Sony’s Seven Noise Cancelling Headphones: What Each Adds

Sony’s US store sells seven wireless noise-cancelling over-ear headphones, and the steps up add three things: LDAC from the ULT WEAR upward, Sony’s QN noise-cancelling processors from the WH-1000XM4C upward, and the newest QN3 chip in the WH-1000XM6 and the 1000X THE COLLEXION. Battery with noise cancelling on does not follow the price: the WH-CH730N, one of the two lowest-priced pairs, lists 50 hours, and the dearest, the COLLEXION, lists 24.

All seven list Multipoint Connection, so the ability to stay connected to two devices does not separate them. What separates them is the processor, the codecs, the battery and the weight.

The seven side by side

From Sony’s US product pages, read 17 October 2026. Battery is Sony’s figure for music playback with noise cancelling on; prices are Sony’s store prices that day.

Model	Noise-cancelling processor Sony names	Codecs	Battery, NC on	Weight	Driver	Folds (per Sony’s page)	Sony store price
1000X THE COLLEXION	QN3 + Integrated Processor V3	SBC, AAC, LDAC, LC3	24 h	320 g	30 mm	Not mentioned	$649.99
WH-1000XM6	QN3, 12 microphones	SBC, AAC, LDAC, LC3	30 h	254 g	30 mm	Yes	$459.99
WH-1000XM5	QN1 + Integrated Processor V1, 8 microphones	SBC, AAC, LDAC	30 h	8.82 oz (about 250 g)	30 mm	Not mentioned	$399.99 list ($228.00 sale)
WH-1000XM4C	QN1	SBC, AAC, LDAC	27 h	253 g	40 mm	Yes	$299.99
ULT WEAR	Integrated Processor V1	SBC, AAC, LDAC	30 h	255 g	40 mm	Yes	$249.99
WH-CH730N	Not named	SBC, AAC	50 h	207 g	30 mm	Yes	$179.99
WH-CH720N	Integrated Processor V1	SBC, AAC	35 h	192 g	30 mm	Not mentioned	$179.99

Sony’s store also sells three INZONE gaming headsets with noise cancelling and a wired, on-ear MDR-ZX110NC; they are left out here.

WH-CH720N and WH-CH730N: the entry pair

The two WH-CH models share a price and the same two codecs, SBC and AAC. Sony’s FAQ says the WH-CH720N (affiliate link to Amazon, opens in a new tab)’s noise cancelling uses its Integrated Processor V1 with two microphones in each earcup, and calls it Sony’s “lightest wireless noise-canceling headband ever”, at about 192 g.

The WH-CH730N (affiliate link to Amazon, opens in a new tab) is heavier, at about 207 g, and its page names Dual Noise Sensor technology but no processor. What it lists over the WH-CH720N is battery and Bluetooth: up to 50 hours with noise cancelling on against 35, and Bluetooth 6.0 against 5.2. Its page calls it foldable; the WH-CH720N page does not mention folding.

ULT WEAR: adds LDAC and bass

The ULT WEAR keeps the V1 processor and Dual Noise Sensor technology of the WH-CH720N, by Sony’s FAQ, and adds LDAC, a 40 mm driver and the ULT button, which Sony says boosts bass. It lists 30 hours with noise cancelling on and a fold design with a carry case.

If you listen on an iPhone, the LDAC line matters less: Sony’s own help guide describes AAC as the codec mainly used by Apple products, as our codec explainer quotes. And on the ULT WEAR, Sony’s help guide says LDAC switches off when two devices are connected.

WH-1000XM4C and WH-1000XM5: the QN1 models

The WH-1000XM4C (affiliate link to Amazon, opens in a new tab), which Sony sells as “M4 2nd Gen”, is the cheapest model in this range that names Sony’s HD Noise Cancelling Processor QN1, working with two microphones on each earcup. It keeps a 40 mm driver, lists 27 hours with noise cancelling on, and Sony calls it foldable. Its page does not say what changed from the original WH-1000XM4.

The WH-1000XM5 (affiliate link to Amazon, opens in a new tab) pairs the QN1 with the Integrated Processor V1 to control eight microphones, and lists 30 hours with noise cancelling on and an Auto NC Optimizer that tunes cancelling to how you wear it. Sony’s page for it does not mention folding. On 17 October Sony’s store had it on sale well below its $399.99 list price.

WH-1000XM6: the QN3 step

The WH-1000XM6 moves to the HD Noise Canceling Processor QN3, which Sony says is “7x faster than the QN1 (found in our WH-1000XM5 headphones)”, optimising 12 microphones in real time. Sony names its tuning feature the Adaptive NC Optimizer, adjusting to outside noise, air pressure and how you wear it. It adds LC3, the LE Audio codec, and Sony’s FAQ says it folds. Battery stays at 30 hours with noise cancelling on.

1000X THE COLLEXION: the same chip, different build

The COLLEXION pairs the QN3 with an Integrated Processor V3, which Sony says powers 360 Upmix for music, cinema and game modes. It lists vegan leather, metal accents and a wider headband, Bluetooth 6.0 and the same four codecs as the WH-1000XM6. It is also the heaviest of the seven, at about 320 g, and lists the shortest battery: 24 hours with noise cancelling on.

What the spec sheets tell you, and what they do not

They answer the feature questions: which pairs have LDAC, which fold, how long each lists for a charge. They do not say how much quieter any pair makes a room; Sony’s own help guide, quoted in how noise cancelling works, says its cancelling works mainly on low-frequency noise and reduces it rather than removing it. How the pairs compare in use is a question for reviewers who have worn them, which is what our over-ear headphone shortlist averages.

Questions people ask

What is the difference between the Sony WH-1000XM5 and WH-1000XM6?

Sony says the XM6’s QN3 processor is 7x faster than the XM5’s QN1 and works with 12 microphones against the XM5’s eight. The XM6 adds LC3 to the XM5’s SBC, AAC and LDAC, and Sony’s FAQ says it folds; the XM5 page does not mention folding. Both list 30 hours with noise cancelling on.

Is the Sony WH-1000XM5 still sold?

Yes. Sony’s US store listed it on 17 October 2026, on sale at $228.00 against a $399.99 original price.

What is the Sony 1000X THE COLLEXION?

Sony’s highest-priced 1000X over-ear model, at $649.99 list. It pairs the QN3 noise-cancelling processor with an Integrated Processor V3, uses vegan leather and metal accents, and lists 24 hours with noise cancelling on. At about 320 g it is the heaviest of the seven.

Does the Sony WH-CH720N have LDAC?

No. Sony’s spec table lists SBC and AAC for the WH-CH720N, and the same two for the newer WH-CH730N. LDAC starts with the ULT WEAR in Sony’s noise-cancelling over-ear range.

What is the difference between the Sony WH-CH720N and WH-CH730N?

Both were $179.99 at Sony’s store on 17 October 2026. The WH-CH730N lists up to 50 hours with noise cancelling on against 35, Bluetooth 6.0 against 5.2, and a foldable design; the WH-CH720N is lighter, at about 192 g against 207 g.

What does the ULT WEAR add over the WH-CH720N?

LDAC, a 40 mm driver instead of 30 mm, and the ULT button, which Sony says boosts bass. It also lists 30 hours with noise cancelling on and a fold design. Both use Sony’s Integrated Processor V1 for noise cancelling, by Sony’s FAQ.

Do all Sony noise cancelling headphones support multipoint?

All seven over-ear noise-cancelling models on Sony’s US store list Multipoint Connection, in their feature list or FAQ. Sony’s ULT WEAR help guide says LDAC cannot be used while two devices are connected.