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What we think
The PerfectRec Earbuds or Headphones team Learn more
Updated January 10, 2024·
If you value portability and exercise use, the Bose QuietComfort Earbuds II excel with high scores in both and have active noise cancelling, which is great for air travel. They also have a better overall sound quality and more effective noise isolation, but are usually more expensive. However, if you're looking for headphones with a longer battery life, better microphone quality for calls and meetings, and better performance for gaming and watching TV, the Sony WH-CH520 might be more suitable, at a typically lower price. The Sony also comes with features like virtual surround sound, which the Bose lacks, adding to its value for multimedia experiences. 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 QuietComfort Earbuds II
- Very good for exercise
Advantages of the Sony WH-CH520
- Very good for gaming
- Very good for TV and video
- Very good for podcasts and audiobooks
Key differences
Gaming
5.5
8.8
The Sony WH-CH520 is very good for gaming, while the Bose QuietComfort Earbuds II is poor.
Phone Calls
5.1
6.7
The Sony WH-CH520 is only fair for phone calls, while the Bose QuietComfort Earbuds II is poor.
Podcasts and Audiobooks
6.0
8.0
The Sony WH-CH520 is very good for podcasts and audiobooks, while the Bose QuietComfort Earbuds II is only fair.
TV and Video
6.2
8.2
The Sony WH-CH520 is very good for TV and video, while the Bose QuietComfort Earbuds II is only fair.
Noise Reduction
9.1
4.6
The Bose QuietComfort Earbuds II is excellent for noise reduction, while the Sony WH-CH520 is poor.
Battery
7.0 Hours
52.0 Hours
The Bose QuietComfort Earbuds II has 7 hours of battery life. The Sony WH-CH520 has 52 hours of battery life.
Cost
$199
$50
$0
$50
$100
$150
$200
$250
$300
The Bose QuietComfort Earbuds II has a price of $199 and the Sony WH-CH520 costs $50.
Build Quality
9.2
7.0
The Bose QuietComfort Earbuds II has excellent build quality, while the Sony WH-CH520 has good build quality.
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Key similarities
Music
7.4
7.6
The Sony WH-CH520 and Bose QuietComfort Earbuds II are both good for music.
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How the Bose QuietComfort Earbuds II and the Sony WH-CH520 compare to other earbuds and headphones
Spec Comparison
 |  | |
| Bose QuietComfort Earbuds II | Sony WH-CH520 |
GENERAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | |||
$199 | $50 | ||
Brand | |||
Brand | Bose | Sony | |
Release Date | |||
Release Date | September 1, 2022 | April 1, 2023 | |
Form Factor | |||
Form Factor | Earbuds | Headphones | |
Connectivity | |||
Connectivity | Wireless | Wireless | |
SOUND | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Music Score | |||
Music Score | 7.4/10 | 7.7/10 | |
Phone Calls Score | |||
Phone Calls Score | 5.2/10 | 6.8/10 | |
Gaming Score | |||
Gaming Score | 5.6/10 | 8.8/10 | |
TV and Video Score | |||
TV and Video Score | 6.3/10 | 8.2/10 | |
Exercise Score | |||
Exercise Score | 8.5/10 | 6.4/10 | |
PERFORMANCE | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Battery life | |||
Battery life | 7 Hours | 52 Hours | |
Wireless charging | |||
Wireless charging | No | No | |
Charging time | |||
Charging time | 2 Hours | 1.9 Hours | |
Bluetooth version | |||
Bluetooth version | 5.3 | 5.2 | |
Case Battery Life | |||
Case Battery Life | 20 | 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 | Yes | Yes | |
Android App | |||
Android App | Yes | Yes | |
iOS App | |||
iOS App | Yes | Yes | |
Mic Quality | |||
Mic Quality | 6.5/10 | 8/10 | |
BUILD AND DESIGN | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Build Quality | |||
Build Quality | 9.2/10 | 7/10 | |
Comfort score | |||
Comfort score | 8.6/10 | 10/10 | |
Size | |||
Size | Medium | N/A | |
Weight (headset or single earbud) | |||
Weight (headset or single earbud) | 7.7 Grams | 147.41 Grams | |
Microphone style | |||
Microphone style | Integrated | Integrated | |
Shopping
Bose QuietComfort Earbuds II
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Dig into reviews and images
What HiFi?
What HiFi? | September 2023
"Bose’s flagship wireless earbuds were never going to be cheap, but the question was whether they’d be competitive in an area of the market where rivals have never been more capable. The fact that the company has not only managed to implement a successful redesign, but also push the envelope for noise-cancelling and sound quality in such a highly competitive category simultaneously is truly impressive."
Sony WH-CH520
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Dig into reviews and images
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 QuietComfort Earbuds II 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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