Skip to content
Nungeum

Tech head-to-head

Sony WH-CH720NvsTechnics EAH-A800

Technics EAH-A800 edges Sony WH-CH720N, 7.7 to 7.2. The 5 axes split 3-2, widest on Performance at 2.4.

Sony WH-CH720N

Sony

7.2

The lightest way into competent cancellation, with the plastics and the codec list to match.

Price and availability change constantly, so we don't quote them here — the link opens the current Amazon listing.

Technics EAH-A800

Technics

7.7

Fifty hours and cancellation near the top of the class, in a frame nobody talks about.

Price and availability change constantly, so we don't quote them here — the link opens the current Amazon listing.

Where they diverge

The widest gap is Performance, Technics EAH-A800 ahead 8.8 to 6.4. They come closest on Ease of use, 7.8 to 7.2. Left of center is Sony WH-CH720N, right is Technics EAH-A800.

Sony WH-CH720N versus Technics EAH-A800 — axis scores out of 10Horizontal bar chart of editorial scores out of 10 across 5 axes. Bars for Sony WH-CH720N run left from the axis labels, bars for Technics EAH-A800 run right. Sony WH-CH720N: Performance 6.4, Value 9.4, Durability 6.2, Ease of use 7.8, Design 6.0. Technics EAH-A800: Performance 8.8, Value 8.2, Durability 7.5, Ease of use 7.2, Design 6.6.Sony WH-CH720N (left)Technics EAH-A800 (right)PerformanceSony WH-CH720N — Performance 6.4 out of 106.4Technics EAH-A800 — Performance 8.8 out of 108.8ValueSony WH-CH720N — Value 9.4 out of 109.4Technics EAH-A800 — Value 8.2 out of 108.2DurabilitySony WH-CH720N — Durability 6.2 out of 106.2Technics EAH-A800 — Durability 7.5 out of 107.5Ease of useSony WH-CH720N — Ease of use 7.8 out of 107.8Technics EAH-A800 — Ease of use 7.2 out of 107.2DesignSony WH-CH720N — Design 6.0 out of 106.0Technics EAH-A800 — Design 6.6 out of 106.6Editorial score out of 10 — higher is better

Which one to pick

Take the Sony WH-CH720N

Leads on Value and Ease of use.

  • A first pair, or a spare that lives in a desk drawer at work
  • Glasses and long days, where clamp pressure decides everything
  • You want Sony's app behavior without Sony's flagship outlay

Take the Technics EAH-A800

Leads on Performance, Durability and Design.

  • Long-haul flying, where cancellation and charging intervals both matter
  • An Android phone, since LDAC is doing real work here
  • You want a pair that folds small without dropping to mid-tier cancellation

What each one gets wrong

Sony WH-CH720N

  • A hi-res codec matters — this pair stops at AAC
  • You need a hard case, since nothing structured ships in the box
  • Aircraft cabins are the reason you are shopping

Technics EAH-A800

  • You are left-handed, or you want controls split across both cups
  • Weight on the crown of the head bothers you over a long session
  • You expect a dense retail and accessory network behind the brand

Specs, side by side

SpecSony WH-CH720NTechnics EAH-A800
TypeOver-ear, closedOver-ear, closed
CodecsSBC, AACSBC, AAC, LDAC
BatteryUp to 35 hrs with ANC onUp to 50 hrs with ANC on
WeightAbout 192 g—
Folding—Folds flat and inward, hard case included

Rankings they both appear in

Questions

Sony WH-CH720N or Technics EAH-A800 — which should I buy?
Technics EAH-A800 leads on Performance, Durability and Design. If Value and Ease of use matter more to you, take the Sony WH-CH720N instead.
Is 0.5 a real difference?
Barely. Sony WH-CH720N averages 7.2 and Technics EAH-A800 averages 7.7, and the total is the plain average of 5 axes, so 0.5 is what one axis moving 2.5 looks like after averaging. The axis split, 3-2, tells you more.
Which one ranks higher in "Below the ANC flagships, materials go first"?
Sony WH-CH720N sits at #1 in "Below the ANC flagships, materials go first", Technics EAH-A800 at #4.