Sony WF-C500 Truly Wireless Headphones (Black)

I purchased this product in 2022 November, and honestly was impressed by the sound quality that was delivered by these tiny buds. However, I returned the first pair to the shop almost immediately, where the microphone did have a lot of distortion on it. IC exchanged the product for me without any issue, the second pair lasted up to the end of January 2023, where the buds would not pair and for a lack of a better description, just broke. The assistant who helped me with my last exchange indicated he had his for way longer with no issues, so I probably just got a bad draw of the batch. Thank you, IC, for your kind and efficient assistance. For their price, sound quality is great, microphone is not something to write home about, and for a little bit extra, you could in ... MoreI purchased this product in 2022 November, and honestly was impressed by the sound quality that was delivered by these tiny buds. However, I returned the first pair to the shop almost immediately, where the microphone did have a lot of distortion on it. IC exchanged the product for me without any issue, the second pair lasted up to the end of January 2023, where the buds would not pair and for a lack of a better description, just broke. The assistant who helped me with my last exchange indicated he had his for way longer with no issues, so I probably just got a bad draw of the batch. Thank you, IC, for your kind and efficient assistance. For their price, sound quality is great, microphone is not something to write home about, and for a little bit extra, you could in my opinion get a different pair of wireless buds, that does perform better overall. That was my chosen path, and truly can't fault my decision. However, the current set has to at least live up to the life span of the Sony buds I had. Good luck in your decision. Watch reviews as much as possible before making a decision to buy wireless buds and stick to the brand you initially wanted.

Okay pair of headphones, decent bass response but a bit too much treble but you get used to it after a few days. Some faults/quirky bits: It does not natively control the volume on MacOS, it has its own volume gauge that if you turn up on the headphones and then adjust it on your Mac or Macbook it will default back to the last volume that you had before you adjusted it on the headphones, pretty annoying. Also at a low volume say 1 - 3 there is some stereo drift where the left headphone does get lower than the right, also pretty annoying. Also you need to disconnect it from your computer and the reconnect it to your phone manually if you want to switch, pretty annoying.For other uses like listening to sleep music, it is impossible to use as the buttons cannot be ... MoreOkay pair of headphones, decent bass response but a bit too much treble but you get used to it after a few days. Some faults/quirky bits: It does not natively control the volume on MacOS, it has its own volume gauge that if you turn up on the headphones and then adjust it on your Mac or Macbook it will default back to the last volume that you had before you adjusted it on the headphones, pretty annoying. Also at a low volume say 1 - 3 there is some stereo drift where the left headphone does get lower than the right, also pretty annoying. Also you need to disconnect it from your computer and the reconnect it to your phone manually if you want to switch, pretty annoying.For other uses like listening to sleep music, it is impossible to use as the buttons cannot be disabled and if you sleep on your side they will be pressed by your head pushing into the pillow, and again, pretty annoying.These are good for a back up pair of headphones which they are to me. These headphones made me realise headphones are now one of those items you have to buy at an expensive price like shoes, or a mattress because they will last and give good returns, not make you waste 15 minutes writing a review. I would invest at least another $150-200 for wireless headphones if you want a daily driver that performs and lasts.

