When I hear the names of Sony headphones like WH-1000XM5 or WF-1000XM3 I always think what it means WF or WH. It's nothing but the wireless free for WF and Wireless headphones for WH. They mainly use WF for earbuds and WH for headphones.
Sony has released some fantastic noise-cancelling headphones, such as the WH-1000XM5 and XM4. Whether you're in need of noise-cancelling earbuds or headphones, Sony has plenty of options available in every price range.
You can get a top-class noise-cancelling experience whether you choose the $400 XM5 or the $120 WF-C700N. As I mentioned earlier about the noise-cancelling performance of the WF-C700N, I will now provide more details about this product. Final purchasing decisions should not depend solely on one aspect. it's important to consider other factors such as battery life, sound quality, design, etc. Let's dive into the Sony WF-C700N review.
Pros:
Cons:
Sound
Build
Battery
Value
Whatβs in the box?
- WF-C700N earbuds
- Charging Case
- Extra set of ear tips
- USB C charging cable
Who should get WF-C700N ?
- If you are running on a tight budget and looking for decent noise canceling earbuds, trying these isn't bad idea.
- If you love Sony sound signature
Bottom Line:
When you are considering buying ANC headphones, it's important to know your requirements. The first criteria that any ANC headphones or earbuds should pass is their ability to block noise effectively.
Sony WF-C700N earbuds are ANC earbuds that are not extraordinary, nor do they provide excellent noise cancelation and great sound quality. However, they are versatile and perform well in most areas.
The noise cancelation with ambient mode is decent, and it blocks low noise effectively. The mids are well-balanced, with clear vocals and instrument separation, providing an overall pleasant listening experience.
These earbuds are IPX4 rated, which means they are suitable for workouts. Their most significant disadvantage is their battery life and lack of wireless charging, which should be available at this price range.
Overall, they are an affordable choice for casual listeners, but they are not exceptional, so don't expect anything extraordinary from them. My overall rating for WF-C700N is 7.5 out of 10. Honestly, they are not bad, but there are many better choices available in the market that you should consider.
How is the Design and Build Quality of WF-C700N?
Let's talk about the design. These WF-C700N are lightweight and comfortable like most of the Sony audio cans. Considering the price, I didn't expect the premium build quality, nor do they look premium. But that doesn't mean they feel cheap.
With the IPX4 rating, you can use them for workouts. It's also ok with a few splashes of water. The design of C700N is such that they block the noise quite well. Which means you get good active as well as passive noise cancellation.
These are light weight, so don't worry about the long listening sessions. You have Black, white, and Violet colour options. Once you wear them, they don't feel bulky like WF-1000XM3. An affordable buds generally have button controls, and these are no exception. Let's see how the Control works. Let's start with the left buds.
- Press the left earbud once to switch between noise canceling and ambient mode.
- Press the left bud twice to receive or cancel the call
- You can also decrease the volume by pressing the left bud's button
- Press and holding the left button to turn on the headset and call rejection.
Now, let's see how to use the right earbud's control button.
Press once to play/pause the music.
Press twice to receive or end the call or cancel the outgoing call.
You can increase the volume by pressing right earbud four or more times.
You can also use voice assistant by press and holding the right bud.
The charging case of Sony WF-C700N is small, compact, and looks cute. Although slightly larger than Samsung or AirPod's charging cases, it still fits comfortably into a pocket.
The case has a pairing button and an LED indicator that displays the charging status. However, it doesn't support wireless charging; hence, you need to use the C-shaped charging port to charge it. Overall, I would rate the build and design of Sony WF-C700N 8 out of 10. If you are particular about the looks and color options, you would definitely like them.
How is the Sound Performance of WF-C700N?
The sound of WF-C500 Sony cans is similar to other affordable Sony headphones. Sony audio cans are known for their rich bass, and WF C700N is no exception. The sub-bass may not be very deep, but it is enough to catch the instruments and vocals in that frequency range.
The mids are well-balanced and sound natural. Although WF-C700 earbuds are not bass-heavy like many other Sony headphones in the XB series, they are suitable for those who do not want too much bass.
Other benefits include 360-degree reality audio, DSEE, and the need to download the "Sony Headphones Connect" app. With the app, you can customize your EQ, which helps to enhance your listening experience.
Noise cancelling
Talking about the noise cancellation, I would say that it could be better. Although the buds are labelled as WF-C700N (N stands for noise canceling), the NC feature is not very effective. That being said, it does block low frequency noise to some extent.
However, I was expecting something more compared to its previous generation. On a busy street, it can reduce the noise of traffic, but you still need to be aware of your surroundings.
You can change the noise cancellation mode to ambient mode through the app or by pressing the left earbud once. Overall, I would rate the noise cancelling abilities of Sony WF-C700N a 7.5 out of 10.
Call quality
Calling with WF-700N was decent experience. Though they don't block surrounding noise well while calling you can clearly hear the voice coming from the opposite. The same way opposite person to you can clearly get what you said. Sometimes loss of connection with phone may cause call disturbance but this isn't microphone's fault.
WF-C700N Noise Canceling Truly Wireless Earbuds
How is the Connectivity of WF-C700N?
The WF-C700N earbuds come with the multipoint connectivity feature that enables you to connect up to two devices, making it a great option for office use. Although these earbuds use Bluetooth version 5.2, which isn't the most advanced version, it still works fine as the connection is stable and strong.
These earbuds support SBC and AAC codecs, which is acceptable for the price range. Additionally, they have DSEE, 360 reality audio, and EQ adjustment options, which can do the job well, even though they don't have high-end codec support.
How is the Charging and Battery performance of WF-C700N?
The battery life of WF-C700N is its most terrible feature. I have never reviewed any Sony headphones or earbuds with such a poor battery life. Without ANC, it can last for almost 7 hours, whereas with ANC, it lasts for almost 6 hours.
Although they have mentioned the battery life up to 7.5 hours in the specs, it is still disappointing. Thanks to fast charging, it gives you 60 minutes of battery life after only 10 minutes of charging. However, using DSEE and 360-degree reality also affects the battery life.
The charging case can only store one charging, which means you can only store 7.5 hours of battery life in the charging case. This means you get a total of 15 hours of power, which means if you use the buds for 5-6 hours straight, they need to be charged every day.
If you watch videos at high volume, like 70-80% volume, it consumes more battery. Another downside in the charging and battery life department is that there is no wireless charging. I think this is not fair at this price level, as many cheaper buds like Tozo t10 give the option of wireless charging. Overall, I am not very happy with the battery and charging feature of WF-C700N.
