I’m not a massive on-ear headphones guy. Often, I find that they lack the sonic skills required to engross me in my music, and can even feel a little irritating to wear after an hour or so.

So, when I was presented with the new Sony WH-CH530 — a relatively cheap pair of on-ears — it’s safe to say that my expectations weren’t particularly high. But they well and truly blew those expectations out of the water.

Yes, for a pair of headphones that cost just $69.99 / £49.99 / AU$99.95, the WH-CH530 almost seem too good to be true. They serve up impressive sound quality, a comfortable fit, and quality features that help them to compete with the very best on-ear headphones around.

Let’s delve into a little more detail, though, and start by unpacking the sonic capabilities of the WH-CH530 in full. Out of the box, there’s a slight preference towards the low-end, but I think that’s a sensible choice, as a lot of on-ear headphones tend to leak low-frequency sounds more than an over-ear set would. While you’re not getting the most even-handed presentation, mids still sound clear and treble comes through articulately.

The sound signature is exciting and energetic, and I found that it suited dance and electronic tracks very well. In Do Ya by Jazz-N-Groove, I was impressed with the punch and dynamism of the pounding bass, which sounded regimented and textured. Vocal chops in the mids and drums in the treble range also cut through with clarity, and the WH-CH530’s rhythmic, controlled replication of the track instantly grabbed me.

Source link