Creative Zen Hybrid 2
See price on AmazonOverall Score 5.1 Represents average audio ecosystem compatibility score.
Sony WH CH520
See price on AmazonOverall Score 4.9 Represents average audio ecosystem compatibility score.
Category | Features | Creative Zen Hybrid 2 | Sony WH CH520 |
---|---|---|---|
DESIGN | weight | 287g | 147g |
can be folded | ✓ | ✗ | |
has a tangle free cable | ✗ | ✓ | |
sweat resistance | ✗ | ✓ | |
has an over-the-ear foam | ✓ | ✗ | |
has an on-ear foam | ✗ | ✓ | |
has stereo speakers | ✓ | ✓ | |
SOUND QUALITY | has active noise cancellation (anc) | ✓ | ✗ |
has passive noise reduction | ✓ | ✓ | |
lowest frequency | 20Hz | 20Hz | |
highest frequency | 20,000Hz | 20,000Hz | |
sound pressure level | ✗ | 97dB/mW | |
driver unit size | 40mm | 30mm | |
impedance | ✗ | 35Ohms | |
has a neodymium magnet | ✓ | ✓ | |
POWER | battery life | 67hours | 40hours |
charge time | ✗ | 3hours | |
has a battery level indicator | ✓ | ✓ | |
battery power | 600mAh | 400mAh | |
has a rechargeable battery | ✓ | ✓ | |
CONNECTIVITY | can be used wirelessly | ✓ | ✓ |
uses 2.4ghz wireless | ✓ | ✗ | |
bluetooth version | v5.2 | v5.2 | |
has usb type-c | ✓ | ✓ | |
has aac | ✓ | ✓ | |
maximum bluetooth range | 10meters | 10meters | |
has a 3.5mm male connector | ✓ | ✗ | |
MICROPHONE | number of microphones | 5only | 1only |
has a noise-canceling microphone | ✓ | ✗ | |
EXTRAS | has ambient sound mode | ✓ | ✗ |
multipoint count | 2only | 2only | |
control panel placed on a device | ✓ | ✓ | |
can be used as a headset | ✓ | ✓ | |
See price on Amazon | See price on Amazon |
The Creative Zen Hybrid 2 have a weight of 287g, these weigh below 320g, which we consider as the highest average a headphone should weigh for comfort during long use. We prefer a lower weight better because lighter devices are more comfortable to transport. The Sony WH CH520, at 147g are lighter than the Creative Zen Hybrid 2 with a difference -140g Creative Zen Hybrid 2 are foldable, which makes them more portable.
Foldable headphones are easier to transport and take up less storage space. Over-ear headphones have larger earpads that fit around your entire ear Creative Zen Hybrid 2 have a comfortable full-size form with earcups that fully enclose your ears. This design is loved for its increased sound isolation and the fact that it won't leak sound to your neighbors.
Creative Zen Hybrid 2 have stereo speakers, devices with stereo speakers deliver sound from separate channels on both left and right sides, this creates a richer sound and a better listening experience. The Sony WH CH520 also have stereo speakers Active noise cancellation uses more advanced technology to actively counter noise. How it works, it listens to the sound pattern outside and inside the earbud and then inverts the soundwaves to cancel it out.
In simple terms, it's like taking +1 outside (noise from your surrounding) and adding -1 inside (counter sound within the device) to make 0 hence "diluting" the noise.
Creative Zen Hybrid 2 allow you to listen at lower volume levels, causing less ear fatigue as you don't have to crank up the volume to overcome background noise. Passive Noise Cancellation uses well-designed ear cups to seal out environment noise.
This is used for both in-ear earphones and over-ear headphones where the headphone itself will keep surrounding noise out. The Creative Zen Hybrid 2 sits tightly in place, creating an acoustic seal that reduces background noise and prevents your music from leaking out. Both of these devices have passive noise reduction which means that also the Sony WH CH520 isolates you from ambient noise instead of actively using technology to cancel it out.
Low-frequency response measures if and how well an audio component reproduces low audible frequencies and if it makes any changes to the signal on the way through. Creative Zen Hybrid 2's lowest frequency is at 20Hz, the lower the low-frequency response, the stronger and juicier the bass. Sony WH CH520's lowest frequency is at 20Hz, this means that both devices produce equal bass High frequency response measures if and how well an audio device reproduces high audible frequencies and if it makes any changes to the signal on the way through.
Creative Zen Hybrid 2's highest frequency is at 20,000Hz, the higher the high-frequency response, the clearer and crispier the treble. Sony WH CH520's highest frequency is at 20,000Hz, this implies that both devices produce equal treble The driver unit is the component that produces sound in the device, its size dictates the loudness of the headphone. Creative Zen Hybrid 2 driver unit is 40mm in diameter, bigger drivers are more powerful and can produce better bass.
Sony WH CH520 driver unit is 30mm in diameter,
which means that they have a smaller driver unit than that of Creative Zen Hybrid 2 by 10mm
, as many tend to believe that driver units of a bigger size automatically produce better sound quality.
