The Sony WH-CH710N offers good ANC and pleasant sound at a cheaper price than the WH-1000XM3, which provides the best ANC. However, compromises are necessary for terms of the scope of delivery and feel. In the offer for around 100 euros, however, the WH-CH710N is a perfect everyday companion.
The Sony WH-CH710N are wireless over-ear headphones with active noise cancellation (ANC), which, with a recommended retail price of 150 USD, are significantly cheaper than Sony’s bestseller WH-1000XM3.
The iFrogz Airtime Vibe over-ear headphones offer active noise suppression with a battery life of 20 hours. The test shows that effective ANC needs more and that significant reductions have to be made in terms of sound compared to the more expensive competition from Sony and Sennheiser.
The Airtime Vibe is available in black, white, and blue. In addition to the headphones, iFrogz includes a micro-USB charging cable, an AUX cable, operating instructions, and a transport bag.
Pros and Cons
| Sony WH-CH710N | iFrogz Airtime Vibe |
| Comfortable, minimalist design | Amazing design |
| Good noise cancellation | Sound quality & performance |
| Excellent battery life | Comfort |
| No folding mechanism | Good Battery life |
| No app support | Mild sound distortion at higher volumes |
| Controls are a bit difficult to use | Sensitive to active noise cancellation |
The WH-CH710N comes with a 1.2 m AUX cable, a short USB-C to USB-A charging cable, and a user manual. Buyers have to do without a transport bag like the WH-1000XM3 or a pouch.
iFrogz, in addition to SBC, the headphones support the AAC audio codec, neither documented nor advertised by the manufacturer. The frequency response is the usual 20 to 20,000 Hz, and the impedance is 32 ohms. The dynamic drivers have a size of 40 mm.
Specification
| Sony WH-CH710N | iFrogz Airtime Vibe | |
| $ | CHECK PRICE | CHECK PRICE |
| Brand | Sony | iFroge |
| Model | WH-CH710N | Airtime Vibe |
| Released | 5 May 2020 | March 20, 2020 |
| Dimension | ‎225 x 245 x 209 mm | 214 x 195 x 80 mm |
| Weight | 223 g | 544 g |
| Earpiece Connection | Wireless | Wireless |
| Type | Over-Ear | Over-Ear |
| Foldable | No | No |
| Frequency Response | 20 – 20000 Hz | 20 – 20000 Hz |
| Sensitivity | 98 db | 98 dB |
| Colours | Black, Blue | Grey/White, Navy Blue |
| Driver | 30 mm | 30 mm |
| ANC | Yes | Yes |
| Impedance | 72 Ohms | 32 Ohms |
| Controls | Yes | Yes |
| Audio Connector | 3.5 mm | 3.5 mm |
| Bluetooth Profiles | A2DP, AVRCP, HFP, HSP, AAC, SBC | SBC, AAC |
| Battery Life | 35 hrs | 30 hrs |
| Charging Time | 3 hours | 3 hours |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.0 v | 5.0 v |
Design
The Sony WH-CH710N is well made and pleasantly light. However, the primary use of plastic does not exude a premium claim, which is okay given the lower price range. When moving, the hinges rattle a little, and the noise of the auricles hitting the joints does not create an impression of the highest quality. However, this does not limit the functionality.
The headband’s padding, which is reinforced with metal, is significantly thinner than on the WH-1000XM3 but still sufficient. However, it conforms well and does not put too much pressure on the wearer’s head. The auricles are comfortably large so that they don’t hit anywhere. On warm days, however, the artificial leather makes you sweat. The wearing comfort of the WH-CH710N is overall high despite minor restrictions.
Unlike iFrogz in the Airtime Vibe, Sony also thought about the direction of rotation of the ear cups’ hinges. These can be rotated 90 degrees backward and only a few degrees forwards instead of the other way around. You can wear the auricles around your neck with the inside facing your body.
The grid for adjusting the headband offers a firm hold so that the headphones do not move unintentionally, even when carried in hand. Sony has built all the cables internally so that they are neither visible nor easily damaged. The passive isolation of the headphones is good, especially since low frequencies are attenuated.
The WH-CH710N’s earpads are interchangeable. All you have to do is pull them off and pull the replacement over the edge with a bit of skill. Even if no holder can be removed, and that simplifies the process, changing the ear pads can be done within a few minutes, even for inexperienced users.
The design of the iFrogz Airtime Vibe is good, but in some places, it doesn’t hide the low price. The ear pads are very softly padded, but it gets warm quickly under the cover. The auricles also offer enough space for the ears. The joints are reinforced with metal on the inside; the cable routing is protected inside and is not visible to the wearer.