Affordable great sound

These ear buds are a value focused item that offers next generation playback, has a sturdy fit that remands comfortable during longs sessions and are dust/water resistant. Things like app support with EQ presets, easy controls on ear buds and long battery life sets this apart form others in this price range where some of these features are lacking.Setup: First thing you notice after opening box is a quick steps diagram on the box that directs you to scan a QR code to download app on the phone, the QR code is very tiny, so my phone’s camera had an issue detecting it at first. Once it did, you’re directed to a web page where you chose IOS or Android options, when the app is installed, you go some steps, and the app connects the ear buds very quick and easily (good ... MoreThese ear buds are a value focused item that offers next generation playback, has a sturdy fit that remands comfortable during longs sessions and are dust/water resistant. Things like app support with EQ presets, easy controls on ear buds and long battery life sets this apart form others in this price range where some of these features are lacking.Setup: First thing you notice after opening box is a quick steps diagram on the box that directs you to scan a QR code to download app on the phone, the QR code is very tiny, so my phone’s camera had an issue detecting it at first. Once it did, you’re directed to a web page where you chose IOS or Android options, when the app is installed, you go some steps, and the app connects the ear buds very quick and easily (good feature) then it updated to the latest 8.2 software version. The app prompts you to enable 360 Reality Audio Setup with compatible apps that have that option like Jay-Z’s TIDAL service or Amazon Music HD plan. Note: 360 Reality Audio format brings a 3D element to HiFi's lossless audio kind of like Dolby Atmos but is different from that. I don’t have any 360 audio options in my music subscriptions so could not test that feature, after that I went to the EQ presets and selected Bass Boast. The app interface is clear and simple to operate with battery levels, status of music playing, and ear buds has voice prompts to inform you of connection status, battery level etc, which I really liked.Sound: Excellent quality while playing music and on voice calls, ear buds get pretty loud at 70% volume and music is very clear and vibrant. Bass is good although not earth shaking. The EQ preset has options for almost all types of music and has Sony’s additional DSEE (digital sound enhancement engine) option which upscales audio, but I didn’t notice much of a difference with it enabled but did with EQ. With that said, two things may be a factor on why I didn’t notice a difference; I’m not considered an audiophile and all my music services are low quality free services so I doubt any upscaling would do much for those unlike pay premium services with high quality “Hi-Res Lossless maximum resolution of 24-bit/192 kHz.audio”.Form & Features: The well-built rounded buds are impressively light, with real control buttons that are easily pressed, right button controls play/pause, song skip, and calling while a hold press calls up your voice assistant. The left bud provides volume control: tap to raise volume and hold to lower, onboard volume control is one of the most convenient wireless earbuds features, and a surprising number of buds don’t offer it. The translucent battery case just has a cheap feel to it but is very small for the pocket. I really like these buds with the only con of not having noise cancellation but not really a big deal since these get loud. I also think these would be a good upgrade for those with cheap ear buds or for first time true wireless buyers.Battery life: Up to 10 hours of playtime, one extra charge in the case, good for about 20 hours total.Rapid charging: 10 minutes for 1 hour of play.Connectivity: Bluetooth 5.2time.Audio codecs: AAC, Sony DSEE.Dust/water resistance: IPX4.Fit: 3 ear tips sizes.Weight: 5.7 grams per bud, 34 gram case.

Full sound with good isolation

I bought another pair of ear buds for the iPhone a month ago. They were a similar price from a reasonably well respected brand with good reviews. The sound was thin. The isolation wasnt nearly good enough. They wouldnt remain seated in my ears. That companys software wouldnt manage them so I couldnt use the graphic equaliser. I got caught out not researching them properly but really until I got them I couldnt really know what Id hate about them. So that was a waste of money! I was pretty cross about it but was determined to have a pair so I went again. I'm glad I did. These things are fantastic! Great sound with good strong bass. Easy to use equaliser. They stay in place relentlessly. Good isolation. The charging box is small and easy to use. There are things that I ... MoreI bought another pair of ear buds for the iPhone a month ago. They were a similar price from a reasonably well respected brand with good reviews. The sound was thin. The isolation wasnt nearly good enough. They wouldnt remain seated in my ears. That companys software wouldnt manage them so I couldnt use the graphic equaliser. I got caught out not researching them properly but really until I got them I couldnt really know what Id hate about them. So that was a waste of money! I was pretty cross about it but was determined to have a pair so I went again. I'm glad I did. These things are fantastic! Great sound with good strong bass. Easy to use equaliser. They stay in place relentlessly. Good isolation. The charging box is small and easy to use. There are things that I like less but they definitely arent deal breakers by any means - unlike the sound quality issue with the previous set. The mics dont seem to pic up very well. Im hopeful that Im just doing something wrong. I just whip one out and use it as a mic if my interlocutor cant hear me. The buttons are difficult to avoid when inserting and removing the buds but Im getting used to that.

