Compare SonoFlow SE HQ31 Wireless Headphones vs Sony WH-CH720N Wireless Headphones

The lack of a headphone jack was a clear drawback in the one review that evaluated analog input availability.

The 3.5mm input was viewed positively as a useful fallback for wired listening.

ANC was one of the strongest points, repeatedly judged effective for the price, especially against low, steady ambient noise.

ANC was consistently useful for the price, reducing everyday noise and rumble, but reviewers rarely considered it flagship-class.

Advanced features were praised as unusually generous for the low price.

Advanced software features were a selling point overall, though one review emphasized that these are not loaded like Sony flagships.

Discreet/aesthetic appeal was weak in Tom's Guide, which said the headphones paled next to other sub-$50 designs.

The headphones were described as discreet, slim, and subtle enough for public wear.

ANC background noise was present in one review, but it was not considered disturbing once music played.

ANC background-noise handling was mixed: low rumble and everyday noise improved, but traffic, high-pitched sound, and hiss remained.

ANC's effect on the sound signature was favorable where tested because the tonal balance stayed essentially unchanged.

The available evidence on ANC sound-signature impact was positive, with one reviewer saying ANC did not radically alter the sound.

ANC did not meaningfully harm audio in the reviews that evaluated it, with sound staying consistent across ANC modes.

Reviewers generally found ANC did not damage the listening experience, with no major fatigue or radical sound shift reported.

Android compatibility evidence was positive through LDAC use, which a reviewer said could reveal more clarity.

The app was polarizing: reviewers liked its controls and simplicity, but others found it buggy, laggy, crash-prone or poorly translated.

The Sony app was a major positive, offering EQ, modes, setup controls, and added features, though some setup friction appeared.

aptX-related evidence was negative, with one reviewer citing no low-latency codec support such as aptX-LL.

Audio-video sync was mostly strong, with several reviewers reporting no lag, while one reviewer heard no meaningful low-latency difference.

Audio-video sync was a limitation: one reviewer saw only minor issues, while another called out no low-latency mode for video and games.

Auracast support was only discussed as a possible future capability, not a confirmed or praised current feature.

Auto-play and wear detection were clear missing features in several reviews.

Auto-off was praised as helpful for preserving battery life.

Bass was often praised as punchy, warm and adjustable, though one reviewer felt the low-end emphasis contributed to an unbalanced sound.

Bass was a clear personality trait: many found it warm, punchy, or fun, while others called it boomy, shallow, or overemphasized.

Battery life had the strongest agreement, with reviewers repeatedly calling 60-90 hour playback excellent, outstanding or top-tier.

Battery life was a major consensus strength, with reviewers praising the 35-hour-plus ANC endurance and long real-world playback.

Bluetooth behavior was praised for strong range, solid connection and fast pairing across multiple reviews.

Bluetooth stability was a strength in the reviewed evidence, with stable connections and no signal interruptions reported after setup.

Bluetooth 5.4 was praised for range, efficiency and current-generation capability.

Bluetooth 5.2 was described as competitive in the reviewed evidence.

Build quality was mixed: many found it solid for the price, while others criticized plastic feel, wobble or budget materials.

Build quality was the most repeated compromise, with reviewers split between acceptable construction and cheap, plasticky, brittle feel.

Hi-res playback support was a repeated weakness in the scored evidence, with reviewers saying there is no hi-res or LDAC support.

Button controls were a repeated concern, with reversed or counterintuitive mappings offset by a few comments that basic controls worked.

Physical buttons were usually praised for reliability and ease, though some reviewers found the similar button shapes confusing.

Cable impressions were weak because reviewers repeatedly criticized the included USB-C cable as very short or stubby.

The included audio cable was criticized as potentially too short for some PC setups.

Carry-case quality scored poorly because multiple reviewers noted that no case or pouch is included.

Charging was praised for useful fast-charge behavior, especially five-minute top-ups that add hours of listening.

Charging was strongly praised, especially the quick-charge behavior that several reviews highlighted as fast and useful.

Clamp force divided reviewers, ranging from secure and well balanced to tight enough to cause discomfort.

Clamping force was broadly well judged: secure enough to stay put but usually gentle enough for comfort.

Codec support was praised mainly because LDAC appeared in such a low-priced headphone.

Codec support was viewed as limited because reviewers noted the lack of fancier hi-res options.

Comfort was highly split: some reviewers wore them comfortably for long sessions, while others found clamp, weight or pressure tiring.

Comfort was one of the strongest areas, with reviewers repeatedly praising the light fit for long sessions, commuting, and desk use.

