The catch
Sony WH-CH520
It has no analog input and no digital USB audio.
Side by side
Sony WH-CH520 vs Beats Solo 4: A cable backup for a flat battery comes only with Solo 4
Quick verdict
WH-CH520 fits low-weight Bluetooth listening with two-device multipoint. Solo 4 is for you if you need USB audio, an airplane cable or playback on a flat battery. Active noise cancellation is missing from both.
Before you buy
Why, and what it costs you
Sony weighs nearly one-third less
Compared with Solo 4, CH520 is 32.3% lighter.
Where this comes from
32.3% = (217 − 147) ÷ 217 × 100.
The catch
Beats Solo 4
It lacks both active noise cancellation and Transparency mode.
Sony WH-CH520
- Why pick it
- The lighter 147 g on-ear design is the draw.
- Two-device Bluetooth multipoint, confirmed, is what you need.
- The catch
- It has no analog input and no digital USB audio.
Beats Solo 4
- Why pick it
- Digital USB audio or a battery-free analog cable is a requirement.
- A frame that folds inward and comes with a case is what you want.
- The catch
- It lacks both active noise cancellation and Transparency mode.
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What this page compares
Sony WH-CH520 weighs less. Beats Solo 4 brings USB audio, passive analog and folding. See the practical differences behind their 50-hour claims.
Which one fits
Pick the situations that sound like you
In quiet places I listen wirelessly
When you have no need for the extra cable paths, Sony’s lower weight helps.
- Sony WH-CH520
- Better fit
- Beats Solo 4
- Good
I connect to an airplane seat
Solo 4 has an analog input. Sony needs a separate Bluetooth transmitter and cannot take a direct cable.
- Sony WH-CH520
- Not suitable
- Beats Solo 4
- Better fit
I want music from my laptop over USB-C
Digital USB playback works on Solo 4, beyond USB charging.
- Sony WH-CH520
- Not suitable
- Beats Solo 4
- Better fit
Active noise cancellation is what I want
ANC is absent from both products. If it is a hard requirement, choose a different pair.
- Sony WH-CH520
- Not suitable
- Beats Solo 4
- Not suitable
In practice
Differences you will notice
Sony weighs nearly one-third less
Compared with Solo 4, CH520 is 32.3% lighter.
How we worked this out
32.3% = (217 − 147) ÷ 217 × 100.
Two extra listening paths come with Solo 4
Beyond Bluetooth, the Beats adds digital USB and passive analog, while Sony offers Bluetooth only.
How we worked this out
Confirmed paths come to one for Sony and three for Beats. Charging is excluded.
Battery time does not break the tie
Each quotes 50 hours, and neither uses that runtime on ANC.
How we worked this out
50 − 50 = 0 rated hours, and neither has ANC.
Plug in your setup
Which headphones suit the way you listen?
Start with how you listen. Charging over USB is not the same as playing audio over USB, and some headphones need power even on a cable. These answers are placeholders until you apply your own.
Sony WH-CH520
Passes these checksPlays over Bluetooth.
Beats Solo 4
Passes these checksPlays over Bluetooth.
Battery figures are maker claims for the stated mode. They do not reflect measured travel time. Volume, codec, calls and battery age all change runtime. Closed earcups can still leak some sound. Weight alone does not predict comfort. USB audio needs a compatible source and cable. This check does not judge sound quality, mic quality or amplifier power.
Option A
Sony, WH-CH520
WH-CH520
This light on-ear pair handles everyday Bluetooth listening and can switch between two devices. Skip it if you need an airplane cable or noise cancellation.
- Best for
- Wireless listening in quiet places with a lightweight pair
Facts we checked
- The headphones weigh approximately 147 g.
- Music playback is rated by Sony at up to 50 hours.
- Two Bluetooth devices can connect through multipoint.
- It has no analog input and supports SBC and AAC audio.
Option B
Beats, Solo 4
Solo 4
Solo 4 is the pick for a compact on-ear pair that connects wirelessly, over USB-C and through a battery-free analog cable. If noise cancellation is part of what you need, Studio Pro is the better choice.
- Best for
- A folding on-ear pair that takes either a USB or an analog cable
Facts we checked
- It weighs 217 g.
- The rating is up to 50 hours of Bluetooth playback.
- Digital audio and charging both work over the included USB-C cable.
- No battery power is needed with the included 3.5 mm cable.
Spec by spec
Where they really differ
| Spec | Sony WH-CH520 | Beats Solo 4 | In practice |
|---|---|---|---|
| Weight | 147 g | 217 g | Sony weighs 70 g less. |
| Wireless playback claim | Up to 50 hours | Up to 50 hours | These models cannot be told apart by the figure they share. |
| Active noise cancellation | No | No | A noisy cabin is not something either can solve with ANC. |
| Digital USB audio | No | Yes | Listening over the USB-C connection works on Solo 4. |
| Analog backup | No analog input | Passive 3.5 mm input | Solo 4 alone can play from a jack once its battery is depleted. |
| Storage | Earcups swivel flat | Folds inward, case included | How you like to pack may count for more than the difference in headphone weight. |
| Two-device multipoint | Confirmed | No generic multipoint claim used here | Platform features from Apple or Android do not count as universal two-device multipoint. |
Trade-offs
What each pick costs you
With Sony WH-CH520
- Because it lacks active noise cancellation, it fails the travel-noise tag.
With Beats Solo 4
- Because the pads rest on your ears, low weight alone does not ensure the fit you like.
Decision guide
How to decide
Go with WH-CH520 for light Bluetooth listening and two-device multipoint, and with Solo 4 when you need USB audio, an airplane cable or listening with a flat battery. Neither one has active noise cancellation.
The simple cable check decides it
Write down where you will listen. An airplane jack, a desktop interface or a USB-C laptop without Bluetooth is a concrete problem that Solo 4 solves. When every source already speaks Bluetooth, the extra connection paths may go unused and the CH520’s lighter frame matters more.
A sealed pad is not the same as ANC
Closed on-ear designs describe both, yet neither cancels noise actively. The fit may cut some outside sound but does not make either an ANC travel model. This page has no evidence to put a number on that passive isolation.
Give on-ear comfort a proper try
The pads rest on your ears in both cases and do not surround them. Sony’s 70 g advantage can be measured, but pad pressure, glasses and head shape decide whether either stays comfortable through a full afternoon.
What this page can’t tell you
- A lower weight does not mean better comfort for every wearer.
- Manufacturers set the two 50-hour figures as maximum claims, and they are not matched measured runtimes.
By the numbers
What the data shows
What we found across the headphones we compare, plus the checked facts behind each finding.
How many fit
Only 2 of the 60 models checked meet every need here: “I go back and forth between laptop and phone”, “I want a pair that weighs 250 g or less”, “I want to get audio over a USB-C cable”, and “I want music even with a dead battery”.
2 models fit, out of 60 checkedShow the facts and the math
How we countedThe count uses each product's current fit ratings for “I go back and forth between laptop and phone”, “I want a pair that weighs 250 g or less”, “I want to get audio over a USB-C cable”, and “I want music even with a dead battery”. A need with no documented match is not counted.
| Product | Needs it meets | Facts we checked | Sources |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sony WH-CH520 |
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| Beats Solo 4 |
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Ready to buy
See today’s price and what owners say
Open either model on Amazon for the current price, customer reviews and delivery options.
Sony WH-CH520
The lighter 147 g on-ear design is the draw.
See price & reviews on AmazonBeats Solo 4
Digital USB audio or a battery-free analog cable is a requirement.
See price & reviews on AmazonEach link opens in a new tab.
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