If you want bass-forward sound, foldable portability, and simple call controls for work from home, choose JBL Tune 500BT; if you need much longer battery life, app-based sound adjustment, and newer Bluetooth, choose Sony WH-CH520. For most people working from home, I’d choose the Sony: its stated battery life is a major practical advantage, and its EQ options give you more ways to tune music and podcasts.
Neither is a noise-canceling headset, and both are on-ear Bluetooth headphones with a built-in microphone. The key difference is whether you value the JBL’s compact foldable design and one-button controls or the Sony’s extended listening time and customization.
• JBL Tune 500BT: Its biggest strengths are JBL Pure Bass sound, a foldable frame, and a one-button remote with microphone. The trade-off is up to 16 hours of battery life, far less than Sony’s stated maximum.
• Sony WH-CH520: Its biggest strengths are up to 50 hours of battery life, EQ customization through the Sony Headphones Connect app, and USB-C quick charging. The trade-off is that it does not fold, and the product information lists no headphone jack.
• JBL is for: someone who wants a straightforward, portable pair with bass-focused sound and easy controls.
• Sony is for: someone who wants fewer charging interruptions and more control over their preferred sound.
The JBL Tune 500BT is a practical choice if you want an uncomplicated wireless on-ear headphone with an emphasis on bass. Its 32 mm drivers support JBL Pure Bass sound, while Bluetooth lets you listen without a cord. If you regularly move between a phone and a computer, its multipoint connection feature allows switching between two Bluetooth devices.
For work from home, the built-in microphone and one-button remote give you a way to handle calls and control audio from the headphones. The JBL’s foldable design is also useful if your workday includes commuting or moving between rooms: it can be packed away more compactly than a non-folding pair. Soft ear cushions and a padded headband are intended to support extended wear, though on-ear comfort is personal and can vary.
How We Research
We compare products from their published specs and features; the verdicts below are our independent editorial opinions.
Updated: 2026-10-12 · 6 min read · Independent comparison
The Sony WH-CH520 is the more natural fit for someone who wants to listen through long workdays without charging often. Sony specifies up to 50 hours of battery life, and its USB-C quick charging is listed as providing up to 90 minutes of playback after three minutes of charging. Those figures make it the stronger option for frequent listening across work, errands, and downtime.
Its sound can be tailored using the Sony Headphones Connect app, which offers presets and lets you create and save your own EQ settings. That flexibility is useful if you switch between music, podcasts, and spoken calls, or simply prefer to adjust the sound rather than accept a fixed profile. The WH-CH520 also supports pairing with two Bluetooth devices at the same time and includes a built-in microphone for hands-free calls.
The trade-offs are straightforward. The Sony has a swivel design for compact carrying, but it is not described as foldable like the JBL. It also has no headphone jack, so this is a wireless-only choice. Its listed noise control is none, just like the JBL’s, so I would not choose it expecting active noise cancellation for a busy home or shared workspace.
• Best for longer battery life → Sony WH-CH520. Its stated maximum is up to 50 hours, compared with up to 16 hours for the JBL.
• Best for quick top-ups → Sony WH-CH520. Sony specifies up to 90 minutes of playback from a three-minute USB-C charge; JBL specifies an extra hour of music from a five-minute recharge.
• Best for bass-focused listening → JBL Tune 500BT. JBL specifically highlights its Pure Bass sound, while Sony emphasizes customizable EQ.
• Best for sound customization → Sony WH-CH520. The app offers presets and the option to save personal EQ settings.
• Best for folding into a bag → JBL Tune 500BT. Its foldable design is a clear advantage for compact packing; Sony’s swivel design helps with carrying but is not described as folding.
• Best for managing calls with a simple physical control → JBL Tune 500BT. It has a one-button remote with a microphone. Sony also supports hands-free calls through its built-in microphone.
• Best for switching between two devices → either. Both list the ability to connect or pair with two Bluetooth devices at a time.
• Best for a work-from-home listener who forgets to charge → Sony WH-CH520. Its much longer stated battery life is the more useful fit for extended daily listening.
For a buyer searching for the best wireless headset for work from home, it helps to separate call convenience from the needs of a full headset setup. Both models have built-in microphones and can handle hands-free calls, but neither lists noise control. If blocking household sounds is essential, these specifications do not point to either as a noise-canceling solution.
The searches for the best sports earbuds for work from home or best wireless earbuds for work from home also describe a different kind of product. These are on-ear headphones, not earbuds. That distinction matters if you specifically want something that sits inside your ears. If on-ear headphones are what you want, the choice here is less about the category and more about battery, sound adjustment, and portability.
In my opinion, I’d buy the Sony WH-CH520 for everyday listening and work from home. Up to 50 hours of battery life, quick USB-C charging, and app-based EQ give it the more useful combination for long routines. I’d choose the JBL instead if folding it away and its bass-focused sound mattered more to me than minimizing charging.
Sony lists up to 50 hours for the WH-CH520, while JBL lists up to 16 hours for the Tune 500BT. Actual listening time can depend on how the headphones are used, but Sony has the higher stated maximum.
Both have built-in microphones and support hands-free calls. The JBL adds a one-button remote for managing sound and calls, while Sony offers hands-free calling and can pair with two Bluetooth devices at once.
Neither product lists noise control. If you need headphones that actively reduce outside noise, these specifications do not establish either model as a noise-canceling option.
The Sony WH-CH520 is listed with no headphone jack. The JBL is described as wireless Bluetooth headphones, and the information provided does not establish a wired listening connection as a feature.
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