It’s been a very busy for Sony in terms of audio launches. We’ve seen new true wireless, more ULT speakers and now there are more headphones to discuss.
One of the ‘new’ headphones will seem very familiar, and the others are new versions of very popular headphones with a new look, and hopefully, even better performance.
First on the docket is the re-introduction of the WH-1000XM4, now referred to as the WH-1000XM4C. While the change in model name?
Image Credit (Sony)
They are a revised version of the model that first launched in 2022 and are still proving popular among buyers, but with the EU’s battery regulations on the horizon, Sony has sought to revise the model so it’s in line with those EU regulations, integrating a replaceable battery. We were told that because of the tweak in the design to accommodate the replaceable battery, overall battery life has dropped from 30 hours to around 27 on a single charge.
It’s not the only change that’s come to the headphones, with Sony stating that the tuning has been updated to match the latest music trends (we’ll be interested to hear what that means), as well as a new colour option in Lavender.
You may wonder about Sony’s other wireless headphones in terms of compliance with the EU regulations. We posed this question to Sony and were informed that “models put onto the market (sent out from the Sony warehouse) from February 2026 onwards will comply with the EU regulation. The WH-1000XM5 will not continue to sell beyond that date [of the EU regulation] (although stores may continue selling beyond that date if they have stock).”
Image Credit (Trusted Reviews)
Now to the new models. The WH-CH730N replace the WH-CH720N, the model that’s sat close to the top of our best cheap headphones list for years. This model offers noise cancellation at an affordable price, designed for “commuters, hybrid workers, students and casual music listeners” who want all-day comfort.
Sony states that the over-ears now integrate a “new lightweight and foldable design” and state that the call quality has improved (an area we did feel was rather average) and longer battery life than its predecessor with up to 50 hours (comparing against the WH-CH720N’s 35)
There’s LE Audio onboard for a “seamless” connection to your mobile device, as well as Bluetooth multipoint for connecting to multiple devices at once, and Google Fast/Windows Swift Pair for quick pairing.
Colours include White, Pink, Blue, Black and a new Beige model. Fingers cross these headphones sound anything but ‘beige’.
Image Credit (Sony)
The incredibly popular WH-CH520 on-ears (we see them almost every time we leave the house) are being replaced by a model that Sony will hope are just as popular in the WH-CH530.
Lightweight and “comfortable”, battery life for this model has been boosted to 55 hours, with AI noise reduction making an appearance to help with call clarity. The sound is described as clear and balanced, but you can tweak this through the Sony Sound Connect app via the EQ settings, and there’s hearing protection as well with an adjustable five-step volume level.
It come with the same connectivity options as the WH-CH730N, but comes in more colours with Cobalt, Coral, Mint, Pink, White and Black the options to choose from.
Pricing for the WH-1000XM4C is £219 / €279. The WH-CH730N are £100 / €119; while the WH-CH530N are priced at £50 / €49
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