Home Headphones Sony Wh Ch520 Vs. Apple Airpods Max

Sony Wh Ch520 Vs. Apple Airpods Max Review

Last updated on Apr 13, 2023   8 minute read
Note: This page may contain affiliate links, we only earn from qualifying purchases!
Apple AirPods Max

Apple AirPods Max

See price on Amazon

Reasons why you might like the Apple AirPods Max

Overall Score 5.8 Represents average audio ecosystem compatibility score.

  • Weight of 384.8 g
  • Has Active Noise Cancellation (Anc)
  • Battery Life of 20 hours
  • Can Be Used Wirelessly
  • Has Ambient Sound Mode
VS
Sony WH CH520

Sony WH CH520

See price on Amazon

Reasons why you might like the Sony WH CH520

Overall Score 4.9 Represents average audio ecosystem compatibility score.

  • Weight of 147 g
  • Battery Life of 40 hours
  • Can Be Used Wirelessly

Sony Wh Ch520 Vs. Apple Airpods Max Review In Summary

Category Features Apple AirPods Max Sony WH CH520
DESIGN weight 384.8g 147g
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 109dB/mW 97dB/mW
driver unit size 40mm 30mm
impedance 47Ohms 35Ohms
has a neodymium magnet
POWER battery life 20hours 40hours
charge time 2hours 3hours
has a battery level indicator
battery power 664mAh 400mAh
has a rechargeable battery
CONNECTIVITY can be used wirelessly
bluetooth version v5 v5.2
has usb type-c
has aac
maximum bluetooth range 10meters 10meters
MICROPHONE number of microphones 9only 1only
has a noise-canceling microphone
EXTRAS has ambient sound mode
has in/on-ear detection
has a mute function
multipoint count 2only 2only
control panel placed on a device
can be used as a headset
warranty period 1years
travel bag is included
has dolby atmos
See price on Amazon See price on Amazon

Sony Wh Ch520 Vs. Apple Airpods Max Review In Detail

Design

Weight

Apple AirPods Max 384.8g
Sony WH CH520 147g

Sony WH CH520 have a weight of 147g, 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 for the reason that lighter devices are more comfortable to transport.

The Apple AirPods Max, at 384.8g are heavier than the Sony WH CH520 by 237.8g

Has A Tangle Free Cable

Apple AirPods Max
Sony WH CH520

Twisted headphone cables can be a great source of annoyance and inconvenience, Sony WH CH520's cable is designed to minimize tangling. Constant twisting of the cables can also lead to bends in the copper wires, affecting sound quality, or rendering your headphones defective.

Sweat Resistance

Apple AirPods Max
Sony WH CH520

By sweat resistance we mean that the wireless earbuds are protected in the presence of low-pressure water jets at any angle, this is determined by the IP Rating of the earbuds. Based on the ingress protection rating of the Sony WH CH520 they do have sweat resistance

Has An Over-The-Ear Foam

Apple AirPods Max
Sony WH CH520

Over-ear headphones have larger earpads that fit around your entire ear Apple AirPods Max 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.

Has An On-Ear Foam

Apple AirPods Max
Sony WH CH520

On-ear headphones have smaller earpads that sit on top of your ears, this Sony WH CH520 comfortably rests on top of your outer ears. As it doesn't block out everything from the outside world, it's preferred in places like office environments and recommended for outdoor activities.

Has Stereo Speakers

Apple AirPods Max
Sony WH CH520

Sony WH CH520 have stereo speakers, devices with stereo speakers deliver sound from separate channels on both left and right sides, creating a richer sound and a better listening experience.

Both Apple AirPods Max and Sony WH CH520 have stereo speakers

Apple AirPods Max
See price on Amazon

Sound Quality

Has Active Noise Cancellation (Anc)

Apple AirPods Max
Sony WH CH520

Active noise cancellation uses more advanced technology to reduce unwanted ambient sounds. 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.

Apple AirPods Max 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.

