Sony WF-XB700 Review

If you’re in look for a new pair of headphones available right now, then you would have most probably come across a few great options from Sony. Sony headphones cover many different budgets and categories, so there is something for everyone from the audio device powerhouse. Needless to say, Sony dominates many categories, including the top value premium wireless earbuds with its amazing Sony WF-1000XM3. 

The Sony wireless headphones are well-loved and have an excellent reputation for being affordable, true wireless, sport-friendly, and high performance, but can the Sony WF-XB700 meet the same standards we expect from Sony earbuds? We explore this question in this Sony WF-XB700 review.

Sony WF-XB700 Pros and Cons

Specifications

Build

The greatest appeal of the Sony WF XB700 is its price point. They are one of Sony’s cheapest true wireless stable headphones and aren’t just a stripped-down version of the impressive WF-1000XM3.

The WF-XB700 belong to Sony’s Extra Bass range headphones, which means they highlight low-frequency response and are tuned to provide a neutral sonic balance. These earbuds have a decent sound, plus a sports-friendly design suited for fitness lovers who appreciate features like ergonomic fit and sweat resistance.

However, at this price point, we don’t expect to get premium features such as noise-canceling found on WF-1000XM3 or the brand’s best processing chip. Drawing comparison to higher-end wireless earbuds is unfair, especially considering what the Sony WF-XB700 offers for the price.

The combined total battery life of the buds and case is a decent 18 hours (nine hours from each). The quick charge feature will give you up to an hour of playback with a 10-minute charging, which is comparable to other wireless headphones in the same price range, such as the SoundSport Free from Bose.

The WF XB700 offers reliable Bluetooth 5.0 connectivity between the earbuds and the source for up to 240m, which is plenty and probably more than what most of us need. These earbuds can also withstand being caught in the rain and have excellent sweat resistance due to the Water splashing IPX4 water resistance, but the case isn’t water-resistant.

Comfort

The Oval-shaped contours between the outer housing and silicone ear tips of the XB700 ensure a secure fit in your ears. You’ll have a choice of 4 sizes of silicone tips. As far as the size of the earbuds is concerned, these are relatively large, measuring 3cm from the ear tip to the outer edge, but thankfully, they don’t feel bulky since each bud weighs only 8 grams.

We were able to get them securely into place with just a few twists, and once they were in place, they did not feel like they would pop out from a gentle knock or button pressing. In fact, dislodging them will require some rigorous button pressing or a few hard knocks.

While we are talking about buttons, the ones on the XB700 are easy-to-find placed on the underside of the buds for controlling playback. These earbuds don’t come with touch sensors, which are more sports-friendly. 

Press the button once on the right earbud to play or pause tracks and answer or end calls, press twice to skip a track forward and thrice to skip a track backward. At the same time, the button on the bud can be held to lower the volume and pressed to increase it. The buttons work well without any issues while working out or running.

Sound

The Sony WF-XB700 belongs to Sony’s Extra Bass family, so Sony fans expect the same level of sonic balance from XB700 as other earphones in the Extra Bass family. 

So does WF-XB700’s sound live up to expectations? Unlike some other earbuds from Sony’s Extra Bass Series, WF-XB700 does not sound muddy, confined, and bloated. You will surely get the excellent bass that you expect from these earbuds; however, the base feels tight and punchy rather than sounding confined and muddy.

It depends on your needs and usage. If you are a professional music artist and want it for professional use, then WF-XB700 isn’t the best choice. If you want the best earbuds for sports, then the unergonomic design and the minor vibrations during movement might not be your cup of tea. However, if you can overlook these two factors, they can be a good gym and outdoor workout companion because they are IPX4 sweat- and water-resistant.

WF-XB700 are music-focused earbuds, so if you need the best midrange earbuds for music, watching videos, and playing games, then Sony WF-XB700 is an excellent choice. The stable connection makes them the best earbuds for daily use around the house. 

