Sony WH-CH520 vs Sony MDR-ZX110
Quick take: The Sony MDR-ZX110 costs $28 less; only the Sony WH-CH520 supports multipoint (two devices at once).
| Spec | Sony WH-CH520 | Sony MDR-ZX110 |
|---|---|---|
| Approx. price | ~$38 | ~$10 |
| Rating | — | — |
| Type | On-Ear Headphones | Wired & Studio |
| Noise Cancelling | None | None |
| Battery (single charge) | 50 hrs | — |
| Battery (with case) | — | — |
| Quick Charge | 3 min = 1.5 hrs | — |
| Codecs | SBC, AAC | — |
| Bluetooth | 5.2 | — |
| Multipoint | Yes | No |
| Driver Size | 30 mm | 30 mm |
| Weight | 147 g | 120 g |
| Water Resistance | — | — |
| Wireless Charging | No | No |
| Transparency Mode | No | No |
| Spatial Audio | Yes | No |
| App EQ | Yes | No |
Pros & cons
Sony WH-CH520
- ✓50-hour battery at a near-permanent $38 price
- ✓Full Sony Headphones Connect app with custom EQ
- ✓Real multipoint rarely found this cheap
- ✓Just 147 grams for all-day wear
- ✓Surprisingly even stock tuning for the money
- ✓3-minute charge buys 1.5 hours
- ✗No 3.5mm jack — dead battery means a paperweight
- ✗Thin on-ear pads fatigue past a couple hours
- ✗Zero noise isolation and no ANC
- ✗All-plastic build feels light, never premium
- ✗Mic only serviceable in quiet rooms
Sony MDR-ZX110
- ✓Absurd price-to-performance — regularly under $15 from a major brand
- ✓Warm, punchy bass and clear mids that beat everything else at this price
- ✓Very light at 120g with a fold-flat swivel design for travel
- ✓24-ohm impedance means full volume from any phone or laptop
- ✓Durable for the price — owners report years of daily abuse
- ✓Tangle-resistant 1.2m Y-cord with L-shaped plug
- ✗Thin on-ear pads get uncomfortable after an hour, especially on larger heads
- ✗Treble is rolled off and can sound harsh at high volume
- ✗No mic or inline remote (that's the ZX110AP variant)
- ✗Non-detachable cable — when it frays, the headphone is done
- ✗Essentially zero noise isolation