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What we think
The PerfectRec Earbuds or Headphones team Learn more
Updated April 10, 2024·
If you prioritize portability and use during exercise, the JBL Live Beam 3 earbuds with their sweatproof design and good noise isolation would be a great fit, especially with their longer battery life and the convenience of wireless charging. On the other hand, the Sony WH-CH520 headphones offer exceptional comfort and a significantly longer battery life for activities like gaming and watching TV, due to their over-ear design and very good performance in those categories. Keep in mind, though, that the JBLs have a premium price, while the Sonys are much less expensive and may not be as suitable for exercise or travel due to their size and lower noise isolation. Both have good overall sound quality, but the JBLs come with active noise cancelling which the Sonys lack, making the JBLs potentially better for air travel or noisy environments. 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 Beam 3
- 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
5.4
8.8
The Sony WH-CH520 is very good for gaming, while the JBL Live Beam 3 is poor.
Phone Calls
5.2
6.7
The Sony WH-CH520 is only fair for phone calls, while the JBL Live Beam 3 is poor.
Podcasts and Audiobooks
5.9
8.0
The Sony WH-CH520 is very good for podcasts and audiobooks, while the JBL Live Beam 3 is poor.
TV and Video
5.6
8.2
The Sony WH-CH520 is very good for TV and video, while the JBL Live Beam 3 is poor.
Noise Reduction
8.3
4.6
The JBL Live Beam 3 is very good for noise reduction, while the Sony WH-CH520 is poor.
Battery
12.0 Hours
52.0 Hours
The JBL Live Beam 3 has 12 hours of battery life. The Sony WH-CH520 has 52 hours of battery life.
Cost
$216
$40
$0
$50
$100
$150
$200
$250
$300
The JBL Live Beam 3 has a price of $216 and the Sony WH-CH520 costs $40.
Build Quality
8.5
7.0
The JBL Live Beam 3 has very good build quality, while the Sony WH-CH520 has good build quality.
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Key similarities
Music
7.8
7.6
The JBL Live Beam 3 and Sony WH-CH520 are both good for music.
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How the JBL Live Beam 3 and the Sony WH-CH520 compare to other earbuds and headphones
Spec Comparison
 |  | |
| JBL Live Beam 3 | Sony WH-CH520 |
GENERAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | |||
$216 | $40 | ||
Brand | |||
Brand | JBL | Sony | |
Release Date | |||
Release Date | June 1, 2024 | April 1, 2023 | |
Form Factor | |||
Form Factor | Earbuds | Headphones | |
Connectivity | |||
Connectivity | Wireless | Wireless | |
SOUND | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Music Score | |||
Music Score | 7.9/10 | 7.7/10 | |
Phone Calls Score | |||
Phone Calls Score | 5.3/10 | 6.8/10 | |
Gaming Score | |||
Gaming Score | 5.4/10 | 8.8/10 | |
TV and Video Score | |||
TV and Video Score | 5.7/10 | 8.2/10 | |
Exercise Score | |||
Exercise Score | 8.4/10 | 6.4/10 | |
PERFORMANCE | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Battery life | |||
Battery life | 12 Hours | 52 Hours | |
Wireless charging | |||
Wireless charging | Yes | No | |
Charging time | |||
Charging time | 2 Hours | 1.9 Hours | |
Bluetooth version | |||
Bluetooth version | 5.3 | 5.2 | |
Case Battery Life | |||
Case Battery Life | 36 | N/A | |
FEATURES | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Active Noise Cancelling | |||
Active Noise Cancelling | Yes | No | |
Noise Reduction Score | |||
Noise Reduction Score | 8.4/10 | 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 | 8.5/10 | 7/10 | |
Comfort score | |||
Comfort score | 7/10 | 10/10 | |
Size | |||
Size | Large | N/A | |
Weight (headset or single earbud) | |||
Weight (headset or single earbud) | 8.8 Grams | 147.41 Grams | |
Microphone style | |||
Microphone style | Integrated | Integrated | |
Shopping
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 JBL Live Beam 3 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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About the Earbuds or Headphones team
Joe Golden, Ph.D
CEO and Earbuds and Headphones Editor
Joe is an entrepreneur and lifelong electronics enthusiast with a Ph.D in Economics from the University of Michigan.
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Staff Expert & Software Engineer
Jason is a staff expert and software engineer that has been making laptop recommendations for 7 years and moderates one of the largest laptop subreddits.
Chandradeep Chowdhury
Staff Expert & Software Engineer
Chandradeep is a staff expert and software engineer and expert in televisions and monitors. He’s been making monitor recommendations for ten years.
Luis Torres
Earbuds and Headphones Expert
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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