The Sony WH-CH520 Wireless are the successor to the on-ear casual use Sony WH-CH510 Wireless. Updates include a more modern design with monochromatic colors and additional padding along the headband. This model represents more than just a cosmetic change, with upgrades like multi-device pairing and an extended battery life. They include added compatibility with the Sony | Headphones Connect companion app allows for sound customization via graphic EQ and virtual surround sound.
Our Verdict
The Sony WH-CH520 are decent for neutral sound. The bass and mid-range are very well balanced, making genres like EDM and rock sound punchy, full-bodied, and somewhat warm. By default, their treble range makes harmonic details in vocals and cymbals sound dark and dull. Fortunately, you can change the sound profile with the companion app's graphic EQ and presets. However, there's distortion in the low bass and low to mid-treble that makes your audio sound less clean at moderate and high volumes.
- Graphic EQ and presets in-app.
- Bad passive noise isolation.
The Sony WH-CH520 are mediocre for commuting and travel. They're decently comfortable but can't passively isolate you from much background noise due to their on-ear design and lack of active noise cancellation (ANC). Fortunately, their long battery life means you won't need to worry about them dying during a long flight. While they aren't large headphones, they don't fold down smaller or come with a case to make them more portable.
- Long battery life.
- Comfortable and well-built.
- Bad passive noise isolation.
- On-ear design impacts stability during moderate movement.
The Sony WH-CH520 is decent for sports and fitness. They're comfortable enough for a long run or hike, but their on-ear design limits their stability. As such, they're okay for upright movements like squats, but they'll likely fall off if you do box jumps or move around during a more intense workout. Due to their smaller ear cups, they'll also require some adjustment to ensure a comfortable fit.
- Comfortable and well-built.
- On-ear design impacts stability during moderate movement.
The Sony WH-CH520 are reasonable for office use. They're comfortable enough to last a long shift unless you wear glasses, in which case the on-ear fit pushes your ears into the arms over time. Their long battery life means you'll likely only need to charge them once a week. They also support multi-device pairing, meaning you can easily switch between your laptop and phone. However, they don't have ANC and struggle to block out sound, though they do a good job of isolating you from higher-frequency noise like a whiny AC unit. If your work requires occasional video conference calls, their mic performs well enough in most offices and home offices.
- Long battery life.
- Bad passive noise isolation.
The Sony CH520 aren't designed for wireless gaming. They can only connect to devices via Bluetooth, and their latency is too high for gaming.
The Sony WH-CH520 are wireless-only headphones; you can't use them for wired gaming.
The Sony WH-CH520 Wireless headphones are alright for calls. Their integrated mic makes your voice sound clear but slightly thin and unnatural. The mic also does a good job separating your voice from moderate background noise, but your voice can get drowned out in louder environments, like a busy subway station. Their lack of ANC and bad passive noise isolation also means you won't hear your call well, especially in moderately loud environments.
- Comfortable and well-built.
- Bad passive noise isolation.
Changelog
- Updated May 27, 2024: The Battery section was updated to compare the JBL Tune 520BT Wireless.
- Updated Apr 09, 2024: This review has been updated to maintain its accuracy.
- Updated Apr 11, 2023: Review published.
- Updated Mar 20, 2023: Early access published.
Check Price
Differences Between Sizes And Variants
The Sony WH-CH520 come in four color variants: 'Black,' 'White,' 'Beige,' and 'Blue.' We tested the 'Black' variant; you can see our model's label here. If you encounter another variant of these buds, please let us know in the forums, and we'll update our review.
Popular Headphones Comparisons
The Sony WH-CH520 are the next generation of the casual use on-ear Sony WH-CH510 Wireless. What makes them a significant upgrade from their predecessor is their customizability via the Sony| Headphones Connect app. It lets you adjust the sound profile and access Sony's 360 Reality Audio virtual soundstage software. Their sound is better balanced out of the box than the Beats Solo3 2019 Wireless, and they have a longer battery life, although they connect wirelessly only. They lack active noise cancelling (ANC) and fit on-ear, rather than over-ear like the higher tier Sony WH-CH720N Wireless, but they otherwise boast similar functionality and app support. Overall, these on-ear headphones pack in many premium features, making them worth checking out.
For more headphones, check out our recommendations for the best Sony headphones, the best on-ear headphones, and the best wireless Bluetooth headphones.
The Sony WH-CH520 Wireless and the JBL Tune 520BT share more than the number '520.' Both headphones are lightweight and fit on-ears with app support and multi-device pairing despite being budget-tier. Overall, the Sony are slightly better than the JBL, but it's close enough that prices can easily decide which pair is better. The Sony include the brand's virtual soundstage, which requires a compatible streaming service like TIDAL, and their mic sounds better. They're also slightly better made. The JBL don't have any virtual soundstage compatibility. However, they have a longer battery life and shorter latency with video mode, but latency depends quite a bit on devices, so your experience may vary.
The Sony WH-CH720N Wireless and Sony WH-CH520 Wireless use the same companion app with access to the brand's virtual surround sound and EQ. Their construction is alike, but the over-ears fit of the WH-CH720N Wireless is a bit more comfortable. These have ANC to make noisy environments more tolerable. Additionally, they offer optional wired connectivity in addition to their Bluetooth connectivity. Lacking the battery hog of ANC, the WH-CH520 Wireless' battery lasts longer, and they connect via Bluetooth only. They fit on-ears and are smaller overall. They also have a less bass-heavy sound out of the box. Choosing between them depends on how much you want to cut out environmental noise, because the WH-CH520 Wireless have poor isolation compared to the WH-CH720N Wireless.
The Sony WH-CH520 Wireless are more customizable and versatile on-ear headphones than the JBL Tune 510BT. The Sony's companion app lets you customize the sound to your liking or make changes to the controls. The JBL, on the other hand, have no app compatibility and can't be customized at all. Their mic also makes your voice sound much quieter than the Sony headphones' mic, meaning you'll have to speak louder when answering calls. The Sony's battery also lasts a lot longer than the JBL headphones' and will get you through a whole workweek without needing a recharge.
The Sony WH-CH520 Wireless are slightly better headphones than the Skullcandy Riff Wireless 2. Both headphones have a graphic EQ and presets for sound customization and support multi-device pairing. However, the Sony headphones' clamping force is slightly lower than the Skullcandy, and their ear cups are better padded, making them more comfortable for long commutes and days at the office. Their battery also lasts longer and can isolate you from more mid-range ambient noise, like background conversations or leaking audio from a co-worker's headphones.
Our How We Test Headphones article takes you behind the scenes in our lab. You'll learn how we choose and purchase products and dive into the details of our review philosophy, from testing and scoring to writing and editing.
You can also discover how we produce recommendations like this one so that you can find the best headphones (or earbuds!) for your needs.
Test Results
for pictures & test results
for pictures & test results
for pictures & test results
for pictures & test results
for pictures & test results
for pictures & test results
