Sony WH-CH520
Sony WH-CH520
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MUSIC: Good—7.6/10
CALLS: Fair—6.7/10
GAMING: Very Good—8.8/10
TV: Very Good—8.2/10
PODCASTS & AUDIOBOOKS: Very Good—8.0/10
EXERCISE: Fair—6.4/10
AIR TRAVEL: Very Good—8.7/10
NOISE REDUCTION: Poor—4.6/10
BUILD QUALITY: Good—7.0/10
BATTERY: Best in Class—10.0/10
The Sony WH-CH520 headphones are a budget-friendly, closed-back, over-ear option, offering a wireless experience without the ability to connect via a wired connection. They are praised for their comfort and have a very good built-in microphone quality, making them suitable for calls and meetings, but may not be the best choice for critical listening purposes, as their overall sound quality is good but not exceptional. They provide excellent battery life, boasting up to 52 hours of typical use, and come with features like app control customization and an integrated microphone, but lack active noise cancelling. They are foldable for better portability and also come with virtual surround capabilities. However, they are not sweatproof or dustproof certified, which could be important if you plan to use them during exercise or in challenging environments. Give Feedback
this description is based on the product variant with some specs. At the time of writing, the variant with some specs cost some dollars.
Evaluation
Pros
- Good overall sound quality
- Wireless with long battery life
- Very lightweight
- Highest comfort level
- App allows sound customization
Cons
- No active noise cancelling
- Poor portability
- Average durability
- Latency may not suit gamers
Ratings by Category
Battery Life:5.0
The Battery Life rating is based on hours of typical, actual usage.
Gaming:4.6
The Sony WH-CH520 headphones are well suited for gaming due to their low latency feature ensuring minimal audio lag, which is crucial for fast-paced games, and their mic quality being rated as very good, which is important for clear in-game communication. Additionally, they are comfortable to wear for long gaming sessions.
Air Travel:4.6
This score evaluates the product for use on airplanes and other similar kinds of travel. It takes into account noise reduction and portability, including case shape, case size, and weight. It also incorporates the battery life of the product, long-haul comfort, noise reduction (both active and passive), and sound quality. We generally consider wireless products to be more suitable for air travel.
TV & Video:4.5
This score evaluates the earbuds or headphones when used to watch videos, movies and TV. In the case of wireless products, it takes into account latency - the perceived delay between the action on screen and the sounds playing in your ears. The score also considers soundstage quality, whether they have a virtual surround feature, and overall comfort.
It’s important to note that the device paired with the earbuds heavily influences their performance in regards to latency or delay.
Podcasts & Audiobooks:4.4
This score evaluates the product when used solely to listen to podcasts or audiobooks. It takes into account sound quality and sound signature, to be able to keep voices clear and intelligible. It also considers battery life, when available, and comfort.
Music:4.3
The Sony WH-CH520 headphones are good for listening to music because they have a closed enclosure that enhances bass and noise isolation, contributing to good overall sound quality. They also feature virtual surround sound, which can create a more immersive listening experience.
Calls:3.8
This evaluates the product when used solely to make and receive calls. It takes into account how well the products are able to clearly reproduce the human voice, the quality of the integrated microphones and the battery life, when available, to be able to use them for longer sessions or conferences.
Exercise:3.4
This score evaluates the product when used for exercise and physical activity. It mainly takes into account comfort, whether or not the products are sweatproof and how secure are the earbuds or headphones while wearing them. We also consider products with wireless capabilities to be more suitable for this particular scenario
Full Specs
GENERAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | |||
| Price | $40 | ||
Brand | Sony | ||
Release Date | April 1, 2023 | ||
Form Factor | Headphones | ||
Connectivity | Wireless | ||
SOUND | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Music Score  | 7.7/10 | ||
Phone Calls Score | 6.8/10 | ||
Gaming Score | 8.8/10 | ||
TV and Video Score | 8.2/10 | ||
Exercise Score | 6.4/10 | ||
PERFORMANCE | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Battery life | 52 Hours | ||
Wireless charging | No | ||
Charging time | 1.9 Hours | ||
Bluetooth version | 5.2 | ||
FEATURES | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Active Noise Cancelling | No | ||
Noise Reduction Score | 4.6/10 | ||
Virtual Surround | Yes | ||
Android App | Yes | ||
iOS App | Yes | ||
Mic Quality | 8/10 | ||
BUILD AND DESIGN | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Build Quality | 7/10 | ||
Comfort score | 10/10 | ||
Weight | 147.41 Grams | ||
Microphone style | Integrated | ||
Waterproof Rating | 0 | ||
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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."
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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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