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The Sony WF-C710N earbuds beat the AirPods 4 on ANC, sound, and price
Our Sony WF-C710N review found that much of what’s available on the flagship WF-1000XM5 is here, and for a third of the cost.
Sony’s presence in the wireless audio space grows stronger and wider with every new release. The class-leading WF-1000XM5 are considered some of the best wireless earbuds among critics and consumers, edging out the AirPods Pro 2 and Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds for true wireless supremacy. Less-popular entries such as the WF-C700N also helped establish Sony’s footing in the mid-range wireless earbuds market.
The WF-C710N is the latest model to join the pack, and it’s a doozy. High-end features combined with Sony’s critically acclaimed sound technologies give these inexpensive in-ears a sonic edge over many similarly priced rivals.
Comparing these buds to the AirPods Pro 2 and Sony sibling WF-1000XM5 isn’t an exaggeration, since they boast many of the same features. Notable omissions include hi-res streaming through Bluetooth and wireless charging. They might fall short of these category titans, but they outperform both versions of the AirPods 4 in the areas that matter most: active noise cancellation, battery life, and — you guessed it — sound. That makes them the superior mid-range option.
Sony WF-C710N wireless earbuds specs
Pairing the buds to compatible media devices is an effortless task. Hold down the button on the back of the charging case with the lid open and buds in their charging slots to enable pairing mode. Select your unit from the available devices list in the Bluetooth setting on your device. Android users can take advantage of Google Fast Pair for one-tap pairing. There’s even multipoint technology to pair these buds to two devices simultaneously, no matter the platform. Connectivity remains stable within a 40-foot range.
The WF-C710N’s spec sheet is solid:
Speaker Driver Unit: 5mm
Frequency Response: 20 Hz - 20,000 Hz
Advanced Active Noise Cancellation
Digital Sound Enhancement Engine (DSEE)
IPX4 water resistance
8.5 hours of battery with ANC on / 12 hours with ANC off
Up to 30 hours of additional playtime with charging case
5-minute quick charge provides 1 hour of ANC listening
Earpiece sizes: S, M, L
Colors: black, glass blue, pink, and white
The Sony Sound Connect app can be downloaded in the Apple App Store or Google Play for free. It is streamlined to easily adjust or toggle features. There are many sound settings to play with, which I break down further in this review. The same goes for the WF-C710N’s favorable touch and voice controls.
Balanced sound with beneficial ANC
The WF-C710N sound identical to their predecessor, which is great since the WF-C700N produce punchy, well-balanced sonics that complement most music genres.
Alternative tracks like Hozier’s “Too Sweet” level you with impactful lows, which are spearheaded by an infectious bass line that slaps hard right out of the gate. You can almost feel the pluck of every guitar strum. The singer’s lo-fi vocals also sound crisp. I attribute this to Sony’s DSEE technology, which boosts fidelity on all music files, and does so flawlessly. Be sure to enable it in the app (more on that later).
These buds handle live performances incredibly well. The resolution on Daft Punk’s rendition of “One More Time/Aerodynamic” is superb. You’ll be able to distinguish between individual voices and instruments. The transition into “Aerodynamic” raises bass during the electrifying guitar riff intro and doesn’t distort the soundstage.
Hearing this level of depth and layering through 5mm drivers is a testament to Sony’s impeccable sound engineering. Lows are the most expressive frequency, but mids and highs are given enough attention to create warm, stable sound.
There’s a slight bump in bass when turning on ANC. You’ll hear and feel the difference on bangers like Travis Scott’s “Butterfly Effect.” The booming effects and synths create hair-raising reverberation.
ANC performs mostly well. The buds eliminate up to 85 percent of unwanted noise, with certain high-frequency sounds (e.g., crying babies, sirens) creeping onto the soundstage. Luckily, these noises sound more like background effects on songs. Noise cancellation performed similarly on calls — the only interruptions came from high-frequency sounds.
The feature always came in handy when working on my balcony. It neutralized the construction and landscaping noises near the pool area. Stepping inside the apartment was just as peaceful. Household appliances and loud TVs never caught my attention, nor did my cat’s meows.
Where Sony’s ANC technology always shows out is ambient listening. The 20-level Ambient Sound mode is remarkable and vastly increases awareness in all surroundings. You’ll hear ambulance sirens from three blocks away, while having clear-sounding conversations in proximity without removing the buds.
Comparing the WF-C710N to other earbuds
I have over eight years of experience testing headphones and earbuds, which I’ve done for numerous credible tech publications (e.g., Tom’s Guide, Laptop Magazine, CNN Underscored). My benchmark products are the Bose QC Ultra Earbuds for ANC and the WF-1000XM5 for sound.
Audio on the WF-C710N isn’t luxury level like the previously mentioned models. Comfort and spatial audio are also better on these high-priced competitors. However, the WF-C710N sound superior to most buds under $200 (*cough* AirPods 4 cough).
The WF-C710N won’t be considered some of the best noise-cancelling earbuds, but they do a fantastic job of silencing your surroundings. ANC holds up well in both indoor and outdoor settings. Most low- and mid-frequency sounds will go unnoticed. High-frequency sounds are audible, but they aren’t distracting. Transparency mode might be the WF-C710N’s unsung feature. Sony’s mic array demonstrates terrific vocal capture to easily communicate with others or eavesdrop on conversations.
Prime operation translates to flawless usability
Responsiveness and touch accuracy are marvelous on the WF-C710N. The touch controls not only execute multi-tap commands quickly, but rarely do they misinterpret triple taps for double taps. Voice assistance is dependable — you’ll be able to initiate Siri and Google Assistant commands with ease. Shortcut lovers will appreciate the option to access Amazon Music or Spotify directly on the buds; this can be assigned in the Quick Access setting via the app.
The Sound Connect app expands functionality across the board. Aside from control customization, this is where you’ll enable the ANC mode, sound technologies (e.g., 360 Reality Audio, DSEE), and other popular features like multi-point connectivity and wear detection. Business users should turn on the former since it creates a seamless connection between two media devices at the same time, allowing you to switch audio sources without unpairing.
Sony’s customizable EQ with well-engineered presets steals the show. Each preset is fine-tuned for its assigned category. The Find Your Equalizer feature is the best way to enjoy personalized sound. It automatically creates a sound profile tailored to your hearing. My profile delivered sharper mids than the WF-C710N’s standard EQ.
Sony WF-C710N battery life
Battery life is another area where the WF-C710N satisfy. A full charge generates between 8.5 and 12 hours, depending how you use the buds. Features like multipoint and spatial audio trim off 1.5 hours, though the lasting playtimes are still sufficient and rank higher than most noise-cancelling earbuds. I’ve worn the buds for full work shifts and had enough juice to take phone calls after clocking out. The charging case holds an additional 30 hours (fully charged) to ensure next-day usage.
Are the Sony WF-C710N earbuds worth it?
Can you buy quality noise-cancelling earbuds for less than the Sony WF-C710N? Sure. Will they come with the same amount of sound personalization? No. That alone justifies the purchase.
Shortcomings are apparent. It would have been nice if Sony added wireless charging and LDAC support for hi-res streaming over Bluetooth. The bigger issue for some listeners might be discomfort. Luckily, these aren’t dealbreakers.
It’s worth picking up the WF-C710Ns if you have a penchant for Sony’s bass-forward sound signature or want affordable ANC buds with better audio and noise cancellation than the AirPods 4.
The Sony WF-C710N are priced at $119.99 and are available on Sony’s website, as well as popular online retailers like Amazon and Best Buy.
