Sony WF-C700N Review: Top-Tier Wireless Earbuds in Sony's Lineup

Explore the perfect balance of sound, comfort, and price with Sony WF-C700N wireless earbuds featuring active noise cancellation.

If you’re like me, always on the hunt for the perfect pair of wireless earbuds that don’t break the bank but still pack some serious punch, the Sony WF-C700N might just be your next obsession. Sony, a brand notorious for covering all corners of the market, has crafted this model to fill the sweet spot between budget-friendly and premium wireless earbuds—and boy, does it hit the mark.

Where Do the Sony WF-C700N Fit in Sony’s Wireless Earbuds Range?

Sony’s wireless earbuds lineup is fascinatingly strategic. At the entry-level, you have the WF-C500, affordable and straightforward. At the premium end, the WF-1000XM4 stands tall with cutting-edge features and top-tier sound. The WF-C700N swoops in right in the middle.

These earbuds carry a subtle promise: “Try noise cancellation without splurging on flagship prices.” If you’ve hesitated to dive into the wireless ANC world, these could be your gateway.

Sony WF-C700N Key Specs

• Type: In-ear earbuds with active noise cancellation (ANC)
• Bluetooth Version: 5.2
• Supported Codecs: SBC, AAC
• ANC: Yes
• Battery Life: 7.5 hours (Bluetooth + ANC), up to 15 hours with charging case
• Colors Available: White, Black, Sage Green, Lavender
• Weight: 4.6g per earbud

Price and Value of Sony WF-C700N

At around $120, the WF-C700N are priced a notch above the WF-C500, which initially retailed near $79 but now you can snag for about $68. This price bump is justified by the addition of ANC and other enhanced features.

Still, these aren’t as advanced as the WF-1000XM4, Sony's flagship model that launched at $280 (a big leap up). So, the WF-C700N offer a middle ground: a taste of premium tech without the premium price tag.

Sony isn’t alone in this segment, though. Competitors such as the Apple AirPods (2nd gen), Panasonic RZ-S500W, Google Pixel Buds A-Series, and JBL Live Pro 2 TWS all vie for your attention and your wallet here.

Design and Comfort: Small but Mighty

From the moment you see the WF-C700N, you notice how incredibly compact and discreet they are. Compared to the chunkier WF-1000XM4, these feel like delicate gems. Even smaller than the WF-C500, this is a feat of design engineering.

Sony’s choice of a 5mm driver (smaller than the WF-C500’s 5.8mm and WF-1000XM4’s 6mm) helps keep them petite without sacrificing sound quality. And here's the kicker—comfort is king here. The earbuds slide easily into your ears, nestle in snugly without any pinch, and the supple silicone tips seal in sound perfectly.

I took these on a five-kilometer run and a quick grocery run—both times, they stayed put without a hint of discomfort, even outclassing their pricier siblings in this department.

The subtle textured finish on the earbuds makes slipping them into place effortless, avoiding the struggle tiny buds sometimes bring.

The charging case is a simple cylinder with a USB-C port on the back and an LED battery indicator upfront. It fits snug in your pocket, though it lacks wireless charging—a small concession at this price.

Magnets inside the case hold the earbuds so firmly that they almost jump into place when you try to put them away. Plus, the color options—classic black and white, plus fresh lavender and sage green—let you pick a style that suits your vibe.

The earbuds support SBC and AAC codecs, but notably, no aptX HD or LDAC support here, unlike Sony’s premium models. Audiophiles might raise an eyebrow, but casual listeners probably won’t mind too much.

Features That Shine

Unlike many wireless earbuds that rely on touch controls, the WF-C700N has physical buttons on each earbud’s outer surface. These are highly customizable through the Sony Headphones Connect app. You can assign different functions like volume control, play/pause, voice assistant, or toggling ANC modes, though each button can only handle two commands simultaneously.

Another handy feature is adaptive sound control. The earbuds intelligently adjust noise cancellation and ambient sound modes based on your location and activity—a neat touch that keeps you connected to your surroundings when you need it.

