JBL Tune 520BT vs Sony WH-CH520: Which Should You Buy?
Two lightweight on-ear Bluetooth headsets with no noise cancelling: the choice comes down to bass-led JBL tuning or Sony's EQ and upscaling.
JBL JBL Tune 520 BT Wireless On-Ear Headphones with
Sony Sony WH-CH520 Wireless Bluetooth On-Ear Headphones, Lightweight Design
Side by side
| JBL Tune 520 BT Wireless On-Ear | Sony WH-CH520 Wireless Bluetooth On-Ear Headphones | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | See on Amazon → | See on Amazon → |
| Rating | ★★★★★ 4.6 | ★★★★★ 4.6 |
| Review count | 7,032 | 46,727 |
| Brand | JBL | Sony |
| Highlights |
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Our verdict
Pick the JBL Tune 520BT if you want the longer quoted battery life and a bass-forward sound that JBL calls Pure Bass. Pick the Sony WH-CH520 if you want a five-band EQ in the Sony Sound Connect app, DSEE upscaling, 360 Reality Audio support and a wider choice of colours. Neither has active noise cancelling, so if you commute on a loud train, you should look at a different class of headphone altogether. For plain everyday listening and calls, the two are close, and personal taste in sound decides it.
Which one is for you?
- The JBL Tune 520BT suits people who like punchy bass, want the longest quoted battery life and a simple app for EQ presets. Read our full look at the JBL Tune 520 BT Wireless On-Ear →
- The Sony WH-CH520 suits people who want a customisable five-band EQ, lighter weight on the head and a choice of six colours. Read our full look at the Sony WH-CH520 Wireless Bluetooth On-Ear Headphones →
Battery and charging
JBL's own listing for the JBL Tune 520BT quotes up to 57 hours of wireless listening, and a JBL retailer page describes a five-minute quick charge giving about three hours of playback, with a full recharge taking around two hours over USB-C. Those are manufacturer figures, and real-world hours drop at higher volume.
The Sony WH-CH520 listing promises up to 50 hours and says a three-minute charge gives up to 90 minutes of playback. Be aware that one Sony regional spec sheet shows 40 hours for continuous communication and about three hours for a full charge, so Sony's headline number is for music playback under specific conditions. On paper JBL has the longer battery, but either will last well over a week of commuting.
Sound and app
JBL tunes the Tune 520BT around its Pure Bass sound, and the JBL Headphones app lets you adjust EQ. If you listen to hip-hop, dance or pop and like low end that's easy to hear, that's the appeal.
Sony's route is different. The WH-CH520 uses DSEE, which Sony describes as upscaling compressed tracks, supports 360 Reality Audio, and gives you a five-band EQ in the Sony Sound Connect app. Sony's spec sheet lists a 30 mm driver, SBC and AAC codecs, and Bluetooth 5.2. JBL lists Bluetooth 5.3 for the Tune 520BT. On modern phones that version gap makes little everyday difference.
Comfort, calls and connection
Both are on-ear designs, so they press on the ear rather than around it. Sony quotes 147 g for the WH-CH520 and describes soft ear pads. JBL describes the Tune 520BT as lightweight with soft ear cushions and a padded headband, but we couldn't confirm a weight on JBL's own pages, so we won't compare grams.
Both support multipoint, so you can stay paired to a phone and a laptop or tablet and switch between them. Both offer hands-free calls: JBL highlights Voice Aware, Sony highlights clear voice pickup. Sony adds Swift Pair for Windows and Fast Pair for Android, which makes first-time pairing quicker on those platforms. iPhone users can pair either one normally through Bluetooth settings.
Which sounds better for you?
Honestly, it depends on taste more than specs. Neither listing quotes a frequency response we could verify, and both are entry-level on-ear designs, so don't expect studio neutrality. The JBL leans towards bass emphasis by design. The Sony gives you more control to shape the sound yourself, since the five-band EQ lets you pull bass back or lift vocals. If you rarely open apps and want the sound to be fun out of the box, the JBL is the easier fit. If you like to tweak, the Sony gives you more to play with.
Who should skip both
Neither model has active noise cancelling, and Sony's spec sheet lists no ambient sound mode for the WH-CH520. If you want to block out engines or an open-plan office, or need a transparency mode to hear announcements, choose a noise-cancelling model from the headphones category. If you want a speaker instead, see our JBL Flip 7 vs Charge 6 and Go 4 vs Go 5 comparisons.
Questions people ask
Which is better, JBL Tune 520BT or Sony WH-CH520?
Neither wins outright. The JBL quotes the longer battery and a bass-heavy sound, while the Sony has a five-band EQ, DSEE and more colours. Choose on sound preference.
Does the Sony WH-CH520 have noise cancelling?
No. Sony's spec sheet lists no noise cancelling and no ambient sound mode for it. The JBL Tune 520BT is also a non-noise-cancelling design.
Which has the longer battery life?
On the manufacturer-style listings, the JBL Tune 520BT quotes up to 57 hours against up to 50 hours for the Sony WH-CH520. Actual hours depend on volume and use.
Do they work with iPhone and Android?
Yes, both pair over standard Bluetooth. Sony also lists Fast Pair for Android and Swift Pair for Windows, and both support Siri or Google Assistant via a button.
Can I connect two devices at once?
Yes. Both the JBL Tune 520BT and the Sony WH-CH520 are listed with multipoint, so you can switch between two Bluetooth devices.
Sources
- JBL Store Indonesia, JBL Tune 520BT product page
- Sony, WH-CH520 specifications (Sony Malaysia store)
Prices are pulled live from Amazon.
Prices move around, so always confirm on Amazon before deciding. Browse more options in Headphones, Earphones & Accessories or see the whole Electronics department. New to the category? Start with our buying guide.