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What we think
The PerfectRec Earbuds or Headphones team Learn more
Updated January 10, 2024·
If you prioritize portability and use during exercise, the JBL Vibe Beam True Wireless earbuds are a great choice as they are sweatproof and quite light, making them convenient for an active lifestyle. However, if comfort and battery life are more important to you, especially for long listening sessions, the Sony WH-CH520 headphones have superior comfort ratings and provide significantly longer battery life, enhancing your experience for extended use. Both options have similar overall sound quality, but the Sony has the edge in gaming and TV/video with its higher scores, suggesting better performance for these activities. Keep in mind that the Sony headphones also feature virtual surround sound, creating a more immersive experience, although they may not be as suitable for high-intensity physical activities due to their size and lack of sweatproof certification. 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 Vibe Beam True Wireless
- Good for phone calls
Advantages of the Sony WH-CH520
- Good for music
- Very good for gaming
- Very good for TV and video
- Very good for podcasts and audiobooks
Key differences
Music
6.6
7.6
The Sony WH-CH520 is good for music, while the JBL Vibe Beam True Wireless is only fair.
Gaming
7.3
8.8
The Sony WH-CH520 is very good for gaming, while the JBL Vibe Beam True Wireless is good.
Phone Calls
7.8
6.7
The JBL Vibe Beam True Wireless is good for phone calls, while the Sony WH-CH520 is only fair.
Podcasts and Audiobooks
7.3
8.0
The Sony WH-CH520 is very good for podcasts and audiobooks, while the JBL Vibe Beam True Wireless is good.
TV and Video
6.9
8.2
The Sony WH-CH520 is very good for TV and video, while the JBL Vibe Beam True Wireless is only fair.
Noise Reduction
6.5
4.6
The JBL Vibe Beam True Wireless is only fair for noise reduction, while the Sony WH-CH520 is poor.
Battery
8.3 Hours
52.0 Hours
The JBL Vibe Beam True Wireless has 8.3 hours of battery life. The Sony WH-CH520 has 52 hours of battery life.
Cost
$50
$40
$0
$10
$20
$30
$40
$50
The JBL Vibe Beam True Wireless has a price of $50 and the Sony WH-CH520 costs $40.
Build Quality
8.5
7.0
The JBL Vibe Beam True Wireless has very good build quality, while the Sony WH-CH520 has good build quality.
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How the JBL Vibe Beam True Wireless and the Sony WH-CH520 compare to other earbuds and headphones
Spec Comparison
 |  | |
| JBL Vibe Beam True Wireless | Sony WH-CH520 |
GENERAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | |||
$50 | $40 | ||
Brand | |||
Brand | JBL | Sony | |
Release Date | |||
Release Date | February 1, 2023 | April 1, 2023 | |
Form Factor | |||
Form Factor | Earbuds | Headphones | |
Connectivity | |||
Connectivity | Wireless | Wireless | |
SOUND | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Music Score | |||
Music Score | 6.6/10 | 7.7/10 | |
Phone Calls Score | |||
Phone Calls Score | 7.9/10 | 6.8/10 | |
Gaming Score | |||
Gaming Score | 7.4/10 | 8.8/10 | |
TV and Video Score | |||
TV and Video Score | 7/10 | 8.2/10 | |
Exercise Score | |||
Exercise Score | 6/10 | 6.4/10 | |
PERFORMANCE | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Battery life | |||
Battery life | 8.3 Hours | 52 Hours | |
Wireless charging | |||
Wireless charging | No | No | |
Charging time | |||
Charging time | 1.1 Hours | 1.9 Hours | |
Bluetooth version | |||
Bluetooth version | 5.2 | 5.2 | |
Case Battery Life | |||
Case Battery Life | 16 | N/A | |
FEATURES | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Active Noise Cancelling | |||
Active Noise Cancelling | No | No | |
Noise Reduction Score | |||
Noise Reduction Score | 6.5/10 | 4.6/10 | |
Virtual Surround | |||
Virtual Surround | No | Yes | |
Android App | |||
Android App | Yes | Yes | |
iOS App | |||
iOS App | Yes | Yes | |
Mic Quality | |||
Mic Quality | 8/10 | 8/10 | |
BUILD AND DESIGN | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Build Quality | |||
Build Quality | 8.5/10 | 7/10 | |
Comfort score | |||
Comfort score | 6/10 | 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
JBL Vibe Beam True Wireless
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Dig into reviews and images
Headphone Dungeon
LaFonda | April 2023
"The Vibe Beam earbuds may not be a sleek as other earbuds in the price range, such as the equally priced Vibe Buds, but they sound great, have a long battery life, and come with an equalizer. And if you just need a solid pair if earbuds to get you through your commute, these will do the trick. I have no complaints here."
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 Vibe Beam True Wireless 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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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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About the Earbuds or Headphones team
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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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