If you don't want to drop hundreds on a pair of headphones while still getting the features of a quality item, I would recommend these. If you care about noise cancellation and noise insulation (others not being able to hear what you're listening to) these aren't for you. But if you don't mind those things everything else is perfect.
Notably my favorite part about these is the battery life. I've left them on for days and the battery only goes down like 25% max. The battery lasted me two weeks after the first charge when I bought them! Super good battery life. Also, the exterior design is minimalistic and fashionable. There's room to decorate with stickers if you wanna get creative with the design too. I even kind of like that these aren't noise cancelation headphones because I wear them in public spaces where I need to be aware of my surroundings, like the gym, so they're good for that.
The ear pads are soft enough to not hurt when you wear it for too long, but I do have smaller ears. If you have bigger ears these may hurt after an hour or two. The headphones are also nicely adjustable to fit the desired size/length. It's worth a mention that I also use these for gaming and in-game calling, and the audio input and output are both great, so if you need a wireless mic, go get these headphones.
Overall, no regrets in buying these! It's a good quality product.
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From the manufacturer
WH-CH520
All-day listening with quality sound
Wireless Headphones
Listen longer
Keep your music playing all day with a battery life that delivers up to 50 hours of power. USB Type-C quick charging gives up to 90 mins of play back from 3 minutes of charge. Now you’ll have enough power for multi-day road trips and long festival weekends.
Customized for all your music preferences
The EQ Custom feature on the Sony | Headphones Connect App tailors sound to your personal preference. Choose from a variety of presets to match sound quality with the genre of music you're listening to. Or create and save your own presets.
Designed to be lightweight
Designed with comfort in mind, the WH-CH520 headphones are lightweight and feature soft earpads, additional head cushion and silent joints so you can enjoy your favorite music and podcasts all day long.
Easy Hands Free-Calling
Conversation flows freely with easy hands-free calling, thanks to the built-in microphone. No need to even take your phone from your pocket.
Multipoint connection
For total convenience, these Bluetooth headphones can be paired with two Bluetooth devices at the same time. Simply switch from a video or song on your laptop to a call on your cellphone, so that you’ll never miss a call.
Swivel design
Swivel design for compact and easy carrying
Voice assisitant
Just say “OK Google” or “Hey Siri” to activate your preferred voice assistant.
Fast Pair
Easily find your missing headphones by sound or check their last known location in Google’s Find My Device app on your smartphone.
Digital Sound Enhancement
Boost the quality of compressed music files and enjoy streaming music with high quality sound through DSEE.
Sony Wireless Headphones
 ULT WEAR |  WH-CH720N |  WH-CH520 |
|---|---|---|
Noise CancelingDigital Noise Cancellation | Noise CancelingDigital Noise Cancellation | Noise CancelingN/A |
Battery Life30 Hrs, 3 Min charge for 90 Mins playback | Battery Life35 Hrs, 10 Min charge for 4.5 Hrs playback | Battery Life50 Hrs, 3 Min charge for 1.5 Hrs playback |
Hands-free CallingYes | Hands-free CallingYes | Hands-free CallingYes |
Multi Device ConnectionYes | Multi Device ConnectionYes | Multi Device ConnectionYes |
Special FeaturesULT mode for more bass, Foldable design, Carrying Case, Wearing detection | Special FeaturesSony’s lightest Wireless Noise-canceling headband ever | Special FeaturesSwivel design |
Compare with similar items
This Item  Sony WH-CH520 Wireless Headphones Bluetooth On-Ear Headset with Microphone, Black |  |  |  |  |  | |
| Price | — | -17% $49.99 List: $59.99 | -40% $29.95 List: $49.95 | $59.99 | $59.99 | $59.99 |
| Delivery | Get it as soon as Saturday, May 11 | Get it as soon as Saturday, May 11 | Get it as soon as Saturday, May 11 | Get it as soon as Saturday, May 11 | Get it as soon as Saturday, May 11 | Get it as soon as Saturday, May 11 |
| Customer Ratings | ||||||
| Sound quality | ||||||
| Noise cancellation | ||||||
| Battery life | ||||||
| Comfort | ||||||
| Sold By | Amazon.com | Focus Camera LLC | Amazon.com | Amazon.com | Amazon.com | Focus Camera LLC |
| connectivity tech | Wireless | Wireless, Bluetooth | Bluetooth 5.0 | Wireless | Wireless | Wireless |
| headphones form factor | On Ear | On Ear | On Ear | On Ear | On Ear | On Ear |
| connector type | USB Type C | USB Type C | USB Type C | wireless | wireless | wireless |
| cable feature | Without Cable | Without Cable | Retractable | Without Cable | Without Cable | Without Cable |
| control type | Media Control | Voice Control | Voice Control | Media Control | Media Control | Media Control |
| water resistance | not water resistant | not water resistant | — | not water resistant | not water resistant | — |
| material | Plastic | Plastic | Plastic | — | — | Plastic |
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These headphones are a go to for the gym! Super nice.
