The Sony WH-CH520 Wireless Bluetooth Headphones are budget-friendly yet promising audio accessories. Sporting key features such as the Digital Sound Enhancement Engine (DSEE) and 360 Reality Audio Certification, these headphones aim to deliver a high-quality sound experience while maintaining an affordable price point. With a battery life of up to 50 hours, these headphones are equipped to provide extended listening sessions without frequent recharging. The ability to connect multiple devices, a high-quality built-in microphone, and convenient call management features further enhance their usability. However, notable user concerns about comfort, connectivity, and sound performance raise some questions about their overall value.
Quick Review
| What’s Good | What’s Not So Good |
| Clear Sound Quality | On-ear design might not suit everyone |
| Impressive 50 Hour Battery Life | Limited noise isolation |
| Bluetooth multi-point pairing | Lack of 3.5mm jack |
| Comfortable Design |
Design and Build Quality
The Sony WH-CH520 headphones boast a design that combines simplicity and functionality. Constructed with textured plastic materials, the headphones give off a sense of sturdiness while maintaining a lightweight feel. The absence of an overtly premium build doesn’t detract from their overall quality, as they are well-crafted for their price range. Their on-ear structure, with comfortably padded ear cups, offers a fair level of comfort for many users.
The headphones display a no-frills, on-ear build, providing a practical design while lacking the premium aesthetic found in more expensive models. Although the plastic structure feels durable, it doesn’t offer the same luxurious touch as higher-end headphones. Yet, it’s evident that Sony made conscious efforts to balance decent build quality with an affordable price, allowing users access to reliable wireless headphones without compromising core features.
Sound Quality
The Sony WH-CH520 headphones boast sound quality that balances various audio elements, catering to users’ everyday listening needs. The well-rounded sound profile provides a clear and well-detailed audio experience. Expert and user reviews highlight the headphones’ capacity to deliver a balanced sound across the spectrum, offering clarity in bass, mids, and trebles.
Users appreciate the headphones’ ability to handle diverse music genres well, from electronic beats to vocal-centric tracks, indicating a balanced sound signature with no overwhelming emphasis on any particular frequency range. However, higher-end audiophiles might notice the sound to be somewhat compressed or less nuanced compared to pricier alternatives.
The Digital Sound Enhancement Engine (DSEE) incorporated into the headphones deserves credit for enhancing the audio quality. While the DSEE doesn’t drastically transform the audio, it does add warmth to the sound and refines the mid-range. The Sony Headphones Connect app offers customization options, allowing users to tailor the equalizer settings to their preferences. These settings are noticeably effective, offering a more personalized listening experience than typical headphones in this price range.
Comfort
Comfort and fit are essential factors in the overall user experience, particularly for extended listening periods. The Sony WH-CH520 headphones aim to balance comfort with functionality. Their on-ear design, featuring ample padding, provides a level of comfort for users, even those who generally prefer over-ear headphones. The cushioning, while appreciated, might not completely eliminate pressure for individuals with larger heads, as the clamping force might cause discomfort after extended wear.
However, it’s worth noting that these headphones are more accommodating for users with smaller heads. The balanced weight and design enable wearers to forget they’re wearing them, enhancing the overall comfort. This aspect remains subjective, as users with varying head sizes might have different experiences. While the overall build quality and comfort are satisfactory for their price, the on-ear design might not be the best choice for everyone, particularly for those seeking extended wear without discomfort.
Connectivity and Features
The Sony WH-CH520 headphones exhibit a decent range of connectivity options and features. The headphones support Bluetooth connectivity, ensuring hassle-free pairing with various devices. Users commend the reliability of the Bluetooth connection, reporting minimal dropouts during usage. The Bluetooth multi-point pairing feature allows effortless transitions between devices, enabling seamless switching between a phone and a laptop, which is particularly useful for those engaged in various activities across multiple devices.
While these headphones lack active noise cancellation, they still offer acceptable noise isolation, which might not be substantial but is functional, effectively reducing external ambient noise. Users highlight the microphone’s functionality for calls, although there are observations that the microphone quality could be improved for clearer voice transmission.
The headphones also feature a range of control buttons on the earcups, enabling easy operation for functions such as volume control, play/pause, and track navigation. The Sony Headphones Connect app is an added asset, providing options for customized EQ settings, presets, and other enhancements that contribute to a better listening experience.
Battery Life
One of the standout features of the Sony WH-CH520 headphones is their exceptional battery life. Users consistently praise the extended battery performance, which lives up to the brand’s claims. The headphones boast an impressive battery life of up to 50 hours on a single charge, which far surpasses many competitors in this price range. This extended playtime makes these headphones a reliable choice for long listening sessions without frequent recharging.
Moreover, the quick-charge functionality provides a convenient solution for low battery issues. A mere 3-minute quick-charge session yields approximately 1.5 hours of playback, offering a rapid power boost for users on the go.
Feedback from users indicates that the battery life aligns closely with the brand’s estimations. The headphones maintain a consistent performance throughout extended usage. Users appreciate the reliability of the battery life, especially during longer listening or gaming sessions.
User-Friendly Experience
The user-friendly experience with the Sony WH-CH520 headphones has been both favorable and occasionally problematic, as reported by users. Initial setup, though fairly straightforward, has some room for improvement. Some users found the connection process to be seamless, particularly praising the easy initial setup, while others faced minor difficulties with Bluetooth pairing or optimizing app features.
Control functions, including button operations, app customization, and multipoint connections, received mixed feedback. Many appreciated the accessible button controls on the ear cups, enabling users to adjust volume, skip tracks, and easily manage calls. The Sony Headphones Connect app provided customizable EQ settings, although a few users found the app interface slightly unintuitive or complex to navigate.
Additionally, while the multipoint connection feature received accolades for its convenience, there were reports of possible issues in connecting multiple devices simultaneously.
While the overall user experience varied, users generally found the headphones user-friendly after initial setup, especially in day-to-day operations and routine usage.
Value for Money
Priced affordably, the Sony WH-CH520 headphones present an attractive package for budget-conscious buyers seeking wireless functionality and decent sound quality. The balance between cost and features makes these headphones a compelling option, especially for individuals not looking for top-tier performance.
Their main strengths lie in the well-rounded sound, customizable EQ settings, and an exceptional battery life of up to 50 hours, offering significant value for their price point. However, while they don’t encompass the most cutting-edge features or premium materials, these headphones manage to deliver solid performance for their cost, making them an appealing choice for users seeking reliable wireless listening without breaking the bank.
Conclusion
In summary, the Sony WH-CH520 wireless headphones emerge as a cost-effective and reliable choice for those seeking affordable wireless audio solutions. Boasting commendable sound quality, a plethora of adjustable settings via the Sony | Headphones Connect app, and a remarkable 50-hour battery life, these headphones excel in providing essential features without a hefty price tag. However, the somewhat constrained soundstage and tight fit might deter some users, especially those preferring prolonged comfort during extended use.
Overall, the WH-CH520 headphones cater to users desiring a balance between quality, features, and cost-effectiveness. While they might not compete with higher-end models in certain aspects, their combination of sound performance, battery life, and customizable features make them a worthy choice for budget-conscious consumers seeking wireless convenience.
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