Sony WH-CH720N Vs JBL Live 770NC Comparison Review

There are a handful of brands that dominate the consumer headphone market, and two of them are Sony and JBL. A new pair of Bluetooth headphones was just recently released from JBL, continuing their Live product series. The Live 770NC’c closest competition would be the Sony WH-CH720N, which goes for fifty dollars less. Let’s see how they stack up to each other.

What You Get

Look & Feel

While both headphones contain plastic builds, the 770NC has the more aesthetically appealing design for me. The blue variation is so much sleeker than the comparatively plainer look of the 720N. Its appearance does give off a toy-like feel though, while the 720N can be seen as having a more professional look. Where both headphones converge is in their fit, as the 770NC and 720N will grant you equal levels of comfort and isolation.

Design & Functionality

The 770NC and 720N share a lot of the same features. They both offer ANC and while the 720N gets the job done, it can’t quite get to the level of Sony’s industry-leading noise-canceling technology. Switching between modes is a lot easier on the 770NC though, featuring better touch controls that are very responsive. Both headphones use companion apps that have EQ, and JBL’s app is the better one in my opinion. Features like DSEE are exclusive to Sony, but JBL has other sound features like Personi-Fi. They both offer spatial audio modes, but Sony’s 360 Reality Audio is much better so long as you have access to a service that provides it. While JBL’s spatial audio mode doesn’t quite have the same effect soundwise, at least you can use it with all audio coming from your phone.

Bluetooth

Even though the Live 770NC uses a slightly newer version of Bluetooth, with LE included, the 720N is the only option of the two that offers LDAC. However, the 720N is the only option of the two to feature multipoint, allowing the headphones to be connected to two devices at once.

Battery Life

When it comes to battery life, the 770NC clears the 720N with its fifty-hour playtime. The 720N only has a 35-hour battery life, which is acceptable for the price, but the 770NC outclasses in every single way.

Soundstage

Without spatial audio, the 770NC shows a wider and more front-facing soundstage compared to the 720N. Neither pair of headphones will have the most accurate imaging, but the JBL will appear the most open of the two. Both headphones feel pretty solidified in the middle, but the 770NC Is the only one that tries to expand its stereo field holographically. However, the 720N gets much better than the 770NC in spatial audio. Sony’s 360 Reality Audio sounds more natural as a virtual soundstage than the 770NC. JBL’s spatial audio feels a lot more like an effect than Sony’s version, and it comes off as a bit more artificial.

Low End

Both headphones have a dominant low end that becomes easy to nail down as the focus of their sound signatures. JBL and Sony have particular a bass timbre that their headphones carry, so if you’re familiar with them already you’re not getting anything that different here. The 770NC is less boomy than the 720N, but both headphones feature a ton of resonance and thickness. You can also use EQ to clear up the bass for both headphones. I found that I was able to get better results from the JBL app, being able to find a more direct response compared to the cloudier 720N.

MIds

Neither headphone has the most detailed midrange, with the 770NC and 720N being more v-shaped. Out of the two, the 720N might be the most balanced frequency response, featuring the most body and musicality. However, the lower mids are a lot muddier than what’s presented on the 770NC. On the JBL, the mids might be more recessed but its warmth is a lot more controlled than Sony’s pair. Vocals are the clearest on the 770NC, especially with EQ.

Highs 

These headphones are very different here, with the 770NC and 720N possessing opposite ends of the treble spectrum. To put it simply, if you like your highs to be more rolled-off, then the Sony headphones should be your pick. If you appreciate some sparkle and other textures to your highs, then the JBL will be more satisfying. The roll-off of the 720N isn’t too destructive to the sound signature, and it results in a smoother tone altogether. There’s more flavor to the 770NC though, granting more height to the sound, as well as a more transparent sheen of detail.

Summary

Sony and JBL always give tons of features with their headphones. They’re not always the level quality-wise, but both brands are more similar than you might think. With the 770NC and the CH720N, both headphones have a lot to offer, featuring almost equal levels of good and bad. Even though I prefer the sound of the 770NC, the 720N still has the best spatial audio and noise-canceling, which might be a huge deciding factor in your purchase.

The Sony WH-CH720N and the JBL Live 770NC are available at Audio46.