Vinchy✅
Reviews with images
A solid pick
I bought these for a bargain price. My Sony MDR-XB650BTs kept breaking (and while I adore the sound on those they kept going up in price). Knowing Sony’s sound quality to be good, I looked for another pair of Sony bluetooth headphones and stumbled upon these for an incredible sub $50 bargain.I apologize in advance for the constant comparison to MDR-XB650BT in my review. I’m no headphone afficiando, but the only fully experienced reference point I have to compare these to are the MDR-XB650BT which I bought these to replace.MATERIALOn the WH-CH520, the material of the pads appear to be made of synthetic leather. The issue with this is that this material absorbs moisture (oils and sweat) and wears down the fabric over time causing pilling and eventually tearing of the fabric, leaving your ear pads with a spongy hernia.Unfortunately I wasn’t aware of this until only recently and had this happen to multiple MDR-XB650BT ear pads, but I took preventative measures for my WH-CH520 by purchasing a pair of silicone ear pad covers like another reviwer had mentioned to protect them from degrading.Despite the headphones being lightweight and made of plastic they feel sturdy at the same time. They feel less fragile than the MDR-XB650BT which is definitely a plus but I haven’t had them for long enough to talk about the build quality and how long you can expect them to last. By handling them I get this feeling they’re pretty durable. The only thing I find I might be concerned about over time is the swivel.FIT AND DESIGNI have a small head and these fit me fine. The headphones are worn on-ear. They’re a snug fit but can become uncomfortable after about an hour but that’s usually because I wear them tight but I can loosen them when I please. Because of how round the design is there’s a bit of space between my head and headband when it connects to the earpeices which can look kinda goofy (see pic) but it’s nothing major and has no bearing on what I’m looking for in headphones. The good news is because of this gap you can probably wear them comfortably with glasses. The actual ear pads a little small compared to other headphones.I really enjoy the design. The WH-CH520 are minimalist, streamlined, and the matte is charming.SOUND AND SOUND QUALITYBottom line: It’s good.In comparison to other cheaply priced headphones I’ve had the experiences of trying (but not owning myself), the sound quality is good. It’s not stellar but it’s definitely good for the price.One thing that bugs me is the depth of the sound dynamics. In the app, you’re able to adjust and set your own custom EQ settings but the sound quality is slightly boxy or stuffy. I’ve tried a ton of different settings adjustments in the app’s equalizer with it and I experiment with different songs to see which settings holds up between songs, but there’s still a baseline emphasis on lower-mid frequencies in this sound of these.The EQ setting that I find sounds best ends up just being the flat default with bass turned up and 400Hz slightly cut. I do wish the equalizer options in the app were more granular.Overall I find that the WH-CH520 has less of a dynamic range than the MDR-XB650BT. An analogy to this are “blackest blacks” and “whitest whites” on a screen with a dynamic range monitor. In terms of sound this is loudness and quietness in instruments which create a feeling of depth in the music. With the WH-CH520 the actual balance of the volume of the instruments are a bit muddled compared to the MDR-XB650BT.Their noise isolation leaves something to be desired but it’s better than nothing.It’s not the end of the world and I would still recommend these for the price. When you can adjust it right to work around the low-mid oddity it’s actually pretty good.Also, everyone hears things differently and I’m quite sensitive to subleties in sound so take what I’m saying with a grain of salt if you’re not as sensitive.BATTERY LIFEI haven’t even charged them out of the box yet after using them nearly every day and they’re only at 50% battery life. Phenomenal. That’s all there really is to say.FEATURESThere’s a minor feature of these headphones that bug me. At least pairing it with my iPhone, the volume control on these is tied directly to the volume of your phone. If you click the volume up button on the headset, that’s going to use your phone’s volume. The MDR-XB650BT has a separate sound adjustment from your device. Unlike the MDR-XB650BT, with the WH-CH520 you can’t further increase the volume on your headset if the volume of the song on your phone is a tad quiet. This takes away a bit of listener flexibility.As other people have stated, the buttons are difficult to distinguish by finger.The MDR-XB650BT that I’m used to has a button that sticks out between the volume controls where you can press it inward to pause/resume the music or flick the button forward or backward to change the song in a playlist.The WH-CH520’s buttons are flat which makes it harder to distinguish and it does not have that controllability from the headset. You can pause and resume your music with the middle button (which you might mistake for the volume buttons unfortunately) but if you want to change your song to the next or previous, you’ll have to do it on your device.Despite all the negative things I have said, these points are all relative. In a vacuum, these headphones are great for the price especially if you just need a set of headphones that can get the job done while sounding pretty good. You’re probably gonna get more than you expect for the price.
