Earbuds have been increasingly popular these days for their compact design and ease of use. They’ve become somewhat of an integral part of people’s daily lifestyle that they’re just not functional anymore, some look really great as well and that’s what the Sony WF-C700N aims to combine — a subtle yet stylish look integrated with Sony’s expertise in the audio department.
Do these earbuds deliver across the board? We find out.
Design and comfort
The earbuds are stored in a cylindrical charging case, which features a USB-C charging port and a pairing button at the back. An LED indicator on the front shows the charging status. The case is compact and pocket-friendly, although it doesn’t support wireless charging, which is kind of expected at this price point, if you ask me.
The earbuds are securely held in place by magnets within the case, ensuring they don’t accidentally fall out. Sony also offers some colorful options for the WF-C700N in lavender and this sage green option, in addition to white and black variants.
While SBC and AAC codec support is available out of the box, higher-quality streaming codecs like aptX HD and LDAC are absent, which might disappoint some users. These codecs are typically found in Sony’s more premium wireless headphones.
In terms of design and comfort, the Sony WF-C700N wireless earbuds are quite distinct. The WF-C700N comes across as more comfortable even than the company’s pricier alternatives like the WF-1000XM4.
If you’re in search of inconspicuous wireless earbuds that are both compact and comfortable, this Sony model might be just what you need. It boasts impressively small dimensions, but as a whole, look big enough once you wear them. This is mostly thanks to its compact 5mm drivers.
The comfort provided by the WF-C700N is highly commendable. These Sony earbuds effortlessly slide into place in the lower part of your outer ear, ensuring they don’t cause discomfort. Flexible silicone ear tips complete the setup, creating an excellent seal for your ear canal. As a result, they are comfortable for various activities whether it’s a five-kilometer run or a quick trip to the store.
Despite their smaller size, these earbuds are easy to position, thanks to a subtly textured surface that aids in gripping and maneuvering them into place.
Features
The circular pads on the earbuds are not touch-sensitive surfaces but actual physical buttons. Through Sony’s Headphones Connect app, you can customize these buttons to control volume, playback, ANC, or Ambient Sound Mode. However, you can only assign two of these functions to the buttons at a time.
The WF-C700N also features Sony’s Adaptive Sound Control, which automatically adjusts listening modes based on your location. Unfortunately, they lack the auto-pause/play functionality when you remove or insert the earbuds, a feature found in some competing models.
The app allows you to prioritize sound quality or a stable connection over Bluetooth, with the recommendation to prioritize sound quality. Sony’s Digital Sound Enhancement Engine (DSEE) is also available for upscaling low-resolution digital audio files.
Multipoint Bluetooth is supported which enables simultaneous connections between two devices.
The WF-C700N earbuds are rated IPX4 for water resistance, making them suitable for workouts and outdoor activities. I’ve personally tried going for a quick jog around the block with them on and I must say they were intact and didn’t need to adjust them in place during the entire duration.
Battery life
With both Bluetooth and ANC active, the earbuds provide approximately seven hours of playtime on a single charge, which extends to ten hours with ANC turned off.
However, the charging case only provides enough power for one extra charge before needing to be recharged. Thankfully, the Sony Headphones Connect app helps monitor the case’s battery status.
The app also offers an equalizer with numerous presets and custom settings. However, the earbuds deliver impressive sound quality out of the box, requiring minimal tweaking.
Performance and sound quality
The Sony WF-C700N earbuds feature a Wind Noise Reduction Structure which enhances call quality. During testing, these earbuds performed well in making and receiving calls. Voice clarity is natural and clear even in windy conditions — outperforming some competitors that I’ve personally tried in the past.
While not as advanced as Sony’s higher-end XM4 in-ears, these earbuds excel in noise-cancelling capabilities. They effectively eliminate background noise and provide a balanced Ambient Sound Mode, letting in just enough external sounds to maintain an optimal balance.
As a whole, the Sony WF-C700N earbuds offer an impressive listening experience. They handle low frequencies excellently, delivering weight, depth, and detail. Additionally, they offer a well-balanced presentation across the frequency range.
So whether you’re listening to a powerful track or a classical piece, these earbuds exhibit solid timing and great organization, passing the test with flying colors.
Final thoughts
Sony has successfully built a diverse portfolio of wireless earbuds that cater to various price points. The WF-C700N stands out by delivering a noticeable improvement in sound quality compared to other products that are lower in the series. I could confidently say that this positions them as a strong recommendation within the price range.
