The PerfectRec Earbuds or Headphones team Learn more
Updated April 11, 2024·
If you're looking for earbuds that provide good noise isolation, portability, and are sweatproof certified, making them suitable for exercise, the Beats Fit Pro would be a better fit. They also feature active noise cancelling and are optimized for use with Apple devices, offering benefits like spatial audio and low-latency. However, if you prefer over-ear headphones with a more comfortable fit and significantly longer battery life, which are good for TV and video, the Sony WH-CH520 might be the way to go. The Sonys also have better microphone quality, which could be important for calls and meetings. Keep in mind, the Beats are pricier, so the Sonys may offer solid performance at a more budget-friendly price. Give Feedback
this description is based on the product variant with some specs and product variant with some specs. At the time of writing, the variant with some specs cost some dollars and the variant with some specs cost some dollars.
Advantages of the Beats Fit Pro
Good for exercise
Advantages of the Sony WH-CH520
Good for music
Very good for gaming
Very good for TV and video
Very good for podcasts and audiobooks
Key differences
Music
6.9/10
7.6/10
The Sony WH-CH520 is good for music, while the Beats Fit Pro is only fair.
Gaming
4.9/10
8.8/10
The Sony WH-CH520 is very good for gaming, while the Beats Fit Pro is poor.
TV and Video
5.6/10
8.2/10
The Sony WH-CH520 is very good for TV and video, while the Beats Fit Pro is poor.
Noise Reduction
8.3/10
4.6/10
The Beats Fit Pro is very good for noise reduction, while the Sony WH-CH520 is poor.
Battery
5.2 Hours
52.0 Hours
The Beats Fit Pro has 5.2 hours of battery life. The Sony WH-CH520 has 52 hours of battery life.
Cost
$179
$40
$0
$50
$100
$150
$200
$250
The Beats Fit Pro has a price of $179 and the Sony WH-CH520 costs $40.
Build Quality
8.5/10
7.0/10
The Beats Fit Pro has very good build quality, while the Sony WH-CH520 has good build quality.
The Sony WH-CH520 and Beats Fit Pro are both only fair for phone calls.
Podcasts and Audiobooks
7.6/10
8.0/10
Although they have very similar scores, PerfectRec considers Sony WH-CH520 to be very good for podcasts and audiobooks, while the Beats Fit Pro is good.
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How the Beats Fit Pro and the Sony WH-CH520 compare to other earbuds and headphones
"The Beats Fit Pro is just as easy to use with an Android device as it is with an iPhone. It seems Apple-owned Beats is trying to appeal to a wider market, and it works. The Fit Pro fits like a pro with the ear tip fit test and multiple ear tips. Sound quality is sure to please most athletes, but the Fit Pro is just at home in the office as it is in the gym. The main factor holding the Beats Fit Pro back from gold is the price."
"If you’re looking for headphones that simply do what you ask them to: the Sony WH-CH520 is a decent option, even if it isn’t very exciting. Sony’s WH-CHXXX line fits this role quite well, and the WH-CH520 offers a decent raft of quality-of-life updates over its predecessor that should keep listeners happy. If the Sony WH-CH520 were a car, it’d be the boring-but-safe commuter compact."
Get a great deal on the Beats Fit Pro or the Sony WH-CH520
About Beats
Beats is an American, consumer-focused, audio products manufacturer. Founded originally by American rapper and producer Dr Dre, the company is now a subsidiary of Apple. Beats sells a wide range of audio products, including several models of headphones, earbuds and speakers as well as full car audio systems.
About Sony
Sony is a multinational corporation, based out of Japan, with over 75 years of experience in the consumer electronics industry. In the audio market, Sony has been a trendsetter several times throughout its history. In 1979 they released the first-ever portable music player, the Sony Walkman, followed by the Discman 20 years later. Today, Sony is one of the leaders in the wireless headphone and earbud market, especially in terms of Active Noise Cancellation technology.
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This information was produced and vetted by the PerfectRec earbuds & headphones team. We are a product research and recommendation organization that meticulously reviews and evaluates the latest earbuds or headphones information and makes it digestible for you.
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About the Earbuds or Headphones team
Joe Golden, Ph.D
CEO and Earbuds and Headphones Editor
Joe is an entrepreneur and lifelong electronics enthusiast with a Ph.D in Economics from the University of Michigan.
Jason Lew
Staff Expert & Software Engineer
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Chandradeep Chowdhury
Staff Expert & Software Engineer
Chandradeep is a staff expert and software engineer and expert in televisions and monitors. He’s been making monitor recommendations for ten years.
Luis Torres
Earbuds and Headphones Expert
Luis is a Mexico-based headphones expert. He’s been making headphone recommendations for five years and has close to 100 pairs in his personal collection.