The headband, however, has to accept criticism, which is comparatively large but not elastic enough, can hardly be twisted, and generates relatively high pressure. Therefore, the Airtime Vibe is less suitable for large, broadheads, as it can no longer be worn comfortably for hours.
The range of motion of the auricles to the rear is also somewhat too restricted. These can be turned 90 degrees forwards but only a few degrees backward. If you put the headphones behind your neck, you can only wear the auricles with the inside out, but not with the inside facing the body.
IFrogz does not document whether the ear pads can be replaced and, above all, how. In the test, it was not possible to detach them from the auricles. Twist, pull and attempt to pry it off failed.
Connectivity
The WH-CH710N also does not have a complete Bluetooth multi-connect, which means that several devices can be connected to the headphones at the same time via Bluetooth and seamlessly switch between them during playback. If another already known device is paired with the headphones, the current connection must first be interrupted. Only a separate connection is possible for music playback and telephony functions, for which, however, it is necessary to configure the Bluetooth connection accordingly.
On the left auricle is the on / off switch, which can also be used to start the Bluetooth pairing process by pressing the button for a long time. It offers a good, clear pressure point. In addition, the mini-jack connection and the USB-C connection for charging the headphones are located on the left auricle. There is also NFC in the auricle so that a connection can be quickly established with supported end devices without searching for the headphones in the settings.
The middle button is safe to hit with your thumb when you put your hand on the headphones. If you insist on wanting to feel it safely first, this is rather disadvantageous for the operation. In 99 percent of all cases, you meet them without thinking about it. All buttons have a clear pressure point.
No app for adjustments and updates
Sony did not support the Headphones Connect app with the WH-CH710N. So it is not possible to control the intensity of the transparency mode and the active noise suppression – one of the plus points of the ANC of many Sony models. Automatic switching between the modes depending on the environment or movement is also not possible on the headphones. In addition, the equalizer and firmware updates will be lost.
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The Airtime Vibe does not support the simultaneous connection of several end devices via Bluetooth (Multi-Connect). The currently connected device needs to be disconnected to connect another device to the headphones via Bluetooth. The test subject also does not allow audio transmission via the USB port.
All connections and buttons are on the right auricle. The on/off button plus and minus buttons are directed to the rear. The micro-USB and audio ports are routed downwards. The ANC button is also on the right auricle but facing forward.
The power button switches the headphones on and off with a long press or rejects an incoming call. If it is double-pressed, it activates the voice assistant of the connected smartphone. A short press, on the other hand, starts or pauses music playback. Calls can also be accepted and hung up in this way.
The plus button increases the volume and serves to jump to the next track if you press it for a long time. The minus button decreases the volume with a short press and ensures a jump to the previous track with a long press.
The ANC button of the auricle pressed for around 2 seconds to activate ANC. A white LED under the button indicates that ANC is activated. Another long press deactivates the function. The ANC can also be used without music playback.
The buyer also has to do without an app to adjust the controls and the sound (equalizer), change the ANC’s intensity and carry out firmware updates.
Sound
The sound of the Sony WH-CH710N is pleasantly tuned, voluminous, warm, and calm. The bass is brought to the fore, while the treble is a little less pronounced. However, the headphones calmly play everything thrown at them without wanting to dazzle with the bass boom. The bass is played out well, even at low volume.
The mids that are most present and clear at any volume come into their own with the WH-CH710N. The intelligibility of singing and language is therefore excellent. The bass and treble sound good overall and hardly drift off even at maximum volume; the treble, in particular, does not get hard. However, both the bass and the treble lack the last bit of conciseness and clarity when things get high, and many frequencies overlap. Because details are played out and are not lost, they only lack the final touch of transparency.
However, this is criticism at a high level and always in comparison to the very good WH-1000XM3. After all, the WH-CH710N offers a sound that is convincing in everyday life and especially on the move and, in particular, reproduces current pop music to the total satisfaction.
While any noise does not accompany playback without ANC, activating ANC leads to a quiet, slight noise noticeable during slow playback and podcasts. When playing music, however, it is not annoying because the elimination of ambient noise predominates positively. Without ANC, the ambient noise is more disruptive than the low level of noise created by ANC. In quiet environments, however, ANC can be deactivated for the best sound quality.
However, ANC positively affects the bass when playing quietly because it is then a little more present. Neither a positive nor a negative impact can be determined on the other frequencies. In addition, the ANC on the WH-CH710N is not particularly susceptible to wind, unlike the principle-based transparency mode, which passes unpleasant noises to the ear in strong winds.
