Sony WH-CH520 Review
The Sony WH-CH520 is the budget headphone that proves you don't need to spend a fortune, but you won't get great sound or comfort for your $50.
The 30-Second Version
A barebones Bluetooth headphone that gets the job done for $50. Good for battery life and connectivity, but forget about great sound or comfort.
Overview
The Sony WH-CH520 is the budget wireless headphone that proves you don't need to spend a fortune to get decent sound. The one thing to know is that this is a stripped-down, no-frills package. It's a lightweight, comfortable set of cans that connects easily and lasts forever, but it doesn't try to compete with the premium models in any single category. It's the headphone you buy when you just want something that works without thinking about it.
Performance
What surprised us was how middling the performance scores are across the board. In our database, its sound quality sits in the 36th percentile, which means it's fine for casual listening but won't wow you. The battery life, touted as a 50-hour highlight, actually ranks in the 14th percentile against all headphones, suggesting that 'up to 50 hours' isn't that impressive anymore. It does the job, but nothing about its performance stands out.
Pros & Cons
Pros
- Battery life is long enough that you'll forget to charge it. 99th
- The app-based EQ customization is a nice touch for a budget model. 88th
- Multipoint connection works seamlessly for switching between devices.
- It's incredibly light and won't weigh you down.
Cons
- Sound quality is thoroughly average. Don't expect richness or detail. 6th
- Comfort scores are surprisingly low, ranking in the bottom quarter. 10th
- No active noise cancellation (ANC) worth mentioning. 34th
- Build quality feels basic and doesn't inspire confidence.
Specifications
Full Specifications
Design
| Weight | 0.3 kg / 0.7 lbs |
Connectivity
| Wireless | Yes |
| Bluetooth | 5.2 |
| Multipoint | Yes |
Earbud Battery
| Battery Life | 50 |
Microphone
| Microphone | Yes |
Value & Pricing
At around $50, it's worth it if your only criteria are 'wireless' and 'cheap.' You're getting core Bluetooth functionality and Sony's reliability at the absolute bottom of the price range. For that money, it's a fair deal, but you're not getting any extra performance for your dollar.
Price History
vs Competition
This sits in a different universe than its listed competitors like the Sony WF-1000XM5 or Bose QuietComfort Ultra. Those are $300+ premium noise-canceling champions. The real competition is other budget Bluetooth headphones around $50. Compared to them, the CH520's app features and multipoint are advantages, but its mediocre comfort and sound scores mean you should also look at options from Anker or JBL in the same price bracket.
| Spec | Sony WH-CH520 | Apple AirPods Apple - AirPods 4 with Active Noise Cancellation - | Soundcore Liberty Soundcore by Anker Liberty 5 True Wireless | Sennheiser Momentum True Wireless Sennheiser MOMENTUM True Wireless 4 | JBL Tune JBL - Tune Buds 2 True Wireless Noise Cancelling | TOZO TOZO - Hybrid ANC Earbuds Wireless - OrigX |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Form Factor | - | in-ear | In-Ear | In-Ear | in-ear | True Wireless |
| Driver Type | - | Dynamic | Dynamic | Dynamic | Dynamic | Dynamic |
| Wireless | true | true | true | true | true | true |
| Active Noise Cancellation | - | true | true | true | true | true |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.2 | 5.3 | 5.4 | 5.4 | 5.3 | 5.3 |
| Battery Life Hours | 50 | 5 | 8 | 7.5 | 10 | 10 |
| Case Battery Hours | - | 25 | 24 | 22.5 | 30 | 40 |
| Water Resistance | - | Water-Resistant | IP55 | IP54 | Water-Resistant | Water-Resistant |
| Multipoint | true | true | true | - | true | - |
| Compare | Compare | Compare | Compare | Compare |
| Product | Anc | Mic | Build | Sound | Battery | Comfort | Connectivity | Social Proof |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sony WH-CH520 | 34 | 64 | 36.8 | 42.8 | 99.1 | 6.2 | 87.7 | 10.2 |
| Apple AirPods Noise-Canceling Compare | 96.1 | 87.8 | 81.4 | 91.9 | 91 | 93.2 | 97.7 | 98.4 |
| Soundcore Liberty by Anker 5 True Wireless Noise-Canceling Compare | 98.7 | 98.9 | 95.9 | 95.3 | 93.3 | 93.2 | 98.5 | 99.6 |
| Sennheiser Momentum True Wireless MOMENTUM True Wireless 4 Noise-Canceling Compare | 98.7 | 99.9 | 36.8 | 99.6 | 92.3 | 93.2 | 92.4 | 93 |
| JBL Tune Tune Buds 2 True Wireless Noise Cancelling Earbuds 2025 Compare | 96.1 | 95.3 | 81.4 | 93.6 | 90.6 | 93.2 | 95.8 | 93 |
| TOZO Hybrid ANC Earbuds Wireless OrigX Acoustic 2.0 & Bass+ Boosts Compare | 99.7 | 87.8 | 81.4 | 87.3 | 97.4 | 93.2 | 94.1 | 99.6 |
Common Questions
Q: Is the noise cancellation good?
No. It has basic passive isolation from the earpads, but no active noise cancellation (ANC). If you need silence, this isn't your headphone.
Q: Can I use these for gaming?
Our data says they're terrible for gaming, scoring 19/100. The mic is average and latency might be an issue. Get a dedicated gaming headset instead.
Q: How's the microphone for calls?
It's fine for quick calls in a quiet room, ranking around average. In noisy environments, you'll struggle. It's a basic built-in mic.
Who Should Skip This
If you're looking for immersive sound or serious noise cancellation, this isn't it. Go get a Sony WH-1000XM5 instead. Also skip it if you want a headphone for working out; our data shows it's one of the worst for fitness, scoring 8.5 out of 100.
Verdict
We give a cautious recommendation. If you need a simple, ultra-affordable pair of wireless headphones for podcasts, casual music, and calls, and you prioritize battery life over everything else, buy these. But if you care about sound quality, comfort, or having any kind of noise isolation, you should spend a little more. This is a tool, not an experience.