Top reviews from the United States
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Reviewed in the United States on December 1, 2023
COMFORT:
Initially, they were a bit stiff and uncomfortable, especially the ear pads. They would make my ears a bit sore after an hour or two of use. After a few months, the ear pads and headband have softened up and they feel so much more comfortable. I can wear them all day and not feel a thing. They somehow feel more comfortable than my Sony WH1000XM4's which are $300 premium noise cancelling headphones. The XM4s make my ears very hot and the top headband hurts the top of my head after a while. These WH-CH520s keep my ears cooler by virtue of them being on-ear rather than over-ear, as well as staying comfortable on my head all day due to their light weight.
SOUND QUALITY:
The sound quality on these is great for the price and size of the drivers. Out of the box, I'd describe the overall sound as being slightly warm but very accurate. They have a slight V-shape Harmann Curve sound profile, with very clear and present mids. The bass is clear and pretty clean without being too thumpy; not the quickest bass response I've heard though. The trebles are a bit recessed but pleasant on the ear. If you're really looking for an analytical headphone that can pick out tiny plucks and cymbals in an orchestral piece, these probably aren't the headphones. These are more geared towards general consumer use with a warm sound profile perfect for pop, rap, rock, edm, indie, podcasts, etc. They really shine in vocals, voices always sound very forward and detailed. In terms of sound stage, they're a clear step above any in-ear headphones, but they aren't as wide as a typical over-ear headphones. Overall their sound is just a clear step above your typical earphone.
BATTERY LIFE:
Battery life on these is amazing. They can last me around 4-5 days with around 7-8 hours of use each day. I use them nearly all day during work. They charge really quickly too, which is great.
FUNCTIONS:
They have a standard pause/play/skip/answer/hand-up middle button, as well as volume up and down buttons. You can skip and rewind by holding the volume buttons. They can also be paired with Sony's headphone app which allows you to change the EQ settings for these and have them sound how you want. There aren't a ton of sliders for the EQ, but enough for most people to customize their sound to their liking. The microphone on these are pretty good for headphones. They sound better than average in terms of headphone mics, but they don't sound nearly as good as the iPhone 15s built-in microphone. But if you need these for a quick phone call or video call, they work great. They can't fold up in any way but the ear cups can swivel up. So if you take them off your head and swivel them to hang around your neck, the ear pads will face up; which isn't good nor bad, just something to keep in mind.
EXERCISE:
If you're the type to use headphones rather than earphones when exercising, these would probably suffice. They are breathable and lightweight, while also having a decent clamping force to stay on your head. If i shake my head vigorously though, they inevitably fall off. The earpads are a faux-leather so they're very easy to wipe off and clean. Although, I'm typically the type of person to use earphones while exercising. The most extensive exercise I've done with these headphones is skateboard with them, but as soon as I start jumping around to do any tricks, they start to slide off my head.
NOISE CANCELLATION:
In terms of noise cancellation, they are decent. They obviously don't have any active noise cancelling features, but passively, they block a bit of noise, maybe 10-12 dB or so. They aren't going to blow your mind though in terms of noise cancellation. I will say though, if you have music playing at around 40-50% volume, they block out a considerable amount of outside noise like most headphones do. I can walk through busy downtown streets with these and not hear much at all if I have music going. They'll definitely block out a considerable amount of noise in an office, cafe, train ride, etc. so long as you're actually listening to something.
BUILD QUALITY:
These headphones are built surprisingly well. The materials are obviously cheap, but they don't feel like it. The plastic is lightweight, but solid at the same time. The earpads and headband padding are both the same faux-leather, which is a bit stiff at first but soften up over time. The padding feels like it will last a long time simply because of its synthetic nature.
DESIGN:
Taste in the way these are designed is obviously subjective but I think these look great. They have a modern, but more timeless design. They don't look super retro, if that's what you're going for, but they don't look super contemporary either. Just look like clean, standard headphones that will look great for years. I love how the Sony logo is faintly placed on one side of the headband. It's there, but not obnoxious.
