Review: Sony WF-C500 – A Surprising Entry

Sony’s funds TWS IEMs be offering an interesting sound signature whilst putting off ANC and different good options to stay the price down.

The place to Purchase

Advent

Sony’s flagship TWS IEMs, the WF-1000XM4, have garnered a lot consideration since their release. They provide a boatload of options whilst having a lovely tonality.

Alternatively, the funds choices to this point have no longer observed a lot fanfare. The WF-C500 have most commonly flown beneath the radar however just lately won a cult following because of their tuning. Whilst maximum funds TWS IEMs purpose for daring bass at the price of tonal aberration, Sony goals for readability and stability with the WF-C500.

Do they reach that objective with out sacrificing an excessive amount of on usability to stay the associated fee low? Let’s in finding out.

Case

Battery

• Battery Lifestyles: 10
• Connector: USB Kind-C
• Wi-fi Charging: No
• Battery Capability: No longer specified

The case holds 10 hours of battery on paper and may also be charged by means of the USB-C port on the again. There is not any wi-fi charging, however at this charge level, the absence is anticipated.

UX

• Can also be opened simply with one hand: Sure
• Go the shake check: Sure
• Gentle Signs: Displays estimated battery existence left and presentations charging indicator

The case may also be opened the use of one hand, and the highest cover can lock itself when driven backward, making it more uncomplicated to take out the IEMs. The LED at the entrance presentations the battery stage and doubles as a charging indicator.

Sadly, the WF-C500 don’t permit any customization of the controls. The default configurations are as follows:

• Proper earbud, unmarried press: Play/pause tune, settle for/finish name
• Proper earbud, double press: Subsequent observe
• Proper earbud, triple press: Earlier observe
• Proper earbud, press and dangle: Voice assistant
• Left earbud, unmarried press: Quantity up, settle for/finish name
• Left earbud, press and dangle: Quantity down, reject name

(*20*)(*6*)

Design

• Form of the case: Oblong
• Subject matter: Plastic
• Construct High quality: Reasonable

The elevate case may be very light-weight, however the reasonable plastic offers away the funds pricing. The highest shell is translucent, and the earbuds’ LEDs shine thru them to signify when the IEMs are charging. The case is at the better facet at just about 87 cubic cm quantity.

Portability

• Weight: 35g (case simplest), 45.8g (with earbuds)
• Quantity: 8 cm x 3.5 cm x 3.1 cm = 86.8 cm cu
• Portability: Reasonable

Earbuds

Battery

• Battery Lifestyles: 10 hrs
• Price Time (15mins): 80 minutes playback time

The IEMs are rated to remaining 10 hours on a unmarried rate. For me, it used to be nearer to 9 hours and 40 minutes. The elevate case holds sufficient juice to rate the IEMs from empty to complete. I want to rate them about two times per week all the way through common use. Your mileage would possibly range.

Sony specifies that the WF-C500 want 2.5 hours to totally rate.

UX

• Keep watch over Mechanism: Mechanical
• Contact Accuracy: N/A
• Keep watch over Symmetry on each earbuds: No, particular person setup for every earbud
• Mono Use: Sure, either side

The round faceplate additionally doubles as a push-button. The upside of that is that there’s no finicky capacitive contact panel that can by accident turn on whilst adjusting the IEMs. The drawback is that pushing the buttons would possibly really feel awkward whilst dressed in them.

Nonetheless, I choose this button-based device over a marginally keep watch over, the place unintended activations are not unusual.

Design

• Profile: Low
• Subject matter: Matte plastic
• Convenience: Exceptional
• Have compatibility: Exceptional

The WF-C500 proportion the design language in their elder brother, the WF-1000XM4. The profile is far slimmer, and the construct is noticeably inexpensive compared. This lighter weight and decrease profile permit for exceptional convenience and steadiness within the ear. The again vent additionally aids in voice pickup.

At the inside facet of the IEM, there are interfaces for charging along a small vent. No proximity sensor right here, so put on detection is absent.

Mic

• Noise Cancellation: Audible noise
• Voice Pick out-up: Excellent

The mic has just right voice pickup in quiet environments however struggles to clear out surrounding conversations when in a crowd. Wind noise isn’t canceled successfully, however that’s a problem for any microphone available in the market.

Mic demo

Sound

• Driving force: 5.8mm unmarried dynamic driver
• Sound Signature: Higher-mid targeted, may also be tuned by means of the app
• Bass: Excellent
• Mids: Excellent
• Treble: Reasonable
• Sound Element: Reasonable

The Sony WF-C500 have a somewhat V-shaped signature with extra focal point against upper-midrange readability.

