“Essential” does not mean “cheap”. The Sony WF-C500 they still cost 100 euro. There are not a few but this places them in the mid-range of the market, well below the WF-1000XM4, the current top of the range true wireless of the Japanese giant. Minimalism here is dictated by the choice made by Sony in terms of functionality: compared to other Bluetooth headsets of the same range we do not find active noise cancellation or particularly smart software solutions. The WF-C500 are all about sound quality, convenience and battery life.
The review of the Sony WF-C500 true wireless headphones
The comparison to the WF-1000XM4 is a must and no, don’t assume that the most expensive headphones win every fight. Undoubtedly the top of the Sony range offers a higher audio quality; they also boast the most efficient noise cancellation in the industry and a host of intelligent features that allow us to recommend these headphones to the most discerning consumers. However, the weak point of the WF-1000XM4 is, in our opinion, the design. It is cared for in every detail and the materials are top notch but the dimensions are quite important, and this makes them a bit uncomfortable in the long run. The Sony WF-C500 are more compact, lighter and designed for continuous use: the battery lasts indeed 10 ore and, if you want, you can wear them all the time without feeling any discomfort.
However, keep in mind that it is a product in-ear so with the rubber that goes into your ear: not everyone loves this design so carefully evaluate this aspect before proceeding with the purchase.
To distinguish the WF-C500 from the bigger sisters we have another element: the physical key. No soft touch surface for Sony’s small ones but a real button associated with different commands:
- one click to Play / Play or to answer calls;
- two clicks to go to the next song;
- three clicks to return to the previous one;
- a long press to activate the voice assistant or to reject a phone call.
The key makes the controls more direct and perhaps simpler for those who have never had Bluetooth headsets with touch controls. The only limit is that relating to the race: during exercise it is more difficult to press the button and you will have the feeling of not being able to govern your headphones as you would like.
Speaking of exercise, the Sony WF-C500s have the IPX4 certification, so they can resist sweat and water splashes.
It didn’t particularly convince us he box. The opaque surface and the semi-transparency of the lid are unusual but appreciable elements, lHowever, its shape does not always make it suitable for carrying in a pocket.
Instead, the presence ofmagnetic hook that helps you to easily place the headphones inside the case, case that offers an additional 10 hours of use. Sony has therefore made a different choice than the competition, opting for a battery that lasts more consecutive hours and a case that offers fewer charge cycles. All in all it is a solution that works, capable of practically covering two full days of use before having to use the USB-C connector to recharge them.
Daily use
the Sony WF-C500 they can be connected to practically any device, among other things being able to count sul Fast Pair per Android e sul Swift Pair di Windows which facilitate and speed up the coupling. The app is also available on both iOS and Android Sony Headphones which is essential to get the best out of these headphones.
I driver da 5,8 mm in fact they return a balanced and clean sound but not perfect. However, you can get something more by taking advantage of theequalizer present in the application. Our suggestion is to intervene on low and high frequencies, you will not regret it.
On the other hand, the Japanese headphones are less convincing. If you are in a quiet enough room they do well; when there is noise, as can happen in a bar, communication becomes more difficult.
We appreciated it instead the guiding voice which, during the pairing phase, signals the successful connection with smartphone, tablet and PC and communicates the remaining battery percentage. Sony also decided to opt for an independent connection then the two earphones can work in total autonomy; this means that you just need to take out a single earphone and put it on to listen to music and manage phone calls. Why do it? The in-ear design offers a high level of isolation but there are situations where it is preferable to keep in touch with reality and the use of only one earphone can help you do this.
Sony WF-C500 review: is it worth buying?
The good audio performance, together with the possibility of using only one earphone and that of equalizing the sound with the dedicated application, make the Sony WF-C500 a great product for anyone who wants to take advantage of headphones for listening to music. They do not behave badly even during sports but pay attention to the presence of the physical button which, during the race, could be a little uncomfortable.
PRO
- Comfortable and light
- Balanced and clean audio
- The two earphones are autonomous
- Complete application
- Good autonomy
VERSUS
- Case shape does not fit all budgets
- On call they convince less
- No noise cancellation