency

N/A

N/A

Wired

N/A

N/A

Cable Picture

Sony WH-CH500 Wireless Cable Picture Sample

SAMPLE

for pictures & test results

Sony WH-CH400 Wireless Cable Picture Sample

SAMPLE

for pictures & test results

Analog Audio

Locked

Locked

USB Audio

Locked

Locked

Detachable

Locked

Locked

Length

N/A

N/A

Connection

Locked

Locked

Analog/USB Audio Latency

N/A

N/A

Show Text

PC / PS4 Compatibility

PC/PS4 Analog

Locked

Locked

PC/PS4 Wired USB

Locked

Locked

PC/PS4 Non-BT Wireless

Locked

Locked

Xbox One Compatibility

Xbox One Analog

Locked

Locked

Xbox One Wired USB

Locked

Locked

Xbox One Non-BT Wireless

Locked

Locked

Base/Dock

N/A

N/A

Type

Locked

Locked

USB Input

Locked

Locked

Line In

Locked

Locked

Line Out

Locked

Locked

Optical Input

Locked

Locked

RCA Input

Locked

Locked

Dock Charging

Locked

Locked

Power Supply

Locked

Locked

Show Text

Check Price

Black

WH-CH500

Black

WH-CH400

Black

WH-CH500

Blue

WH-CH400

Black

WH-CH500

Red

WH-CH400

Black

WH-CH500

Black

WH-CH500

Sony WH-CH500 Wireless

Sony WH-CH400 Wireless

Comments

Comparison

• Posted 2 years ago

Sony WH-CH500 Wireless vs Sony WH-CH400 Wireless: Main Discussion

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