Sony WH-CH520 Wireless Headphones Review: Surprisingly Good

The Sony WH-CH520 wireless headphones are a fantastic entry-level option for those seeking a decent pair of headphones under $50 or even the best wireless under $100. These on-ear headphones come packed with features that elevate the user experience, offering a comfortable design, multi-device pairing, and customizable EQ through the Sony Headphones Connect app.

The padding on the headband and ear cups ensures a snug fit, making these headphones suitable for commuting, travel, and casual listening without feeling uncomfortable.

The WH-CH520 is the successor to the popular WH-CH510, bringing upgrades like improved sound quality, long battery life, and multipoint support for seamless switching between devices. While it doesn’t feature active noise cancellation (ANC), its passive isolation minimizes background noise,

offering a clear and well-rounded listening experience compared to other models like Beats Studio Pro Headphones. The trebles and mids are competently balanced, allowing vocals and instruments to breathe, while the bass depth adds a touch of fun to your music mixes.

These portable headphones also impress with their monochromatic design, multiple colors, and lightweight build, making them easy to carry, though a travel case isn’t included.

Whether enjoying a flight, tuning into Hi-Res audio, or catching a podcast during your regular commute, the WH-CH520 feels like a step up from its predecessor while staying reasonably affordable at around $59.

Compared To Other Headphones

The Sony WH-CH520 holds its own in the competitive market of on-ear wireless headphones, especially for those looking for a budget-friendly yet functional upgrade over models like the WH-CH510. While it doesn’t offer active noise cancellation like the WH-CH720N, its passive noise-blocking design, and balanced sound profile make it a strong contender for casual use.

The 360 Reality Audio support, combined with customizability through Sony’s Connect app, gives it an edge in creating an immersive soundstage for the price point.

Compared to more premium headphones like the Beats Solo3, the WH-CH520 excels in battery life, boasting an impressive 50-hour battery life and USB-C charging for convenience. While there is a caveat of no 3.5mm jack for wired use, the Bluetooth connectivity and multi-point pairing functionality make it perfect for switching between devices like a phone,

laptops for law students, or a standard laptop. The textured plastic build and comfortable earpads ensure a secure fit for most smaller skulls, although the clamping force might feel tight during extended listening.

Sony WH-CH520 Wireless Headphones

For those prioritising general functionality over noise-cancelling features, the WH-CH520 offers reliable volume controls, a functional microphone for video calls, and easy track skipping via buttons on the right-hand earcup.

While it lacks the sleekness of next-generation models, its long battery life, adjustable headband, and focus on comfort make it a solid choice for daily commutes or quiet listening at home.

Design & Comfort That Impresses

The Sony WH-CH520 wireless headphones feature a sleek, monochromatic design that complements casual and professional outfits. With subtle branding and a Matte finish, they strike a pleasant balance between durability and style.

Available in multiple colourways, including classic Black and Beige, these on-ear headphones are an excellent choice for users on a budget who want something that looks solid yet feels lightweight.

The headband and earcups are well-padded, offering a snug and comfortable fit even for extended periods like listening to audiobooks or enjoying a podcast. The adjustable yokes and extendable arms ensure a perfect fit for most ears, and the design evenly distributes weight to prevent fatigue during the day.

While the clamping force is secure enough to keep them in place during a walk or commute, it avoids being overly tight, making them ideal for workplaces or casual use.

Weighing just 0.32 lbs, the WH-CH520 feels incredibly light, and the cushion padding further enhances the comfy experience. Compared to its predecessor, the WH-CH510, these headphones feel like a real upgrade in terms of build quality and overall ease of use.

The buttons on the sides allow you to skip tracks, adjust volume, and even take voice commands via your smartphone or smartwatch, giving you full control without needing to reach your device.

Battery Life

The Sony WH-CH520 wireless headphones deliver an impressive battery life: They can last nearly 35 hours of continuous playback on a full charge. This is a step up from the WH-CH510, which Sony claims can last up to 52.8 hours in standby mode.

Thanks to the USB-C charging port, these headphones can be recharged entirely in around 1.5 hours, or you can get an additional 1.9 hrs of playtime with just a quick five-minute charge, making them ideal for power-saving situations or when you need to top up on the go.

