Sony WF-C700N review

Colors pop with the portable true wireless Sony WF-C700N. These active noise canceling (ANC) buds sail in as a mid-tier option for Sony fans. We put these buds through the wringer to see if they live up to the box’s promises.

Editor’s note: this is the first version of the article. Updates will follow as the market changes.

What’s it like to use Sony WF-C700N?

The Sony WF-C700N come in a few cheerful colors and a tidy, lightweight package. Weighing in at 4.6g per bud and a 31g case, you’ll unlikely experience much discomfort in your ears or pocket. It is a plasticky affair, with the lightly textured plastic not exactly exuding luxury, but there’s an IPX4 rating. The buds use shallow buttons, and they are large enough that you can actuate the buttons towards your helix and not feel any annoyance usually associated with buttons.

With the WF-C700N, you get three sets of ear tips in sizes 10mm, 12mm, and 14mm. If you have small ears, the WF-C700N might fit you well. My ears are about average-sized (frequently, the default ear tips fit me best), and using the 12mm ear tips, the seal is good, but the fit doesn’t feel completely secure. Due to the lack of stabilizers with the limited selection of ear tips and a textured (but not exactly grippy housing), large-eared folks might struggle to get a secure fit. They’re fine for working at a desk or going for a walk, but these are not workout-ready. Still, they’re comfortable enough to don for a couple of hours easily.

The case of the mid-tier case

Meanwhile, the charging case looks like a shrunken Twinkie, and the diminutive weight and size are impressive from an engineering perspective. It opens clamshell style, and the buds snap into place very securely. The case easily slips into a jeans pocket, too. You can’t easily open it one-handed. Like the earbuds, the WF-C700N case is made of the same textured plastic and feels cheap. The lid has more flex than I have confidence in its durability. While it stays shut, you don’t want to drop it. Some plastics crack, and this plastic seems like it shatters.

How do you control the Sony WF-C700N?

Unlike some earbuds, the Sony WF-C700N use buttons, but they work well and don’t cause discomfort. Due to the shallow depth, you can press without inadvertently forcing them deeper into your ears.

That said, four taps to change your volume (up or down) is quite a lot. Fortunately, you can change this in the app. When a control registers, the buds emit a gentle blip.

Should you use the Sony Headphones Connect app for the Sony WF-C700N?

The Sony Headphones Connect app is used for virtually all Bluetooth Sony earbuds and headphones. Like most apps, it demands your information in exchange for being “free.” In the app, you get an equalizerlistening mode control, and you can turn on the Adaptive Sound Control modes, which track your location and the ambient noise to determine the appropriate listening mode. You can also turn on DSEE (Sony’s DSP) and analyze your ears for Sony 360 Reality Audio (with compatible services like Tidal and Deezer).

How do the Sony WF-C700N connect?

With Bluetooth 5.2, the WF-C700N connect with the standard AAC and SBC codecs. Nothing too remarkable here, except that Sony’s own LDAC codec remains absent for Android users. They default to AAC for iOS, and if you set the connection (in the Headphones Connect app) to prioritize stability, there are no dropouts. Still, when prioritizing sound quality, I experience about six brief hiccups over 90 minutes.

Initially, connecting with an iPhone proves a bit frustrating if you try to connect through the Sony Headphones Connect app, as instructed by Sony, with a very similar experience as the Sony WH-CH720N. The most reliable method is to use your device’s Bluetooth settings. Otherwise, the WF-C700N subsequently reconnects swiftly when you remove the buds from the case.

How long does the Sony WF-C700N battery last?

According to our standardized battery test, the Sony WF-C700N lasts 7 hours and 13 minutes with ANC on. That’s not bad, especially considering the size of the earbuds. The case for the WF-C700N is relatively small and takes about 3 hours to fully charge from empty via the included USB-A to USB-C cable. The WF-C700N case does not have wireless charging capabilities.

How well do the Sony WF-C700N cancel noise?

Sometimes, we test a product that serves as a reminder as to why reviews are essential, and the Sony WF-C700N is a case in point. That “N” in WF-C700N designates these as noise canceling earbuds. Look at the chart above and notice the ineffectiveness of the ANC; we’re not measuring any difference compared to the passive acoustic isolation alone. That is to say, it isn’t working. If this is an important feature, there are plenty of earbuds with superior ANC out there.

Now, the isolation performs rather well. It’s strong enough that while walking around with music playing, joggers accidentally sneak up from behind. You must ensure a good fit because the ear tips do virtually all the work.

How do the Sony WF-C700N sound?

Compared to our headphone preference curve, the Sony WF-C700N doesn’t do a terrible job, but many listeners will find the weak bass reproduction disappointing. The bass response under 100Hz is over 6dB quieter than our preference, but that’s fine unless you specifically seek out bassy buds. On the other hand, the WF-C700N under-emphasizes treble above 5kHz. Nevertheless, you’ll hear most instruments just fine with this frequency response.

Lows, mids, highs

Both singers ‘ vocals are well reproduced when listening to the upbeat duet Je ne vois que vous by Benjamin Schoos and Laetitia Sadier on the Sony WF-C700N. The bass lacks oomph, specifically sub-bass, but most notes are still easy to pick out. It’s a crowded track with strings, synths, electric guitar, acoustic guitar, organs, and harps, all playing at similar frequencies, and they all sound great. What sticks out is that high-frequency harmonics, such as with the tambourine, cymbals, and the “snap” of the snare, are lacking.

Can you use the Sony WF-C700N for phone calls?

The mic system on the Sony WF-C700N is fine. It captures voices with relative accuracy in ideal circumstances. In office settings, your speaking voice still gets captured just fine, but the noise of the office remains audible. The performance is similar in windy circumstances, with higher frequencies filtered out by the noise suppression of the WF-C700N.

Sony WF-C700N microphone demo (Ideal conditions):

Sony WF-C700N microphone demo (Office conditions):

Sony WF-C700N microphone demo (Windy conditions):

Should you buy the Sony WF-C700N?

The Sony WF-C700N are okay but arguably overpriced. When you consider the noise cancelation ineffective, and that’s typically the priciest feature on wireless earbuds, we recommend against buying them. On the other hand, they sound decent and work fine with a comprehensive app.

These are average earbuds, but the price is too steep for the plasticky build and unimpressive fit (for average-sized or larger ears). If the buds cost less, they would be easier to recommend if you don’t care too much about ANC and want the Sony badge.

What should you get instead of the Sony WF-C700N?

Save your pennies and get the step down from the WF-C700N to the Sony WF-C500. If you like all the other features of the WF-C700N, then the WF-C500 ticks most of the same boxes from the size of the Sony Headphones Connect app. Still, these do come with some of the same shortcomings, like the shape, but the price ($98 at Amazon) is kinder.

If you want noise canceling, the Anker Soundcore Liberty 4 NC outperform the WF-C700N for ANC. They come in at a reasonable price ($99.99 at Amazon) and have a great battery life. The case is chunkier than the WF-C700N but still pocketable.

Of course, if Sony and noise canceling are what you want, the Sony LinkBuds S sport much more noticeable ANC for $148 at Amazon. These fit most ears well but don’t have stabilizers, either. They use touch controls rather than buttons and have the same IPX4 rating as the WF-C700N. By default, these buds have a pleasing consumer-oriented frequency response.

Frequently asked questions