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Updated January 10, 2024·
If you're looking for a wired, budget-friendly option with good build quality and don't mind a heavier earbud, consider the KZ ZSN Pro with Mic, which offers a detachable cable and is well-suited for music and gaming but less so for exercise and travel. However, if you prefer wireless convenience, better comfort for prolonged use, superior call quality, and a longer battery life, the Sony WH-CH520 headphones may be worth the extra cost. They're ideal for TV, video, and air travel, although they're not as portable due to their over-ear design. 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 KZ ZSN Pro (with Mic)
The KZ ZSN Pro (with Mic) has no clear advantages over the Sony WH-CH520.
Advantages of the Sony WH-CH520
Very good for TV and video
Very good for air travel
Very good for podcasts and audiobooks
Key differences
Gaming
8.0/10
8.8/10
The Sony WH-CH520 and KZ ZSN Pro (with Mic) are both very good for gaming, though the Sony WH-CH520 is somewhat better.
Phone Calls
5.1/10
6.7/10
The Sony WH-CH520 is only fair for phone calls, while the KZ ZSN Pro (with Mic) is poor.
Podcasts and Audiobooks
4.9/10
8.0/10
The Sony WH-CH520 is very good for podcasts and audiobooks, while the KZ ZSN Pro (with Mic) is poor.
TV and Video
7.4/10
8.2/10
The Sony WH-CH520 is very good for TV and video, while the KZ ZSN Pro (with Mic) is good.
Noise Reduction
5.3/10
4.6/10
The KZ ZSN Pro (with Mic) and Sony WH-CH520 are both poor for noise reduction, though the KZ ZSN Pro (with Mic) is somewhat better.
Battery
N/A
52.0 Hours
The KZ ZSN Pro (with Mic) does not have a battery. The Sony WH-CH520 has 52 hours of battery life.
Cost
$24
$50
$0
$10
$20
$30
$40
$50
The KZ ZSN Pro (with Mic) has a price of $24 and the Sony WH-CH520 costs $50.
Build Quality
9.0/10
7.0/10
The KZ ZSN Pro (with Mic) has excellent build quality, while the Sony WH-CH520 has good build quality.
"Undoubtedly the focus and the star of the show, the ZSN Pro’s bass is big, bold and bangin’. The amount of gusto in the low end should satisfy anyone who likes a large lick of bass and even certified bassheads will probably get a kick out of this."
"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 KZ ZSN Pro (with Mic) 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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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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