Sony WF-C710N Earbuds

Words: Vishal Pipraiya

Sony knows a thing or two about sound. From Walkmanheritage, noise cancelling flagships to studio headphones, their audio lineage is tough to fault. While the flagship WF-1000XM often steals the headlines, with the WF-C710N, Sony is shifting focus, packing active noise cancellation and its trademark tuning into a budget friendly true wireless package. Do they hit the sweet spot? In short, mostly yes.

Design and Comfort
Out of the box, the WF-C710N immediately grabs your attention and doesn’t let go. The visible internals of both the buds and the case are fascinating and catch light in interesting ways. Available in 4 colour options, the translucent glass blue we received for review is gorgeous and a definite conversation starter standing out from the sea of matte black buds. It adds a touch of flair without compromising on the minimalism. The compact case at 37.5gms slips easily into a pocket, and the earbuds are light enough at 5.3gms each to disappear in your ears once you have popped them in. The fit is snug, secure, and comfortable creating a seal in the ears. Long usage including active running does not shake them. The IPX4 rating helps with both sweat and water. My only fear would be the scenario of my butter fingers dropping the case and the clear polycarbonate not surviving it.

Sound and Call Quality
Sony’s audio pedigree is on full display. The buds deliver a well-balanced sound profile with a slight emphasis on the lowend, providing a satisfying thump without overpowering the mids or highs. Vocals are clear and present, and there’s all the detail to appreciate nuances in your favourite tracks. The downloadable Soundconnect app allows for both preset and custom equalizer settings.

Noise Cancellation
This is where the WF-C710N truly aims to differentiate itself in the budget category. The active noise cancellation, while not on par with its expensive cousins, is still effective.Ambient hums and rumbles are cut down with ease, think buses, fans, or office din. It won’t silence the world like the XM series, and higher frequencies still sneak in, but it makes a meaningful difference when you just want to zone out. The Ambient Sound mode is also well executed, letting in surroundings when needed without sounding robotic. Voice Quality during a call is good and there is nothing to complain about. Having said that some similarly priced Jabra’s do a better job with on call ANC when it comes to calls.

Battery & Connectivity
Battery life is solid, 6 to 7 hours with ANC on, 8+ with it off, plus another couple of full charges in the case. Quick charging is a bonus. A 10-minute top up gives around an hour of playback. Bluetooth 5.3 keeps the connection stable, and pairing is painless. The earbuds have multipoint connectivity, and it is very useful especially in scenarios of watching something on a bigger device and being able to answer a phone call at the same time.

Features and Controls
Touch controls on each earbud allow for playback, track management, call management, and toggling ANC/Ambient Sound modes. These are intuitive and responsive. An advanced feature like wear detection is also present and works flawlessly.

Verdict

What we liked:
Unique looks with the Blue Translucent colour option, ANC, Sony’s sound tuning, Multipoint Connectivity, Wear Detection, Fast Charging

What we’d improve:
Average voice call quality
More colour options

The last word:

The Sony WF-C710N are a compelling package for anyone seeking an introduction to active noise cancellation and reliable Sony sound without splashing out on premium models. The striking looks (of the translucent model), comfortable design, enjoyable audio, ANC and a few more bell and whistles make them an excellent choice for commuters, students, activity wear or anyone looking to upgrade their everyday listening experience on a sensible budget.

Rating: 4/5

Pricing and Availability