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What we think
The PerfectRec Earbuds or Headphones team Learn more
Updated January 10, 2024·
If you're looking for higher overall sound quality and comfort, particularly for extended use like during air travel, the Sony WH-CH520 might be a better choice, as they are over-ear headphones with longer battery life for wireless use. They also have built-in controls, are optimized for both Android and Apple devices, and include a microphone for calls. However, if you need something more portable and compact that is suitable for exercise, and if you prefer wired earbuds to ensure you don't have to worry about battery life, the Sennheiser CX300S could be more suitable, with the tradeoff being lower comfort over long periods and no built-in microphone. Keep in mind the higher price of the Sennheiser is due to the brand's reputation for build quality and sound, while the Sony offers more modern features, like app controls customization, at a budget-friendly price. 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 Sennheiser CX300S
- The Sennheiser CX300S has no clear advantages over the Sony WH-CH520.
Advantages of the Sony WH-CH520
- Good for music
- Very good for gaming
- Very good for TV and video
- Very good for air travel
- Very good for podcasts and audiobooks
Key differences
Music
6.9
7.6
The Sony WH-CH520 is good for music, while the Sennheiser CX300S is only fair.
Gaming
6.1
8.8
The Sony WH-CH520 is very good for gaming, while the Sennheiser CX300S is only fair.
Phone Calls
3.0
6.7
The Sony WH-CH520 is only fair for phone calls, while the Sennheiser CX300S is poor.
Podcasts and Audiobooks
4.7
8.0
The Sony WH-CH520 is very good for podcasts and audiobooks, while the Sennheiser CX300S is poor.
TV and Video
7.3
8.2
The Sony WH-CH520 is very good for TV and video, while the Sennheiser CX300S is good.
Noise Reduction
7.0
4.6
The Sennheiser CX300S is good for noise reduction, while the Sony WH-CH520 is poor.
Battery
N/A
52.0 Hours
The Sennheiser CX300S does not have a battery. The Sony WH-CH520 has 52 hours of battery life.
Build Quality
8.0
7.0
The Sennheiser CX300S has very good build quality, while the Sony WH-CH520 has good build quality.
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Key similarities
Cost
$50
$50
$0
$10
$20
$30
$40
$50
The Sennheiser CX300S has a price of $50 and the Sony WH-CH520 costs $50.
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How the Sennheiser CX300S and the Sony WH-CH520 compare to other earbuds and headphones
Spec Comparison
 |  | |
| Sennheiser CX300S | Sony WH-CH520 |
GENERAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | |||
$50 | $50 | ||
Brand | |||
Brand | Sennheiser | Sony | |
Release Date | |||
Release Date | February 1, 2019 | April 1, 2023 | |
Form Factor | |||
Form Factor | Earbuds | Headphones | |
Connectivity | |||
Connectivity | Wired | Wireless | |
SOUND | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Music Score | |||
Music Score | 7/10 | 7.7/10 | |
Phone Calls Score | |||
Phone Calls Score | 3.1/10 | 6.8/10 | |
Gaming Score | |||
Gaming Score | 6.1/10 | 8.8/10 | |
TV and Video Score | |||
TV and Video Score | 7.4/10 | 8.2/10 | |
Exercise Score | |||
Exercise Score | 4.2/10 | 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 | 7/10 | 4.6/10 | |
Virtual Surround | |||
Virtual Surround | No | 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 | 8/10 | 7/10 | |
Comfort score | |||
Comfort score | 7.6/10 | 10/10 | |
Size | |||
Size | Small | N/A | |
Weight (headset or single earbud) | |||
Weight (headset or single earbud) | 12 Grams | 147.41 Grams | |
Microphone style | |||
Microphone style | N/A | Integrated | |
Shopping
Sennheiser CX300S
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Dig into reviews and images
Major HiFi
Carroll Moore | April 2019
"Sennheiser offers impressive bang for your buck when it comes to the CX 300S. Built like a tank and sounding surprisingly good for such a budget-minded earphone, the CX 300S out-classes many of its would-be competitors. Functional but beautiful, it’s the perfect in-ear listening solution for anyone who wants to hear everything and look good doing it."
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 Sennheiser CX300S or the Sony WH-CH520
About Sennheiser
A family-owned company, Sennheiser is a German, high fidelity, audio equipment manufacturer founded in 1945. Their consumer audio division is now owned by the Swiss hearing aid and cochlear implant manufacturer Sonova. Sennheiser offers a wide variety of, very high quality, audio equipment solutions, from headphones to earbuds, full sets of monitoring speakers, amplifiers and microphones. They also make what is widely regarded as the best, and most expensive, headphones in existence, the HE-1 Orpheus, costing a whopping $59,000 dollars.
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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