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Sony WF-C710N review
Published on15 hours ago
Sony WF-C710N
Case: 38g
When we tested the Sony WF-C700N, we found they fell short on fit and performance. Now, Sony has released the sequel, the WF-C710N. Are these wireless earbuds a mid-range maestro or another mid-tier mess? Let’s find out.
The Sony WF-C710N are for those seeking comfortable noise canceling earbuds that cost less than flagship offerings.
This article was published on April 30, 2025, and this is the first version of the article. Updates will follow as the market changes.
What’s it like to use the Sony WF-C710N?
The most memorable thing about the Sony WF-C710N earbuds is this translucent blue design. The blue plastic looks more like a toy to me than a premium audio product, but there are mixed takes on the design from the team here at the SoundGuys office. Of course, you can also get the earbuds in a standard Black or White color, at which point they look like any other wireless earbuds.
I appreciate the pill-shaped charging case, it fits well in pretty much any pocket. The earbuds themselves have a stemless design, with a similar shape to the premium Sony WF-1000XM5 earbuds. While I find the WF-C710N earbuds are comfortable to wear for hours at a time, they do slip out of my ears when running and working out. With only three ear tip sizes, and no included fins, wings, or hooks, I imagine a lot of people will struggle to get a secure fit. Despite an IPX4 water resistance rating, I wouldn’t recommend you buy these for working out.
The Sony WF-C710N have touch controls, with the default controls outlined below. While you can’t customize the controls to your exact liking, you can choose whether each earbud controls music playback, ambient sound control, or you can disable the controls entirely.
| Input | Left earbud | Right earbud |
|---|---|---|
| Input Single tap | Left earbud ANC/Ambient sound | Right earbud Play/pause |
| Input Double tap | Left earbud Not assigned | Right earbud Next song |
| Input Triple tap | Left earbud Not assigned | Right earbud Previous song |
| Input Long press | Left earbud Quick attention | Right earbud Voice assistant |
What are the best features of the Sony WF-C710N?
To get the most out of the Sony WF-C710N, you need to download the Sony Sound Connect app. The app allows you to download firmware updates, view battery life information, and adjust the ambient sound controls. If you’d like, you can use the Adaptive Sound Control feature to have ANC automatically turn on or off depending on your actions and locations.
The equalizer is the most important feature of the app, as it allows you to adjust the sound of the earbuds to your liking. You can select from several EQ presets or create your own setting using the five-band custom equalizer. If you like spatial audio, you can also use the app to scan your ear shape for an improved experience with Sony 360 Reality Audio. Keep in mind though that most streaming services don’t support 360 Audio.
How does the Sony WF-C710N connect?
The Sony WF-C710N earbuds connect via Bluetooth 5.3 with support for SBC and AAC. Android users will likely be disappointed by the lack of high-quality Bluetooth codecs such as aptX or LDAC. On the other hand, I had no connection issues while testing the WF-C710N with my iPhone.
To connect the Sony WF-C710N, follow these steps:
- Place the earbuds in the charging case and ensure both have charge.
- Open the lid of the case, and press and hold the pairing button on the back of the case.
- Look for the Sony WF-C710N earbuds in your list of available of Bluetooth devices.
How long does the Sony WF-C710N’s battery last?
According to our battery testing, the Sony WF-C710N last 9 hours and 25 minutes on a single charge. This is slightly above average for modern wireless earbuds, and exceeds the 8.5 hours that Sony promises. The charging case provides a few extra charges for over 30 hours of total battery life. When you run out of juice, you can recharge the case over USB-C, but there is no wireless charging.
How well do the Sony WF-C710N cancel noise?
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Even before you turn on ANC, the Sony WF-C710N have excellent passive isolation. The ear tips alone block out 10dB of low-frequency noise and up to 40dB of high-frequency noise. After enabling active noise cancelling, our testing shows the earbuds block out up to 30dB of low-frequency noise. All together, this means the earbuds can reduce the loudness of external noise by an average of 85%, making these one of the best noise canceling earbuds on the market.
How do the Sony WF-C710N sound?
Most people will enjoy the way the Sony WF-C710N sound out of the box. If you want to tweak the sound quality, you can choose from a variety of EQ presets or make your own custom EQ setting.
