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What we think
The PerfectRec Earbuds or Headphones team Learn more
Updated January 10, 2024·
The HifiMan Edition XS offers a premium listening experience with excellent overall sound quality and a superb soundstage, making them ideal for critical listening. However, they have limited features like no wireless connectivity, active noise cancelling, or inbuilt controls, and are less suitable for activities such as exercise or travel due to their open-back design and size. On the other hand, the Sony WH-CH520, while providing good sound quality for a budget-friendly price, also offers the convenience of wireless use, foldability, and features such as active noise cancelling, making them more versatile for everyday use including calls, meetings, and travel, but might not satisfy the audiophile's desire for sound perfection. The choice depends on whether you prioritize top-notch audio fidelity over features and portability. 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 HifiMan Edition XS
- Very good for music
- Best in class for TV and video
Advantages of the Sony WH-CH520
- Very good for gaming
- Very good for air travel
- Very good for podcasts and audiobooks
Key differences
Music
8.8
7.6
The HifiMan Edition XS is very good for music, while the Sony WH-CH520 is good.
Gaming
7.4
8.8
The Sony WH-CH520 is very good for gaming, while the HifiMan Edition XS is good.
Phone Calls
5.0
6.7
The Sony WH-CH520 is only fair for phone calls, while the HifiMan Edition XS is poor.
TV and Video
9.5
8.2
The HifiMan Edition XS is best in class for TV and video, while the Sony WH-CH520 is very good.
Noise Reduction
2.5
4.6
The Sony WH-CH520 and HifiMan Edition XS are both poor for noise reduction, though the Sony WH-CH520 is somewhat better.
Battery
N/A
52.0 Hours
The HifiMan Edition XS does not have a battery. The Sony WH-CH520 has 52 hours of battery life.
Cost
$269
$40
$0
$100
$200
$300
$400
The HifiMan Edition XS has a price of $269 and the Sony WH-CH520 costs $40.
Build Quality
8.5
7.0
The HifiMan Edition XS has very good build quality, while the Sony WH-CH520 has good build quality.
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Key similarities
Podcasts and Audiobooks
7.9
8.0
Although they have very similar scores, PerfectRec considers Sony WH-CH520 to be very good for podcasts and audiobooks, while the HifiMan Edition XS is good.
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How the HifiMan Edition XS and the Sony WH-CH520 compare to other earbuds and headphones
Spec Comparison
 |  | |
| HifiMan Edition XS | Sony WH-CH520 |
GENERAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | |||
$269 | $40 | ||
Brand | |||
Brand | HifiMan | Sony | |
Release Date | |||
Release Date | December 1, 2021 | April 1, 2023 | |
Form Factor | |||
Form Factor | Headphones | Headphones | |
Connectivity | |||
Connectivity | Wired | Wireless | |
SOUND | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Music Score | |||
Music Score | 8.9/10 | 7.7/10 | |
Phone Calls Score | |||
Phone Calls Score | 5.1/10 | 6.8/10 | |
Gaming Score | |||
Gaming Score | 7.5/10 | 8.8/10 | |
TV and Video Score | |||
TV and Video Score | 9.5/10 | 8.2/10 | |
Exercise Score | |||
Exercise Score | 4.4/10 | 6.4/10 | |
PERFORMANCE | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Battery life | |||
Battery life | N/A | 52 Hours | |
Wireless charging | |||
Wireless charging | N/A | No | |
Charging time | |||
Charging time | N/A | 1.9 Hours | |
Bluetooth version | |||
Bluetooth version | N/A | 5.2 | |
FEATURES | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Active Noise Cancelling | |||
Active Noise Cancelling | No | No | |
Noise Reduction Score | |||
Noise Reduction Score | 2.5/10 | 4.6/10 | |
Virtual Surround | |||
Virtual Surround | No | Yes | |
Android App | |||
Android App | N/A | Yes | |
iOS App | |||
iOS App | N/A | Yes | |
Mic Quality | |||
Mic Quality | N/A | 8/10 | |
BUILD AND DESIGN | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Build Quality | |||
Build Quality | 8.5/10 | 7/10 | |
Comfort score | |||
Comfort score | 7.6/10 | 10/10 | |
Weight (headset or single earbud) | |||
Weight (headset or single earbud) | 421 Grams | 147.41 Grams | |
Microphone style | |||
Microphone style | N/A | Integrated | |
Waterproof Rating | |||
Waterproof Rating | 0 | 0 | |
Shopping
HifiMan Edition XS
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Headphonesty
Eric D Hieger | January 2023
"The Edition XS easily compete with headphones in their price range with a very high price-to-performance ratio. The XS are an amazing value and offer performance not far off from headphones more than twice their cost. These will be a mind-blowing revelation for enthusiasts and music lovers who have only heard standard big-brand mainstream headphones."
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 HifiMan Edition XS or the Sony WH-CH520
About HifiMan
HiFiMAN is a Chinese, high-end, audio product manufacturer, with 20 years of experience, that specializes in amplifiers, digital audio players and planar magnetic headphones, some of which have become a staple in the audiophile community such as the entry-level Sundara, the midrange Edition X, and the very well-regarded, high-end, Arya.
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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