There has been a consistent surge amongst the Indian audience demanding a good range of TWS audio products. A plethora of brands have forayed into this audio segment catering to budget as well as premium audiences. Sony is the first name when we are speaking of high-end audio products. Despite the stiff competition, the Japanese tech giant has maintained a lead in the audio market. The WF-1000XM4 launched recently has been grabbing all applauds with its refined audio and premium user experience. For the budget-conscious audience, the company had introduced the WF-C500.
Priced at Rs. 5,990, the new Sony TWS earbuds bring improved ergonomics and audio to fill daily users’ requirements. The Sony C500 is equipped with some new days technologies including the latest Bluetooth version, multiple audio codecs, and voice-based digital assistant support. But what exactly makes the Sony WF-C500 worth a buy? Is it the good audio or fit or the overall package? We have shared our feedback in this review article. Read on to know:
Sony WF-C500 Review: Design, Wearing Comfort
The Sony WF-C500 ships with a pill-shaped case that has a translucent lid. The packaging box includes the TWS unit, one USB Type-C charging cable, and two additional pairs of ear tips. The charging case is compact and it can be easily slid into pockets or a bag. The case’s built quality isn’t as premium as the high-end model, i.e, WF-1000XM4, but is decent for daily usage. The USB Type-C port for charging is placed at the back of the case.
It’s the overall matte texture that gives this new pair a premium appeal. As for the earbuds, they are slightly smaller compared to the WF-1000XM4, but offer the same level of comfort and fit as the high-end model. But these TWS earbuds don’t come with touch-sensitive controls. They rather have soft-click keys to control media playback, answer calls, and also summon the voice-based digital assistant.
The left earbud allows you with audio adjustment and also answer/ reject incoming calls. On the other hand, you can change tracks or activate the digital assistant including Google Assistant and Siri for voiceless commands. You can also play/pause music using the right earbuds. The fit overall is good.
Wearing the Sony WF-C500 for a longer duration is a good experience. You don’t get tired. This makes it suitable for daily commute. You also don’t have to be super cautious while using this pair for outdoor activities. That’s possible with the snug-fit design. One of the most important aspects of the WF-C500’s design is the IPX4 certification. This makes the TWS earbuds dust and water-resistant.
Sony WF-C500 Review: Audio Performance
Sony has been a leader in the audio market with its high-range products. The WF-C500 comes as yet another promising audio device from the Japanese tech giant. The TWS earbuds employ 5.8mm drivers that deliver a frequency response range of 20Hz- 20,000Hz. While the frequency range is standard, the audio delivery by the WF-C500 isn’t any disappointment.
This pair lives up to the expectation with its rich sound stage that isn’t impacted at the highest audio levels. All the aspects that you look for when it comes to sound profile are in place. The mids and lows are balanced and aren’t overpowered by the bass. The sound output is balanced and you would enjoy tuning in to your favorite tracks. The bass offered by this pair is punchy. It isn’t super hefty but does the job perfectly fine.
The CF-W500 also features Sony’s in-house DSEE (Digital Sound Enhancement Engine) technology for audio refinements. This definitely aids with better sound production in every situation. This pair comes void of the Active Noise Cancellation (ANC) feature. However, our experience with this pair with outdoor commute has been good.
Despite noisy surroundings, you get to listen to your favorite music tracks or watch movies/ shows without any disturbances. The earbuds are designed tactically to omit the background noises effectively during audio playback. This is a savior when you are commuting. As for the audio leak, there isn’t any even if you turn up the volume levels to the max. Also, there is no muffling or distortion at the peak volumes. That’s what we always expect from Sony audio products whether it’s affordable or high-end.
Sony WF-C500 Review: Connectivity, Calling Experience
The Sony WF-C500 is equipped with Bluetooth technology for easy pair-up with smartphones, laptops, PCs, and other supported devices such as smart TVs and tablets. The pairing process isn’t a hassle. All you need to do is take out the earbuds from the cases. Once you see the LED lights on the earbuds flashing blue, look for the device name in the Bluetooth settings of the device to be paired. This TWS earbud comes with Fast Pair support which allows for easy connectivity with other devices.
Likewise the high-end model, the WF-C500 is also compatible with Sony’s Headphone Connect app. This allows you to make additional adjustments or refinements with the audio output. You can not only tweak the equalizer but also toggle on 360-degree Reality Audio using the Headphone’s Connect app.
Sony WF-C500 Review: Battery Backup
Coming to the battery backup, the exact capacities aren’t specified by the brand. However, the brand has claimed a backup of around 10 hours (earbuds) on a single charge. During our usage, the WF-C500 delivered close to eight hours of backup. Of course, the numbers vary compared to original claims.
The audio levels are the major factor determining the backup. You get a lower backup at higher levels and vice versa. Also, the charging case packs an extra 10 hours of fuel. Sony has also added fast charging support where the pair gets up to an hour of refueling with just 10 minutes of charge. This is handy during traveling.
Sony WF-C500 Final Verdict: Is It A Complete Package?
Sony has been trying to mark its presence in the affordable audio segment in India and across the globe for a long now. The WF-CXX series has been filling in for the brand when we speak of the budget segment. The WF-C500 has all the necessary features that one needs in a good TWS earbuds.
A premium-looking design that is practical in all sense along with a refined sound stage offered by the earbuds gets this pair a lead in its segment. Besides, Sony has designed this pair to be the best fit for day-to-day usage. Not just the audio and fit, the battery backup is also good which combined along with other factors make the WF-C500 a complete package. You would find this pair worth every penny.