This can be a noticeable departure from the standard heat or aggressively V-shaped tuning that Sony opts for. The 5.8mm driver has been tuned to supply readability within the mids, regardless that stated readability comes at some price. Extra in this within the following.

Bass has a slight emphasis within the sub-bass area however stays managed. With the Transparent Bass slider within the app, it’s imaginable to additional fine-tune the bass. In inventory configuration, I in finding the mid-bass missing some frame, however including further bass by means of the slider muddies up the mids. So I go away the bass slider on my own.

The driver right here can’t stay alongside of speedy bass notes however supplies first rate rumble when known as for. Mid-bass texture could also be missing, nevertheless it’s a topic with all funds TWS IEMs I’ve attempted. Given the associated fee tag and the managed nature, I’d label this as “just right” bass.

The midrange is the world the place the WF-C500 focal point probably the most. Feminine vocals are driven ahead and take middle degree. The readability on show is exclusive amongst funds TWS IEMs. Strings have a heightened sense of assault with some added crispness. Acoustic tracks sound vigorous and vigorous in consequence.

Do observe that the lower-mids are thinned out and absence frame now and then. Additionally, sure high-pitched vocals would possibly show off shoutiness.

After all, the treble most commonly provides some existence and brilliance into the combo as an alternative of status out. A presence area top close to 6kHz highlights the preliminary hit of cymbals and hi-hats, however the resulting resonance isn’t portrayed as smartly because of treble roll-off.

Soundstage is moderate, and so is imaging. Macrodynamic punch is first rate, however surprising bass drops don’t show off a lot physicality. Microdynamics or delicate shifts in quantity don’t seem to be very obvious both, however once more, for the associated fee and taking into consideration the contest, it’s no giant deal.

Connectivity

• Audio Codec: SBC, AAC
• Bluetooth Model: 5.0
• Bluetooth Chip: No longer specified
• Auto-connect when: Taken out of the case
• Reasonable drop-outs in an hour: 0-3 instances
• Multi-point connection: No

There is not any multipoint give a boost to or high-resolution codec to be had. One unexpected addition is the Google Rapid Pair give a boost to that permits seamless pairing with more moderen Android gadgets. You merely want to open the lid close to a supported Android instrument, and a pop-up will seem at the telephone for speedy pairing. Neat certainly.

Water-proof

• IP Ranking: IPX4

The IPX4 score implies that the WF-C500 are safe from minor splashes and water sprays, however there’s no mud coverage.

Tool

• To be had on: iOS, (*9*)Android
• 5-band EQ
• DSEE and 360 Fact Audio
• Transparent-bass permits for expanding or lowering sub-bass quantity
• Skill to save lots of and import profiles throughout gadgets
• Auto Pause: no longer to be had.

The Headphones app permits some EQ in conjunction with DSP results like DSEE, which is Sony’s proprietary upsampler. Instrument firmware improve and profile sync throughout gadgets will also be executed from this app.

Comparisons

vs Samsung Galaxy Buds Plus

The (*10*)Galaxy Buds Plus are Samsung’s solution to an reasonably priced TWS. In the case of construct, the Buds Plus fare higher with a extra cast shell design and higher constructed wearing case. Battery existence is best at the WF-C500, on the other hand.

Have compatibility and luxury are just right on each. As for the sound, the Buds Plus have noticeably extra sub-bass and mid-bass, leading to a hotter rendition of items. The WF-C500 sound noticeably clearer however would possibly come throughout as thinner in observe weight.

Treble has extra presence at the WF-C500. Staging is set par on each, however the Buds Plus has somewhat higher imaging. The app give a boost to at the WF-C500 pulls them forward because the EQ and DSP choices don’t seem to be as fleshed out at the Galaxy Wearable app.

If you want extra readability, the WF-C500 are higher. The Buds Plus will higher serve those that choose heat.

Conclusion

Sony WF-C500 stuck me off-guard with the tuning selection. They’re not like maximum Sony IEMs available in the market, and I don’t imply that during a unfavorable connotation.

Maximum funds TWS IEMs opt for a bassy, muddy sound that lacks readability and definition. The WF-C500 greenback that development and be offering one thing other. There are compromises, noticeable in mic high quality, construct of the case, and loss of ANC and different good options.

In the case of uncooked sound regardless that, the WF-C500 are very compelling. The EQ give a boost to within the app and Sony’s proprietary DSP options are simply icing at the proverbial cake. Whenever you issue within the funds charge, those rightfully earn a advice.