Good Buy and Great Sound

I bought this for music listening and it sounds pretty good with a nice bass to it but not too heavy. You can install the app and adjust the sound to your liking. I had JBL Tune 230NC and it sounds a little better and have a heavier bass than Sony but after an hour of wearing JBL my ears hurts and cause migrants even though it fits well. With this Sony earbud, it fits well and light and I was able to wear it for a long period of time with no problem. Sometime I forgot that I had it on. I can set my device inside the house and work on my front yard with lots of movements and walk toward the end of my driveway and still get connection, which is a plus. Since there's no noise canceling, obviously it doesn't block out the noise completely but that's okay because I want ... MoreI bought this for music listening and it sounds pretty good with a nice bass to it but not too heavy. You can install the app and adjust the sound to your liking. I had JBL Tune 230NC and it sounds a little better and have a heavier bass than Sony but after an hour of wearing JBL my ears hurts and cause migrants even though it fits well. With this Sony earbud, it fits well and light and I was able to wear it for a long period of time with no problem. Sometime I forgot that I had it on. I can set my device inside the house and work on my front yard with lots of movements and walk toward the end of my driveway and still get connection, which is a plus. Since there's no noise canceling, obviously it doesn't block out the noise completely but that's okay because I want to be aware of my surroundings. I love this ear bud and was on sale at $58 so if you get it on sale it's worth it. But if you're picky and expecting a top notch sound quality and want noise canceling, look for a different models or brands.

Great but of kit!

As with any Sony product the WF-C500 ear buds come in simple, classy and well designed packaging that now avoids plastic so is easily recycled. I have a confession to make…..I’m not a techie………but I love a gadget so don’t want to be wasting time on complicated instructions and was pleased to find the usual Sony quick steps diagram and a QR code that once scanned leads you to an easily installed and intuitive headphone app which meant I could quickly start putting the buds through their paces. While the case itself isn’t the most expensive looking bit of kit it does feel sturdy and it’s angled base gives it an up to date appearance. The buds come with a choice of large/medium or small ear tips and the ergonomic design of the buds themselves make for a snug fit which ... MoreAs with any Sony product the WF-C500 ear buds come in simple, classy and well designed packaging that now avoids plastic so is easily recycled. I have a confession to make…..I’m not a techie………but I love a gadget so don’t want to be wasting time on complicated instructions and was pleased to find the usual Sony quick steps diagram and a QR code that once scanned leads you to an easily installed and intuitive headphone app which meant I could quickly start putting the buds through their paces. While the case itself isn’t the most expensive looking bit of kit it does feel sturdy and it’s angled base gives it an up to date appearance. The buds come with a choice of large/medium or small ear tips and the ergonomic design of the buds themselves make for a snug fit which makes them easy to wear for extended periods of time. As you take the buds from the case the voice prompt, a nice touch, informs you of the battery level and connectivity status and so far, whether using my phone or tablet to connect, the Bluetooth link has been swift and trouble free. And so to the most important part of the review….how do they sound? While not a techie I do love my music so put them through their paces testing them from AC/DC to John Martyn and the classics. The app enables you to easily tailor their set up and includes pre sets, a graphic equaliser, bass boost and Sony’s additional DSEE (digital sound enhancement engine) option which upscales the audio. Also included is a 360 Reality Audio format but this sadly will only work with a limited number of streaming services none of which I subscribe to so was unable to test. Having chosen a set up to compliment my music choice I must say I was really impressed with the quality of the sound. I have a much more expensive pair of headphones [Sony of course] that I can’t help comparing the ear buds to and must say they performed very well indeed. Certainly the bass level isn’t ‘booming’ but this isn’t always a bad thing as often too much bass can change the feel of a track as much as too too much treble. These ear buds play to the middle ground being neither too rich nor too ‘tinny’. My go to track to test any system is John Martyn’s ‘Small Hours’ and these did a great job, revealing the complexity of the many layers present that allow you to drift along on it’s dreamlike quality, very impressive! I like the fuss free controls, the left bud controls the volume and the right play and pause, they also have a very reasonable 20hr battery life. To sum up I know these aren’t the most expensive ear buds available but they don't feel or sound ‘cheap’. They are well built, comfortable and easy to wear, have simple controls, link easily with phone or tablet, have a reasonable battery life and more than do justice to a range of music genre and podcasts. `True they don’t include noise cancelling but they do have. a good volume level and have a clarity that enhances any track which means you can concentrate on the music and avoid external distractions. I’m looking forward to spending more time with them!

