Hey everyone! Today we are looking at a classic pair of headphones, which makes it return with Bluetooth connectivity. We are talking about the legendary Audio Technica ATH M50xBT, and will compare it against the Sony WH-CH700N wireless headphones. Let’s jump right in –
Built Quality
The Sony WH-CH700N wireless headphones are well made. Durable and made from strong plastic, the headband is wrapped in vinyl with low-profile stainless steel adjustments for a better fit. The ear cups swivel 90 degrees for storage and has comfortable earpads. However, they are not breathable and you may experience some heating on the ears that may cause discomfort for some people.
The Audio Technica ATH M50xBT is a pair of headphones on steroids but they have not overdone it. Compared to the Sony, the M50XBT stands tall and weighs 310 grams while the CH700N’s weighs 241 grams. The ATH headphone is built for comfort and beats the Sony headphones easily; for long listening hours, the M50xBT is a great companion. Or shall I say a long-lost best friend. LOL.
Both the headphones do not have a carry case.
Controls
The CH700N has a fair number of physical buttons on the headphones. The feedback is great and you can feel the confident push compared to cheaper plastic buttons on other models. There is a 3.5 mm audio port for wired listening options, power button, ANC button and a micro USB charging port on the left earcup where USB charging cable can be used . Volume rocker buttons are on the right ear cup, along with the pause, play buttons.
The Audio Technica ATH M50xBT also has similar buttons and is toe-to-toe with the Sony pair.
Audio
Audio engineers will fall in love with the Audio Technica ATH M50xBT. Audio Technica had been in the market for a long time and has performed well over a vast demographic. However, decision-making is subjective according to one’s audio preferences. The M50XBT has a delightful soundstage, warm audio, clear vocals and medium bass. An all-round audio output, these headphones do score over the Sony CH700N by quite a good margin. This is a pair of wireless headphones where nothing has gone wrong (YES – Personal opinion).
Sony WH-CH700N is very different and is preferred by people with energy. Youngsters fond of punchy bass will gravitate towards these headphones. The mids are clear but the highs get muddy when you boost up the bass levels. Vocals are clear and the bass adds character to the Sony headphones. However, for its price tag, the CH-700N does give you a premium quality headphone with decent audio grooming. There is nothing to dislike here but personally, I prefer the Audio Technica ATH M50xBT because of its all-round soundstage across all music genres.
Battery
The Sony WH-CH700N wireless bluetooth headphones have an incredible 35-hour battery life on a single charge. It also features fast charging which gives you an amazing 1-hour battery life with just 10 min of charging. On the other hand, the Audio Technica ATH M50xBT does not have fast charging but beats the Sony headphones in the battery life department by 5+ hours. This means you can go on for 40 hours on a single charge with the Audio Technica ATH M50xBT. Both the phones have voice assist that recites the power level in hours or percentage while you switch them on.
Noise Cancellation
The Audio Technica ATH M50xBT has no noise cancellation but since the classic headphone makers know well about ambient sound and acoustics, the padding on the headphones is sufficient to give a good passive noise reduction. The ATH M50xBT does let in some noise that keeps you alert while walking on a busy street or working out. Notably, if you pump up the volume on the Audio Technica headphones in a subway, there is little audio bleeding as compared to the CH700N.
The Sony wireless headphones have ANC but compared to the XM2 and XM3, the ANC is not that great on this device. You will just lose some low-pitch sounds from your surroundings while the ANC is on. If you are a fan of Sony, you will not like these headphones’ ANC performance, period. Personally, I like the M50xBT over the Sony because it still manages to give a powerful audio output without any ANC – which means savings on battery life.
Connectivity
It was a pleasant surprise when I found the Bluetooth 4.1 on the Sony WH-CH700N worked without any latency. Sony WH-1000XM3 did show some lousy connectivity issues when I walked into the other room or across the hall. However, the CH700N, though a weaker cousin of the XM3s, perform surprisingly well in this department.
The Audio Technica ATH M50xBT has Bluetooth 5.0 and is the best, hand down. Not belittling the Sony headphones, but the M50XBT has a technological advantage and that deserves a mention here. Pairing is simple and easy with both the headphones.
Pros and Cons
Sony WH-CH700N
| Pros | Cons |
| Good battery life of 35 hours | ANC is just average |
| Comfortable | Has considerable audio bleed at high volumes |
| Portable | Wired audio seems weak |
| Virtual Assistant like Google and Siri available | Design is plain and seems dated |
| Has premium sound quality with punchy bass | Bluetooth version is 4.1 |
| Has AptX HD | Not suitable for long hours |
| Sony headphones connect app to customize settings and functions |
Audio Technica ATH-M50xBT
| Pros | Cons |
| Good battery life of 40 hours | Cannot function while charging |
| Extremely durable and designed for rough use | Bulky and heavy |
| Bluetooth 5.0 | Button placement is tricky and takes time to get used to |
| Incredible balanced audio | Does not have active noise cancellation |
| Passive noise cancellation is good | |
| Smart and fold-able design for such a bulky headphone is a thoughtful touch | |
| Minimum difference in audio quality while listening in wired mode |
Comparison Chart
For more details, have a look at the comparisons below
Geralt has held various positions in the professional audio industry since 2016 and has been a specialist author, translator, and editor. In addition to making music, he is also interested in recording studio technology and wireless headphones.
Last update on 2023-01-23 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
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