Tech
I’ve used the Sony WH-CH720N headphones for 2 years, and they’re still an exceptional buy at under $200
Mid-range headphones aren’t popular right now. That’s because consumers are finding more value in budget and high-end models. In the case of the Sony WH-CH720N, you’re looking at mid-range headphones that offer the best of both worlds — premium hallmarks at an attainable price point.
The Sony WH-CH720N have been fluctuating in price recently. At retail, they go for $179.99, which is still a great price, but in the past week, we've seen them as low as $128. As of publication, the black colorway is now $149. These price drops have bargain shoppers questioning whether to pick up a pair or hold out for the brand’s pricier entries. I won’t lie, the slightly upgraded WH-1000xM4 are absurdly enticing at the current sale price of $228. The critically acclaimed WH-1000xM5 and WH-1000xM6 also deserve serious consideration, though their steep MSRPs ($399.99 and $449.99, respectively) will likely have frugal spenders doing an about-face.
Well, if your funds are tight and you need a headphone upgrade, I adamantly recommend the WH-CH720N for many reasons. Scroll down to get the full deets on these special cans.
Sony WH-CH720N headphones specs and setup
The Sony WH-CH720N have a bigger spec sheet than most competitors. This includes:
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Speaker Driver Unit: 30mm
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Frequency Response: 7 Hz – 20,000 Hz
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Active noise cancellation with 20-level ambient listening
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Sony’s proprietary technologies (e.g., 360 Reality Audio, DSEE)
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Compatible with Sony Sound Connect app (Android/iOS)
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Google Fast Pair and Find My Device support
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35 hours with ANC on and 50 hours with ANC off
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3-minute quick charging equals 3 hours of listening time
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Colors: Black, pink, white
All Sony headphones and earbuds pair seamlessly to Android and iOS/macOS devices; the former grants users convenient Google wireless features like Find My Device and one-tap Fast Pair. Downloading the Sony Sound Connect app will let you personalize the headphones in various ways. Their Bluetooth range extends up to 50 feet before dropout occurs, and multipoint technology can be enabled to pair the WH-CH720N with two media devices simultaneously.
Credit: Alex Bracetti
The headphones come with motion, physical, and voice controls. Each button produces solid tactility to employ assigned functions. Wear detection works reasonably well for auto-pausing music when removing the headphones. Google Assistant and Siri can also execute hands-free voice commands with ease.
Everything the Sony WH-CH720N headphones get right
Noise cancellation on the WH-CH720N doesn’t measure up to Sony’s latest version on the WH-1000xM6. However, it suppresses a heavy amount of ambient noise. It helped silence chatty pedestrians, construction tools, household appliances, and my loud toddler. High-frequency sounds (e.g., crying babies, sirens) occasionally entered the soundscape, though none were distracting. Sony’s 20-level transparency mode was terrific for increasing situational awareness. Wearing the headphones outside kept me alert to emergency vehicles and runners, plus it allowed me to have clear-sounding conversations.
Audio was exactly how I remembered it during my first test run: crisp and vibrant. Drums and synths have an impactful presence that doesn’t muddy up the soundstage, leaving room for mids and highs to shine. Vocals and high-frequency instruments sound rich. You have the option to customize sound via the adjustable EQ with well-engineered presets. The Find Your EQ setting is also available to create a sound profile tailored to your hearing needs. Both features work well. Turning on DSEE upscales audio by raising fidelity on tracks stored in your media player or streamed on platforms like Apple Music and Spotify. The difference in clarity is huge. Sony’s spatial audio format, 360 Reality Audio, does a decent job of making music and movies more immersive.
A full battery generates up to 50 hours of listening time, with noise cancellation decreasing it to 35 hours. That is higher than some luxury ANC headphones; the AirPods Max (20 hours) and Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones (24 hours) come to mind. A 3-minute charge nets you 1 hour of playtime. I used the headphones moderately (3 to 5 hours daily) for a week before recharging.
Credit: Alex Bracetti
What the Sony WH-CH720N headphones get wrong
A non-foldable design means less protection and more bulk in your everyday bag. It’s worth buying a third-party case to keep these headphones from breaking (we found one for $4 at Walmart). Sony’s smart controls — Quick Attention and Speak-to-Chat — didn’t make the cut in this model, which is disappointing because they would have enhanced usability.
Omissions like hi-res LDAC codec support, real-time ANC, and touch controls are understandable when factoring in price.
Are the Sony WH-CH720N headphones worth it?
Much of the WH-CH720N’s functionality is anchored by the company’s advanced technologies, which blend dynamic audio output with effective noise cancellation. Playtimes surpass many of the best noise-canceling headphones out there. Then there is the extensive feature suite that’s missing a few prime perks, but hosts essentials like Aware Sound Control and DSEE.
My only serious complaint is their design. The headphones lack flair and require a carry case for optimal protection. Thankfully, the pros outweigh the cons by a 3:1 ratio.
The Sony WH-CH720N deliver much of the same performance as the WH-1000xM6, and for $270 less, at retail. You can purchase the Sony WH-CH720N at online retailers like Amazon and Best Buy (which has a blue colorway we haven't found elsewhere) or directly from Sony.
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Sony WH-CH720N
$149 at Amazon (Black) ($30.99 off)
$179.99 at Amazon (Pink) (MSRP)
$179.99 at Amazon (White) (MSRP)
For years, Elon Musk has talked about colonizing Mars. Now, he's talking about building Looney Tunes contraptions on the moon instead.
