The Sony WF-C710N earbuds promise affordable noise cancellation, but do they deliver? This review dives deep into the performance of these budget-friendly wireless earbuds, examining their strengths and weaknesses across key areas. We'll explore the call quality, noise cancellation effectiveness, transparency mode performance, and overall sound quality, comparing them to Sony's higher-end offerings and competitors in the market. This detailed analysis will help you decide if the WF-C710N's value proposition outweighs its limitations.This review covers a comprehensive assessment of the WF-C710N's features, including an in-depth analysis of its noise cancellation capabilities across different frequency ranges, the clarity of its microphone during calls, the quality of its transparency mode, and its overall audio performance both before and after equalization adjustments. We also discuss the user experience, including the touch controls and overall comfort, ultimately determining whether these earbuds are a worthwhile purchase for the budget-conscious consumer.
Pros And Cons
- Affordable
- New transparent crystal clear color
- Clean voice pickup in quiet conditions
- Good background noise reduction in noisy conditions
- Cancels noise in upper mids and highs almost as much as XM5
- Loudest ambient pass through in transparency mode
- Usable transparency mode for general awareness
- Sound quality can be improved significantly with EQ adjustments in the Sound Connect app
- Price point makes sense considering performance and features
- Meets most expectations in terms of noise cancelling, transparency, battery life, and sound quality (after EQ adjustment)
- Basic specs (base version of DE upscaling, no high-res codec support, no spatial audio, no wireless charging)
- Less effective at cancelling bass and lower mid-range noise compared to other models
- Voice sounds muffled in noisy conditions compared to XM5 or Linkbuds Fit
- Out-of-the-box sound is flat and unexciting, lacking crispness and airiness
- Bass is less thumpy than other models
- Transparency mode has excess resonance in the sub-bass
- Ambient pass-through is louder but less natural sounding than XM5
- Touch controls are less convenient than button controls (e.g., don't work with gloves)
- Less competitive in terms of features compared to some Chinese brands
Read more: EPZ P50 In-Ear Monitor Review: A Breakout Performer?
Microphone Performance
The WF-C710N offers decent voice pickup in quiet environments. However, in noisy settings, while background noise reduction is effective, the voice quality becomes noticeably muffled compared to higher-end Sony models like the WF-1000XM5 and LinkBuds Fit. This is a significant drawback for users who frequently make calls in bustling environments.
Call clarity takes a hit in noisy situations due to muffled audio. The microphone struggles to isolate your voice from surrounding sounds leading to less clear conversations. While usable, it's far from the best in its class.
Noise Cancellation Capabilities
The WF-C710N's noise cancellation performance is underwhelming, particularly in the lower frequency range (20Hz-60Hz). It actually amplifies some bass frequencies, making it less effective at blocking low-frequency rumbles and droning noises compared to competitors.
While it performs better at canceling higher frequency noises, this weakness in lower frequencies is a major drawback. Users sensitive to low-frequency noise should consider other options. The graph clearly demonstrates this difference.
Transparency Mode Analysis
The transparency mode also shows some similar limitations as the noise cancellation. There's excess resonance in the lower frequencies, though generally it passes through ambient noise fairly well.
However, there is more amplification of sound up to 1kHz compared to the LinkBuds Fit and XM5. This makes ambient sounds louder overall, but less natural. While usable, this isn't the best transparency mode on the market.
Sound Quality and Equalization
Out of the box, the WF-C710N's sound profile is quite flat and unexciting, lacking crispness and airiness. The bass response is also less punchy than competing models.
However, significant improvements are achieved through equalization in the Sound Connect app. Adjusting the 4.3kHz and 16kHz bands, and the clear bass dial, results in a more lively, punchy, and enjoyable sound signature, although not reaching the detail and separation of the XM5.
Overall Assessment and Conclusion
The Sony WF-C710N earbuds offer a budget-friendly option with decent battery life and a reasonable sound quality, especially after equalization. However, its noise cancellation and microphone performance are weaker points compared to higher-tier options.
The touch controls are a departure from the button controls of its predecessor, potentially causing accidental presses and limiting usability with gloves. While affordable, the limited feature set and performance compared to Chinese competitors makes it a tougher sell.
Ultimately, the WF-C710N is a good option for budget-conscious users new to wireless earbuds or those already invested in the Sony ecosystem. But buyers should temper expectations, acknowledging its limitations. For superior audio and ANC, the XM5 remains the superior choice. However, given price and features, it occupies a viable niche.