How We Research
We compare products from their published specs and features; the verdicts below are our independent editorial opinions.
If you want the longest battery life and app-tuned sound for airplane travel, choose Sony WH-CH520L; if you need a foldable, packable headset with slightly punchier bass for airplane trips, choose JBL Tune 520BT.
• Sony WH-CH520L — biggest strength: up to 50 hours of playback, Bluetooth multipoint, DSEE sound restoration and EQ control via the Sony Headphones Connect app.
• Sony WH-CH520L — biggest trade-off: it doesn't fold flat, so it takes up more room in a bag, and the sound-leak-prone on-ear fit isn't ideal for noisy cabins.
• JBL Tune 520BT — biggest strength: up to 57 hours of battery, a flat-folding design that slips easily into a backpack, and JBL Pure Bass tuning with EQ in the free JBL Headphones App.
• JBL Tune 520BT — biggest trade-off: no multipoint pairing, and a tighter clamp that JBL itself suggests loosening by stretching the headband over a ball.
• Who each pick is for: Sony suits listeners who want the most features and app control; JBL suits travellers and parents who want something that folds down and runs for days.
The WH-CH520L is the more feature-dense of the two. It pairs over Bluetooth 5.2 with multipoint, so you can stay connected to a laptop and a phone at the same time — handy when you're switching between a movie on a tablet and a call on your phone. Sony's DSEE processing is designed to restore high frequencies lost in compressed streaming audio, and the EQ in the Sony Headphones Connect app lets you shape the sound yourself. Controls are on-ear buttons plus voice control, so you're not swiping blindly on a touch panel.
Battery is the headline: up to 50 hours per charge, and a 3-minute quick charge reportedly gives you 1.5 hours of playback (Sony's longer description mentions a 10-minute charge for up to 90 minutes). For a long-haul flight, that's the difference between landing with music still playing and hunting for a seat-back USB port. The on-ear design is lightweight with an adjustable headband and soft PU ear pads, and the 24-ohm dynamic drivers cover the standard 20 Hz–20,000 Hz range. There's no headphone jack and no active noise cancellation — Sony lists sound isolation only — so engine drone will still get through, and you'll want to keep the volume sane since on-ear cups leak.
Buy it if you want maximum battery, app-based EQ, multipoint, and simple button controls. Skip it if you need a set that folds flat into a small pocket or if you want real noise cancellation for a loud cabin. In my opinion, this is the better pick for a traveller who also uses headphones for work calls all week.
The Tune 520BT leans into portability. The flat-folding design is the standout for anyone who has to squeeze a headset into a carry-on, a school bag, or a jacket pocket. At 5.5 ounces it's genuinely light, and JBL includes a practical note: if the clamp feels too tight, stretch it over a ball for 24 hours and adjust the earpiece length until both sides sit right. That's a real-world fit tip you rarely get, and it tells you the fit is adjustable rather than one-size-fits-all.
Battery is rated up to 57 hours, charged over USB-C in about 2 hours, with a 5-minute top-up giving roughly 3 hours — enough for a short hop or a delayed boarding. Bluetooth 5.3 is the newer version here, and the JBL Headphones App offers EQ plus voice prompts in your chosen language. Sound is JBL Pure Bass, which is a warmer, bass-forward tuning than a neutral one; the 30-ohm, 102 dB dynamic drivers are easy to drive from a phone. Calls use the ear-cup buttons with Voice Aware, which lets you hear your own voice while talking.
Buy it if you want a lightweight, folding headset with strong battery and a bass-forward sound you can tweak in an app. Skip it if multipoint matters to you, or if you dislike a snug on-ear clamp. For families, this is the more obvious "foldable kids headset for airplane" candidate simply because it stows so easily — though the fit tip above matters for smaller heads.
Side-by-Side: Which Should You Choose?
• Best for packing and travel → JBL Tune 520BT, because it folds flat while the Sony does not.
• Best for switching between devices → Sony WH-CH520L, thanks to Bluetooth multipoint.
• Best bass-forward sound out of the box → JBL Tune 520BT, with JBL Pure Bass tuning and EQ in the JBL app.
• Best for button-based control and voice control → Sony WH-CH520L, which pairs on-ear buttons with voice control.
• Best for a snug, adjustable fit → JBL Tune 520BT, with the headband-stretch tip and earpiece length adjustment.
• Best for the newest Bluetooth version → JBL Tune 520BT with Bluetooth 5.3 versus Sony's 5.2.
• Best for call clarity in noise → Sony WH-CH520L, which uses a built-in mic with noise reduction during calls.
For airplane use specifically, I'd buy the Sony WH-CH520L. The multipoint connection, app EQ, voice control and quick-charge behaviour make it the more flexible everyday headset, and 50 hours is plenty for even a long international itinerary. The JBL Tune 520BT is the better choice if folding flat and packing small matters more than features — and its 57-hour battery is genuinely impressive. If you're buying blind, check the current price on Amazon for both before deciding, since the value gap shifts. In my opinion, Sony wins on features; JBL wins on portability.
FAQ
JBL rates the Tune 520BT at up to 57 hours versus Sony's up to 50 hours, so JBL lasts longer on paper. Sony's 3-minute quick charge giving 1.5 hours is the more convenient top-up for short notice.
No. Sony lists sound isolation rather than active noise cancellation, so it reduces some ambient noise but won't silence engine roar on a plane the way ANC would.
Both offer hands-free calls via ear-cup buttons. Sony adds a built-in mic with noise reduction for clearer calls in noisy places, while JBL uses Voice Aware so you can hear your own voice while speaking.
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