Main trade-off
Sony WH-CH520
No analog input or digital USB playback.
Head-to-head
Sony WH-CH520 vs Beats Solo 4: Only Solo 4 adds a flat-battery cable backup
The short answer
Choose WH-CH520 for low-weight Bluetooth listening and two-device multipoint. Choose Solo 4 if you need USB audio, an airplane cable or listening with a flat battery. Neither has active noise cancellation.
Before you choose
The reasoning and the trade-offs
Sony is nearly one-third lighter
CH520 weighs 32.3% less than Solo 4.
What this is based on
(217 − 147) ÷ 217 × 100 = 32.3%.
Main trade-off
Beats Solo 4
No active noise cancellation or Transparency mode.
Sony WH-CH520
- Choose it for
- You want the lighter 147 g on-ear design.
- You need confirmed two-device Bluetooth multipoint.
- Main trade-off
- No analog input or digital USB playback.
Beats Solo 4
- Choose it for
- You need digital USB audio or a battery-free analog cable.
- You want an inward-folding frame and a supplied case.
- Main trade-off
- No active noise cancellation or Transparency mode.
About this comparison
Sony WH-CH520 is lighter, while Beats Solo 4 adds USB audio, passive analog and folding. Compare the practical differences behind their 50-hour claims.
Winner by situation
Start with what you need it to do
I listen wirelessly in quiet places
Sony’s lower weight is useful when the extra cable paths are unnecessary.
- Sony WH-CH520
- Better fit
- Beats Solo 4
- Good
I plug into an airplane seat
Solo 4 provides analog input. Sony requires a separate Bluetooth transmitter rather than a direct cable.
- Sony WH-CH520
- Not suitable
- Beats Solo 4
- Better fit
I want USB-C music from my laptop
Solo 4 supports digital USB playback, not only USB charging.
- Sony WH-CH520
- Not suitable
- Beats Solo 4
- Better fit
I want active noise cancellation
Neither product includes ANC. Choose a different pair if that is a hard requirement.
- Sony WH-CH520
- Not suitable
- Beats Solo 4
- Not suitable
What matters in practice
The differences that matter
Sony is nearly one-third lighter
CH520 weighs 32.3% less than Solo 4.
How we reached this conclusion
(217 − 147) ÷ 217 × 100 = 32.3%.
Solo 4 buys two extra listening paths
The Beats adds digital USB and passive analog to Bluetooth, compared with Bluetooth only on Sony.
How we reached this conclusion
Confirmed paths: Sony one. Beats three. Charging is excluded.
Battery time is not the tie-breaker
Both quote 50 hours, and neither spends that runtime running ANC.
How we reached this conclusion
50 − 50 = 0 rated hours. ANC is absent on both.
Check your own setup
Which headphones work with the way you listen?
Start with the way you listen. USB charging is not the same as USB audio, and some headphones need power even with a cable. These choices are examples until you apply yours.
Sony WH-CH520
Meets these checksBluetooth listening.
Beats Solo 4
Meets these checksBluetooth listening.
Battery figures are manufacturer claims for the stated mode, not measured travel time. Volume, codec, calls and battery age change runtime. Closed earcups can still leak sound. Weight alone does not predict comfort. USB audio needs a compatible source and cable. This check does not assess sound quality, microphone quality or amplifier power.
Choice A
Sony, WH-CH520
WH-CH520
A light on-ear option for everyday Bluetooth listening and switching between two devices. It is a poor choice if you need an airplane cable or noise cancellation.
- Best matched use
- Lightweight wireless listening in quieter places
Checked facts
- Approximate headphone weight is 147 g.
- Sony rates music playback up to 50 hours.
- Multipoint connects two Bluetooth devices.
- Supports SBC and AAC audio and has no analog input.
Choice B
Beats, Solo 4
Solo 4
Pick Solo 4 when you want a compact on-ear pair that works wirelessly, by USB-C and through a battery-free analog cable. Choose Studio Pro if noise cancellation is part of the brief.
- Best matched use
- Folding on-ear listening with both USB and analog cables
Checked facts
- Weight is 217 g.
- Rated up to 50 hours of Bluetooth playback.
- The included USB-C cable supports digital audio and charging.
- The included 3.5 mm cable needs no battery power.
Meaningful differences
What changes the fit
| What changes | Sony WH-CH520 | Beats Solo 4 | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|---|
| Weight | 147 g | 217 g | Sony is 70 g lighter. |
| Wireless playback claim | Up to 50 hours | Up to 50 hours | The shared figure does not distinguish these models. |
| Active noise cancellation | No | No | Neither is an ANC solution for a noisy cabin. |
| Digital USB audio | No | Yes | Solo 4 can listen through its USB-C connection. |
| Analog backup | No analog input | Passive 3.5 mm input | Only Solo 4 can keep playing from a jack after its battery is depleted. |
| Storage | Earcups swivel flat | Folds inward, case included | The packing preference may outweigh the difference in headphone mass. |
| Two-device multipoint | Confirmed | No generic multipoint claim used here | Apple or Android platform features are not counted as universal two-device multipoint. |
What you give up
Every choice has a cost
If you choose Sony WH-CH520
- No active noise cancellation, so it does not meet the travel-noise tag.
If you choose Beats Solo 4
- On-ear pads sit on the ear, so a low weight does not guarantee your preferred fit.
What matters in practice
How to make the call
The cheap cable test is decisive
List the places you will listen. If one is an airplane jack, a desktop interface or a USB-C laptop without Bluetooth, Solo 4 solves a concrete problem. If every source is already Bluetooth, those extra paths may never be used and the CH520’s lighter frame becomes more relevant.
Do not confuse a sealed pad with ANC
Both are closed on-ear headphones, but neither actively cancels noise. Their fit can reduce some outside sound without turning either into an ANC travel model. There is no evidence here to quantify that passive isolation.
On-ear comfort deserves a real try
Both place pads on the ears rather than surrounding them. Sony’s 70 g advantage is measurable, but pad pressure, glasses and head shape determine whether either remains comfortable over a full afternoon.
What this comparison cannot tell you
- The weight difference does not establish better comfort for every wearer.
- The two 50-hour figures are manufacturer maximum claims, not equal measured runtimes.
What the facts say
What the comparison shows
Useful conclusions from the current headphones comparison, followed by the checked facts used to reach them.
Compared set
Only 2 of 60 models checked match every need here: “I switch between my laptop and phone”, “I want headphones weighing 250 g or less”, “I want sound through a USB-C cable”, and “I want music when the battery is empty”.
2 matching models from 60 checkedSee the checked facts and calculation notes
Match countThe count uses the current product-to-need assignments for “I switch between my laptop and phone”, “I want headphones weighing 250 g or less”, “I want sound through a USB-C cable”, and “I want music when the battery is empty”. A need with no documented match does not count.
| Product | Needs matched | Checked facts | Source records |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sony WH-CH520 |
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| Beats Solo 4 |
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Ready to choose?
Check the price. Read the owner reviews.
Open either model on Amazon to check the current price, customer reviews and delivery options.
Sony WH-CH520
You want the lighter 147 g on-ear design.
See price & reviews on AmazonBeats Solo 4
You need digital USB audio or a battery-free analog cable.
See price & reviews on AmazonLinks open in a new tab.