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Porta Pro
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WH-CH520
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What we think

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The PerfectRec Earbuds or Headphones team Learn more
Updated January 10, 2024·

The Koss Porta Pro are on-ear, open-back headphones that excel in sound quality and are more affordable, but they may let in outside noise and leak sound. They're lightweight but not as sturdy as some might prefer, and they lack modern features like a built-in microphone for calls. The Sony WH-CH520, being over-ear and closed-back, offer better noise isolation and a solid build quality. They come with a microphone and have a more contemporary look, but they are slightly more expensive and heavier. If you prioritize sound and value, the Koss Porta Pro is a good choice, whereas if you need better isolation and features for calls, the Sony WH-CH520 might suit you better. 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 Koss Porta Pro
  • Very good for music
Advantages of the Sony WH-CH520
  • Very good for gaming
  • Very good for TV and video
  • Very good for air travel
  • Very good for podcasts and audiobooks

Key differences

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Music

8.2
Porta Pro
WH-CH520
7.6
The Koss Porta Pro is very good for music, while the Sony WH-CH520 is good.

Gaming

6.4
Porta Pro
WH-CH520
8.8
The Sony WH-CH520 is very good for gaming, while the Koss Porta Pro is only fair.

Phone Calls

4.3
Porta Pro
WH-CH520
6.7
The Sony WH-CH520 is only fair for phone calls, while the Koss Porta Pro is poor.

Podcasts and Audiobooks

6.8
Porta Pro
WH-CH520
8.0
The Sony WH-CH520 is very good for podcasts and audiobooks, while the Koss Porta Pro is only fair.

TV and Video

7.6
Porta Pro
WH-CH520
8.2
The Sony WH-CH520 is very good for TV and video, while the Koss Porta Pro is good.

Noise Reduction

2.5
Porta Pro
WH-CH520
4.6
The Sony WH-CH520 and Koss Porta Pro are both poor for noise reduction, though the Sony WH-CH520 is somewhat better.

Battery

N/A
Porta Pro
WH-CH520
52.0 Hours
The Koss Porta Pro does not have a battery. The Sony WH-CH520 has 52 hours of battery life.

Cost

$49
Porta Pro
WH-CH520
$40
Product image
Product image

$0

$10

$20

$30

$40

$50

The Koss Porta Pro has a price of $49 and the Sony WH-CH520 costs $40.

Build Quality

6.0
Porta Pro
WH-CH520
7.0
The Sony WH-CH520 has good build quality, while the Koss Porta Pro has only fair build quality.
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How the Koss Porta Pro and the Sony WH-CH520 compare to other earbuds and headphones

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Spec Comparison

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Koss Porta ProSony WH-CH520
Koss Porta ProSony WH-CH520

GENERAL

Price
$49
$40
Brand
KossSony
Release Date
January 1, 1984April 1, 2023
Form Factor
HeadphonesHeadphones
Connectivity
WiredWireless

SOUND

Music Score
8.3/107.7/10
Phone Calls Score
4.3/106.8/10
Gaming Score
6.4/108.8/10
TV and Video Score
7.7/108.2/10
Exercise Score
4.2/106.4/10

PERFORMANCE

Battery life
N/A52 Hours
Wireless charging
N/ANo
Charging time
N/A1.9 Hours
Bluetooth version
N/A5.2

FEATURES

Active Noise Cancelling
NoNo
Noise Reduction Score
2.5/104.6/10
Virtual Surround
N/AYes
Android App
N/AYes
iOS App
N/AYes
Mic Quality
N/A8/10

BUILD AND DESIGN

Build Quality
6/107/10
Comfort score
7/1010/10
Weight (headset or single earbud)
63.5 Grams147.41 Grams
Microphone style
N/AIntegrated
Waterproof Rating
00

Shopping

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Koss Porta Pro

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Dig into reviews and images

Headphones.com

Sebastian Taboada | February 2022
"It’s clear to see why these have been such a popular choice amongst listeners for nearly four decades. It’s a charming pair of headphones that delivers a truly enjoyable listening experience and one that I think punches well above its weight."

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 Koss Porta Pro or the Sony WH-CH520

About Koss

Koss is an American headphone manufacturer established in 1953. In 1958, they created the first set of stereophones, that is headphones with stereo sound, and in 1984 they released the world-famous Porta Pro, a set of on-ear headphones that has remained essentially unchanged for more than 30 years and that is still made, sold and loved by many audio enthusiasts around the world today.

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

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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.

By the numbers

108
Earbuds and headphones evaluated
11,340
Earbuds and headphones stats compiled
15
Proprietary Earbuds and headphones ratings developed
122,900
Recommendations made
18,435
Consumer hours saved

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.

Jason Lew

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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