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What we think
The PerfectRec Earbuds or Headphones team Learn more
Updated April 10, 2024·
If you're prioritizing noise isolation and frequent air travel, the Bose Quiet Comfort Ultra Headphones offer excellent noise cancellation and comfort for long flights, despite being more expensive. However, if you're on a budget and want headphones with a very long battery life for daily use and are less concerned about noise isolation, the Sony WH-CH520 may be a better choice. The Bose is better suited for immersive TV and gaming due to low latency, while the Sony, despite lacking noise cancellation, is well-rounded for various content like music and videos. Neither is ideal for exercise due to their over-ear form; consider earbuds for more secure fit during physical activity. 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 Ultra Headphones
- Very good for music
- Excellent for gaming
- Excellent for TV and video
- Best in class for air travel
Advantages of the Sony WH-CH520
- Very good for podcasts and audiobooks
Key differences
Music
8.3
7.6
The Bose Quiet Comfort Ultra Headphones is very good for music, while the Sony WH-CH520 is good.
Gaming
9.3
8.8
The Bose Quiet Comfort Ultra Headphones is excellent for gaming, while the Sony WH-CH520 is very good.
Phone Calls
5.3
6.7
The Sony WH-CH520 is only fair for phone calls, while the Bose Quiet Comfort Ultra Headphones is poor.
Podcasts and Audiobooks
6.0
8.0
The Sony WH-CH520 is very good for podcasts and audiobooks, while the Bose Quiet Comfort Ultra Headphones is only fair.
TV and Video
9.0
8.2
The Bose Quiet Comfort Ultra Headphones is excellent for TV and video, while the Sony WH-CH520 is very good.
Noise Reduction
9.1
4.6
The Bose Quiet Comfort Ultra Headphones is excellent for noise reduction, while the Sony WH-CH520 is poor.
Battery
29.0 Hours
52.0 Hours
The Bose Quiet Comfort Ultra Headphones has 29 hours of battery life. The Sony WH-CH520 has 52 hours of battery life.
Cost
$429
$40
$0
$100
$200
$300
$400
The Bose Quiet Comfort Ultra Headphones has a price of $429 and the Sony WH-CH520 costs $40.
Build Quality
9.0
7.0
The Bose Quiet Comfort Ultra Headphones has excellent build quality, while the Sony WH-CH520 has good build quality.
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How the Bose Quiet Comfort Ultra Headphones and the Sony WH-CH520 compare to other earbuds and headphones
Spec Comparison
 |  | |
| Bose Quiet Comfort Ultra Headphones | Sony WH-CH520 |
GENERAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | |||
$429 | $40 | ||
Brand | |||
Brand | Bose | Sony | |
Release Date | |||
Release Date | November 1, 2023 | April 1, 2023 | |
Form Factor | |||
Form Factor | Headphones | Headphones | |
Connectivity | |||
Connectivity | Wired + Wireless | Wireless | |
SOUND | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Music Score | |||
Music Score | 8.3/10 | 7.7/10 | |
Phone Calls Score | |||
Phone Calls Score | 5.3/10 | 6.8/10 | |
Gaming Score | |||
Gaming Score | 9.3/10 | 8.8/10 | |
TV and Video Score | |||
TV and Video Score | 9.1/10 | 8.2/10 | |
Exercise Score | |||
Exercise Score | 6.4/10 | 6.4/10 | |
PERFORMANCE | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Battery life | |||
Battery life | 29 Hours | 52 Hours | |
Wireless charging | |||
Wireless charging | No | No | |
Charging time | |||
Charging time | 3 Hours | 1.9 Hours | |
Bluetooth version | |||
Bluetooth version | 5.3 | 5.2 | |
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 | Yes | Yes | |
Android App | |||
Android App | Yes | Yes | |
iOS App | |||
iOS App | Yes | Yes | |
Mic Quality | |||
Mic Quality | 7.4/10 | 8/10 | |
BUILD AND DESIGN | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Build Quality | |||
Build Quality | 9/10 | 7/10 | |
Comfort score | |||
Comfort score | 10/10 | 10/10 | |
Weight (headset or single earbud) | |||
Weight (headset or single earbud) | 255 Grams | 147.41 Grams | |
Microphone style | |||
Microphone style | Integrated | Integrated | |
Waterproof Rating | |||
Waterproof Rating | 0 | 0 | |
Shopping
Bose Quiet Comfort Ultra Headphones
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Dig into reviews and images
SoundGuys
Christian Thomas | January 2024
"The Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones are a credible step up from previous Bose ANC headphones, and they're built to hang tough with the competition for years into the future. No waterproofing is a bit of a letdown, but these headphones have the technical chops to make most quite happy."
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 Ultra Headphones 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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