The Sony SP700N Truly Wireless are okay in-ears for most uses, with a unique earbud design. They're decently well-built, stable enough for sports, and have a bass-heavy sound profile, which fans of EDM and hip-hop can enjoy. Unfortunately, they have a sub-par control scheme that makes them difficult to use, very high latency not suitable for watching videos, and a poor noise cancellation feature that doesn't isolate better than most passive in-ears, which is very disappointing.
Our Verdict
The Sony SP700N are fair for mixed usage. They're compact, easy to carry around, and have a decently comfortable in-ear fit. They also have a decent if slightly too bass-heavy sound and unique design that's decently durable and will stand out compared to other truly wireless in-ears. Unfortunately, despite being noise cancelling headphones, they don't do well in noisy environments. They also have fairly short battery life and very high latency that a deal-breaker if you mostly use your headphones to watch videos or gaming.
- Stable fit for sports.
- Compact and decently sturdy design.
- High latency.
- Poor noise isolation.
The Sony SP700N are passable for neutral sound. They have a bass-heavy sound profile that will drown some of the instruments and vocals in the mid-range. They have a couple of sharp spikes in the higher frequencies that make some S and T sounds piercing and a bit too bright. They won't be the ideal choice for more neutral listeners, but the deep bass may sound exciting for some, and you can always somewhat tweak their sound profile thanks to the preset available in the Sony| Headphones Connect app.
The Sony SP700N are decent for commute and travel. They're compact and easy to carry around and have active noise cancelling, which is rare for a truly wireless design. Unfortunately, their noise cancellation doesn't do much and isn't better than their passive in-ear fit. They also don't last as long on a single charge, meaning they won't be the ideal headphones for long trips and long continuous listening sessions.
The Sony SP700N are very good for sports. They're breathable and stable enough for running and exercising. They're also compact and decently comfortable truly wireless headphones that you can easily have on you at all times. Unfortunately, they have a poor control scheme and short battery life that may not be ideal for all training regiments.
The Sony SP700N are acceptable for office use. They don't leak much, so you mask some ambient noise by playing your music at higher volumes without distracting colleagues. Unfortunately, they don't block a lot of noise even with the noise cancellation feature enabled. They also have relatively short battery life and a fairly typical in-ear fit which might not be ideal for really long listening sessions.
The Sony SP700N are disappointing for gaming. They have very high latency, which is a deal-breaker for this use. They also have a sub-par microphone and aren't as customizable as most gaming-oriented headsets.
Changelog
- Updated Mar 27, 2020: Converted to Test Bench 1.4.
- Updated Nov 21, 2019: Converted to Test Bench 1.3.1.
- Updated Nov 21, 2019: Converted to Test Bench 1.3.
- Updated Aug 22, 2018: Review published.
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Popular Headphones Comparisons
The Sony WF-SP700N are okay mixed usage truly wireless in-ears with a unique earbud design. Like most truly wireless in-ears, they're compact enough to easily carry around on your person. They also have a stable in-ear fit for the gym and a bass-heavy sound profile that delivers extra thump and boom to your mixes. Unfortunately, they have relatively short battery life and poor latency performance, making them a less-than-suitable choice for streamable videos. Their noise cancellation feature doesn't do much and won't isolate you better in noisy conditions than most passive in-ears.
See our recommendations for the best noise cancelling earbuds and the best noise cancelling headphones under $200.
The Sony WF-SP700N Truly Wireless are a somewhat better truly wireless headset than the Apple AirPods (1st generation), although not by much. The Sony have a more isolating in-ear fit that will block noise better than the Apple, but getting the right seal can be a bit tough at times. The Sony also have a customizable sound quality that packs more bass than the Apple. The Sony are also a bit more stable for the gym and do not leak as much even at high volumes. The Apple, on the other hand, have a more reliable wireless connection, a better range, a better battery life, and much lower latency, which makes it suitable for watching videos, especially on iOS devices. They also have a more comfortable earbud fit and last a lot longer, with five hours of continuous playback and more than 24 hours of total battery life, compared to 2.2 and nine hours for the Sony, respectively.
The Jabra Elite 65t Truly Wireless are better truly wireless headphones than the Sony WF-SP700N Truly Wireless. The Jabra have a more isolating in-ear fit; even without noise cancellation, they block more noise than the Sony. They also have a more neutral sound profile that some users may prefer and a more stable wireless connection that supports Bluetooth 5.0. You can also customize the Jabra better than the Sony, they last a lot longer on a single charge, and have longer total battery life when you include the case. The Sony, on the other hand, have a slightly more comfortable in-ear fit and come with a better case that does not open as easily as that of the Jabra.
The Sony WF-1000X Truly Wireless are slightly better headphones overall when compared to the Sony WF-SP700N Truly Wireless. They are both noise cancelling, truly wireless in-ears, but the WF-1000X have slightly better isolation (although not by much). The WF-1000X also have a better and more premium-looking build quality that most will prefer over the plasticky design of the SP700N, and a better default sound quality that's not as bass-heavy but does sound a bit sharp. On the upside, the SP700N sound a bit more exciting out of the box. They also have a slightly lighter and more unique design that some will prefer over the WF-1000X.
The Bose SoundSport Free Truly Wireless are a better truly wireless headset than the Sony WF-SP700N Truly Wireless. The Sony are noise cancelling in-ears, so they do a little better in noisy situations, although the ANC of the Sonys is not that strong. They also have a customizable sound, which the Bose do not. On the upside, the Bose have a more comfortable earbud fit, a better-balanced sound that caters to a lot more tracks, and a more durable build quality. They also last longer on a single charge and have a longer cumulative battery life.
Our How We Test Headphones article takes you behind the scenes in our lab. You'll learn how we choose and purchase products and dive into the details of our review philosophy, from testing and scoring to writing and editing.
You can also discover how we produce recommendations like this one so that you can find the best headphones (or earbuds!) for your needs.
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