Sony WH-CH720N EQ settings for Mac
Measured EQ correction for the Sony WH-CH720N, the specs that matter, and what changes when you use them with a Mac. Copy the settings and apply them in one click.
The short answer
- Turns the bass down by about 2 to 6 dB, most around 150 Hz.
- Lifts 1 to 1.5 kHz by about 4 to 5 dB and adds about 4 dB near 4.3 kHz.
- Cuts about 4.5 dB around 9.5 kHz.
- Adds top treble above 14 kHz, up to about 7.5 dB at 20 kHz.
WH-CH720N at a glance
Wireless over-ear headphones with noise cancelling, released in 2023. Official specifications from Sony:
- Bluetooth version
- 5.2
- Bluetooth codecs
- SBC, AAC
- Bluetooth profiles
- A2DP, AVRCP, HFP, HSP
- Bluetooth frequency range
- 20 Hz to 20 kHz (44.1 kHz sampling)
- Frequency response (wired)
- 7 Hz to 20 kHz (JEITA)
- Driver
- 30 mm, dynamic
- Battery life
- Up to 35 hours with noise cancelling on, 50 hours with it off
- Charging
- About 3.5 hours; 3 minutes gives about 1 hour, 10 minutes about 4.5 hours of playback
- Microphones
- 2 per earcup for noise cancelling, plus beamforming mics for calls
- Multipoint
- Connects to two Bluetooth devices at once
- Range
- About 10 m, line of sight
- Weight
- About 192 g
Sources: Sony Help Guide: specifications, Sony Help Guide: operating time, Sony Help Guide: multipoint, Sony WH-CH720N specifications, Sony launch announcement.
Using the WH-CH720N with a Mac
Codec: AAC. The WH-CH720N support SBC and AAC, and a Mac picks AAC, the better of the two. It carries the full 20 Hz to 20 kHz range at standard sample rates (44.1 or 48 kHz).
Calls sound worse than music. As soon as an app uses the headphones' microphone (Zoom, FaceTime, a dictation shortcut), Bluetooth switches to hands-free mode, which has much lower audio quality. Pick your Mac's built-in microphone as the input to keep the WH-CH720N in stereo music mode.
Multipoint. Turn on Connect to 2 devices simultaneously in Sony's app and the WH-CH720N stay connected to your Mac and your phone. Music plays from whichever device played last.
Battery on a Mac. Over AAC, Sony rates the CH720N at up to 35 hours with noise cancelling on and 50 hours off.
Noise control without your phone. Sony's app only runs on phones. TuningMac asks your headphones which noise controls they support and shows them in the menu bar. It hasn't been tested on the WH-CH720N yet. How it works
What the measurements show
This correction comes from AutoEQ, based on Rtings' measurements of the WH-CH720N. It shows how much to boost or cut at each frequency to bring the headphones closer to AutoEQ's neutral target:
- Turns the bass down by about 2 to 6 dB, most around 150 Hz.
- Lifts 1 to 1.5 kHz by about 4 to 5 dB and adds about 4 dB near 4.3 kHz.
- Cuts about 4.5 dB around 9.5 kHz.
- Adds top treble above 14 kHz, up to about 7.5 dB at 20 kHz.
Fit, ear pads and your own ears all change what you hear, and neutral isn't everyone's favourite sound. Use this as a starting point, then adjust by ear.
Apply it in TuningMac (parametric EQ)
TuningMac's Advanced EQ imports this format directly. Copy the settings, then:
- Open TuningMac ▸ Settings ▸ Advanced EQ with your WH-CH720N connected.
- Turn on Use Advanced EQ for WH-CH720N (or whatever you've named them on your Mac).
- Choose More ▸ Paste from Clipboard.
TuningMac saves it for your WH-CH720N and loads it whenever they connect.
