If you want long battery life, bass-focused sound, and a foldable over-ear design for Zoom calls, choose JBL Tune 525BT; if you need a lightweight on-ear fit, built-in microphone, and a clearly stated focus on calls, choose Sony WH-CH520. For most people choosing between these two, I’d lean Sony for regular video meetings, while JBL makes the stronger case for extended listening between calls.
• JBL Tune 525BT: Its standout is up to 57 hours of battery life, deep-bass sound, and app-based EQ; the trade-off is that the listed specs provide no noise control.
• Sony WH-CH520: Its strengths include a built-in microphone, lightweight on-ear design, and up to 50 hours of battery life; the trade-off is the shorter stated battery life and on-ear fit.
• Choose JBL if you want bass-forward listening, a little more stated battery life, and headphones that fold for travel.
• Choose Sony if you want headphones with a stated call focus, swivel earcups, and multipoint connection for a laptop and phone.
• Neither one is a true wireless earbud set, so shoppers specifically seeking the best true wireless earbuds for Zoom calls should look at a different style.
The JBL Tune 525BT is built around long listening sessions. Its listed battery life is up to 57 hours, and a five-minute speed charge is specified to add three hours of listening. That extra endurance could be useful if you switch between music, videos, and work calls throughout the day and would rather charge less often.
JBL also emphasizes deep-bass sound and gives you adjustable EQ through the JBL Headphones app. That makes the Tune 525BT a reasonable fit if you like bass-forward music but want the option to adjust the sound. Bluetooth 5.3 and multipoint connection support wireless use with two devices, so you can move between a computer and phone without treating them as separate headphones.
How We Research
We compare products from their published specs and features; the verdicts below are our independent editorial opinions.
Updated: 2026-10-09 · 6 min read · Independent comparison
Sony’s WH-CH520 is an on-ear wireless headphone with a built-in microphone and an explicit focus on hands-free calls. It also supports multipoint connection, which lets you connect to two Bluetooth devices and switch between them. If you regularly take a meeting on a laptop while keeping a phone connected, that combination fits the routine well on paper.
The battery is listed as up to 50 hours, with quick charging described as providing up to 90 minutes of playback from three minutes of charging. The Sony Headphones Connect app offers EQ customization, and DSEE is included to enhance compressed music files. Those features make it useful for more than meetings: it can also cover music, podcasts, and video between calls.
Its on-ear fit is the main consideration. The product information describes soft ear pads, a cushioned headband, and swivel earcups, but comfort preferences vary, and on-ear headphones sit differently from JBL’s over-ear design. The Sony is a compelling choice if you want a lighter, call-oriented headset; skip it if you specifically prefer earcups that fit over your ears.
• Best for longer stated battery life → JBL Tune 525BT. It lists up to 57 hours, compared with Sony’s up to 50 hours.
• Best for short charging breaks → Sony WH-CH520. Its description specifies up to 90 minutes of playback from a three-minute charge; JBL lists three hours from five minutes.
• Best for a clearly specified microphone for calls → Sony WH-CH520. Sony lists a built-in microphone and hands-free calling. JBL’s supplied features do not specify a microphone.
• Best for bass-focused listening → JBL Tune 525BT. JBL highlights its Pure Bass sound and offers adjustable EQ in its app.
• Best for an on-ear fit → Sony WH-CH520. Choose this if you prefer headphones that rest on your ears rather than the JBL’s over-ear design.
• Best for a foldable travel design → JBL Tune 525BT. Its description identifies it as foldable; Sony highlights swivel earcups for carrying.
• Best for switching between a computer and phone → Both. Each supports multipoint connection, though Sony explicitly describes connecting to two devices.
• Best fit for Zoom calls based on the stated features → Sony WH-CH520. Its built-in microphone and call-focused description give it the clearer advantage for meetings.
There is a distinction worth keeping in mind if you arrived searching for gaming headphones for Zoom calls. Neither model is described as a gaming headset, and the provided specifications do not establish gaming-specific features. They are wireless headphones that can suit different everyday listening and calling needs; for meetings, Sony’s microphone details make the decision easier.
Likewise, a search for on-ear headphones for Zoom calls points more directly to the Sony. That is a fit and feature match, not a guarantee that one headset will feel comfortable or sound ideal for every person or meeting setup.
I’d choose the Sony WH-CH520 for regular Zoom calls because it has a built-in microphone, a stated hands-free calling focus, and multipoint connection for two devices. Its on-ear design will not suit everyone, and JBL offers longer stated battery life with a clear bass emphasis. But if calls are the priority, Sony is the more straightforward pick; if listening time and over-ear fit matter more, I’d go JBL.
Sony is the clearer choice from the listed features: it has a built-in microphone and is described for hands-free calling. JBL lists voice control and multipoint connection, but the provided details do not specify a microphone.
The JBL’s listed noise control is “None.” Sony’s product information mentions noise cancellation, but the supplied details do not clearly specify how that feature works, so I would not treat either model as a confirmed choice for blocking meeting-room noise.
JBL lists up to 57 hours, while Sony lists up to 50 hours. Their quick-charge claims differ too: JBL specifies three hours of playback from five minutes, while Sony specifies up to 90 minutes from three minutes.
Choose Sony if a specified microphone, on-ear fit, and call use matter most. Choose JBL if you prefer an over-ear design, bass-focused sound, and the longer stated battery life; check the current Amazon price before deciding which features make more sense for your budget.
• Riwbox Headphones vs SUPVOL 2: Bluetooth Headphones for
• Amazon Renewed SHOKZ OpenFit vs BEVCEFCC Open Ear
• TOZO OpenEgo Open Ear vs Earbay Headset: Headphones for
As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon and affiliated sites.
When you buy through links on this page, we may earn a commission from qualifying purchases at no extra cost to you.
Amazon and the Amazon logo are trademarks of Amazon or its affiliates. This site is an independent third-party review and is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or sponsored by Amazon or the product brands mentioned.