Though traditionally one of many greatest manufacturers of all time within the private audio area, Sony acquired into the true wi-fi recreation a bit later than the competitors. Even when it did enter the phase, it tried establishing itself as a big-budget decide earlier than progressively taking over extra reasonably priced value segments. The brand new Sony WF-C700N true wi-fi headset is its newest entrant within the far more aggressive mid-range phase of wi-fi earphones, priced at Rs. 8,990 in India.
Not like the arguably extra flamboyant competitors within the under-Rs. 10,000 class for true wi-fi earphones, the Sony WF-C700N takes a extra easy method to parts corresponding to design and specs. That mentioned, you continue to get the sort of options we have now come to count on at this value, together with lively noise cancellation and app help. It is a no-nonsense pair of true wi-fi earphones that guarantees to ship on the details, however is it adequate to beat the headliner manufacturers which have dominated the mid-range true wi-fi area of late? Discover out on this assessment.
The Sony WF-C700N has excellent passive noise isolation, due to a safe match.
Sony WF-C700N design and options
In a product phase the place flourish and attention-grabbing aesthetics are the norm, Sony has chosen to stay to its tried and examined design language with the Sony WF-C700N. It is a compact and light-weight pair of true wi-fi earphones, and is unmistakably Sony in its styling, with outstanding logos printed onto the highest of the earpieces relatively than on the outer-facing aspect. Not like the a lot bigger Sony WF-1000XM4 earphones, the WF-C700N is much more easy in the best way it appears to be like and suits.
This features a flat interior floor which helps in attaining a safe and really environment friendly degree of noise isolation, giant microphone grilles on the surface, and bodily buttons on every earpiece for controls — one thing that’s pretty unusual on true wi-fi earphones even in additional reasonably priced segments. . It is not one thing I am complaining about as a result of any such management system is much more correct, and loads much less vulnerable to unintended triggers.
You should purchase the Sony WF-C700N in any of 4 colours — white, black, inexperienced, and lavender. Whereas renders of the inexperienced and lavender variants look attention-grabbing sufficient, I fairly just like the understated, discreet look of the black variant despatched to me for assessment. I’ve at all times maintained that true wi-fi earphones aren’t meant to be equipment or entice an excessive amount of consideration; Becoming comfortably and dealing successfully are extra essential, and the black shade variant strains up with that idea.
The controls are customizable, however not utterly; You’ll be able to select a management ‘set’ for every earpiece, with fastened controls throughout the set itself. The management units embody Ambient Sound Management (switching between ANC and transparency modes), Playback Management (playback and invoking the default voice assistant in your smartphone), and Quantity Management.
Clearly, this implies that you could select as much as two of the three units, or alternatively deactivate controls on one or each earpieces solely. Such a system is simpler to get used to, however the lack of flexibility can get a bit annoying since you will have to make use of your smartphone to cowl for the operate set(s) you keep away from. The controls themselves are problem free due to using a bodily button, though urgent too firmly may have an effect on the safety of the match when worn.
The bodily controls for the WF-C700N will be personalized via the Sony Headphones Join app.
The Sony WF-C700N earphones are IPX4 rated for water resistance; that is solely actually sufficient to deal with gentle splashes of water or sweat, and positively not advisable to be used throughout even gentle rain. The gross sales package deal features a quick charging cable and a complete of three pairs of silicone ear ideas of various sizes.
The charging case of the Sony WF-C700N is small and relatively pocket-friendly due to its conveniently slim and pill-like form. The again of the case has the USB Sort-C port and pairing button, whereas the entrance has the indicator gentle. Nevertheless, this compact form signifies that the case solely presents one further cost to the earpieces.
Sony WF-C700N app and specs
A part of the rationale for the Sony WF-C700N being comparatively compact and light-weight are the bodily smaller 5mm drivers within the earphones. It is essential to say that driver measurement has nothing to do with sound high quality, and the WF-C700N largely retains up with equally priced competitors when it comes to the sonic capabilities of the drivers.
The earphones have a frequency response vary of 20-20,000Hz, and use Bluetooth 5.2 for connectivity with help for the SBC and AAC Bluetooth codecs. There is not any help for superior Bluetooth codecs, however this additionally makes the Sony WF-C700N platform agnostic, and is subsequently simply as properly fitted to iOS, as Android.
Normal Bluetooth connectivity signifies that the Sony WF-C700N is straightforward to arrange and get going with nearly any supported machine, however the full expertise depends on having the Sony Headphones Join app (out there for iOS and Android). The app works with varied appropriate Sony headsets, and units up for the precise headset in use as soon as you have accomplished the pairing course of and related the headset.
The Sony Headphones Join app is accessible for each iOS and Android.
The app has a visible show of the battery ranges of every earpiece and the charging case, adaptive sound management for automated sound mode switching, customizable transparency mode ranges, absolutely customizable equalizer settings, and the power to pick management units. You can even set a timer to robotically energy off the earphones when not in use, and replace the firmware as wanted.
