Sony WHCH520 Review

With a diminutive 34 x 34-millimeter earcup size, this lightweight, almost toy-like headphone is for those who demand powerful sound from a mini design.

Sound Quality

“For an on-ear set, these little headphones pack a great punch,” one tester said. The sound mix is mostly balanced, and the textures have adequate separation. But, it falls short of the average sound quality because it lacks a fully immersive feel and crisp detailing. However, we think most budget shoppers will find the listening experience enjoyable for an on-ear design and at this price.

The WHCH520's greatest quality is its rich bass and warm mids. The bass has a strong presence but doesn't overpower Hip-Hop and EDM tracks like “Panini” by Lil Nas X. Still, bass heads looking for that extra oomph will appreciate the Clear Bass feature to add more thump. The mids are full and forward, letting vocals and instruments shine in singer-songwriter tracks like “Let the Good Times Roll” by Harry Nilsson and “I Can't Breathe” by Parker McCollum. The highs are decent but have a darker coloring that sometimes feels a bit dull. On the plus side, they never sound harsh or piercing, even with high-hitting cymbals, violins, and vocalists.

Staggered between the pleasing lows and mids and adequate highs, there is an overall lack of clarity. Our tester said, “It offers a decent sound portrait, showing the full picture well, but it is somewhat blurry around the edges.” We noticed a slight improvement in the muddiness using the Digital Sound Enhancement Engine (DSEE) in the Sony app, which restored liveliness to low-quality, compressed sound files.

Soundstage

The 520s provide adequate space to locate instruments, differentiate textures, and feel the difference between a densely layered studio track, an intimate acoustic performance, or a stadium banger.

You won't be lifted away to a multi-dimensional experience, but it isn't terrible for an on-ear design. The smaller earcups don't provide the seal to block external sounds that can overshadow fine musical details. The size limits dimensionality and doesn't allow the music to flow around and dance within your ears like it would in a wide, open space.

Frequency Response

The frequency response of the WHCH520 gives a bird's eye view of the sound signature.

Peaks in the bass and lower-treble (2.5-4.5 kiloHertz) range follow the general shape of our Target Response Curve, indicating the sound profile appeals to the average listener. However, the treble peak is not as wide as we like, with a drastic dip in the mid-treble range (4.5-10 kilohertz). This confirms our expert listener's impression that some highs fall back in the mix and could use extra sparkle.

The mids also lie relatively flat instead of dipping down, which emphasizes the mids, explaining why acoustic and R&B tracks sound particularly delightful. The bass isn't as elevated as our Target Curve, indicating that heavy bass lovers may require more thump than the built-in profile offers.

Comfort and Fit

The WHCH520 are not comfortable compared to over-ear headphones, but they aren't as uncomfortable as other on-ear models.

At a mere 144 grams, the WHCH520 is feather-light and barely noticeable across the head. The earcups are sufficiently cushy, resting on the ears instead of over. The cups are wrapped in a plasticky material that feels cheap and doesn't breathe well, but the clamping force is low, so we could wear them without sensitive spots. Many users dislike pressure directly on the ear, so the design could be a no-go for some.

Unfortunately, the on-ear design made it hard to wear them for over 3 hours, and they easily fell off with a deep back stretch or a swift head jerk.

Noise Cancellation

The WHCH520 do not offer any noise cancellation with an on-ear design and no active noise cancelation (ANC) technology.

Through passive cancellation (achieved by physically blocking the ear) these Sonys block 33 decibels of noise in the treble range, decreasing things like emergency sirens and yelling kids.

There's also a subtle 8-decibel attenuation in the mid-range, which lowered nearby conversations to a mumble, reminiscent of adults in Charlie Brown cartoons. Overall, you can expect to be aware of your surroundings.

Ease of Use

The WHCH520 comes with an excellent app for customization and a reliable Bluetooth connection.

However, we would have preferred a few adjustments to help provide better noise-blocking.

Controls

The all-button controls are reliable, but hard to tell apart when reaching behind your ears. While not a deal-breaker, wider spacing would have been nice. The headphones support hands-free calling with Google Assistant or Siri, so you can respond to emails, call friends, or change your playlist without your phone.

Customization

One of our favorite features of the WHCH520 is the highly intuitive Sony Headphones Connect app. It has sound profile adjustments to find a blend that best suits your musical tastes. We loved the EQ presets, especially the Clear Bass setting. There's also a five-point manual EQ slider, but it isn't as effective at changing the sound profile as the presets.

The headphones support Sony's 360 Reality Audio and can tailor the sound to your ear shape for an extra cinematic feel. However, spatial audio can only be used in conjunction with compatible streaming services like Amazon Music Unlimited or 360 Reality Live. Plus, with the on-ear design, spatial audio can only do so much.

Connectivity

The WHCH520 readily forms a Bluetooth 5.2 connection with Apple and Android devices and reliably stays connected across an outstanding 165-foot range in an unobstructed outdoor environment. The Multipoint feature is easy to use on any operating system and flawlessly switches audio streaming between two connected devices. If you're an Android user, you'll appreciate added frills like Google Fast Pair for frustration-free pairing and Find My Device for locating lost headsets, but it lacks an audio jack.

We evaluate negative Amazon Reviews. Only 0.37% of 1-star reviews complain about a glitchy connection, confirming our outstanding experience.

Battery

The WHCH520 has a 51-hour battery life outlasting most other headphones in our lineup, but it still falls short of a few competitors.

While it does not support passive playback when the battery is dead, the manufacturer claims three minutes of charge provides 1.5 hours of listening. Three hours plugged in will buy you a full charge.

Call Quality

Sony did not compromise on the WHCH520's call quality. With crisp, clear calls, it outperforms most competitors in our lineup.

The WHCH520 has one microphone for voice detection, but it is plenty when combined with Sony's stellar voice isolation technology. In simulated and real-life phone calls from ideal, quiet conditions, the WHCH520 performs well. Noisy environments impact the call quality, but the WHCH520 still performs above average.

In our simulated phone calls from a booming subway, some background noise seeps through, but our male caller's voice remains loud and clear. Our female caller's voice breaks up slightly, but is still understandable.

In an office setting, background noise is reduced, though not fully blocked out, and the caller's voice is clear.

In phone calls from an ideal quiet environment, the caller's voice has a natural quality that's pleasant.

According to testers, the WHCH520's actual phone calls were “impressive” and “pretty dang clear. ” The voice volume is exactly where you want it to be.

Should You Buy the Sony WHCH520?

The WHCH520 is a perfect choice for budget shoppers who appreciate a compact design. Teens and young adults with smaller ears will find the cushy earpads cozy enough for short sessions, but longer, all-day wear isn't great with the on-ear design. The sound profile is relatively balanced and complementary to a variety of genres, but those with a discerning ear will notice the lack of detail. If you want noise cancellation, then these are definitely a no-go.

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