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Sony WH-CH520 · Photo source

Sony WH-CH520
Photo 1 of 73

Sony WH-CH520 · Photo source

Sony · WH headphones

WH-CH520

Released March 2023

Lightweight Bluetooth on-ear headphones with app EQ and multipoint, suited to budget listening where hearing some surrounding noise is acceptable.

Type
On-ear
Noise cancelling
No
Battery
50 h
With case
–
Best codec
AAC
Weight
147 g

What reviewers say

Reviewers praise the light, padded design, long battery life and useful multipoint connection, but find noise isolation limited. TechRadar considers the sound and app EQ excellent value, while SoundGuys finds the tuning less convincing and warns that button presses can disturb the fit.

From soundguys.com and techradar.com

Specifications

Report a wrong or missing spec

Sound

Type
On-ear
Noise cancelling
No
Transparency mode
No
Driver size
30 mm
Back
Closed
Bluetooth codecs
SBC and AAC
Lossless over USB-C
No
Drivers
Bluetooth response 20 Hz to 20,000 Hz at 44.1 kHz sampling
Audio features
DSEE upscaling and customisable equaliser in Sony | Sound Connect (formerly Headphones Connect)

Battery

Listening time (maker's claim)
Up to 50 hours
Battery life detail
Up to 40 hours of calls and 200 hours on standby; no passive operation or wired playback
Fast charging
3 minutes gives up to 1.5 hours; full charge approximately 3 hours

Design

Weight
147 g
Bluetooth
5.2
Two devices at once
Yes
Headphone cable
No
Controls
Physical buttons for playback, calls, volume and track selection; press the play/call button to use the connected phone's Siri or Google voice assistant
Microphones
Built-in call microphone with noise suppression processing
Fit and ear tips
Adjustable padded headband, soft earpads and swivelling earcups
Water resistance detail
No water resistance rating published
Works with
Two-device multipoint, Fast Pair and Swift Pair; approximately 10 m range, profiles A2DP, AVRCP, HFP and HSP; USB-C is charging-only (SoundGuys)
Colours
Black, Blue, White, Beige; Pink and Yellow added in March 2025; One Piece Black and One Piece White limited editions on the current UK page
In the box
Headphones and USB charging cable; no carrying case listed

Pros and cons

Pros

  • Up to 50 hours of listening and 1.5 hours from a 3-minute charge
  • Multipoint, Fast Pair and Swift Pair
  • App equaliser and DSEE upscaling

Cons

  • No active noise cancelling or transparency mode
  • No wired audio input; USB-C is charging-only
  • No published water resistance rating or carrying case included

Closest rivals

Model
TypeNoise cancellingBatteryWith caseBest codecWeightReleased
BeatsSolo 4
On-earNo50 h–AAC217 gMay 2024
JBLTune 720BT
Over-earNo76 h–AAC220 gFeb 2023
AudezeMaxwell
Over-earNo80 h–LC3490 gJan 2023

Sources

  1. sony.co.uk/electronics/support/wireless-headphones-bluetooth-headphones/wh-ch52…
  2. sony.co.uk/headphones/products/wh-ch520
  3. sony.co.uk/presscentre/sony-announces-two-new-headphone-models-the-wh-ch720n-ov…
  4. sony.eu/presscentre/sony-announces-the-wf-c710n-truly-wireless-noise-cancelling…
  5. soundguys.com/sony-wh-ch520-review-98695
  6. sony.jp/headphone/special/styles
  7. sony.jp/msc/mail/common/recommend/20230222_headphone/index.html
  8. sony.jp/CorporateCruise/Press/202504/25-0418
  9. prnewswire.com/news-releases/sony-electronics-announces-two-new-headphone-model…
  10. prnewswire.com/news-releases/sony-electronics-announces-the-wf-c710n-truly-wire…
  11. sony.jp/headphone/products/WH-CH520
  12. pur.store.sony.jp/headphone/products/WH-CH520/WH-CH520_purchase
  13. sony.jp/webapi/image/product_relate.php
  14. sony.co.uk/electronics/support/wireless-headphones-bluetooth-headphones/wh-ch52…
  15. sony.jp/headphone/products/WH-CH520/feature_1.html
  16. sony.jp/headphone/products/WH-CH520/feature_2.html
  17. sony.jp/headphone/products/WH-CH520/feature_3.html
  18. sony.co.uk/headphones/products/wh-ch520/features
  19. sony.co.uk/headphones/products/wh-ch520/features2
  20. sony.co.uk/headphones/products/wh-ch520/features3
  21. sony.co.uk/headphones/products/wh-ch520/features4
  22. sony.co.uk/presscentre/sony-announces-one-piece-collaboration-with-limited-edit…
  23. sony.co.uk/presscentre/sony-announces-the-wf-c710n-truly-wireless-noise-cancell…
  24. sony.co.uk/electronics/support/wireless-headphones-bluetooth-headphones/wh-ch520
  25. helpguide.sony.net/mdr/2958/v1/en/print.pdf
  26. sony.com/electronics/support/res/manuals/5044/039d004b538ba2e03e1d8bb03fd37615/…
  27. sony.co.uk/electronics/support/wireless-headphones-bluetooth-headphones/wh-ch52…

Photo: sony.scene7.com

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