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1 / 6Sony
Sony WH-CH520
Affordable, acceptable performance
Overall Rating & value for money
6.6/ 10
6.6
0.010.0
A 6.6 puts its overall rating in the bottom quarter of on-ear headphones we've measured.
Measured on 16 of the 63 we've cataloged.
7.5/ 10
7.5
0.010.0
A 7.5 puts its value for money in the bottom third of on-ear headphones we've measured.
Measured on 16 of the 63 we've cataloged.
Key specs
Battery Life Wireless
50 hAbove average55.42 h
7 h82 h
above average for on-ear headphones — based on 42 of 63 we've cataloged.
Full Charge Minutes
3 minBelow average3.0000000447034836 min
2 min240 min
below average for on-ear headphones — based on 34 of 63 we've cataloged.
IP Rating
NoneMost commonNone67%IP548%IP558%IPX48%
None is the most common — on 67% of the 12 on-ear headphones we've cataloged (of 63).
Weight
147 gBelow average147 g
6 g318 g
below average for on-ear headphones — based on 52 of 63 we've cataloged.
Battery
- Battery Life Wireless
- 50 h
- Full Charge Minutes
- 3 min
- Charging Method
- USB-C
- Battery
- Yes
- Fast Charging
- Yes
Build
- IP Rating
- None
- Material Chassis Primary
- Plastic
- Water Resistance
- No
- Material Headband
- Plastic with padding
Design
- Weight
- 147 g
- Color Options
- Black, blue, gray, white
- Ear Pad Type
- Soft plush
- Foldable
- Yes
- Wearing Time Max
- 2 h
Connectivity
- Connection Type
- Bluetooth wireless
- Headphone Jack
- Yes
- Bluetooth Codec
- SBC, AAC
- Bluetooth Version
- 5.2
- USB Charging
- Yes
- Multipoint Devices
- Yes - 2 devices
Microphone
- Microphone
- Yes
- Noise Reduction Type
- Yes
- Type
- Single microphone
Features
- Companion App
- IOS + Android
- Control Type
- Physical buttons
- Eq Customization
- Yes
- Auto Pause
- Yes
- Voice Assistant Support
- Siri, Google Assistant
Identity
- Model Number
- WH-CH520
Sound
- Driver Count
- 1
- Driver Size
- 30 mm
- Driver Type
- Dynamic driver
- Frequency Response
- 20-20000 Hz
- Frequency Response High Hz
- 20000 Hz
- Frequency Response Low Hz
- 20 Hz
- Frequency Response Signature
- Balanced
- Impedance
- 32 Ω
- Noise Cancellation Type
- Passive
- Passive Isolation
- 33 dB
SoundGuys review
Read the full review ›SOUNDGUYS rating
Reviewed byChristian ThomasEditor-at-largeReviewed September 2023
6.6/ 10
Worth a lookIsolation3.7
Battery life9.9
Comfort & fit7.2
Connectivity5.0
Design5.5
Portability7.0
The verdict
The Sony WH-CH520 are competent — if a bit boring — wireless headphones, aimed at the entry level. They work, sound decent enough, have an incredible battery life, and aren't uncomfortable. With features like Multipoint and Fast Pair, the Sony WH-CH520 are reasonably future-proof.
✓What we like
✓Decent tuning
✓Fast Pair
✓Lightweight
✕What could be better
✕Price
✕Difficult seal
✕Buttons
Lab data
How we test ›Objective measurements from the SoundGuys test lab — overlay other models to see how this one compares.
Sony WH-CH520SoundGuys Headphone Preference Curve
Measured frequency response (dB) against the SoundGuys house target — the dashed curve. The closer the measured line tracks the target, the more neutral the tuning; peaks ride above the target, dips fall below it.
Frequency response — measurement data
| Frequency (Hz) | Response (dB) |
|---|---|
| 20 | 1.6 |
| 25 | 2.4 |
| 32 | 4.0 |
| 40 | 5.7 |
| 50 | 7.2 |
| 63 | 7.8 |
| 80 | 7.7 |
| 100 | 5.8 |
| 125 | 4.2 |
| 160 | 3.2 |
| 200 | 3.1 |
| 250 | 3.0 |
| 315 | 2.6 |
| 400 | 2.1 |
| 500 | 1.1 |
| 630 | 0.2 |
| 800 | -0.1 |
| 1000 | -0.0 |
| 1250 | 0.1 |
| 1600 | 1.2 |
| 2000 | 3.2 |
| 2500 | 8.9 |
| 3150 | 13.0 |
| 4000 | 10.1 |
| 5000 | 5.7 |
| 6300 | 0.9 |
| 8000 | 7.8 |
| 10000 | 5.7 |
| 12500 | 0.1 |
| 16000 | -4.6 |
| 20000 | -19.9 |
Sony WH-CH520
Passive isolation (dB) with ANC off — how much ambient noise the fit blocks on its own. Higher on the chart means more attenuation.
Passive isolation — measurement data
| Frequency (Hz) | Attenuation (dB) |
|---|---|
| 21 | 1.0 |
| 26 | -3.4 |
| 33 | 0.1 |
| 41 | 0.5 |
| 52 | 0.4 |
| 65 | 0.7 |
| 82 | -0.1 |
| 103 | 0.1 |
| 130 | -0.4 |
| 163 | -0.5 |
| 205 | -1.4 |
| 259 | -1.0 |
| 325 | -0.6 |
| 410 | -0.4 |
| 516 | -0.2 |
| 613 | 1.5 |
| 772 | 4.6 |
| 972 | 9.9 |
| 1220 | 15.4 |
| 1540 | 17.3 |
| 1940 | 19.7 |
| 2440 | 24.7 |
| 3070 | 31.0 |
| 3870 | 31.9 |
| 4870 | 41.2 |
| 6130 | 39.2 |
| 7720 | 39.0 |
| 9720 | 25.7 |
| 12200 | 16.4 |
| 15400 | 21.6 |
| 19400 | 26.3 |
Features & Opinions
More from the team ›Commentary and deep dives from the SoundGuys editorial team.
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Tom TriggsContributor
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