Before reviewing any Headphones or speakers I check the price first. So I decided to start the review series of the great headphones under $100. I think it's unfair to compare the headphones for $40 with the headphones that cost more than $100. I guess most people agree with me. Sony gives many options in every price range. If your budget is below $100 they have WHCH710N. If you want punchy bass with good noise canceling and your budget is below $200 WH-XB900N is waiting for you.
If you are looking for a budget wired headphones MDR-ZX110 can surprise you with its price and performance. the same headphones with the microphone are available with the name MDR-ZX110AP. For every segment, Sony delivered top-class headphones and Sony WH-CH510 isn't an exception. If you are searching for great wireless on-ear pair you must check my review of the Sony WH-CH510. Let's dive in.
Pros:
Cons:
Sound
Build
Battery
Value
Bottom Line:
I used many Sony headphones. A common thing in all headphones is that they never compromise the audio quality. No matter if you have Sony headphones with the price of $300 or $40 you get good audio quality. CH510 gives good audio, great battery life, and a seamless Bluetooth connection. I think it's more than enough for a $40 audio pair.
Many people complained about its poor build quality but I don't think so. Though the build is not that good it didn't break easily. Sony CH510 is a complete and value-for-the-money headphone that doesn't disappoint you.
9 out of 10 for the battery life, 7 out of 10 for the audio, and 6.5 out of 10 for the build quality. I think this rating will give you enough idea of what I think about CH510. I would recommend you to try CH510 if you are looking for a $40 wireless headphones. If you ask me the single reason to recommend CH510 it would be battery life.
How is the Design and Build Quality of WH-CH510?
The design of WH-CH510 is quite simple. It reminds me of MDR-ZX 110. CH510 is a lightweight audio gear with an entire plastic build. Build quality is average. CH510 is On-ear headphones which means earpads are placed on the ears and not around the ears. if you are still confused between On-ear headphones and Over ear headphones you can check this article.
Due to the on-ear design sound leakage is obvious. CH510 earcups are not thick. Yes! they are soft but not thicker. No padding on the headband. I don't think I need padding on the top because CH510 doesn't give pressure on my head. The headband is adjustable. I faced no fitting issue. Earcups can swivel up to some angle. WH-CH510 is available with 3 color variants. Black, white and Blue. I liked that diamond texture on the headphone which adds beauty.
It doesn't have an audio jack. I don't understand why they avoided it. Controls are simple. one button to switch On and Off. Other two buttons forward and backward the music. as well as control the volume. The charging port is next to the volume button. CH510 comes with a microphone too. USB-C charging is available in WH=CH510 which is rare at such a cheaper price. Build quality is a little bit of concern otherwise it's very good in design. thumbs up for portability, appearance, and comfort. let me tell you that it doesn't come with the carrying case.
How is the Sound Performance of WH-CH510?
All Sony headphones deliver great Bass. CH510 does the same job. CH510 comes with a 30mm driver that performs surprisingly well. Low distortion on high volume is rare at this price point which is good for a listener. Mids are well balanced. Instrument separation is also good. CH510 is a budget on-ear headphones so I compared CH510 with those headphones that fall in the same price range and these pairs of Sony beat its rivals. CH510 supports only SBC, and AAC formats. Sound leakage is the issue that you will get with almost all On-ear type designs.
hands-free calling is a feature that makes CH510 a useful audio gear for those who want to make their life easy by spending less. Call quality is not so good but it does the job well. Decent Bass, clear sound, balanced mids and low distortion makes CH510 a good option for those who are looking a decent pair under $50.
Sony WH ch510
How is the Connectivity of WH-CH510?
Sony WH-CH510 is a wireless headphone that doesn't have an audio jack. 5.0 Bluetooth connects seamlessly within 5 seconds. It supports SBC and AAC formats. I found no issue connecting CH510 with my android mobile. I don't understand why they haven't given an audio jack. Though battery life is decent giving wired connectivity would have added benefit. CH510 also has a voice assistant and a built-in microphone that allows hands-free calling. Overall it's a package with the features that need in daily life. I shouldn't expect something more with this price tag.
How is the Charging and Battery performance of WH-CH510?
Battery life is a feature that impressed me the most. I tried some headphones below $50 but rarely got USB-C charging. It was a pleasant surprise to see the quick charging feature in a budget headphone. 10 minutes of charging gives you 90 minutes of playtime with a fully charged CH510 you get 35 hours of battery life. This isn't only on a paper CH510 gives 32 hrs of playtime with 60-70% of the volume. It takes almost 4.5 hrs to charge completely.
Whatβs in the box?
- WH-CH510 headset
- USB cable