Preamp: -8.6 dB Filter 1: ON LSC Fc 105 Hz Gain -1.4 dB Q 0.70 Filter 2: ON PK Fc 152 Hz Gain -5.9 dB Q 1.16 Filter 3: ON PK Fc 1296 Hz Gain 6.6 dB Q 1.16 Filter 4: ON PK Fc 4381 Hz Gain 8.8 dB Q 1.34 Filter 5: ON PK Fc 8912 Hz Gain -5.6 dB Q 0.18 Filter 6: ON HSC Fc 10000 Hz Gain 10.5 dB Q 0.70 Filter 7: ON PK Fc 419 Hz Gain 3.1 dB Q 2.95 Filter 8: ON PK Fc 10000 Hz Gain -5.1 dB Q 1.66 Filter 9: ON PK Fc 299 Hz Gain -1.5 dB Q 1.98 Filter 10: ON PK Fc 504 Hz Gain 0.2 dB Q 2.46
| # | Type | Frequency | Gain | Q |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Low Shelf | 105 Hz | −1.4 dB | 0.70 |
| 2 | Bell | 152 Hz | −5.9 dB | 1.16 |
| 3 | Bell | 1.3 kHz | +6.6 dB | 1.16 |
| 4 | Bell | 4.38 kHz | +8.8 dB | 1.34 |
| 5 | Bell | 8.91 kHz | −5.6 dB | 0.18 |
| 6 | High Shelf | 10 kHz | +10.5 dB | 0.70 |
| 7 | Bell | 419 Hz | +3.1 dB | 2.95 |
| 8 | Bell | 10 kHz | −5.1 dB | 1.66 |
| 9 | Bell | 299 Hz | −1.5 dB | 1.98 |
| 10 | Bell | 504 Hz | +0.2 dB | 2.46 |
Preamp: −8.6 dB. It lowers the overall level so the boosts don't clip.
Prefer simple sliders? The 10-band version
No Advanced EQ needed: AutoEQ also gives values for a standard 10-band equalizer, the same bands as TuningMac's main EQ. In the menu bar popover choose Custom, set each slider, and set the preamp to about −8.0 dB.
Values in dB, at 31 Hz to 16 kHz. The parametric version above is more precise.
Questions
Which codec do the Sony WH-CH720N use on a Mac?+
AAC. The WH-CH720N support SBC and AAC, and a Mac picks AAC, the better of the two. It carries the full 20 Hz to 20 kHz range at standard sample rates.
What are the best EQ settings for the Sony WH-CH720N?+
AutoEQ's correction, based on Rtings' measurements, turns the bass down by up to 6 dB, lifts 1 to 1.5 kHz and 4.3 kHz by about 4 to 5 dB, cuts about 4.5 dB near 9.5 kHz and adds top treble above 14 kHz, with a preamp of -8.6 dB. The exact values are on this page, ready to copy. Treat it as a neutral starting point and adjust to taste.
Why do my Sony WH-CH720N sound bad on calls on a Mac?+
When an app uses the headphones' microphone, Bluetooth switches from stereo music mode to a hands-free call mode with much lower audio quality. To keep music quality during calls, choose your Mac's built-in microphone as the input instead. TuningMac's Input list does this in one click, and its Device Info shows which mode you're in.
Can I control the Sony WH-CH720N's noise cancelling from a Mac?+
Sony's app only runs on phones. TuningMac asks your headphones which noise controls they support and shows them in the menu bar. It hasn't been tested on the WH-CH720N yet.
Should I turn off the EQ in Sony's app?+
For the most accurate result, yes. An equalizer set in Sony's app is applied inside the headphones, so it also affects your Mac and would add to this correction. TuningMac's EQ only changes sound from your Mac, so it won't affect your phone.
Tune your WH-CH720N on your Mac
Parametric and 10-band EQ, noise control and battery in the menu bar.
EQ data from AutoEQ by Jaakko Pasanen (MIT licence), measurement by Rtings. Specifications from Sony's published specifications. Sony WH-CH720N is a trademark of Sony; TuningMac is not affiliated with Sony.