Over-Ear
QCY H3S
81Outstanding
$34
Full review dataQCY H3S vs Sony WH-CH520: which should you buy?
On aggregated review scores the QCY H3S comes out ahead with a HearWiki score of 81. The full breakdown - sub-scores, specs and what reviewers actually said - is below.
Our pick: QCY H3S - Outstanding overall at around $34.
Over-Ear
Sony WH-CH520
78Great
$41
Full review dataScore breakdown
Each axis is a 0–10 blend of what reviewers scored, not a lab measurement.
QCY H3S leads on 6 of 7 measures.
- QCY H3S
- Sony WH-CH520
HearWiki score
81
78
Sound
7.5
7.0
Noise cancelling
7.4
-
Battery
9.8
9.4
Calls
5.4
6.4
Value
9.5
9.4
Price (USD)
$34
$41
Generation & platform
The scores rank quality. This is the other question: is the newer one actually newer technology, or the same platform in a new shell?
New platform
QCY H3S (2025) against Sony WH-CH520 (2023). The QCY H3S is the newer platform here: Bluetooth 6.0 against 5.2, Top codec LDAC against AAC and ANC type Adaptive against None.
- H3S20252 yr newer
- WH-CH5202023
What differsH3SWH-CH520
- Bluetooth
- 6.0
- 5.2
- Top codec
- LDAC
- AAC
- ANC type
- Adaptive
- None
Platform
Level on: Multipoint pairing, USB-C.
Specifications
H3SWH-CH520
- Type
- Over-Ear
- Over-Ear
- Price (USD)
- $34
- $41
- HearWiki score
- 81
- 78
- Released
- 2025
- 2023
- Availability
- Sold new
- Still sold new
- Driver
- 2-driver hybrid
- 30 mm driver
- Driver type
- hybrid
- -
- Driver size
- 40 mm
- 30 mm
- Drivers per side
- 2
- -
- Frequency response
- 20 Hz - 40 kHz
- 20 Hz - 20 kHz
- Impedance
- 32 Ω
- -
- Bluetooth
- 6.0
- 5.2
- Codecs
- AAC, LDAC
- SBC, AAC
- Multipoint pairing
- Yes
- Yes
- Wireless range
- 10 m
- 10 m
- Battery life
- 102 h
- 40 h
- Battery life (ANC on)
- 58 h
- -
- Full charge time
- 120 min
- 180 min
- Quick charge
- 10 min → 7 h
- 3 min → 1.5 h
- Wireless charging
- No
- No
- Active noise cancelling
- Yes
- No
- ANC type
- adaptive
- none
- Transparency mode
- -
- No
- Companion app
- -
- Yes
- Custom EQ
- -
- Yes
- Wear detection
- -
- No
- Controls
- buttons
- buttons
- Voice assistant
- Yes
- Google Assistant, Siri
- Weight
- 240 g
- 147 g
- Water resistance
- none
- none
- Foldable
- Yes
- -
- USB-C
- Yes
- Yes
- Microphones
- 7
- 1
What reviewers said
QCY H3S
The QCY H3S is a budget-friendly over-ear wireless headphone that packs adaptive active noise cancellation, a hybrid dual-driver setup, and support for LDAC and Bluetooth 6.0. Its foldable design and lightweight build add to its portability and convenience.
- Pro:Effective adaptive ANC for the price
- Pro:LDAC and AAC codec support for high-quality audio
- Pro:Multipoint connectivity and Bluetooth 6.0
- Con:No water resistance rating
- Con:No wireless charging support
- Con:Controls are button-based, not touch
Sony WH-CH520
The Sony WH-CH520 offers a well-rounded budget wireless experience with impressive 40-hour battery life, Bluetooth 5.2, and multipoint connectivity. Its sound is neutral and easy to listen to, but it lacks active noise cancellation and a wired option, making it best for casual home or office use rather than commuting. Overall, it's a solid value pick for those prioritizing endurance and simplicity over premium features.
- Pro:Excellent 40-hour battery life
- Pro:Supports multipoint pairing
- Pro:Lightweight and comfortable for long sessions
- Con:No active noise cancellation
- Con:No wired listening option (no 3.5mm jack)
- Con:Only supports SBC and AAC codecs
Summaries are AI-condensed and paraphrased from published reviews and specs - not original hands-on testing. More on our method.
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