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What we think
The PerfectRec Earbuds or Headphones team Learn more
Updated January 10, 2024·
If cost is a significant factor, the Sony WH-CH520 may be a better choice due to its lower price, but you'll need to consider whether it meets your specific needs in terms of sound quality, comfort, and features. On the other hand, the JLab JBuds Work Wireless, while pricier, could offer better sound quality, additional features like active noise cancellation or a longer battery life, and potentially a more comfortable fit. Consider what's most important to you, such as battery life for long commutes, sound quality for music enjoyment, or noise cancellation for focusing in noisy environments, and choose the one that best fits those priorities. 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 JLab JBuds Work Wireless
- Good for phone calls
Advantages of the Sony WH-CH520
- Good for music
- Very good for TV and video
- Very good for podcasts and audiobooks
Key differences
Music
6.8
7.6
The Sony WH-CH520 is good for music, while the JLab JBuds Work Wireless is only fair.
Phone Calls
7.3
6.7
The JLab JBuds Work Wireless is good for phone calls, while the Sony WH-CH520 is only fair.
Noise Reduction
5.3
4.6
The JLab JBuds Work Wireless and Sony WH-CH520 are both poor for noise reduction, though the JLab JBuds Work Wireless is somewhat better.
Battery
60.0 Hours
52.0 Hours
The JLab JBuds Work Wireless has 60 hours of battery life. The Sony WH-CH520 has 52 hours of battery life.
Cost
$79
$40
$0
$20
$40
$60
$80
$100
The JLab JBuds Work Wireless has a price of $79 and the Sony WH-CH520 costs $40.
Build Quality
9.0
7.0
The JLab JBuds Work Wireless has excellent build quality, while the Sony WH-CH520 has good build quality.
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Key similarities
Gaming
8.8
8.8
The JLab JBuds Work Wireless and Sony WH-CH520 are both very good for gaming.
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 JLab JBuds Work Wireless is good.
TV and Video
7.9
8.2
Although they have very similar scores, PerfectRec considers Sony WH-CH520 to be very good for TV and video, while the JLab JBuds Work Wireless is good.
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How the JLab JBuds Work Wireless and the Sony WH-CH520 compare to other earbuds and headphones
Spec Comparison
 |  | |
| JLab JBuds Work Wireless | Sony WH-CH520 |
GENERAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | |||
$79 | $40 | ||
Brand | |||
Brand | JLab | Sony | |
Release Date | |||
Release Date | October 1, 2021 | April 1, 2023 | |
Form Factor | |||
Form Factor | Headphones | Headphones | |
Connectivity | |||
Connectivity | Wired + Wireless | Wireless | |
SOUND | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Music Score | |||
Music Score | 6.9/10 | 7.7/10 | |
Phone Calls Score | |||
Phone Calls Score | 7.3/10 | 6.8/10 | |
Gaming Score | |||
Gaming Score | 8.9/10 | 8.8/10 | |
TV and Video Score | |||
TV and Video Score | 8/10 | 8.2/10 | |
Exercise Score | |||
Exercise Score | 6.3/10 | 6.4/10 | |
PERFORMANCE | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Battery life | |||
Battery life | 60 Hours | 52 Hours | |
Wireless charging | |||
Wireless charging | No | No | |
Charging time | |||
Charging time | 3 Hours | 1.9 Hours | |
Bluetooth version | |||
Bluetooth version | 5 | 5.2 | |
FEATURES | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Active Noise Cancelling | |||
Active Noise Cancelling | No | No | |
Noise Reduction Score | |||
Noise Reduction Score | 5.3/10 | 4.6/10 | |
Virtual Surround | |||
Virtual Surround | No | Yes | |
Android App | |||
Android App | No | Yes | |
iOS App | |||
iOS App | No | Yes | |
Mic Quality | |||
Mic Quality | 9/10 | 8/10 | |
BUILD AND DESIGN | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Build Quality | |||
Build Quality | 9/10 | 7/10 | |
Comfort score | |||
Comfort score | 8.4/10 | 10/10 | |
Weight (headset or single earbud) | |||
Weight (headset or single earbud) | 158 Grams | 147.41 Grams | |
Microphone style | |||
Microphone style | Boom | Integrated | |
Waterproof Rating | |||
Waterproof Rating | 0 | 0 | |
Shopping
JLab JBuds Work Wireless
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Dig into reviews and images
PC Magazine
Tim Gideon | February 2022
"The JLab JBuds Work is an affordable headset-headphone hybrid that you can use to listen to music in stereo and communicate on video calls thanks to a retractable boom mic, and we particularly like its convenient mono and passive wired modes. You won't find any frills here like you will with the costlier Jabra Evolve2 65 or Plantronics Voyager 4220 UC, but for less than half the price, the JBuds Work is an effective lower-cost alternative."
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 JLab JBuds Work Wireless or the Sony WH-CH520
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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