Connectivity options were useful where reviewed, especially wired fallback and simple USB-C plug-and-play use.

Connectivity options were positively viewed where reviewers emphasized both wired and Bluetooth listening.

Design opinions leaned positive for a simple, modern or premium look, though one review found the aesthetics weak versus budget rivals.

Design was generally seen as clean, minimalist, and better than expected for the price, though not premium.

Wired listening was useful in a pinch, and one reviewer heard no major sound-quality penalty when using it powered on.

Long-term durability had limited but positive evidence from one reviewer who expected the construction to last normally.

Durability over time was a concern because reviewers worried about cheap materials, drops, worn pads, and potential breakage.

Ear cup padding was consistently positive, with reviewers describing the pads as soft, cushiony or well covered.

Earcup padding was generally comfortable but not universally premium, with some sticky, thin, or fit-related complaints.

The rotating earcups were useful because they helped the headphones lie flat and improve portability.

Swivel range was limited because the cups only swivel flat and the headphones do not fold.

Ecosystem integration was limited by app/platform restrictions for certain 360 Reality Audio features.

EQ customization was a strength, with reviewers valuing custom EQ and preset controls despite one review noting no custom EQ option.

EQ customization was one of the strongest feature wins, repeatedly described as effective, useful, and capable of improving the sound.

Feature set at launch impressed the reviewer because the specification looked unusually strong for the price.

Feature depth was limited compared with higher-end Sony models, according to one scored review.

Frequency balance varied by reviewer, from a pleasant non-harsh V-shape to unbalanced, dull overall tonality.

Frequency-response evidence was mixed: reviewers noted a warm, mostly pleasant balance but also bass emphasis, average timbre, and constrained openness.

Headband adjustment received limited but positive evidence for helping achieve a good fit.

Headband adjustability received limited but positive evidence, with one reviewer calling the extension sturdy.

Headband padding evidence was mixed, with one reviewer finding it too soft and another liking the padded feel.

Headband padding received limited but very positive evidence, with one reviewer calling the padding excellent.

Hinge durability evidence was negative in the one review that judged the hinged earcups too wobbly.

Hinge durability was a concern in one review that warned pressure near the swivel could cause breakage.

Immersive audio quality was mixed, as one reviewer liked vocal heightening but disliked artificial movie effects.

Immersive audio was one of the stronger technical positives, with reviewers praising 360-style spaciousness or high immersiveness.

Included accessories were a weakness because reviewers noted the bare-bones box, no case and limited included cable.

Included accessories were limited, with reviewers noting only basic cables and no carry case.

Instrument separation was praised in some reviews, but other reviewers found the headphones lacking resolution, definition, and complex-track clarity.

The integrated microphone received positive limited evidence from one reviewer who found the captured voice good enough for calls.

Integrated microphone evidence was positive in the limited scored review, with speech remaining clear enough in office use.

LDAC was treated as a strong perk, improving perceived clarity or adding high-resolution capability for supported devices.

LDAC evidence was mostly negative in the scored reviews, where multiple reviewers called out no LDAC or no hi-res LDAC streaming.

LE Audio readiness was speculative in the review evidence, framed as something Bluetooth 5.2 could support in the future.

One review praised clarity at high volumes, saying the sound stayed clear rather than muddy.

Microphone noise reduction was praised by some reviewers for cutting background noise, but one review noted robotic or distant voice artifacts.

Microphone noise reduction was inconsistent: some reviews praised background and wind handling, while others found noisy environments a weak point.

Call microphone quality was inconsistent but often positive, ranging from average or weak in cars/noise to excellent in several reviews.

Call microphone performance ranged from very good and clear to merely acceptable, especially once noisy conditions entered the test.

Midrange impressions were mixed, with clear mids in one review but dipped, coarse, meh or shouty vocals in several others.

Midrange comments were mixed, with praise for vocals and clarity in some reviews but complaints about recessed, muffled, or muddy mids in others.

Multi-platform compatibility was positive in the review that tested switching between iOS/macOS and Android devices.

Multi-platform compatibility was positive in limited evidence, especially for users connecting a phone and PC through multipoint.

Multipoint and dual-device switching were judged reliable and seamless where tested.

Multipoint was repeatedly treated as a useful quality-of-life feature, with several reviewers praising device switching or dual-device use.

Passive isolation was decent overall, but one reviewer noted an imperfect seal while another praised low leakage and passive isolation.

Passive isolation was adequate rather than exceptional, helped by padding but weaker than better-padded premium alternatives.

Overall recommendations leaned positive for budget buyers, though one critical review advised saving money for another option.

Overall recommendations were mostly positive, especially for budget buyers who accept build and ANC compromises.