However, large drivers usually have difficulty reproducing high frequencies so it's true that, larger drivers are capable of generating louder sound, but this does not mean that they deliver better sound. Neodymium magnets if used in audio devices produce a higher sensitivity and substantial sound output using less power to do so.
They can help produce music at quite a high sound pressure level, SPL, with the use of high magnetic flux. The Creative Zen Hybrid 2 have this type of magnet. Sony WH CH520 have it too, devices with neodymium magnets are lighter and more powerful than those which use ferrite magnets.
It is also known that they have more bass and clear high notes. If your headphones play wirelessly, cancel ambient noise, or enhance your listening experience with active features, their battery life will reduce over time. The device's battery life is given by the manufacturer, with longer battery life, you get to use it for longer and have to charge the device less often.
Creative Zen Hybrid 2's battery life is 67 hours Sony WH CH520's battery life is 40 hours. Each time you recharge your headphones, they get a little less listening time. The effect is barely noticeable at first.
But over a few years, you may find that your device, no longer plays for long like it used to. Creative Zen Hybrid 2 have a battery level indicator, an indicator shows you when the device has a low battery. The battery indicator lights indicate the charging status of your headphones.
Sony WH CH520 too have a battery level indicator, charging indicators allow you to determine the charging state of your headphones, whether fully charged, or the battery is running low. Battery power, or battery capacity, represents the amount of electrical energy that a battery can store. Creative Zen Hybrid 2's battery power is 600mAh, more battery power can be an indication of longer battery life.
Sony WH CH520's battery power is 400mAh. A rechargeable battery is a type of electrical battery that can be charged, discharged into a load, and recharged many times, as opposed to a disposable or primary battery, which is supplied fully charged and discarded after use. Creative Zen Hybrid 2's battery can be recharged and used over again.
The Sony WH CH520 too have a rechargeable battery. Creative Zen Hybrid 2 can be used wirelessly, wireless devices allow you more freedom of movement not limited by a cable. The Sony WH CH520 also can be used wirelessly 2.4GHz wireless is used for devices such as headsets such as the Creative Zen Hybrid 2, keyboards, and mice similar to Bluetooth but with a proprietary radio frequency.
It typically offers better performance than Bluetooth, with low latency and good stability. Bluetooth is a wireless technology standard that allows data transfers between devices placed in close proximity, using short-wavelength, ultra-high frequency radio waves. Creative Zen Hybrid 2 has a v5.2 Sony WH CH520 has a Bluetooth version of v5.2.
Newer versions provide faster data transfers. Creative Zen Hybrid 2 support USB TYPE-C, an industry-standard connector for transmitting both data and power on a single cable. The USB-C plug is now part and parcel of most current laptops, phones, and tablets, it features reversible plug orientation and cable direction.
Sony WH CH520 too have USB TYPE-C Creative Zen Hybrid 2 support AAC, a codec that is used for Bluetooth audio. It supports 24-bit audio at 250kbps. Because it uses psychoacoustic modeling, it can provide better results than other codecs at a similar bit rate.
The Sony WH CH520 support AAC as well. Designed to be the successor of the MP3 format, AAC generally achieves higher sound quality than MP3 encoders at the same bit rate. Bluetooth is a short-range wireless technology standard that is used for exchanging data between fixed and mobile devices over short distances.
The Creative Zen Hybrid 2 can connect at a 10meters distance via Bluetooth or infrared to another device. The Sony WH CH520 can connect at a 10meters distance via Bluetooth Being an industry standard audio plug, a standard 3.5mm male connector is suitable for use with all MP3 players and computer sound cards. This means that it is commonly used in stereo headphones to your phone or connecting your phone to an external amplifier, sound bars, your car radio, etc.
Creative Zen Hybrid 2 has this connector giving it a wider range of connectivity with most of the sound devices out there. All plugs have at least a tip and sleeve with the number of rings that stand as a differentiating factor. Creative Zen Hybrid 2 have only 5 microphones, more microphones result in better sound quality and enable the device to filter out background noise.
The Sony WH CH520 microphones are only 1. Creative Zen Hybrid 2 use a noise-canceling type of microphone, these microphones are designed to filter out background noise from the desired sound. Especially useful in noisy environments.
Creative Zen Hybrid 2 support ambient sound mode, which uses microphones to pass through ambient noises so that they can still be heard. It’s useful when you want to listen to music but also be aware of what’s happening around you, for example when you’re having a jog but would still want to be able to hear traffic. Creative Zen Hybrid 2 support multipoint, which allows you to link to more Bluetooth devices and switch between them.
For example, you can easily switch calls from one device to another without having to manually disconnect and reconnect. The Sony WH CH520 support multipoint count. Bluetooth multipoint would come in handy because you can be on one call without missing notifications coming from another device.
There is a control panel on the Creative Zen Hybrid 2 body, so you can easily access the volume control or remote without having to interact with a cable or another device it's connected to. The Sony WH CH520 too have a control panel on them. Creative Zen Hybrid 2 can be used as a headset.
A headset is one headphone or pair with a built-in microphone. Headsets can be used for apps that require communication i.e. Zoom, Google Meet, Skype, games with voice chat, mobile phones, etc.
Sony WH CH520 can be used as a headset. since they have a built-in microphone