Color: BlackVerified Purchase
Solid performer all around for the price with a timeless design
Reviewed in the United States on December 1, 2023
These are great headphones for this price, and they can often be found at a discount. I've used them extensively for the past few months and they have gotten better over time.Reviewed in the United States on December 1, 2023
COMFORT:
Initially, they were a bit stiff and uncomfortable, especially the ear pads. They would make my ears a bit sore after an hour or two of use. After a few months, the ear pads and headband have softened up and they feel so much more comfortable. I can wear them all day and not feel a thing. They somehow feel more comfortable than my Sony WH1000XM4's which are $300 premium noise cancelling headphones. The XM4s make my ears very hot and the top headband hurts the top of my head after a while. These WH-CH520s keep my ears cooler by virtue of them being on-ear rather than over-ear, as well as staying comfortable on my head all day due to their light weight.
SOUND QUALITY:
The sound quality on these is great for the price and size of the drivers. Out of the box, I'd describe the overall sound as being slightly warm but very accurate. They have a slight V-shape Harmann Curve sound profile, with very clear and present mids. The bass is clear and pretty clean without being too thumpy; not the quickest bass response I've heard though. The trebles are a bit recessed but pleasant on the ear. If you're really looking for an analytical headphone that can pick out tiny plucks and cymbals in an orchestral piece, these probably aren't the headphones. These are more geared towards general consumer use with a warm sound profile perfect for pop, rap, rock, edm, indie, podcasts, etc. They really shine in vocals, voices always sound very forward and detailed. In terms of sound stage, they're a clear step above any in-ear headphones, but they aren't as wide as a typical over-ear headphones. Overall their sound is just a clear step above your typical earphone.
BATTERY LIFE:
Battery life on these is amazing. They can last me around 4-5 days with around 7-8 hours of use each day. I use them nearly all day during work. They charge really quickly too, which is great.
FUNCTIONS:
They have a standard pause/play/skip/answer/hand-up middle button, as well as volume up and down buttons. You can skip and rewind by holding the volume buttons. They can also be paired with Sony's headphone app which allows you to change the EQ settings for these and have them sound how you want. There aren't a ton of sliders for the EQ, but enough for most people to customize their sound to their liking. The microphone on these are pretty good for headphones. They sound better than average in terms of headphone mics, but they don't sound nearly as good as the iPhone 15s built-in microphone. But if you need these for a quick phone call or video call, they work great. They can't fold up in any way but the ear cups can swivel up. So if you take them off your head and swivel them to hang around your neck, the ear pads will face up; which isn't good nor bad, just something to keep in mind.
EXERCISE:
If you're the type to use headphones rather than earphones when exercising, these would probably suffice. They are breathable and lightweight, while also having a decent clamping force to stay on your head. If i shake my head vigorously though, they inevitably fall off. The earpads are a faux-leather so they're very easy to wipe off and clean. Although, I'm typically the type of person to use earphones while exercising. The most extensive exercise I've done with these headphones is skateboard with them, but as soon as I start jumping around to do any tricks, they start to slide off my head.
NOISE CANCELLATION:
In terms of noise cancellation, they are decent. They obviously don't have any active noise cancelling features, but passively, they block a bit of noise, maybe 10-12 dB or so. They aren't going to blow your mind though in terms of noise cancellation. I will say though, if you have music playing at around 40-50% volume, they block out a considerable amount of outside noise like most headphones do. I can walk through busy downtown streets with these and not hear much at all if I have music going. They'll definitely block out a considerable amount of noise in an office, cafe, train ride, etc. so long as you're actually listening to something.
BUILD QUALITY:
These headphones are built surprisingly well. The materials are obviously cheap, but they don't feel like it. The plastic is lightweight, but solid at the same time. The earpads and headband padding are both the same faux-leather, which is a bit stiff at first but soften up over time. The padding feels like it will last a long time simply because of its synthetic nature.
DESIGN:
Taste in the way these are designed is obviously subjective but I think these look great. They have a modern, but more timeless design. They don't look super retro, if that's what you're going for, but they don't look super contemporary either. Just look like clean, standard headphones that will look great for years. I love how the Sony logo is faintly placed on one side of the headband. It's there, but not obnoxious.
