The new WH-1000XM4C, WH-CH730N and WH-CH530 cover three price points, with updated sound, longer battery life and new listening-safety features
Sony is refreshing its popular headphone lineup with three new models launching soon, ranging from a $69.99 on-ear pair to a more premium $299.99 over-ear model. The WH-1000XM4C updates the company’s popular WH-1000XM4, while the WH-CH730N and WH-CH530 bring new features to Sony’s more affordable headphones.
I tried all three at a demo event before the launch, and the differences were pretty clear. The XM4C is the most comfortable and premium of the group, the CH730N puts the emphasis on battery life and noise cancellation, and the CH530 is a more basic, colorful option with some useful listening-safety tools.
Sony WH-1000XM4C: A familiar design with a lower price
The WH-1000XM4C is essentially a refreshed version of Sony’s WH-1000XM4, which launched at $349 but it’s now dropped to $299. Sony updated the sound profile, added more EQ options and a gaming preset, and added a quick-access button for getting to a favorite playlist.
Sony isn’t reinventing the XM4. It’s updating a popular design and cutting $50 from the original launch price.
When I tried them on, I immediately noticed how comfortable they felt. The soft, cushioned ear cups sat comfortably around my ears, and they didn’t feel heavy or cumbersome. The sound and noise cancellation were also the best of the three to my ears.
You’ll get up to 27 hours of battery life with noise cancellation on, or 34 hours with it off.
The headphones come in Black, Lavender and Silver.
Sony WH-CH730N: More battery, same price
The WH-CH730N keeps the $179 price of its predecessor but increases battery life from 35 to 50 hours with ANC turned on. It also gets a new foldable design, upgraded microphones and noise reduction for clearer calls, making it a solid choice if you want ANC without spending $300.
I found them comfortable enough, but switching directly from the XM4C made the difference obvious. The ear cushions aren’t quite as plush, and the overall fit feels less substantial. At $120 less, though, that’s a reasonable tradeoff.
The CH730N comes in Black, Blue, Oat, White and Pink.
Sony WH-CH530: A $70 headphone with listening-safety tools
Sony’s CH530 is the only on-ear model of the three, and I found it less comfortable than the over-ear models. I’m not a big fan of headphones that sit directly on my ears, so this would not be my first choice for long listening sessions.
But there’s a lot packed into the $69.99 price. You get up to 55 hours of battery life and AI-based noise reduction for clearer calls. For someone looking for an affordable pair of wireless headphones, that’s a solid feature set.
Sony also added Safe Listening features that can track listening time and compare listening activity with World Health Organization recommendations, along with a maximum-volume setting.
The CH530 comes in seven colors, including Black, Cobalt, Mint, Green, White, Pink and Coral.
And yes, there’s a Hello Kitty version
Sony is also partnering with Hello Kitty on special editions of the WH-1000XM6, along with the WH-CH730N and WH-CH530. Each gets a two-color Hello Kitty version with a matching carrying pouch. Sony hasn’t announced pricing for the special editions yet. They’ll be sold through Sony, with availability varying by model and color.