The ANC’s performance in suppressing disturbing ambient noise is good overall but nowhere near as effective as the more expensive WH-1000XM3, which constantly reacts to the environment instead of using filters as intelligently as possible. The difference between activated and deactivated ANC is immediately noticeable with the WH-CH710N when there are corresponding ambient noises, whereby above all, deep, booming noises are eliminated, but in total not as comprehensive as with the WH-1000XM3. Sony places filters over the environment instead of constantly adjusting the counter noises is reflected in the degree of elimination. ANC does not completely isolate one under the WH-CH710N.
The sound of the iFrogz Airtime Vibe is a bit dull and bass-heavy. The bass and mids, however, lack clarity and differentiation. At a volume of over 50 percent, the bass is also too dominant and hums. Low frequencies are reproduced even at low volume but drift off a bit in the middle. The highs distort when the volume is increased.
In quiet surroundings and quiet music, it is also noticeable that the headphones themselves generate a slight background noise as soon as playback starts. This is not a problem with loud playback, but it is noticeable when listening to podcasts or quiet music.
Overall, the headphones are suitable for modern music, but the wearer will not discover new tones in their favorite pieces. When it comes to more than just listening to music on the side, other models are more fun. When it comes to sound, the iFrogz Airtime Vibe clearly shows a lower price than Sony or Sennheiser’s competition.
The active noise cancellation is not adjustable in iFrogz Airtime Vibe. The reduction in ambient noise by 20 decibels is therefore always the same. In a quiet environment, the Airtime Vibe’s ANC generates a low background noise that is only slightly perceptible without music being played. It is not negatively noticeable when playing music.
The effect of the ANC is minimal with the airtime vibe. White noise, in which all frequencies are represented in equal proportions, is hardly filtered and only sounds slightly brighter with activated ANC. Even thunderstorms with rain and thunder are only filtered somewhat at the very low, monotonous frequencies. Even the thunder reaches the wearer’s ear, almost unfiltered.
Battery Life
In terms of battery life with activated ANC, the WH-CN710N does not have to hide from the WH-1000XM3. Sony puts the runtime at officially 35 hours with activated noise suppression. Big brother officially reaches 30 hours with ANC.
The Sony WH-1000XM3 reached almost 28 hours with ANC and aptX in the trial, the WH-CH710N with AAC and ANC had 38.5 hours before it had to be recharged. Thanks to the quick charge function, another 60 minutes of music playback can be achieved within 10 minutes. Here the more expensive model offers more with up to 5 hours after 10 minutes. It takes around 3 hours to charge the discharged headphones, which is comparatively long fully. While charging, it can theoretically continue to be used via the handle.Â
The WH-CH710N does not have an IP certification, certifying that the headphones are protected against rain, sweat, and dust. As a precaution, it should be put down and stowed away in heavy rain. Speaking of stowing: The headphones can be folded flat but not kinked. That is why it cannot be folded up as small as the WH-1000XM3.
Officially, the battery life of the Airtime Vibe is up to 30 hours with deactivated ANC and up to 25 hours when using ANC. In practice, almost 28 hours of music playback is possible with the ANC deactivated. If ANC is activated, the airtime vibe lasts around 20 hours at medium volume. The actual playback time is thus below the information provided by iFrogz but is still sufficient for long-haul flights. The battery has a capacity of 450 mAh; it takes around 2 hours to charge it fully. For this purpose, Micro-USB is still used and not USB-C. The headphones can also be operated passively via the supplied jack cable when the battery is empty.
The Airtime Vibe has an IPX2 certification so that it is protected against light rain and sweat. In heavy rain, however, it should be stowed away in a protected place. The headphones can be folded up for this purpose.
Conclusion!
Anyone looking for headphones with the best possible ANC will use the WH-1000XM3 or the new WH-1000XM4 but must also be prepared to pay a significant surcharge. On the other hand, if you are looking for cheaper headphones for everyday use that can also handle ANC, you will be happy with the WH-CH710N. Especially when this is available for only around 100 euros, it is an excellent choice as an everyday companion that does not require the highest level of clarity, with which you cannot go wrong.
The iFrogz Airtime Vibe clearly shows that good and effective ANC is still not given for free. The effect of activating the ANC is marginal; only very monotonous, low frequencies are filtered, but most ambient noises reach the wearer’s ears unchanged.
If the ANC of the Airtime Vibe were convincing, this would have been a clear purchase argument for 90 euros. However, the headphones lack a positive figurehead why you should choose them. Instead, it mainly shows why you should invest more and use a better model.
