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Title: Sony WF-C710N review: More than midrange

Date: Thu, 05 Jun 2025 18:00:18 +0000
Link: https://www.engadget.com/audio/headphones/son...

SonyΓÇÖs 1000X earbuds may get most of the attention in the companyΓÇÖs
lineup, but there are gems to be found on the roster for less money. The
LinkBuds series offers some serious contenders for $100 less than the
flagship WF-1000XM5. There have also been some compelling products under $150
from Sony, and the recently released WF-C710N ($120) also fits the bill. A
comfortable fit, a long list of features and above-average ANC performance
lead the positives here, but there are a few caveats youΓÇÖll need to
consider before you commit.

WhatΓÇÖs good about the WF-C710N?

The WF-C710N is the successor to the WF-C700N that debuted in 2023. That set
was a formidable mid-range contender in its own right, thanks to a compact
design and handy features. Sony didnΓÇÖt change the overall look too much for
the C710N, but the touch panels for the controls are easier to find since
theyΓÇÖre now concave circles. The company also introduced a transparent blue
color option that allows you to see inside the earbuds and case. ItΓÇÖs
giving Beats Solo Buds and Studio Buds + vibes, but IΓÇÖm all for it. In my
opinion, the more transparent gadgets, the better.

Compared to much of the competition, the C710NΓÇÖs smaller size also means it
is more comfortable to wear for long periods of time. The earbuds sit on the
ridges of my ears nicely, and there isnΓÇÖt any unbalanced, excess weight
projecting out from the side of my head. ItΓÇÖs clear Sony fine-tuned the
ergonomics for all-day use, and I had no trouble wearing them for the
entirety of my battery tests. ThatΓÇÖs not always the case with larger,
bulkier earbuds.

The C710N might be a midrange set at $120, but the long list of features
allows the earbuds to punch above their weight. Starting with the basics,
thereΓÇÖs active noise cancellation (ANC), adjustable ambient sound mode,
customizable EQ (presets and sliders), multipoint connectivity,
reconfigurable touch controls and automatic pausing when the buds are removed
from your ears. On the more advanced end of the spec sheet, you get Adaptive
Sound Control: SonyΓÇÖs trademark tool that automates changes to sound
settings based on activity or location. ThereΓÇÖs also a personalized EQ, 360
Reality Audio support, DSEE upscaling and a Quick Attention feature that
lowers the volume and activates ambient sound for any brief chats. The only
notable omission here is Speak-to-Chat that does the same thing as Quick
Attention automatically when you start talking, but IΓÇÖm not surprised it
was left off a pair of $120 earbuds.

ANC performance is remarkably strong on the C710N, a feat that typically
eludes the competition in this price range. In particular, I noticed these
earbuds do an above average job of blocking human voices as I was able to
greatly reduce the volume of nearby chatter in most instances. IΓÇÖm not
talking complete silence, but the amount of noise blocking is above average
when youΓÇÖre in the vicinity of someone youΓÇÖd rather not listen to at full
volume. Constant distractions like loud fans are also reduced but not
entirely thwarted, so that too is better than what youΓÇÖll get from a lot of
the similarly priced options.

WhatΓÇÖs not so good about the WF-C710N? Billy Steele for Engadget

Compared to other midrange earbuds, sound quality is slightly above average
on the C710N, but it could be good enough to satisfy you at this price. The
bass is tight and punchy, but oftentimes it overpowers the mix for hip-hop,
rock and metal ΓÇö basically any genre with a driving beat. And when you
switch to something more mellow like bluegrass, the low-end tone still
constrains the treble and mid range. Depending on the song, highs can cut
through, but a boost in the middle of the EQ would do wonders for overall
depth of sound here (youΓÇÖll want to keep DSEE active). Is it good enough
for someone looking to pick up a set of earbuds on a budget? Yes. Does the
audio performance compete with flagship options like the WF-1000XM5? Not even
close.

In my tests, the C710N didnΓÇÖt last as long as Sony promised. The company
says youΓÇÖll get up to eight and a half hours on a charge with ANC active.
But, using a mix of noise cancelling and ambient sound modes, I only managed
between six and a half and seven hours. ThatΓÇÖs a respectable amount, but if
youΓÇÖre looking to wear these for an entire work day, you might not make it.
ThatΓÇÖs especially true if you need them to also stick around for your
commute.

Despite offering the option to ΓÇ£Capture Voice During a Phone CallΓÇ¥ in the
Sound Connect app, the C710N doesnΓÇÖt pipe much of you back through the
earbuds in that scenario. Even with ambient sound active, I still felt the
need to speak up more than normal, so voice and video calls werenΓÇÖt as
natural as they could be. Overall, SonyΓÇÖs assurance of ΓÇ£crystal-clear
callsΓÇ¥ falls flat as youΓÇÖll sound decent, but not pristine. The C710N
will block most background noise from coming through, but in doing so the
quality of your voice greatly suffers. All of that means these earbuds are
usable for calls if you really need them, but if sounding comprehensible in
calls is important , youΓÇÖll want to look elsewhere.

Final verdict on the WF-C710N

If comfort and handy features are your primary concern, the C710N will serve
you well. Sound quality isnΓÇÖt the best, but it isnΓÇÖt bad either, so I
have no doubt that many people will be pleased with it. If I had been able to
hit (or even surpass) SonyΓÇÖs stated battery life, these earbuds would be
easy to recommend. Despite that, theyΓÇÖre still a solid option, especially
at $120, since the company once again outpaces its midrange rivals with more
convenient tools than youΓÇÖll find anywhere else. The C710N is definitely a
better choice than the slightly cheaper Beats Solo Buds, which are now $99.95
at full price ($80 at launch).

This article originally appeared on Engadget at
https://www.engadget.com/audio/headphones/son...
midrange-180018400.html?src=rss

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