We tested the earbuds by keeping the phone on the ground floor of our office and walked around to check the connection stability. The connection remained stable even if we walked to the first floor. Our only complaint is the lack of noise cancellation that ruins the sound experience if you are in a noisy environment. 

We also wish Sony would have added support for aptX and improved the soundstage of these earbuds. Due to these factors, it doesn’t broadcast HD audio as well as other Sony earbuds in a similar price category. However, if you are not too picky, Sony WF-XB700 offers an overall good sound experience with long-lasting battery life. 

Connection and control

Unfortunately, the Sony WF-XB700 doesn’t at all support mobile apps. As a result, they receive no new settings, improvements, personalization, or firmware updates. To be fair, We should mention that the device fully performs without any glitches or errors; nothing needs to be corrected.

So everything is straightforward – we link the headset via the Bluetooth menu on our smartphone and use it. When the earbuds are taken out from the case, they immediately turn on, alerting the user in a female voice of the current battery charge status and linking to the primary device.

Two mechanical buttons on the outer shell’s lower corners are used for control. A single push of any button results in pause or play. Switching to the next track is conveyed by a double tap on the right earpiece, and a double on the left increases the volume. Long hold, on the other hand, activates the voice assistant and lowers the volume. Single push to answer an incoming call, long press to hold, and double press to end a call. That’s all there is to it.

Unfortunately, no proximity sensor is available (auto-pause). However, during a conversation, the ambient sound feature is automatically activated, and headphones with external microphones merge ambient sounds into the dialogue, allowing you to hear your speech more clearly.

Paring The Sony WF-XB700

• Remove the earphones from the charging case to begin the connecting process for the first time. They should display in the Bluetooth menu shortly after.
• For all subsequent pairings, press the physical buttons on both earphones for 7 seconds until the blue light blinks.

Unfortunately, only the left earbud may be used in mono mode (the right earbud simply stops playing when the left bud is in the case).

Furthermore, earbuds do not enable multipoint connection, so you cannot pair them to more than a single device at the same time.

Which Bluetooth Codec Is Used?

SBC and AAC audio codecs are used in the Sony WF-XB700. The latter is the standard for Ios and android, despite the fact that it does not operate as effectively on Android devices.

However, if you enable the SBC Bluetooth codec in the Developer settings, you may experience strange audio stutters. As a result, you must employ AAC.

Did We Experience Any Audio Lag?

The audio plays perfectly in sync when watching films or YouTube videos on both operating systems (Android and iOS).

Even mobile gaming produces excellent performance with only a slight lag. Gamers may wish to look for true wireless earphones with a game mode.

Release Date and Price 

The Sony WF-XB700 was added to Sony’s Extra Bass family in April 2020. Sony also came up with WH-CH710N Noise-Canceling Headphones in April 2020. Both these earbuds hit selves at the same time; the Sony WF-XB700 was initially priced at $129, whereas Sony WF-1000XM3 came at $199. Although WF-1000XM3 comes with an additional noise cancellation that is an essential feature for many; however, Sony WF-XB700 received a better response all over the world. 

The Sony WF-XB700 also gave Apple AirPods (priced at $139) a run for its money; however, Apple AirPods still dominate in terms of sales. In conclusion, the worldwide popularity of the XB700 proves that the Sony WF-XB700 offers an overall excellent value for money which makes it one of the best earbuds under 130. 

Verdict

Would I be correct to say that Sony WF XB700 are the best earbuds in Sony’s extensive headphones range? No! It lacks essential features like noise cancellation; however, they give Apple AirPods decent competition with its clear, punchy sonics, lightweight, comfortable build, and a long-lasting battery with a fast-charging feature. We wish WF-XB700 offered aptX support and an auto-pause feature. 

Nonetheless, if you’re looking for the best earbuds under $130, then Sony WF-XB700 ticks many boxes, especially its solid sound and long-lasting battery life gives its competitors a run.

Have you tried Sony WF-XB700 earbuds or any other earbuds from Sony’s Extra Bass Series? Please share your best earbud experience and recommendations in the comments section below. 

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