The app is not fairly as detailed with the C700N as with costlier headsets from Sony such because the WF-1000XM4, however it covers key capabilities and works reliably sufficient. Nevertheless, it is not one thing you will want to make use of too typically after the preliminary setup because the function set is pretty easy and operable from the headset itself, for many issues.
Sony WF-C700N efficiency and battery life
Whilst you can count on a bit extra flourish and spec-boasting from manufacturers corresponding to Oppo, OnePlus, and Nothing within the mid-range true wi-fi phase, the Sony WF-C700N is loads much less ‘over-the-top’, and a good bit extra easy and direct in its method. What you get is a dependable, comfy, and constant listening expertise that’s largely in keeping with what you’d count on from Sony when it comes to sound and lively noise cancellation efficiency.
For my assessment, I had the Sony WF-C700N paired to an Apple iPhone 13 Professional (Evaluate), utilizing the earphones to hearken to music, place and obtain calls, and watch movies. The shortage of help for superior Bluetooth codecs was instantly evident within the sound; This headset is not tailor-made round element and precision, as is the case with the marginally costlier Nothing Ear 2.
As an alternative, what you get is a give attention to the sonic signature itself, achieved via a fairly refined degree of tuning for the Sony WF-C700N. The main focus is on the richness of the sound, with parts throughout the frequency vary sounding intense, virtually as if totally different components of the observe are preventing one another in your consideration. Listening to Lavender (Star One Remix) by Frenchfire with lively noise cancellation on and the quantity set at simply over the 50 % mark, I may hear virtually nothing outdoors the earphones. The quick, aggressive beats of this progressive home observe sound even higher with the quantity turned up.
Though battery life on the earpieces is first rate, the Sony WF-C700N’s charging case presents only one further cost, which is disappointing.
The Sony WF-C700’s flexibility in giving all the pieces an opportunity to shine was spectacular — the lows would rumble as wanted, whereas the mid-range would decide up at simply the appropriate time. The highs felt a bit subdued as compared, however not an excessive amount of. The general consequence was a heat, cozy sound that was working to maintain me engaged and attentive, however with out attempting too exhausting.
The utterly customizable equalizer settings within the Sony Headphones Join app permits you to tweak the sound to your liking, and are pretty conscious of adjustments as properly. Nevertheless, I fairly preferred the pure sound of the Sony WF-C700N earphones due to the dearth of fatigue it delivered, which was a key differentiator of this headset over the extra detailed sound on provide from a lot of the competitors. I used to be in a position to make use of the earphones for hours at a stretch in the course of the work day, and likewise zone into my night exercises due to the spectacular mixture of noise isolation and lively noise cancellation.
Lively noise cancellation on the Sony WF-C700N is not distinctive; the truth is, it is pretty strange by itself. There was an audible discount in ambient sound, however wind noise and smooth family noises such because the hum of a ceiling fan may nonetheless be heard. Nevertheless, mixed with the superb noise isolation and safe match, even taking part in music at average volumes was sufficient to virtually utterly shut myself off from what was occurring round me.
The transparency mode sounded a bit too intense and amplified sounds on the highest degree, however this could fortuitously be diminished via the app to a extra comfy degree. By way of quantity capabilities, the Sony WF-C700N would not get fairly as loud as you’d count on, however the heat and immersive nature of the sound ensures that you simply’re in a position to hear what you could hear even with the quantity. at average ranges. Efficiency on calls was first rate as properly, each indoors and outside.
Battery life on the Sony WF-C700N is first rate for the earpieces, with the earphones working for round seven hours on a single cost, with ANC on and the quantity at across the 50 % mark. Whereas that is first rate, the general battery life is not significantly nice contemplating that the charging case presents just one further cost for the earpieces, for a complete battery lifetime of 14 hours per cost cycle. There is no such thing as a wi-fi charging, however wired charging is pretty fast and environment friendly.
Verdict
Sony will not be as charming or attention-grabbing as competing manufacturers within the true wi-fi earphones phase, however it positively will get factors for consistency and reliability. The Sony WF-C700N is a simple and easy-going pair of true wi-fi earphones that delivers precisely what you’d count on for the value of Rs. 8,990. The nice and cozy and comfy sound, glorious match, acceptable ANC efficiency, and handy controls make this a worthwhile pair of earphones. There’s additionally the notable benefit of with the ability to purchase these earphones each on-line and offline, due to broad availability.
The battery life on the charging case and the dearth of help for superior Bluetooth codecs are the one notable drawbacks on this in any other case solely cheerful pair of true wi-fi earphones. If you happen to’re searching for a bit extra flourish and element within the sound, you may need to take into account the Nothing Ear 2 as a substitute, however in any other case the Sony WF-C700 is a secure wager.