For those worried about running out of power, the WH-CH520 performs well even during Bluetooth-only use, offering enough juice to get through several workdays without recharging. The supplied cable ensures compatibility with various devices, including a MacBook or other USB-C adapters, while the passive playback option keeps the audio going even if the battery dies.

This combination of longer-lasting performance and quick charging makes these headphones a great companion for daily use, easily outdoing similar models like the JBL Tune 520BT.

Sound Quality & Portability

The Sony WH-CH520 headphones have truly delivered impressive audio quality that punches well above their price point. While testing, using the streaming service Tidal,

I listened to a bass-heavy track, “All I Want,” by A Day To Remember, which highlighted their ability to handle thumping double-kick pedal beats. The drum kit components, from the floor tom to the dynamic midrange, came through with remarkable clarity. 

While playing tracks with more tonal complexity, such as Lana Del Ray, her mournful voice and backing piano retained a clear frequency balance, reproducing the nuanced performance with low distortion and a refined playback experience.

The immersive soundstage showcased intricate layers, with tonal detail that felt dynamic and true to high-fidelity standards.

These headphones provide a high level of portability and convenience, making them one of the best music companions for their price. The ear cups rotate, allowing them to lay flat or fold, saving space in a bag or resting comfortably around your neck.

The lightweight design enhances their passable portability, though adding a case for extra protection and storage would be ideal.

Despite the lack of cancellation features, the cushioning helps limit external noise in a quiet environment, making them suitable for most use cases.

Their compact size (L 7.1 x W 6.7 x H 1.6 inches) and volume (70.23 in³ or 1,150.80 cm³) add to their travel-friendly appeal, especially for those carrying other essentials like laptops for Engineering students.

The built-in microphone ensures incoming calls are handled clearly, with no tinny or echoey issues during chatting. Background noise is minimized to deliver a seamless experience, even in environments without absolute silence.

With multipoint sync, these headphones can connect two devices simultaneously, such as a laptop and smartphone, enabling multitasking simultaneously without constantly reconnecting.

Whether for work or leisure, their equalizer function lets you manually adjust levels or cycle presets for the perfect sound. Whether you’re focusing on an acoustic fiddle solo or a heavily layered instrumental, the articulation remains sharp and accurate.

Controls

The Sony WH-CH520 headphones feature straightforward and intuitive controls designed for ease of use. The multifunction buttons allow you to pause or play a track, skip forward or backward, and easily adjust the volume up or down. Built with plastic, they maintain a solid feel and avoid the inferior quality of cheaper models.

Labelled buttons with capacitive touch surfaces provide tactile feedback while reducing any worry about accidental presses. Bluetooth pairing connects in just a few seconds, and the Voice Assistant adds modern convenience for quick commands.

The controls include a protective case and options like double-tapping to elect functions or holding to end calls. While lacking advanced features like audio cancellation, they offer a good, reliable experience. Prompts provide updates on battery levels, and the app allows easy customization.

With raised buttons and a specific layout, the WH-CH520 minimises risk during adjustments, balancing usability and affordability. Though controls don’t include features like next, mid, or differentiation, they remain practical and meet everyday needs without compromise.

Bluetooth Performance

The Sony WH-CH520 headphones offer great Bluetooth performance, ensuring a stable Wireless connection. With AAC and SBC codecs, they deliver solid audio quality that pairs well with any device, especially iOS systems. However, they lack support for LDAC, a higher-bitrate codec found in models like the flagship WH-1000XM5 and the bassy WH-XB910N.

During use, I noticed a lag of approximately 137 ms on iOS and 135 ms on Android, which is acceptable for general media consumption but less ideal for games or live streams where lower latency matters.

For multitasking, these headphones can connect two devices simultaneously, making it easy to switch between apps on your PC and smartphone without constantly reconnecting. While the absence of aptX, aptX HD, and aptX-LL codecs limits their versatility, their 5.2 Bluetooth version ensures compatibility with most modern systems.

The connection remains reliable if you’re within the 334.65 ft. range, but performance may vary depending on the operating system and settings.

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