Compared to the XM4 unit these are clearly made of cheaper, flimsier plastic with control buttons on the sides rattling around a bit when moved - the quality is markedly different from the XM4 unit which is beautifully built, solid buttons, firm to the touch, heavier and a different class (or thickness, maybe) of plastic. The cheaper ones here are lighter, for sure though still comfortable enough for extended use. The cups twizzle through 90 degrees so that when they are around your neck they are 'flat'. But surely the cup facing outwards is then the 'wrong' way to be sat around the neck? Eh? Sure enough, that's how it is. The XM4 unit cups face inwards in that position, not out - which makes much more sense, no?
Unlike the XM4 unit they cups don't have the extra pivot which allows them to fold in on themselves for travel, nor a case in the box. The XM4 has both of these features (although folding has been stripped out again for the XM5 unit). The headband cushioning is thinner, but still comfy enough. The cushions on the ears are not that dissimilar - maybe a little less plump giving the XM4's the edge, but I think both very comfortable.
Then there's the controls, being a mix of touch, swipe and buttons on the XM4's but only physical buttons here on these. They hook up to the (now called) Sony Sound Connect App (which is the very same capable app for any phone, not just Xperia ones) in pretty much the same way - and currently feature the same access to the Google Assistant (in my case) with all the stuff expected, including Read Aloud if that's what you want from Notifications. Brain needs to learn where buttons are on the cheaper ones, but I'm sure when that's done all will be good. Obviously at the moment it all feels a bit alien and I'm fumbling around, taking them off to see what's where and where it is! There's a physical ANC button on the cheaper set, which the XM4 doesn't have. So that's nifty. All this stuff can be assigned to swipes, however, in the XM4's.
I'm no audiophile, but I'll do my best! The first reaction to the sound on the 720's is that it's hugely bass-orientated. I fiddled around in the app to change this and did so in the end but only by utilising the Custom/Manual EQ and pulling the bass slider across to the left, to about 20%. After that, the bass had got to a level I was happy with. They are certainly OOTB more bass-orientated than the XM4's but I think both of these can be wound up or down as required. As I say, I'm no audiophile and those who are will no doubt be more discerning in declaring the much more expensive headset as sounding better, but they both sound great to my ears. I'd be very happy with either. Or both! My favoured music is solo piano and jazz and they both sound just great for that. You really could be sitting next to a grand piano with the right recordings and audio files as tested here.
The ANC on the XM4's is pretty amazing and I've always thought so. Testing that against each other, yes the cheaper set is not quite as good - but there really, really isn't a huge amount in it that I can hear. It may not be as good, but it really doesn't seem far behind, to me. There's Reality Audio 360 and Multipoint connection, though no LDAC support. Battery I haven't been able to test in this time but the cheaper set is supposed to get 35hrs between charges with ANC on, so more with it off. This, then, better than the XM4's which can only hope for 30hrs with the same settings.
First impressions, anyway. For the price (particularly the one I paid) if you're OK with the build being not quite up there and a slightly more clunky button-driven control array, they're a lightweight marvel really and I'd say worth every penny. Even at full price. Here's my Affiliate Link for AmazonUK if anyone fancies the challenge. https://amzn.to/3TWOB5V
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