Multi-Dimensional Audio Quality Scores (MDAQS)
The chart below shows how the Multi-Dimensional Audio Quality Score (MDAQS) algorithm from HEAD acoustics assesses the sound of the Sony WF-C710N. The sound quality is rated on a scale from 1.0 (very bad) to 5.0 (very good).
The Sony WF-C710N attain an Overall sound quality score of 4.8 on a scale from 1-5. A Timbre score of 4.9 means that most people will enjoy the way the tuning of these earbuds, even without using the equalizer. A Distortion score of 3.8 means there is minimal audible noise, while an Immersiveness score of 4.3 suggests these earbuds deliver wide and clearly defined sounds in three-dimensional space.
Timbre (MOS-T) represents how faithfully the headphones reproduce the frequency spectrum and temporal resolution (timing information).
Distortion (MOS-D) represents non-linearities and added noise: higher scores mean cleaner reproduction.
Immersiveness (MOS-I) represents perceived source width and positioning: how well virtual sound sources are defined in three-dimensional space.
See here for an explanation of MDAQS, how it works, and how it was developed.
Reviewer’s notes
Editor’s note: this review uses a hover-enabled glossary to describe sound quality based on a consensus vocabulary. You can read about it here.
Objective Measurements
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The default frequency response of the Sony WF-C710N earbuds is relatively aligned with the SoundGuys Preference Curve, aside from a few small deviations. The earbuds provide a bit more bass below 100Hz compared to our curve, and under-emphasize mids around 500Hz. However, the main area of concern is in the treble region around 10kHz, where there is a significant dip about 14dB quieter than our curve. In practice, this means these earbuds lose some detail on cymbals and upper harmonic sounds, so these earbuds likely aren’t the first choice for audiophiles.
Bass Boost EQ Preset
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The Bass Boost EQ setting for the Sony WF-C710N provides about 10dB of added sub-bass, according to our measurements.
Bright EQ Preset
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If you prefer more emphasis on treble than on bass, you may enjoy the Bright EQ preset for the Sony WF-C710N.
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The earbuds sound pretty much the same whether you have ANC enabled or disabled, with only slightly less bass when ANC is disabled.
Can you use the Sony WF-C710N for phone calls?
The Sony WF-C710N have onboard microphones that work well for taking calls on the go. In quiet environments, voices sound clear and detailed, while in noisy environments the microphones do a decent job of rejecting background noise. Take a listen to our samples below and let us know what you think.
Sony WF-C710N microphone demo (Ideal conditions):
How does the microphone sound to you?
Sony WF-C710N microphone demo (Office conditions):
Sony WF-C710N microphone demo (Street conditions):
Sony WF-C710N microphone demo (Windy conditions):
Sony WF-C710N microphone demo (Reverberant space):
In a simulated street environment, the microphones cancel a bit of the vocals with the background noise. Otherwise, the microphones do well at rejecting background noise.
Should you buy the Sony WF-C710N?
The Sony WF-C710N are solid all-around wireless earbuds. There’s nothing memorable about them beyond this unique transparent blue color option, but they pass all our tests with flying colors. If you want earbuds that sound good, cancel out noise, have great battery life, and good microphones, the Sony WF-C710N are a great option. There are no standout features, but considering these cost half as much as the top premium wireless earbuds, the Sony WF-C710N are an easy recommendation.
What should you get instead of the Sony WF-C710N?
Believe it or not, you don’t need to empty your wallet to get great wireless earbuds. Today, there are a ton of great wireless earbud options under $200, and even some great picks for less than $100. If you want an all-around pick, look no further than the Nothing Ear ($149 at Amazon). If those are a stretch, you can also check out their more affordable sibling, the Nothing Ear (a) ($95 at Amazon).
iPhone users will surely consider the Apple AirPods 4 with Active Noise Cancellation ($179.99 at Amazon). On the other hand, Samsung Galaxy device owners might be inclined to consider the Galaxy Buds3 ($179.99 at Amazon). While both of those have more features than the Sony WF-C710N, keep in mind that they don’t have swappable ear tips, so you better hope they fit the shape of your ears.
If you want the best wireless earbuds from Sony, you’ll need to check out the Sony WF-1000XM5 ($298 at Amazon).
Sony WF-C710N review: FAQs
Yes, I tested the Sony WF-C710N with both an iPhone and Android phone and did not encounter any issues.
Yes, you can use each Sony WF-C710N earbud individually while the other is charging in the case.