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What we think
The PerfectRec Earbuds or Headphones team Learn more
Updated January 10, 2024·
If you value having the best possible noise isolation and are frequently in environments such as air travel where noise can be intrusive, the Bose Quiet Comfort Earbuds would be an excellent choice, despite their higher cost. They also offer a more immersive sound quality particularly for music. However, if you're prioritizing longevity for battery life and intend to use the headphones for activities like gaming and watching TV, the Sony WH-CH520 would be more suitable, especially considering they are more wallet-friendly. The Sonys also have a significantly higher comfort score, making them suitable for extended use, although they may not isolate sound as effectively as the Bose earbuds. Keep in mind that the Sonys have a better microphone quality, which could be important if you take a lot of calls or attend meetings while using them. 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 Bose Quiet Comfort Earbuds
- Best in class for podcasts and audiobooks
Advantages of the Sony WH-CH520
- Very good for gaming
- Very good for TV and video
Key differences
Music
7.1
7.6
The Sony WH-CH520 and Bose Quiet Comfort Earbuds are both good for music, though the Sony WH-CH520 is somewhat better.
Gaming
5.6
8.8
The Sony WH-CH520 is very good for gaming, while the Bose Quiet Comfort Earbuds is poor.
Podcasts and Audiobooks
9.5
8.0
The Bose Quiet Comfort Earbuds is best in class for podcasts and audiobooks, while the Sony WH-CH520 is very good.
TV and Video
6.0
8.2
The Sony WH-CH520 is very good for TV and video, while the Bose Quiet Comfort Earbuds is only fair.
Noise Reduction
9.1
4.6
The Bose Quiet Comfort Earbuds is excellent for noise reduction, while the Sony WH-CH520 is poor.
Battery
7.0 Hours
52.0 Hours
The Bose Quiet Comfort Earbuds has 7 hours of battery life. The Sony WH-CH520 has 52 hours of battery life.
Cost
$199
$40
$0
$50
$100
$150
$200
$250
$300
The Bose Quiet Comfort Earbuds has a price of $199 and the Sony WH-CH520 costs $40.
Build Quality
8.9
7.0
The Bose Quiet Comfort Earbuds has very good build quality, while the Sony WH-CH520 has good build quality.
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Key similarities
Phone Calls
6.6
6.7
The Sony WH-CH520 and Bose Quiet Comfort Earbuds are both only fair for phone calls.
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How the Bose Quiet Comfort Earbuds and the Sony WH-CH520 compare to other earbuds and headphones
Spec Comparison
 |  | |
| Bose Quiet Comfort Earbuds | Sony WH-CH520 |
GENERAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | |||
$199 | $40 | ||
Brand | |||
Brand | Bose | Sony | |
Release Date | |||
Release Date | October 1, 2020 | April 1, 2023 | |
Form Factor | |||
Form Factor | Earbuds | Headphones | |
Connectivity | |||
Connectivity | Wireless | Wireless | |
SOUND | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Music Score | |||
Music Score | 7.1/10 | 7.7/10 | |
Phone Calls Score | |||
Phone Calls Score | 6.7/10 | 6.8/10 | |
Gaming Score | |||
Gaming Score | 5.6/10 | 8.8/10 | |
TV and Video Score | |||
TV and Video Score | 6/10 | 8.2/10 | |
Exercise Score | |||
Exercise Score | 6.8/10 | 6.4/10 | |
PERFORMANCE | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Battery life | |||
Battery life | 7 Hours | 52 Hours | |
Wireless charging | |||
Wireless charging | No | No | |
Charging time | |||
Charging time | 1.5 Hours | 1.9 Hours | |
Bluetooth version | |||
Bluetooth version | 5.1 | 5.2 | |
Case Battery Life | |||
Case Battery Life | 18 | N/A | |
FEATURES | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Active Noise Cancelling | |||
Active Noise Cancelling | Yes | No | |
Noise Reduction Score | |||
Noise Reduction Score | 9.1/10 | 4.6/10 | |
Virtual Surround | |||
Virtual Surround | No | Yes | |
Android App | |||
Android App | Yes | Yes | |
iOS App | |||
iOS App | Yes | Yes | |
Mic Quality | |||
Mic Quality | 5.4/10 | 8/10 | |
BUILD AND DESIGN | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Build Quality | |||
Build Quality | 8.9/10 | 7/10 | |
Comfort score | |||
Comfort score | 8.6/10 | 10/10 | |
Size | |||
Size | Large | N/A | |
Weight (headset or single earbud) | |||
Weight (headset or single earbud) | 8.5 Grams | 147.41 Grams | |
Microphone style | |||
Microphone style | Integrated | Integrated | |
Shopping
Bose Quiet Comfort Earbuds
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Dig into reviews and images
Sound Guys
Lily Katz | March 2023
"The Bose QuietComfort Earbuds is a great do-it-all option for anyone, so long as you can afford it. This is a great alternative to the Apple AirPods Pro and Sony WF-1000XM4. You can choose the degree of noise canceling, and enjoy premium features like automatic ear-detection. These earbuds merit an IPX4 rating, making them a fine workout companion."
Sony WH-CH520
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Sound Guys
Christian Thomas | September 2023
"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 Bose Quiet Comfort Earbuds or the Sony WH-CH520
About Bose
Bose is an American audio equipment manufacturer based out of Framingham, Massachusetts. Founded in 1964 by Amar Bose with the goal of creating a speaker system that could accurately recreate the sound of a concert hall, Bose has become one of the most prominent players in the modern consumer audio market due to the premium feel of their products and their wide brand recognition.
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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Why trust us
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
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Joe is an entrepreneur and lifelong electronics enthusiast with a Ph.D in Economics from the University of Michigan.
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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.
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