Ultimate test: A noise-cancelling fan tries Sony's newest earbuds
Updated
9Product Reviews
I never shut up about how much I love over-ear noise-cancelling headphones, particularly ones from Sony. I wear them every day to avoid listening to people on the bus or in the shops, while I'm exercising, cleaning, cooking, and even laying in bed enjoying an audiobook.
I tend to avoid in-ear headphones because I find the listening experience so different, but when a Sony pair landed on my desk, I was excited to try them. No matter how much I love a headset, they can be a little clunky and oversized. The tiny charging case that holds the Sony WF-C510s is about 7cm long and 3cm high, and I was immediately enamoured with how small and cute they were.
But how did they fare as headphones?
NOTE: Prices are accurate at time of publishing.
Sony WF-C510 Compact Truly Wireless Earbuds
9Product Reviews
Sound quality
This is one of the highest priorities on my list for good headphones, and I was surprised by how crystal-clear the sound was on these buds.
When it came to music, vocals were clear and the sound-tuning made for a pleasant listening experience. I also listened to audiobooks and podcasts, perfect for my winding down process at night. I could listen to my book without having to hear those around me in my house, even though these aren't technically 'noise-cancelling' headphones – but more on that later.
Sound controls
The sound controls are pretty simple – you can turn ambient sound on, or keep it off. 'Ambient sound' mode lets you hear the things happening around you without interrupting your music. I usually find the ambient sound mode quite unnerving on most headphones, but it wasn't overpowering on this pair. It felt like a good option for working in the office – I could hear my team if they addressed me or my phone if it rang, and didn't miss anything important while I was focused on my favourite tracks.
Pause and play from a discreet button on the side of the bud. 9Product Reviews
However, I prefer to listen with the ambient sound turned off. I hadn't considered this, but since the buds block your ears, they don't require noise-cancelling technology. They have the same effect without the flourish, meaning they're more cost-effective and tiny enough to lose in even my tiniest handbag.
Are they user-friendly?
The Sony WF-C510s were super-easy to set up. I charged them with a USB-C cord and then connected them to my phone via Bluetooth in minutes. They have multipoint connectivity, so I was able to get them working for my laptop, too. You can control them from the Sound Connect app on your phone, which is how I switch them in and out of ambient sound mode.
They also have big buttons on the side for pausing and playing your tracks. I accidentally hit these a few times while adjusting the position of the bud, but I quickly learned to avoid it.
Their size
My lipgloss, for scale. 9Product Reviews
These are the smallest headphones I've ever tried. I'm not an AirPod convert (yet), so currently my smallest pair are my Soundcore Aerofit Open-Ear Headphones. I like the latter for the situational awareness feature, but hell could freeze over before I wore them to work out. I refuse to listen to myself struggle to breathe, opting only for noise-cancelling at the gym. However, if you turn the ambient sound off on the WF-C510s, you can get a decent distance from the sound of your ragged breathing as you power through cardio. Best of all, they take up less space than an overhead set when packing your bag.
The one thing I struggled with initially was the rubber ending on the buds. Three tip sizes come with the WF-C510s, and I went up a size before then going two sizes down. I didn't realise that something that's 'too big' would fall out of your ear gradually, but once I figured it out, I didn't have any issues. The rubber tips are also really easy to switch around.
I didn't realise that something that's 'too big' would fall out of your ear gradually, but once I figured it out, I didn't have any issues.
My verdict
I've spent too many years as an over-ear headphones convert to switch completely, but I love these little earbuds and their convenience. They're so small and portable and also sound great. Best of all, they're only around the $100 mark, which is much more reasonable than some of the over-ear pairs I've tried in my time. I will be packing these when I don't have the space for my larger headphones, or if I want a pair I can slide into the pocket of my gym shorts.
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