One bummer: there’s no automatic pause/play when you remove or insert the earbuds, a feature that some rivals offer.

The app also allows prioritizing either sound quality or Bluetooth connection stability—my pick is quality first. Plus, Sony’s Digital Sound Enhancement Engine (DSEE) helps polish compressed audio files, making your playlists sound richer.

The 2023 firmware update added multipoint Bluetooth, allowing you to connect these earbuds to two devices at once. This is a game-changer for switching between phone and laptop without fumbling through settings.

The earbuds are rated IPX4, meaning they're splash-resistant—perfect for gym sessions or light rain during your outdoor adventures.

Battery-wise, 7.5 hours of playback with ANC on is respectable, stretching to 10 hours if you switch it off. However, the charging case only holds enough juice for one full recharge before it needs to be plugged in itself, so keeping an eye on battery levels via the app is wise.

Eight preset equalizer profiles plus three customizable ones give plenty of sonic tailoring options, though honestly, the default sound is so good I barely tweaked anything during my listening sessions.

Call Quality and Noise Cancellation

Sony boasted about improved wind noise reduction in the WF-C700N, and they delivered. Calls came through crystal clear on both ends, even when I braved gusty weather. My voice sounded natural and clean—much better than some competitors I’ve tested, like the JBL Live Pro 2.

While the ANC here isn’t as refined as the WF-1000XM4, it’s robust enough to drown out ambient noise effectively. The ambient sound mode is well balanced, allowing you to stay aware without drowning out your tunes—a perfect compromise for those who want situational awareness, especially in busy environments.

For in-ear buds, this level of noise control is impressive and generally outperforms most rivals in this price range.

Sound Quality That Surprises

I kicked off my listening session with Massive Attack’s Angel—a bass-heavy, complex track that can trip up many earbuds. These little WF-C700N didn’t skip a beat. The bass was deep, rich, and textured, layering beautifully with the rest of the mix. You could almost feel the vibrations.

But it’s not just about the bass. The earbuds keep their sound profile balanced, giving equal love to percussion and vocals. Switching to Beethoven’s Fifth Symphony performed by Herbert von Karajan and the Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra, the earbuds captured every dramatic swell and delicate silence with precision that impressed me thoroughly.

On a more intimate note, Kate Burns’ Go was rendered with genuine emotion. The earbuds faithfully conveyed the raw mix of anger and sorrow in her vocals, plus the subtle guitar fingerpicking dynamics. It felt like the artist was right there in the room.

Final Thoughts on Sony WF-C700N

Sony continues to impress with a lineup thoughtfully built to cover all budget tiers. The WF-C700N sit neatly between entry-level and flagship models, offering meaningful upgrades over the WF-C500 and touching the performance level of the WF-1000XM4—without the flagship price tag.

Ratings:

• Sound: 5/5
• Features: 4/5
• Comfort: 5/5

If you want a reliable, comfortable pair of wireless earbuds with active noise cancellation that won’t empty your wallet, the WF-C700N should be high on your shortlist.

“WF-C700N deliver a balanced profile with powerful bass and detailed soundstage, making them a standout in their price class.”

FAQ

• Which devices are compatible with Sony WF-C700N?
  They connect seamlessly to any Bluetooth-enabled device supporting SBC and AAC codecs, including most smartphones, tablets, and laptops.
• Do the WF-C700N support wireless charging?
  No, the charging case only supports wired USB-C charging.
• Can I customize the controls on the earbuds?
  Yes, via the Sony Headphones Connect app, you can assign functions to the physical buttons, though each button can handle only two functions simultaneously.
• How effective is the noise cancellation?
  It offers solid ANC for this price range, effectively reducing background noise and providing an ambient sound mode to stay aware of your environment.
• What is the battery life like?
  Up to 7.5 hours with ANC on, 10 hours without, plus one full charge from the case before it needs recharging.

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