Portability was strong thanks to folding or flat-rotating earcups and compact storage.

Portability was held back by the non-folding design, despite the lightweight build and swiveling earcups.

Premium feel was divided, from clearly not premium to surprisingly premium depending on the reviewer.

Premium feel was weak: reviewers said the headphones feel toy-like or below their price in material impression.

Preset EQ quality was generally useful, although Tom's Guide found only about half worth selecting.

Preset EQ profiles were praised in the two scored reviews for improving bass energy while keeping clarity under control.

Replaceable earpads received limited mixed evidence because the pads may wear but aftermarket replacements were mentioned.

Replaceable pads/headband evidence was limited and mixed, with worn pads mentioned alongside aftermarket replacement possibility.

Sensor coverage was weak because reviewers noted missing ear-detection or wear-detection sensors.

Smart listening features were received positively where tested, especially adaptive sound behavior and location/activity-based adjustments.

Smart Pause performance was poor because one review explicitly noted no auto-pause when the headphones are removed.

Smudge resistance had limited but positive evidence from the matte finish resisting fingerprints.

Smudge resistance was mixed, with matte finish resisting fingerprints but the white colorway collecting dirt.

Setup simplicity was positive overall, with reviewers describing the app or setup flow as simple, easy or seamless.

Setup simplicity was mixed to weak because two reviewers reported initial pairing issues.

Sound leakage evidence was limited but positive, with one review noting minimal leakage.

Sound leakage evidence was limited but positive, with one review saying leakage was minimal.

Reviewers split on sound: several called it warm, balanced or very good for casual listening, while others found it dull, average or uneven.

Reviewers generally found the sound enjoyable and better than expected for the price, though not as resolving or dynamic as premium headphones.

Soundstage evidence was mixed: spatial processing and some tuning added width, but other reviewers found the stage narrow or unimpressive.

Soundstage impressions split between wide or expansive in some listening tests and narrow, compact, or shallow in others.

Spatial audio was mostly seen as a pleasant width or immersion booster, with caveats that it is not flagship-level or can sound artificial.

Spatial audio evidence was mixed: reviewers liked the immersive effect, but noted limited app or subscription requirements.

Stability was mostly good and snug, though one reviewer reported sliding during gym bench use.

Fit stability received limited positive evidence, with clamping force keeping the headphones in place.

Streaming-service integration was constrained because 360 Reality Audio required supported paid apps in one review.

Sustainability and repairability received limited positive evidence tied to long battery life reducing replacement frequency.

Transparency mode was generally useful and sometimes excellent, though one reviewer heard some distortion in ambient sound.

Transparency mode was one of the better-received features, with reviewers calling it transparent or effective despite some hiss or limits.

Travel friendliness was positive, with reviewers tying the headphones to commuting, on-the-go use and long battery life.

Travel friendliness was mixed: ANC and battery help, but lack of a case and non-folding design reduce bag durability.

Treble was a recurring weakness in the critical reviews, described as blunt or over-exaggerated and sharp.

Treble was often described as clear or detailed, but some reviewers found it peaky, fatiguing, or slightly rolled off depending on tuning.

USB-C was viewed positively for charging and plug-and-play wired use, though cable length remained a separate complaint.

USB-C was praised as a modern and useful charging standard, with fast charging mentioned in one video review.

Value was one of the clearest strengths, with reviewers repeatedly calling the headphones high-value or a strong deal for the price.

Value was one of the strongest consensus positives, especially when the headphones were discounted below full retail.

Voice assistant use was positive where evaluated, with reliable speech recognition and swift interactions.

Voice-assistant integration received limited positive evidence as a hands-free control option through the physical button.

Voice feedback was present and usable, but the reviewer described learning the non-verbal audio cues rather than clear voice prompts.

Volume output was split, with one reviewer saying it lacked maximum volume and another calling the volume good.

Volume output drew limitations in flight or lower-volume listening, where reviewers needed higher volume or found detail lacking.

Water and sweat resistance was a weakness, with reviewers noting no waterproof rating and limited exercise suitability.

Wear-detection auto-pause was missing, creating a risk of accidental battery drain.

Wear detection performance was absent in the scored evidence, since the reviewer noted no wear-detection feature.

Weight comfort was mixed, with some reviewers calling the headphones light enough and others finding the weight noticeable or heavy.

Low weight was a standout comfort advantage, with several reviewers emphasizing how light the headphones feel on the head.

Wind handling was mixed, with one reviewer praising wind resistance and another saying wind noise could still be an issue.

Wind-noise handling received limited positive evidence through Sony’s wind-reduction feature seeming to work.