Images in this review
Reviewed in the United States on December 30, 2023
Color: BlackVerified Purchase
I bought these for a bargain price. My Sony MDR-XB650BTs kept breaking (and while I adore the sound on those they kept going up in price). Knowing Sony’s sound quality to be good, I looked for another pair of Sony bluetooth headphones and stumbled upon these for an incredible sub $50 bargain.
I apologize in advance for the constant comparison to MDR-XB650BT in my review. I’m no headphone afficiando, but the only fully experienced reference point I have to compare these to are the MDR-XB650BT which I bought these to replace.
MATERIAL
On the WH-CH520, the material of the pads appear to be made of synthetic leather. The issue with this is that this material absorbs moisture (oils and sweat) and wears down the fabric over time causing pilling and eventually tearing of the fabric, leaving your ear pads with a spongy hernia.
Unfortunately I wasn’t aware of this until only recently and had this happen to multiple MDR-XB650BT ear pads, but I took preventative measures for my WH-CH520 by purchasing a pair of silicone ear pad covers like another reviwer had mentioned to protect them from degrading.
Despite the headphones being lightweight and made of plastic they feel sturdy at the same time. They feel less fragile than the MDR-XB650BT which is definitely a plus but I haven’t had them for long enough to talk about the build quality and how long you can expect them to last. By handling them I get this feeling they’re pretty durable. The only thing I find I might be concerned about over time is the swivel.
FIT AND DESIGN
I have a small head and these fit me fine. The headphones are worn on-ear. They’re a snug fit but can become uncomfortable after about an hour but that’s usually because I wear them tight but I can loosen them when I please. Because of how round the design is there’s a bit of space between my head and headband when it connects to the earpeices which can look kinda goofy (see pic) but it’s nothing major and has no bearing on what I’m looking for in headphones. The good news is because of this gap you can probably wear them comfortably with glasses. The actual ear pads a little small compared to other headphones.
I really enjoy the design. The WH-CH520 are minimalist, streamlined, and the matte is charming.
SOUND AND SOUND QUALITY
Bottom line: It’s good.
In comparison to other cheaply priced headphones I’ve had the experiences of trying (but not owning myself), the sound quality is good. It’s not stellar but it’s definitely good for the price.
One thing that bugs me is the depth of the sound dynamics. In the app, you’re able to adjust and set your own custom EQ settings but the sound quality is slightly boxy or stuffy. I’ve tried a ton of different settings adjustments in the app’s equalizer with it and I experiment with different songs to see which settings holds up between songs, but there’s still a baseline emphasis on lower-mid frequencies in this sound of these.
The EQ setting that I find sounds best ends up just being the flat default with bass turned up and 400Hz slightly cut. I do wish the equalizer options in the app were more granular.
Overall I find that the WH-CH520 has less of a dynamic range than the MDR-XB650BT. An analogy to this are “blackest blacks” and “whitest whites” on a screen with a dynamic range monitor. In terms of sound this is loudness and quietness in instruments which create a feeling of depth in the music. With the WH-CH520 the actual balance of the volume of the instruments are a bit muddled compared to the MDR-XB650BT.
Their noise isolation leaves something to be desired but it’s better than nothing.
It’s not the end of the world and I would still recommend these for the price. When you can adjust it right to work around the low-mid oddity it’s actually pretty good.
Also, everyone hears things differently and I’m quite sensitive to subleties in sound so take what I’m saying with a grain of salt if you’re not as sensitive.
BATTERY LIFE
I haven’t even charged them out of the box yet after using them nearly every day and they’re only at 50% battery life. Phenomenal. That’s all there really is to say.
FEATURES
There’s a minor feature of these headphones that bug me. At least pairing it with my iPhone, the volume control on these is tied directly to the volume of your phone. If you click the volume up button on the headset, that’s going to use your phone’s volume. The MDR-XB650BT has a separate sound adjustment from your device. Unlike the MDR-XB650BT, with the WH-CH520 you can’t further increase the volume on your headset if the volume of the song on your phone is a tad quiet. This takes away a bit of listener flexibility.
As other people have stated, the buttons are difficult to distinguish by finger.
The MDR-XB650BT that I’m used to has a button that sticks out between the volume controls where you can press it inward to pause/resume the music or flick the button forward or backward to change the song in a playlist.
The WH-CH520’s buttons are flat which makes it harder to distinguish and it does not have that controllability from the headset. You can pause and resume your music with the middle button (which you might mistake for the volume buttons unfortunately) but if you want to change your song to the next or previous, you’ll have to do it on your device.
