Sony WH-CH720N

This is Sony's bass-cannon spin on its 1000X formula: the same V1 processor and genuinely good ANC trickled down from the flagship line, bolted to a dedicated ULT button that cycles two levels of bass boost. Owners are consistent on the split verdict — the default tuning is solid and warm, ULT1 is fun for EDM and hip-hop, and ULT2 is a caricature that buries everything above the bass line, so most people try it twice and leave it off. Noise cancellation is the real draw at this price; it's a clear step below the WH-1000XM5 but beats almost everything else under $200, and you get LDAC, multipoint, wear detection, and Sony's excellent app EQ — a feature list mid-rangers rarely match. Battery runs a rated 30 hours with ANC (50 with it off), and a 3-minute charge buys 90 minutes. Comfort gets high marks for the light 255g build and low clamp, though a few long-term owners report the plastic around the earcup joints cracking after a year-plus. Mic quality on calls is the other recurring complaint — fine indoors, inconsistent in wind and street noise. At its usual $128-150 street price it's one of the best-rounded mid-range ANC headphones; just know you're buying it for features and fun, not fidelity.

Best for Bass-first listeners who want real ANC without flagship prices

The XM4 launched in 2020, has been succeeded twice — the WH-1000XM5 and XM6 are both in our catalog — and Sony still sells it new in volume, because at its current ~$200 street price it delivers most of the flagship experience for a lot less money. The ANC remains excellent by any standard short of its own successors, the warm, bass-tilted tuning responds beautifully to the app's EQ, and it folds into a compact hard case — something the XM5 gave up. You get the full Sony feature stack: LDAC, multipoint, wear detection, Speak-to-Chat, 360 Reality Audio, and a 30-hour battery with a 10-minute charge worth 5 hours. Long-term owners surface real caveats, though: the plastic headband and earcup yokes are a known failure point after a couple of years, some units develop charging or mic faults out of warranty, and LDAC and multipoint remain mutually exclusive — pick one in the app. Mic quality on calls was always the XM4's weak spot and hasn't aged well against newer rivals. Five years of firmware maturity means the software is stable, and the touch controls still work well. Buy it as the value play in Sony's lineup: 90% of the XM5 for roughly 60% of the price — just don't pay more than about $250, because at that point the newer models are within reach.

Best for Value hunters who want 90% of Sony's flagship for less

Now that the XM6 exists, the XM5 has become the value play — routinely dipping to around $248 on Amazon, nearly $150 under its original price. The ANC and warm, bass-forward tuning still hold up against anything in this bracket, multipoint works reliably, and at 250g it disappears on your head. But know the ownership record: the non-folding design means a bulky case, and there are widespread reports of the headband stems cracking at the hinge after a year or two — enough that it spawned class-action chatter. Touch controls can misfire in cold or humid weather, and the smooth plastic scuffs easily. If you can live with babying the hinges, this is a lot of flagship for mid-range money; if you're rough on gear, the XM6's return to folding metal hinges is worth the premium.

Best for value hunters who want 90% of the XM6 for less

Sony's flagship fixes the XM5's two biggest sins: the folding hinges are back, and the case now closes with a satisfying magnetic clasp instead of a fiddly zipper. The QN3 chip and 12 mics deliver arguably the best ANC you can buy right now, and the wider headband spreads pressure better than the XM5 ever did. Owners' gripes are real, though: the $449 list price stings (thankfully street price has drifted to about $398), 30 hours of battery is now merely average, and running LDAC drains it noticeably faster. The matte finish picks up skin oils, and a few owners report the power button being awkwardly close to the ANC button. No aptX support, as always with Sony. Still, as a total package — sound, ANC, call quality, comfort — this is the one most people should buy.

Best for frequent flyers who want the best all-rounder

Sony's WF-C710N fixes the two loudest complaints about the beloved WF-C700N: it adds multipoint and touch controls, and stretches ANC battery life to 8.5 hours. The translucent Glass Blue finish became a minor social-media phenomenon, and the ANC — with dual noise sensors — is comfortably among the best in the sub-$100 tier when you catch it on sale from its $120 list. The stingy parts are very Sony: SBC/AAC only (no LDAC on a Sony bud at this price still stings), no wireless charging, no spatial audio, and the buds grew slightly chunkier than the C700N, which smaller ears notice on long sessions. The Sound Connect app is feature-rich but pushy about accounts and notifications. Mic quality is average outdoors in wind. Retail review volume is still building since the 2025 launch, but sentiment tracks the C700N's strong reputation.

Best for commuters wanting Sony ANC without flagship prices

The MDR-7506 has been hanging in broadcast booths and video rigs since 1991, and almost nothing about it has changed — including the flaws. At 63 ohms and 106dB/mW it's sensitive enough that any camera, mixer, or phone drives it fine without an amp. The sound is bright and detail-forward: sibilance, hum, and edit points jump out, which is exactly why engineers love it and casual listeners sometimes find it fatiguing. The 230g folding frame is featherweight for all-day wear. Two gripes come up constantly: the 3-meter coiled cable is permanently attached and heavy for desk use, and the stock earpads famously disintegrate into black flakes within a year or two — nearly every long-term owner ends up buying aftermarket pads and considers it part of the price.

Best for podcasters and field recording pros