Has Passive Noise Reduction

Apple AirPods Max
Sony WH CH520

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 Sony WH CH520 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 Apple AirPods Max isolates you from ambient noise instead of actively using technology to cancel it out.

Lowest Frequency

Apple AirPods Max 20Hz
Sony WH CH520 20Hz

Low-frequency response measures if and how well a particular audio device reproduces low audible frequencies and if it makes any changes to the signal while at it. Sony WH CH520's lowest frequency is at 20Hz, the lower the low-frequency response, the stronger and juicier the bass.

Apple AirPods Max's lowest frequency is at 20Hz, this implies that both devices produce equal bass

Highest Frequency

Apple AirPods Max 20,000Hz
Sony WH CH520 20,000Hz

High frequency response measures if and how well an audio component reproduces high audible frequencies and if it changes to the signal while at it. Sony WH CH520's highest frequency is at 20,000Hz, the higher the high-frequency response, the clearer and crispier the treble.

Apple AirPods Max's highest frequency is at 20,000Hz, this implies that both devices produce equal treble

Sound Pressure Level

Apple AirPods Max 109dB/mW
Sony WH CH520 97dB/mW

Sound pressure is the average variation in atmospheric pressure caused by the sound, the sound level .i.e how loud something is can be perceived differently by different people so we need to have a way of getting an objective measurement of sound level expressed in numerical terms.

The sound pressure level, SPL, is the pressure level of a sound, measured in decibels, dB, Sony WH CH520's measurement is 97dB/mW. Devices with a higher sound pressure level are generally louder when supplied with any given audio source.

Apple AirPods Max's sound pressure level measurement is 109dB/mW.

Driver Unit Size

Apple AirPods Max 40mm
Sony WH CH520 30mm

The driver unit is basically a mini speaker that produces sound in the device, its size dictates the loudness of the headphone. Sony WH CH520 driver unit is 30mm in diameter, bigger drivers are more powerful and can produce better bass.

Apple AirPods Max driver unit is 40mm in diameter, making them have a larger driver unit than that of Sony WH CH520 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 yes, larger drivers can generate louder sound, but this does not mean that they produce better sound.

Impedance

Apple AirPods Max 47Ohms
Sony WH CH520 35Ohms

Impedance is the device's resistance to the electromagnetic current, as electricity flows through a conductor, it faces electrical resistance that counters the flow of current. The resistance of a conductor is measured in ohms. Sony WH CH520's impedance is 35Ohms, the lower the impedance, the easier it is to get higher volume and requires less power.

Apple AirPods Max's impedance is 47Ohms. The impedance of earbuds is the electrical resistance of the driver unit present on the inside.

Has A Neodymium Magnet

Apple AirPods Max
Sony WH CH520

Neodymium magnets if used in audio devices produce a higher sensitivity and substantial sound output while using less power. They can help produce music at quite a high sound pressure level, SPL, with the use of high magnetic flux. The Sony WH CH520 have this type of magnet.

Apple AirPods Max 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.

Power

Battery Life

Apple AirPods Max 20hours
Sony WH CH520 40hours

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. Sony WH CH520's battery life is 40 hours

Apple AirPods Max's battery life is 20 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.

Charge Time

Apple AirPods Max 2hours
Sony WH CH520 3hours

It takes 3 hours to fully charge the Sony WH CH520's battery. It is recommended to fully charge the battery before using the headphones for the first time or when they have been unused for extended periods.

Apple AirPods Max takes 2 hours to fully charge the battery

Has A Battery Level Indicator

Apple AirPods Max
Sony WH CH520

Sony WH CH520 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.

Apple AirPods Max 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

Apple AirPods Max 664mAh
Sony WH CH520 400mAh

Battery power, or battery capacity, represents the amount of electrical energy that a battery can store. Sony WH CH520's battery power is 400mAh, more battery power can be an indication of longer battery life.

Apple AirPods Max's battery power is 664mAh.

