The Best On-ear Headphones
We compared six Sony on-ear headphones on owner ratings, expert reviews, and specs. The Sony WH-CH520 is our top pick for its balance of sound quality, comfort, and battery life.
Updated
The bottom line
The Sony WH-CH520 (asin B0BSGQL41X) is our top pick for the best on-ear headphones, offering a great balance of sound quality, comfort, and long battery life at a reasonable price. The Sony MDR-ZX110 (asin B00NJ2M33I) is a strong budget pick, providing decent sound and comfort at an unbeatable price. The Sony WH-CH520 (asin B0BS1RT9S2) is a close runner-up, with slightly better sound quality and features but at a higher price point.
Sony WH-CH520 $35.03
Best balance of features and price
The Sony WH-CH520 offers great sound quality, comfort, and up to 50 hours of battery life for $35.03. It's customizable via the Sony | Headphones Connect App and has a built-in microphone for hands-free calling. The tradeoff is the lack of noise cancellation and some minor comfort issues for certain users.
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Sony MDR-ZX110 $8.29
Best value for money
The Sony MDR-ZX110 provides decent sound quality and comfort for only $8.29. It's a wired option with a lightweight design and swivel earcups for easy storage. The tradeoff is the lack of wireless connectivity and some reported durability issues.
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Sony WH-CH520 $69.99
Best sound quality
The Sony WH-CH520 offers slightly better sound quality and features than the B0BSGQL41X model but at a higher price of $69.99. It has the same great balance of features but comes at a premium cost.
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- Sony WH-CH520 Best balance of features and price 9.0/10 $35.03 Amazon
- Sony WH-CH520 Best sound quality at a higher price 8.5/10 $69.99 Amazon
- Sony MDR-ZX110 Best value for money, wired option 8.0/10 $8.29 Amazon
- Sony MDR-ZX110AP Decent sound and comfort, inline remote and mic 7.5/10 $18.75 Amazon
- Sony ZX Series Wired On-Ear Headphones Budget-friendly, lightweight design 7.0/10 $7.76 Amazon
- Sony MDR-ZX110 Affordable, 30mm drivers for rich sound 6.5/10 $9.99 Amazon
What to consider
When choosing an on-ear headphone, consider the sound quality, comfort, battery life (for wireless models), and price. The Sony WH-CH520 models offer the best balance of these factors, while the Sony MDR-ZX110 provides the best value for money. The Sony MDR-ZX110AP and ZX Series Wired On-Ear Headphones offer decent sound and comfort but at a slightly higher price point.
Also-rans
The Sony MDR-ZX110AP and ZX Series Wired On-Ear Headphones did not earn a pick due to their slightly higher price points and lack of significant advantages over the other models. The MDR-ZX110AP has an inline remote and microphone, while the ZX Series has swiveling earcups and cushioned earpads, but these features did not outweigh the better value and features of the WH-CH520 models and the MDR-ZX110.