The New York Times reported that Musk told employees at xAI on Tuesday evening that he wants to build a factory on the moon to construct AI data center satellites. Not only that, but Musk wants the factory to include some type of gigantic space catapult, called a mass driver, that would then launch the satellites into space, purportedly for the sake of powering xAI's artificial intelligence network.
"You have to go to the moon," Musk reportedly told employees, per the Times.
In case you're wondering why this plan involves xAI and not just SpaceX, it's because the two just recently merged at the corporate level. Musk said that the merger was necessary to help xAI build AI data centers in orbit around the Earth.
While these plans sound like something straight out of science fiction, Musk does have an impressive track record with SpaceX, which has accomplished many engineering firsts.
Of course, Musk did not elaborate on how, exactly, this facility would be built, or on what sort of timeline it would come together. Musk has spent decades talking up the notion of using SpaceX to colonize Mars, but he recently pivoted to the moon instead. Musk often talks about the importance of making the human race interplanetary.
As Mashable has reported previously, Musk has a history of making bold announcements that don't come to fruition.
TL;DR: Live stream Athletic Club vs. Real Sociedad in the Copa del Rey for free on RTVE. Access this free streaming platform from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.
The Copa del Rey semi finals are absolutely mouthwatering. A lot of fans will be focused on Atlético Madrid vs. Barcelona, but the first semi-final matchup is arguably even better.
Athletic Club take on Real Sociedad in the Basque derby. The San Mamés stadium will host the first leg of this fiery rivalry. We're expecting passionate support, intense competition, and of course, drama in abundance. It's going to be electric, and you can enjoy everything that this famous game has to offer without spending anything.
If you want to watch Athletic Club vs. Real Sociedad in the Copa del Rey from anywhere in the world, we have all the information you need.
When is Athletic Club vs. Real Sociedad?
Athletic Club vs. Real Sociedad in the Copa del Rey kicks off at 3 p.m. ET on Feb. 11. This fixture takes place at the San Mamés.
How to watch Athletic Club vs. Real Sociedad for free
Athletic Club vs. Real Sociedad in the Copa del Rey is available to live stream for free on RTVE.
RTVE is geo-restricted to Spain, but anyone can access this free streaming platform with a VPN. These tools can hide your real IP address (digital location) and connect you to a secure server in Spain, meaning you can unblock RTVE to live stream the Copa del Rey for free from anywhere in the world.
Live stream Athletic Club vs. Real Sociedad in the Copa del Rey for free by following these simple steps:
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Subscribe to a streaming-friendly VPN (like ExpressVPN)
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Download the app to your device of choice (the best VPNs have apps for Windows, Mac, iOS, Android, Linux, and more)
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Open up the app and connect to a server in Spain
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Visit RTVE
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Watch Athletic Club vs. Real Sociedad for free from anywhere in the world
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The best VPNs for streaming are not free, but most do offer free-trials or money-back guarantees. By leveraging these offers, you can access free live streams of the Copa del Rey without actually spending anything. This obviously isn't a long-term solution, but it does give you enough time to stream Athletic Club vs. Real Sociedad in the Copa del Rey before recovering your investment.
What is the best VPN for RTVE?
ExpressVPN is the best choice for bypassing geo-restrictions to stream live sport on RTVE, for a number of reasons:
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Servers in 105 countries including Spain
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Easy-to-use app available on all major devices including iPhone, Android, Windows, Mac, and more
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Strict no-logging policy so your data is secure
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Fast connection speeds free from throttling
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Up to 10 simultaneous connections
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30-day money-back guarantee
A two-year subscription to ExpressVPN is on sale for $68.40 and includes an extra four months for free — 81% off for a limited time. This plan includes a year of free unlimited cloud backup and a generous 30-day money-back guarantee. Alternatively, you can get a one-month plan for just $12.99 (with money-back guarantee).
Live stream Athletic Club vs. Real Sociedad in the Copa del Rey for free with ExpressVPN.
FREE $30 CREDIT: Reservations for a new Samsung Galaxy device come with a free $30 Samsung credit.
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Set a calendar event because the next Samsung Galaxy Unpacked event is set for Feb. 25 online at both samsung.com and the brand's YouTube channel. If you'll be first in line for one of the new Galaxy S26 devices, there's a special deal in store if you reserve in advance.
Reservations for a new Samsung Galaxy device will earn you a free $30 Samsung credit. In addition, you'll be eligible for a savings of up to $900 on your order, and get entered to win $5,000 to spend at Samsung.
We have some idea of what the new Samsung Galaxy S26 lineup will include, but we'll all have to wait until Feb. 25 to get solid specs. But if you have intentions of upgrading, there's no harm in securing a reservation and saving $30. All you'll need to do is fill out Samsung's simple form with your name, e-mail address, and your phone number, if you feel like it. Then Samsung will keep you updated about future steps. The discount gets cancelled if you don't end up ordering a qualifying Galaxy device.
Mashable Tech Reporter Alex Perry said he wouldn't be surprised if the new S26 lineup comes with camera upgrades, in addition to more standard improvements like better battery life.
For those who've been patiently waiting for Galaxy Unpacked, now's your chance to place a reservation on a new Galaxy device with a free $30 credit. It's a win-win for those who are ready for an upgrade.
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