A comparison of specs, key information, reviews, and best pricing from top retailers
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What we think
The PerfectRec Earbuds or Headphones team Learn more
Updated January 10, 2024·
The Philips Fidelio X2HR offers exceptional sound quality and a wide soundstage, making them ideal for an immersive music experience, but they lack a built-in microphone which could be a downside for calls and meetings. They are wired headphones and do not support wireless connectivity, which might be inconvenient for those who prefer the freedom of movement. On the other hand, the Sony WH-CH520 is less expensive and provides good sound quality, a built-in microphone, and long battery life with wireless capability, making them versatile for various activities such as gaming, TV, and exercise. However, they might not match the Philips' audio performance and are likely less durable. If budget is a concern and you value convenience for a range of activities including taking calls, the Sony would be a practical choice, but for premium sound in music listening, the Philips may be worth the investment. 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 Philips Fidelio X2HR
- Excellent for music
Advantages of the Sony WH-CH520
- Very good for gaming
- Very good for air travel
- Very good for podcasts and audiobooks
Key differences
Music
9.3
7.6
The Philips Fidelio X2HR is excellent for music, while the Sony WH-CH520 is good.
Gaming
7.0
8.8
The Sony WH-CH520 is very good for gaming, while the Philips Fidelio X2HR is good.
Phone Calls
5.0
6.7
The Sony WH-CH520 is only fair for phone calls, while the Philips Fidelio X2HR is poor.
TV and Video
8.8
8.2
The Philips Fidelio X2HR and Sony WH-CH520 are both very good for TV and video, though the Philips Fidelio X2HR is somewhat better.
Noise Reduction
2.5
4.6
The Sony WH-CH520 and Philips Fidelio X2HR are both poor for noise reduction, though the Sony WH-CH520 is somewhat better.
Battery
N/A
52.0 Hours
The Philips Fidelio X2HR does not have a battery. The Sony WH-CH520 has 52 hours of battery life.
Cost
$140
$40
$0
$50
$100
$150
$200
The Philips Fidelio X2HR has a price of $140 and the Sony WH-CH520 costs $40.
Build Quality
9.0
7.0
The Philips Fidelio X2HR has excellent build quality, while the Sony WH-CH520 has good build quality.
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Key similarities
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 Philips Fidelio X2HR is good.
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How the Philips Fidelio X2HR and the Sony WH-CH520 compare to other earbuds and headphones
Spec Comparison
 |  | |
| Philips Fidelio X2HR | Sony WH-CH520 |
GENERAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | |||
$140 | $40 | ||
Brand | |||
Brand | Philips | Sony | |
Release Date | |||
Release Date | September 1, 2014 | April 1, 2023 | |
Form Factor | |||
Form Factor | Headphones | Headphones | |
Connectivity | |||
Connectivity | Wired | Wireless | |
SOUND | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Music Score | |||
Music Score | 9.3/10 | 7.7/10 | |
Phone Calls Score | |||
Phone Calls Score | 5/10 | 6.8/10 | |
Gaming Score | |||
Gaming Score | 7.1/10 | 8.8/10 | |
TV and Video Score | |||
TV and Video Score | 8.9/10 | 8.2/10 | |
Exercise Score | |||
Exercise Score | 4.5/10 | 6.4/10 | |
PERFORMANCE | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Battery life | |||
Battery life | N/A | 52 Hours | |
Wireless charging | |||
Wireless charging | N/A | No | |
Charging time | |||
Charging time | N/A | 1.9 Hours | |
Bluetooth version | |||
Bluetooth version | N/A | 5.2 | |
FEATURES | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Active Noise Cancelling | |||
Active Noise Cancelling | No | No | |
Noise Reduction Score | |||
Noise Reduction Score | 2.5/10 | 4.6/10 | |
Virtual Surround | |||
Virtual Surround | N/A | Yes | |
Android App | |||
Android App | N/A | Yes | |
iOS App | |||
iOS App | N/A | Yes | |
Mic Quality | |||
Mic Quality | N/A | 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) | 390 Grams | 147.41 Grams | |
Microphone style | |||
Microphone style | N/A | Integrated | |
Waterproof Rating | |||
Waterproof Rating | 0 | 0 | |
Shopping
Philips Fidelio X2HR
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Dig into reviews and images
Liquid Audio
Stefan | May 2022
"This piece is a fantastic option for music lovers searching for premium sound and a snug fit. You should get these headphones if you care about sound quality and want to hear music in a new light. This technology is a great option for high-quality headphones with superb sound reproduction."
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 Philips Fidelio X2HR or the Sony WH-CH520
About Philips
Philips is a Dutch conglomerate and electronics manufacturer with over 130 years of history. Philips makes the Fidelio audio line which includes several models of full-sized wired and wireless headphones, true wireless earbuds. soundbars and wireless speakers.
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
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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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