Has A Rechargeable Battery

Apple AirPods Max
Sony WH CH520

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. Sony WH CH520's battery can be recharged and used over again.

The Apple AirPods Max too have a rechargeable battery.

Apple AirPods Max
See price on Amazon

Connectivity

Can Be Used Wirelessly

Apple AirPods Max
Sony WH CH520

Sony WH CH520 can be used wirelessly, wireless devices allow you more freedom of movement.

The Apple AirPods Max also can be used wirelessly

Bluetooth Version

Apple AirPods Max v5
Sony WH CH520 v5.2

Bluetooth is a wireless technology standard that allows data transfers between devices placed in close proximity, using short-wavelength, ultra-high frequency radio waves. Sony WH CH520 has a v5.2

Apple AirPods Max has a Bluetooth version of v5. Newer versions provide faster data transfers.

Has Usb Type-C

Apple AirPods Max
Sony WH CH520

Sony WH CH520 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.

Has Aac

Apple AirPods Max
Sony WH CH520

Sony WH CH520 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 Apple AirPods Max 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.

Maximum Bluetooth Range

Apple AirPods Max 10meters
Sony WH CH520 10meters

Bluetooth is a short-range wireless technology standard that is used for exchanging data between fixed and mobile devices over short distances. The Sony WH CH520 can connect at a 10meters distance via Bluetooth or infrared to another device.

The Apple AirPods Max can connect at a 10meters distance via Bluetooth

Microphone

Number Of Microphones

Apple AirPods Max 9only
Sony WH CH520 1only

Sony WH CH520 have only 1 microphones, more microphones result in better sound quality and enable the device to filter out background noise.

The Apple AirPods Max microphones are only 9.

Has A Noise-Canceling Microphone

Apple AirPods Max
Sony WH CH520

Apple AirPods Max 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.

Apple AirPods Max
See price on Amazon

Extras

Has Ambient Sound Mode

Apple AirPods Max
Sony WH CH520

Apple AirPods Max 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.

Has In/On-Ear Detection

Apple AirPods Max
Sony WH CH520

Apple AirPods Max support in/on-ear detection, the sensors in the device can detect when they are removed from your ears so that the music is paused, saving battery life and improving your listening experience while at it.

Has A Mute Function

Apple AirPods Max
Sony WH CH520

Apple AirPods Max have a mute function, they have an option to mute/unmute a conversation directly from the device. The mute function means that you unilaterally turn off the microphone, but you can still hear the other party's voice.

Multipoint Count

Apple AirPods Max 2only
Sony WH CH520 2only

Sony WH CH520 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 Apple AirPods Max support multipoint count. Bluetooth multipoint would come in handy because you can be on one call without missing notifications coming from another device.

Control Panel Placed On A Device

Apple AirPods Max
Sony WH CH520

There is a control panel on the Sony WH CH520 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 Apple AirPods Max too have a control panel on them.

Can Be Used As A Headset

Apple AirPods Max
Sony WH CH520

Sony WH CH520 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.

Apple AirPods Max can be used as a headset. since they have a built-in microphone

Warranty Period

Apple AirPods Max 1years
Sony WH CH520

The period of time that warrant free repair and adjustment services in case of a malfunction occurring under normal use that has followed instruction manuals. When covered under the manufacturer’s warranty it is possible to get a replacement in the case of a malfunction. Apple AirPods Max have a warranty period of 1 years

Travel Bag Is Included

Apple AirPods Max
Sony WH CH520

Carrying headphones without a case, or putting them in bags without a casing can easily put them at risk of getting damaged. The Apple AirPods Max come with their own special case or pouch, which is useful for safe transportation.

Has Dolby Atmos

Apple AirPods Max
Sony WH CH520

Dolby Atmos is a surround sound technology that allows sounds to be interpreted as three-dimensional objects. Apple AirPods Max have Dolby Atmos, which allows them to have immersive, 360-degree sound.