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What we think
The PerfectRec Earbuds or Headphones team Learn more
Updated April 10, 2024·
If price is a concern, the Sony WH-CH520 is the more budget-friendly option. For those prioritizing call and meeting quality, the JBL Live 670NC offers superior performance. Gamers and movie enthusiasts may prefer the Sony WH-CH520 due to its very good performance for these uses. The JBL has active noise cancelling, making it suitable for air travel and noisy environments, while the Sony does not. Comfort is excellent on the Sony, potentially making it a better choice for extended periods of use. However, the JBL has a detachable cable which could be handy for wired use, and also supports wireless charging, a feature missing in the Sony. Both have apps for equalization and control customization, but the JBL boasts a significantly longer battery life for those who value less frequent charging. 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 JBL Live 670NC
- Good for phone calls
Advantages of the Sony WH-CH520
- Good for music
- Very good for gaming
- Very good for TV and video
Key differences
Music
6.5
7.6
The Sony WH-CH520 is good for music, while the JBL Live 670NC is only fair.
Gaming
5.4
8.8
The Sony WH-CH520 is very good for gaming, while the JBL Live 670NC is poor.
Phone Calls
7.4
6.7
The JBL Live 670NC is good for phone calls, while the Sony WH-CH520 is only fair.
Podcasts and Audiobooks
8.6
8.0
The JBL Live 670NC and Sony WH-CH520 are both very good for podcasts and audiobooks, though the JBL Live 670NC is somewhat better.
TV and Video
5.5
8.2
The Sony WH-CH520 is very good for TV and video, while the JBL Live 670NC is poor.
Noise Reduction
6.7
4.6
The JBL Live 670NC is only fair for noise reduction, while the Sony WH-CH520 is poor.
Battery
65.0 Hours
52.0 Hours
The JBL Live 670NC has 65 hours of battery life. The Sony WH-CH520 has 52 hours of battery life.
Cost
$100
$40
$0
$50
$100
$150
$200
The JBL Live 670NC has a price of $100 and the Sony WH-CH520 costs $40.
Build Quality
8.0
7.0
The JBL Live 670NC has very good build quality, while the Sony WH-CH520 has good build quality.
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How the JBL Live 670NC and the Sony WH-CH520 compare to other earbuds and headphones
Spec Comparison
 |  | |
| JBL Live 670NC | Sony WH-CH520 |
GENERAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | |||
$100 | $40 | ||
Brand | |||
Brand | JBL | Sony | |
Release Date | |||
Release Date | March 1, 2024 | April 1, 2023 | |
Form Factor | |||
Form Factor | Headphones | Headphones | |
Connectivity | |||
Connectivity | Wired + Wireless | Wireless | |
SOUND | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Music Score | |||
Music Score | 6.6/10 | 7.7/10 | |
Phone Calls Score | |||
Phone Calls Score | 7.4/10 | 6.8/10 | |
Gaming Score | |||
Gaming Score | 5.4/10 | 8.8/10 | |
TV and Video Score | |||
TV and Video Score | 5.5/10 | 8.2/10 | |
Exercise Score | |||
Exercise Score | 6/10 | 6.4/10 | |
PERFORMANCE | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Battery life | |||
Battery life | 65 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 | 6.8/10 | 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 | 7/10 | 8/10 | |
BUILD AND DESIGN | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Build Quality | |||
Build Quality | 8/10 | 7/10 | |
Comfort score | |||
Comfort score | 7/10 | 10/10 | |
Size | |||
Size | Medium | N/A | |
Weight (headset or single earbud) | |||
Weight (headset or single earbud) | 217 Grams | 147.41 Grams | |
Microphone style | |||
Microphone style | Integrated | Integrated | |
Shopping
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 JBL Live 670NC or the Sony WH-CH520
About JBL
JBL is an American audio equipment manufacturer. Owned by Harman International which is, itself, owned by Samsung Electronics. JBL markets a wide array of monitoring speakers, professional headphones and consumer market headphones and earbuds. It was founded in 1946 by James Bullough Lansing (whose initials give the company its name) and has become one of the most prolific audio companies ever. Their products were responsible for audio during the 1969 Woodstock Festival.
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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Joe is an entrepreneur and lifelong electronics enthusiast with a Ph.D in Economics from the University of Michigan.
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