Sony WF-C500

Design and features:

This Bluetooth wireless portable ear-insert model provides good sound. Although it lacks active noise reduction, the ear plug-like design helps to reduce both outside noise and sound leaking out into your environment. The WF-C500 has a volume control plus. Additional features include - either earpiece can be used alone for one ear monitoring of Bluetooth streamed audio and telephone communications. Carrying case/charging cradle has built-in rechargeable battery that the manufacture claims can be used to add an additional 10 hours of play time for a total of 20hrs. Manufacturer claims water resistance (IPX4). Has controls for play/pause/skip forward and backward, and digital voice assistant activation. Has power on/off alert tone and voice announcements, Bluetooth connect/disconnect/battery level voice announcements. Supports Apple Siri, and Google Assistant voice commands when used with mobile devices that have those features. Has quick charge feature: 10 min of earphone charging will provide 1 hr. of playtime. Earbuds are compatible with Sony's 360 Reality Audio virtual surround sound on several streaming services (Deezer, Tidal, Nugs.net). Bluetooth connected Apple mobile devices using iOS Version 5 and above will show the battery level. Free Sony Headphones Connect app download for Apple and Android mobile devices can act as a audio program player and can provide tonal balance presets and equalization, optimize the Sony 360 Reality Audio feature, and update the earphone's firmware. Supports Google Fast Pair for Android devices and Swift Pair for Windows 10 computers. The WF-C500 comes with 3 pairs of ear pieces in various sizes, USB-C connector charging cable, charging cradle/recharger battery/carrying case, Warranty Booklet, Quick Start Guide. This model comes with Portable Bluetooth wireless isolating ear-insert earphones that come with 3 pairs of ear pieces in various sizes, USB-C connector charging cable, charging cradle/recharger battery/carrying case, Warranty Booklet, Quick Start Guide.

Sound quality:

We found the WF-C500 delivers sound quality that falls in the good range - it reproduces music and voice reasonably well despite the obvious shortcomings in its sound. With the Sony Headphones Connect app set with the Equalizer off and clear bass set to 0 (as received state of the earphone) the bass (as in bass drums, bass guitars, stand-up bass, etc.) has good impact and goes fairly deep, but is a bit boomy. The midrange (voices, guitars, horns, etc.) lacks body (the lower midrange is subdued), is somewhat hazy and grainy, and a bit congested. The treble (cymbals, the upper range of violins) is fairly extended, but is a touch smeared, a bit dry, and the lower treble is a bit prominent. The sound also has a good sense of liveliness and is somewhat open--sound-wise it almost seems like you don't have anything plugging up your ears and does a decent job of recovering room ambience in the mid and upper midrange, but so-so elsewhere. Mixed character - warmish bass with neutral midrange and treble. The overall sound can best be summarized as a bit bassy and somewhat washed-out, hazy and grainy. The Sony Headphones Connect app eq controls had a noticeable effect on the sound.

Comfort and Fit:
As typical of in-ear models they produce a sense of pressure in the ear canal opening might be uncomfortable for some. Users with small ear bowls might find that the earphone body feels a bit bulky in their ear bowl and that they stick out too far and feel like they may lever out of place and are mostly held in place by the section of the earphone that is inserted in the ear canal, but that they will stay in place during casual use and are stable even during fairly vigorous head movement. Users with medium and larger sized ear bowls will probably find that this model stays in place with no problems for casual use and that they are stable even during fairly vigorous head movement. Incidental contact with the controls can cause unintentional playing and pausing . Some users might find pressing the various earphone controls drives the earphones farther into the ear canal and may cause ear discomfort.

The Sony WF-C500 portable Bluetooth wireless earphones have a isolating ear-insert design. These iPod/cellphone-centric earphones are intended for use with iPods, iPads, some other cell phones, as well as standard audio devices. The earphones have an inline microphone and inline remote with and integrated volume. Additional features include either earpiece can be used alone for one ear monitoring of Bluetooth streamed audio and telephone communications. Carrying case/charging cradle has built-in rechargeable battery that the manufacture claims can be used to add an additional 10 hours of play time for a total of 20hrs. Manufacturer claims water resistance (IPX4). Has controls for play/pause/skip forward and backward, and digital voice assistant activation. Has power on/off alert tone and voice announcements, Bluetooth connect/disconnect/battery level voice announcements. Supports Apple Siri, and Google Assistant voice commands when used with mobile devices that have those features. Has quick charge feature: 10 min of earphone charging will provide 1 hr. of playtime. Earbuds are compatible with Sony's 360 Reality Audio virtual surround sound on several streaming services (Deezer, Tidal, Nugs.net). Bluetooth connected Apple mobile devices using iOS Version 5 and above will show the battery level. Free Sony Headphones Connect app download for Apple and Android mobile devices can act as a audio program player and can provide tonal balance presets and equalization, optimize the Sony 360 Reality Audio feature, and update the earphone's firmware. Supports Google Fast Pair for Android devices and Swift Pair for Windows 10 computers. The WF-C500 comes with 3 pairs of ear pieces in various sizes, USB-C connector charging cable, charging cradle/recharger battery/carrying case, Warranty Booklet, Quick Start Guide and is covered by a 12-month parts/12-month labor warranty.