Should you’re trying to purchase a pair of true wi-fi headphones, you may see an awesome variety of suggestions for the Sony WF-1000XM4. Within the 5 years since they launched, they’ve develop into a go-to for anybody in search of a few of the finest noise-cancelling in-ears you can buy.
Nevertheless, not everybody desires to spend their £200 asking value, and you probably have been in search of one thing cheaper, Sony has simply launched a pair of headphones that could be of curiosity. They’re the WF-C700N and exchange 2021’s WF-C500N, aiming to ship lots of what we love within the flagship buds for half the worth.
It is an formidable ask however do they handle it? We had a fast hearken to get some first impressions.
WF-C700N
First impressions
For his or her value, the WF-C700N supply up an interesting stability of engaging design, good options and a well-balanced sound. We’re wanting ahead to attempting them out additional in our full evaluate.
Design
- Light-weight and compact
- Out there in black, white, lavender and sage inexperienced
The WF-C700N aren’t dissimilar in design to the pricier siblings they appear as much as, with an analogous form that sits solely throughout the ear. Sony apparently designed them with consolation and stability in thoughts, having studied in depth ear form information that has been collated for the reason that world’s first in-ear headphones launched in 1982.
Actually, they felt comfortable throughout our temporary time with them, and nestled properly into our ear with no issues that they’d budge beneath strain. They’re weighted properly too, so ought to be good for longer listening classes, with a grippy matte texture that feels snug towards the pores and skin.
They’re finally, in fact, plastic, however they really feel sturdy and never in peril of being too fragile beneath lots of use. They seem to be a fairly understated design, however look nice, in a selection of black, white, lavender or sage inexperienced.
Options
- IPX4 waterproofing
- 15 hours battery life (7.5 hours per put on), with noise cancelling on
- Adaptive noise cancellation
Contemplating their value level, the Sony WF-C700N do not go huge on options exterior of its predominant noise-cancelling characteristic set, however they do nonetheless have some tips up their sleeve.
For instance, you may get IPX4 waterproofing making them effective to be used on the gymnasium, and there is assist for Bluetooth Multipoint connection too, to allow them to be paired with two units on the similar time.
Battery life is slightly so-so in contrast with flagship headphones, at simply 15 hours in complete, however 7.5 hours of playback on a single cost with one other full cost within the case is nothing to smell at. Should you do not want noise cancelling on, it is possible for you to to squeeze slightly extra out of them, at 20 hours complete, with 10 hours of playback at a time.
Talking of noise cancelling, Sony’s Adaptive Sound Management is on board right here, and will be managed throughout the Sony Headphones Join app. This sees your headphones understanding your setting – whether or not you are travelling, at dwelling or within the gymnasium, for instance – and adjusting their stage of noise cancelling to swimsuit. We have all the time discovered this works properly in different Sony headphones, however you possibly can swap this off should you desire a extra secure noise-cancelling impact.
There is a simple transparency mode too, referred to as Ambient Sound Mode, plus a Concentrate on Voice characteristic, that can allow you to obviously hear anybody chatting with you, so that you needn’t take away your headphones to have a chat.
We weren’t actually capable of put this noise cancellation by its paces within the pretty quiet setting we bought to check them out in, however it did really feel comparatively light-weight in comparison with the Bose QuietComfort Earbuds II that we’re used to, and certainly the Sony WF-1000XM4. Nevertheless, as we all know, they’re each significantly dearer – we would anticipate these will do a very good job of blocking out the massive rumbles to some extent however could wrestle extra with voices and better pitched noises.
Lastly, Sony presents assist for 360 Actuality Audio with these buds, so long as you’ve got the suitable content material.
Efficiency
We listened to a few songs with the WF-C700N and have been pleasantly stunned by the full of life sound we have been greeted with. There was loads of quantity to play with, they usually remained secure and managed even once we gave them a nudge in the direction of their higher limits.
They won’t be probably the most expansive in relation to soundstage, however the sound did not really feel hemmed in or restricted both. It is a truthful stability at this value and one Sony has struck properly.
That is the case elsewhere right here. General these in-ears edge in the direction of neutrality, with a give attention to readability above all. The midrange is ever so barely ahead, so vocals shine, and there is a good quantity of chew within the treble that offers them vitality and pleasure.
The low finish is not maybe as wealthy or deep as you may anticipate in a pair of cheaper headphones, however it’s removed from light-weight. We would all the time take this extra conservative stability over one which overeggs it, and thickens up the entire presentation, however should you’d relatively slightly bit extra, there’s an EQ within the Headphones Join app lets you tweak some ranges to your choice.
Verdict
General the WF-C700N strike us as extremely well-judged headphones for the worth (£99.99/€119). There is a good quantity of element and perception, an honest deal with on timing and down to earth strategy to sound high quality that we’re not used to listening to in headphones at this stage.
Add to that some fairly good options and a pretty design, and we’re very a lot wanting ahead to attempting these out additional in our full evaluate.
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