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We compare products from their published specs and features; the verdicts below are our independent editorial opinions.
If you want to keep a pair of Audio-Technica ATH-M70X studio monitor headphones alive and comfortable for years of critical listening, choose CONVELIFE ATH-M70X; if you need a lightweight wireless Bluetooth headphone for commutes, calls and all-day streaming, choose Sony WH-CH520.
• CONVELIFE ATH-M70X — biggest strength: It is a direct-fit replacement earpad set for the ATH-M70X, made from protein leather over high-elasticity memory foam, so it restores comfort and seals the ear against outside noise on a headphone you already own.
• CONVELIFE ATH-M70X — biggest trade-off: It is not a headphone. It is a spare part. If you do not own an ATH-M70X, it does nothing for you.
• Sony WH-CH520 — biggest strength: A complete, ready-to-use wireless headphone with up to 50 hours of battery, quick charging, multipoint Bluetooth and a built-in mic.
• Sony WH-CH520 — biggest trade-off: On-ear plastic build, no headphone jack, no active noise canceling, and a 30 mm driver tuned for casual listening rather than studio monitoring.
• Who should buy CONVELIFE ATH-M70X: Existing ATH-M70X owners whose pads are worn, flattened, flaking or dirty.
• Who should buy Sony WH-CH520: Anyone who wants one simple wireless headphone for music, podcasts and phone calls.
This is a maintenance product, and it is worth being blunt about that. The CONVELIFE ATH-M70X is a pair of replacement ear pads — one pair per package — built specifically to fit the Audio-Technica ATH-M70X Closed-Back Dynamic Professional Studio Monitor Headphones. It is not a headphone, and it will not turn anything else into one.
What it does best is the part most people overlook until their pads give out. The ATH-M70X is a closed-back monitoring design, and a closed-back headphone lives or dies by the seal around your ears. CONVELIFE uses quality foam with a protein leather cover, and the memory foam is described as high-elasticity — meaning it springs back and keeps its shape rather than collapsing into a flat pancake after a few months. That matters for two reasons. First, comfort: soft protein leather against the ear is a different experience than hardened, cracked pleather. Second, isolation: the pads are designed to block outside noise and cushion the vibrations between your ear and the driver, which is the same physical principle that keeps a monitoring headphone sounding tight and consistent.
The brand also states that the pad material is meant to enhance audio fidelity by improving that ear-to-driver coupling. That is a reasonable claim for any well-sealed pad, and it is the reason a lot of studio users treat earpads as a wear item rather than a permanent part.
Who should skip it: Anyone who does not own an ATH-M70X. Also skip it if you were hoping for a full headphone — this package contains replacement cushions only, in black, nothing else.
Sony WH-CH520: Who It's For
The Sony WH-CH520 is the opposite kind of product: a complete, self-contained wireless headphone. It is an on-ear Bluetooth model with a 30 mm dynamic driver, 32 ohm impedance, Bluetooth 5, and a range of about 10 meters. There is no headphone jack, so it is wireless-only — worth knowing before you buy.
The headline feature is battery. Sony rates it at up to 50 hours of playback, and quick charging gives roughly 90 minutes of playback from a 3-minute charge. That combination is genuinely useful: it means you can leave the charger at home for a long weekend and still not think about power. A USB Type-C cable is included.
Sound is adjustable rather than fixed. EQ Custom in the Sony Headphones Connect app lets you pick presets by genre or build and save your own. DSEE is there to lift compressed streaming files, which is a practical touch if most of your listening is over Bluetooth from a phone. Latency is listed at 200 ms, so lip-sync on video is acceptable but not the focus here.
Comfort and daily usability are clearly the design priorities. The build is lightweight with swivel earcups, an adjustable headband, a head cushion and soft ear pads — the kind of thing you can wear through a workday. Multipoint connection lets it stay paired to two devices at once, so you can jump from a laptop video to a phone call without re-pairing. The built-in mic handles hands-free calls, and voice control works with Google or Siri. Color options include black, blue, white, pink, yellow and cappuccino; this listing is the yellow version.
Who should buy it: commuters, students, remote workers and casual listeners who want one light, long-lasting wireless headphone for music, podcasts and calls. It is also a good fit for a teenager or a first Bluetooth headphone.
Who should skip it: anyone who needs a wired connection, true studio monitoring accuracy, or active noise canceling. Sony lists noise control as "None" here, so this is not a noise-canceling model.
Side-by-Side: Which Should You Choose?
• Best for battery life → Sony WH-CH520, with up to 50 hours and quick charging.
• Best for wireless freedom → Sony WH-CH520. Bluetooth 5, multipoint, no cable required.
• Best for replacing worn parts → CONVELIFE ATH-M70X. That is literally its whole job.
• Best for calls → Sony WH-CH520, thanks to the built-in microphone.
• Best for a wired, closed-back reference setup → CONVELIFE ATH-M70X, paired with the ATH-M70X it is made for.
• Best for comfort over a long day → Sony WH-CH520's lightweight swivel design and soft pads are built for all-day wear; the CONVELIFE pads are built for comfort in a different sense — long sessions on your existing monitors.
• Best for travel and commuting → Sony WH-CH520. Swivel earcups, light body, no cable to snag.
• Best if you own nothing yet → Sony WH-CH520. It works out of the box; the CONVELIFE pads need a headphone to attach to.
These two are not really competitors, and pretending otherwise would be dishonest. In my opinion, the Sony WH-CH520 is the one to buy if you are shopping for a headphone — it is complete, wireless, comfortable and built around a battery that lasts. I would recommend the CONVELIFE ATH-M70X only if you already own an Audio-Technica ATH-M70X and your pads are due for replacement; in that specific case it is the smarter, cheaper fix than replacing the whole headphone. If you are an ATH-M70X owner, buy the pads. If you are everyone else, buy the Sony.
what is studio monitor headphones
Studio monitor headphones are closed-back or open-back headphones designed for accurate, neutral playback rather than heavy bass emphasis — the idea being that what you hear is close to what the mix actually sounds like. The Audio-Technica ATH-M70X is a closed-back professional studio monitor model, and the CONVELIFE product here is a replacement earpad set made for it.
what are the best studio monitor headphones
That depends on your budget, your amp, and whether you need closed-back isolation or open-back soundstage — I would not name a single winner. What matters for this comparison is that the ATH-M70X is a closed-back professional monitor design, while the Sony WH-CH520 is a wireless on-ear headphone with a 30 mm driver and EQ customization, built for casual listening rather than reference work.
do i need studio monitors if i have headphones
Not necessarily. Monitor headphones give you a private, isolated reference and are far easier in a small or untreated room, while speakers let you check how a mix translates in a real space. Many people work on closed-back monitor headphones like the ATH-M70X and use speakers only as a second opinion.
what are studio monitor headphones
They are headphones voiced for flat, detailed reproduction instead of consumer bass boost, usually with a sealed or semi-open design and replaceable wear parts. That last point is why a product like the CONVELIFE ATH-M70X exists: pads compress and wear out, and on a monitor headphone the pad seal directly affects how the low end and isolation behave.
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