Despite all the negative things I have said, these points are all relative. In a vacuum, these headphones are great for the price especially if you just need a set of headphones that can get the job done while sounding pretty good. You’re probably gonna get more than you expect for the price.
I apologize in advance for the constant comparison to MDR-XB650BT in my review. I’m no headphone afficiando, but the only fully experienced reference point I have to compare these to are the MDR-XB650BT which I bought these to replace.
MATERIAL
On the WH-CH520, the material of the pads appear to be made of synthetic leather. The issue with this is that this material absorbs moisture (oils and sweat) and wears down the fabric over time causing pilling and eventually tearing of the fabric, leaving your ear pads with a spongy hernia.
Unfortunately I wasn’t aware of this until only recently and had this happen to multiple MDR-XB650BT ear pads, but I took preventative measures for my WH-CH520 by purchasing a pair of silicone ear pad covers like another reviwer had mentioned to protect them from degrading.
Despite the headphones being lightweight and made of plastic they feel sturdy at the same time. They feel less fragile than the MDR-XB650BT which is definitely a plus but I haven’t had them for long enough to talk about the build quality and how long you can expect them to last. By handling them I get this feeling they’re pretty durable. The only thing I find I might be concerned about over time is the swivel.
FIT AND DESIGN
I have a small head and these fit me fine. The headphones are worn on-ear. They’re a snug fit but can become uncomfortable after about an hour but that’s usually because I wear them tight but I can loosen them when I please. Because of how round the design is there’s a bit of space between my head and headband when it connects to the earpeices which can look kinda goofy (see pic) but it’s nothing major and has no bearing on what I’m looking for in headphones. The good news is because of this gap you can probably wear them comfortably with glasses. The actual ear pads a little small compared to other headphones.
I really enjoy the design. The WH-CH520 are minimalist, streamlined, and the matte is charming.
SOUND AND SOUND QUALITY
Bottom line: It’s good.
In comparison to other cheaply priced headphones I’ve had the experiences of trying (but not owning myself), the sound quality is good. It’s not stellar but it’s definitely good for the price.
One thing that bugs me is the depth of the sound dynamics. In the app, you’re able to adjust and set your own custom EQ settings but the sound quality is slightly boxy or stuffy. I’ve tried a ton of different settings adjustments in the app’s equalizer with it and I experiment with different songs to see which settings holds up between songs, but there’s still a baseline emphasis on lower-mid frequencies in this sound of these.
The EQ setting that I find sounds best ends up just being the flat default with bass turned up and 400Hz slightly cut. I do wish the equalizer options in the app were more granular.
Overall I find that the WH-CH520 has less of a dynamic range than the MDR-XB650BT. An analogy to this are “blackest blacks” and “whitest whites” on a screen with a dynamic range monitor. In terms of sound this is loudness and quietness in instruments which create a feeling of depth in the music. With the WH-CH520 the actual balance of the volume of the instruments are a bit muddled compared to the MDR-XB650BT.
Their noise isolation leaves something to be desired but it’s better than nothing.
It’s not the end of the world and I would still recommend these for the price. When you can adjust it right to work around the low-mid oddity it’s actually pretty good.
Also, everyone hears things differently and I’m quite sensitive to subleties in sound so take what I’m saying with a grain of salt if you’re not as sensitive.
BATTERY LIFE
I haven’t even charged them out of the box yet after using them nearly every day and they’re only at 50% battery life. Phenomenal. That’s all there really is to say.
FEATURES
There’s a minor feature of these headphones that bug me. At least pairing it with my iPhone, the volume control on these is tied directly to the volume of your phone. If you click the volume up button on the headset, that’s going to use your phone’s volume. The MDR-XB650BT has a separate sound adjustment from your device. Unlike the MDR-XB650BT, with the WH-CH520 you can’t further increase the volume on your headset if the volume of the song on your phone is a tad quiet. This takes away a bit of listener flexibility.
As other people have stated, the buttons are difficult to distinguish by finger.
The MDR-XB650BT that I’m used to has a button that sticks out between the volume controls where you can press it inward to pause/resume the music or flick the button forward or backward to change the song in a playlist.
The WH-CH520’s buttons are flat which makes it harder to distinguish and it does not have that controllability from the headset. You can pause and resume your music with the middle button (which you might mistake for the volume buttons unfortunately) but if you want to change your song to the next or previous, you’ll have to do it on your device.
Despite all the negative things I have said, these points are all relative. In a vacuum, these headphones are great for the price especially if you just need a set of headphones that can get the job done while sounding pretty good. You’re probably gonna get more than you expect for the price.
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