Great sound, great value for money!

I bought the Sony WF-C500's after my Echo Buds failed. I read a lot of reviews and decided to go for these because the reviews were largely positive and from what I read they were going to provide a similar level of deep bass that I enjoy.I am pleased to say that I was not disappointed. They have a well balanced sound and respond well to equaliser tweaks (in my case increasing the bass a smidge)No active noise cancelling, but the buds themselves offer a suitable amount of sound insulation from the outside world. They fit well and while I'm no fitness fanatic they stay in place if you move your head around... They're also lighter than the Echo Buds which is good. The buds have buttons on the outside for volume control and play/pause and I will say that if you ... MoreI bought the Sony WF-C500's after my Echo Buds failed. I read a lot of reviews and decided to go for these because the reviews were largely positive and from what I read they were going to provide a similar level of deep bass that I enjoy.I am pleased to say that I was not disappointed. They have a well balanced sound and respond well to equaliser tweaks (in my case increasing the bass a smidge)No active noise cancelling, but the buds themselves offer a suitable amount of sound insulation from the outside world. They fit well and while I'm no fitness fanatic they stay in place if you move your head around... They're also lighter than the Echo Buds which is good. The buds have buttons on the outside for volume control and play/pause and I will say that if you have big fingers you might find that when readjusting the buds you hit the buttons by mistake. Not a major problem but can be annoying as I have yet to find a way to disable them.Setup was really easy and Bluetooth connection is super stable. When you take them from the charger and they power-up they announce "Bluetooth connected" and the level of charge which is cool, I guess :-). I tend to listen on and off throughout the day and return them to their charger when not in use so can't comment on battery life - though I've never heard them announce anything other than "Battery 100%" so assume it's not miles away from the claimed capacity.And lastly, very happy to see that the product comes in fully recyclable cardboard packaging!!

I tried 2 top of the line pair, but kept these!

I purchased three different earbuds, the Sony WF-1000XM4, the Jabra elite 7 Pro, and these, the Sony WFC500. These are the ones I kept. I wore each pair for 15 minutes. The XM4s started hurting my ears. I had to use the medium foam tips to create a seal. I didn’t like the foam tips to begin with. While the noise cancellation was good, the bass was not. There’s also no volume up or down button on the earbuds.The Jabra Elite 7 pro, I could not get them into my ears properly to save my life. They never sealed, and it felt and looked like they were about to fall out.Then I tried the Sony WFC500. These are the ones I kept. The silicone tips created a better seal in my ear than the other two, and I noticed ALMOST no difference in outside noise between this pair and ... MoreI purchased three different earbuds, the Sony WF-1000XM4, the Jabra elite 7 Pro, and these, the Sony WFC500. These are the ones I kept. I wore each pair for 15 minutes. The XM4s started hurting my ears. I had to use the medium foam tips to create a seal. I didn’t like the foam tips to begin with. While the noise cancellation was good, the bass was not. There’s also no volume up or down button on the earbuds.The Jabra Elite 7 pro, I could not get them into my ears properly to save my life. They never sealed, and it felt and looked like they were about to fall out.Then I tried the Sony WFC500. These are the ones I kept. The silicone tips created a better seal in my ear than the other two, and I noticed ALMOST no difference in outside noise between this pair and the other Sony‘s XM4. These earbuds have probably twice as much bass when using the bass booster function in the equalizer. I don’t have a problem hearing people, and they don’t have a problem hearing me, and I drive a semi truck. Directly from the earbuds these have the ability to turn the volume up and down, use your phones voice assistant, answer and hang up a phone call, play, pause, skip forward and go back when listening to music. All from the ear buds. These earbuds have actual tactile feedback when pushing the button on the sides. It’s a nice firm click. The only reason I gave them four stars was because the left earbud takes quite a bit of finagling to fit properly. Otherwise, they are amazing.

Read the On-line Owner’s Manual !

Headphones and Ear-Buds likes these come in both Wired and Bluetooth versions these days. Both styles have advantages and disadvantages and in order to see how being wired or not wired affects performance and features, you have to read the owner’s manual whether you think that’s cool or not. I’m reasonably technically minded but there are some features and operating methods that you can’t find by just poking and guessing. It’s worth the time to get everything you can out of these earbuds. You’ll have to learn the various tapping and poking codes for controlling the performance of the WF-C500 Ear-BudsFeatures:- Up to 10 hours run time when in the ear- Up to 20 hours running time from power stored in caring-case with no external a/c. Good for wilderness camping ... MoreHeadphones and Ear-Buds likes these come in both Wired and Bluetooth versions these days. Both styles have advantages and disadvantages and in order to see how being wired or not wired affects performance and features, you have to read the owner’s manual whether you think that’s cool or not. I’m reasonably technically minded but there are some features and operating methods that you can’t find by just poking and guessing. It’s worth the time to get everything you can out of these earbuds. You’ll have to learn the various tapping and poking codes for controlling the performance of the WF-C500 Ear-BudsFeatures:- Up to 10 hours run time when in the ear- Up to 20 hours running time from power stored in caring-case with no external a/c. Good for wilderness camping etc.- Frequency response can be varied with the Sony Connect App- Sweat and Splash Proof, with an IPX4 Rating- Can be used/controlled as a single ear-bud so you can hear ambient sounds if desired- Phone calls can be answered by the ear-bud’s controls with phone still in pocket- 1 year Warranty against defects in materials or workmanship- Plays “Experience 360 Reality Audio” from some Music Providers (Amazon Music HD, Deezer etc.)PROS:- C500 Ear-Buds are light, comfortable and secure.- Using the Sony App, the frequency range can be adjusted for clear voice or rich music.CONS:- Like all totally wireless Ear-Buds, scratching an ear or resting your head on a pillow can accidentally affect a control causing a phone-call to be canceled or a recording to be paused- No physical wire between ear-buds means you can sometime lose a knocked out ear-bud before you notice it’s gone.Conclusion:The Sony C500 Ear-Buds are a mid-range design with nice performance, sound and look. Unlike the top-range Sony Ear-Buds, they are not Noise Cancelling, so if you’re looking for something to save your hearing while cutting the lawn, you’ll need to look at the higher models.

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I have owned both the 1000xm4's and the 1000xm3's I only paid 50 more dollars for the later than I did for these and that 50 was well spent. Even compared to my original pixel buds wich were comparable prices I'm not impressed. Definitely understanding how badly I didn't need these and I'm a SONY person. I do like the 100 percent recyclable packaging. It may have been unfair for me to only use price for comparison as I'm listening and using further the convenience and fit are outstanding. The case and earbuds are both extremely light but feel of quality. The changeable eartips come held together on a nice cardboard holder/hook that makes both getting to them and storing them very easy. I usually have lost them at this point... (three songs Into owning them) the ... MoreI have owned both the 1000xm4's and the 1000xm3's I only paid 50 more dollars for the later than I did for these and that 50 was well spent. Even compared to my original pixel buds wich were comparable prices I'm not impressed. Definitely understanding how badly I didn't need these and I'm a SONY person. I do like the 100 percent recyclable packaging. It may have been unfair for me to only use price for comparison as I'm listening and using further the convenience and fit are outstanding. The case and earbuds are both extremely light but feel of quality. The changeable eartips come held together on a nice cardboard holder/hook that makes both getting to them and storing them very easy. I usually have lost them at this point... (three songs Into owning them) the earbuds are so light I don't have to lock them in using the bud body causing minimal ear strain that I usually get. They almost float in my ear by the eartip alone. They are so light. With the best headphone app out there paired with them I love how fine tune I can get things... OK I take back the pixel bud comparison and am now fairly impressed with the total package. I used them for several phone calls as well. Without issue.