Our Verdict
Mediocre for mixed usage. The Sony WI-SP500 have a unique earbud design that will work for some but unfortunately, causes a lot of issues for most use cases. The earbud fit does not isolate well in noisy conditions, which makes these headphones a poor choice for commute and travel despite their compact design. They also do not come with many tip sizes or stability fins, so they won't be the most stable headphones for sports either, which is their intended use case. They sound poorly balanced mostly due to the poor seal they create within your ears, and they have poor latency not suitable for watching movies or gaming. The seal issues also make them sound inconsistent from user to user. On the upside, they have a decent, if a little-cramped, control scheme and they are relatively comfortable to wear for long listening sessions.
- Comfortable earbud fit.
- Low leakage.
- Inconsistent and bass-light sound.
- Poor noise isolation, by design.
- Not stable enough for strenuous sports.
- Bass and treble delivery varies significantly across users.
Mediocre-at-best for neutral listening. These headphones have a somewhat decent mid-range and good reproduction of high frequencies that doesn't sound too sharp or piercing, unlike some of the other in-ears we've tested. Unfortunately, they have a terrible bass performance and poor consistency due to their unique earbud fit that is difficult to achieve a good seal. They will sound different from user to user, and since they have small earbuds, they cannot produce the soundstage of big open-back headphones, which will not be ideal for more neutral listeners. They are barely passable for casual listening, but their inconsistent sound quality and poor bass will be disappointing for most.
Mediocre for commute and travel. They're compact and comfortable but have weak noise isolation which won't be ideal for the loud environments involved in commuting.
Decent for sports. They have a comfortable earbud fit and a decent control scheme. They're also compact and easy to carry around on your person but unfortunately, they do not have the most stable fit for running and working out. They do not come with many tip sizes for different ears and no stability fins making them a less than optimal choice for sports, which is their intended use case.
Average for office use. They do not block enough noise to be the best option for a noisy office environment. On the upside they do not leak too much to you can play your music at slightly higher volumes to mask some of the ambient noise. They're also decently comfortable to wear for long listening sessions.
Below-average for gaming. They have a mediocre microphone, and too much latency to be suitable for gaming.
Changelog
- Updated Nov 21, 2019: Converted to Test Bench 1.3.1.
- Updated Nov 21, 2019: Converted to Test Bench 1.3.
- Updated Sep 07, 2018: Review published.
- Updated Sep 06, 2018: We've purchased the product and are waiting for it to arrive in our lab.
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Popular Headphones Comparisons
The Sony WI-SP500 are somewhat decent mixed-usage headphones and an above-average sports headset, although they are not as stable as most of the sports-oriented headsets we've tested. They have an earbud design that's comfortable to wear but does not come with many tip sizes or stability fins which makes them a bit of a hassle to wear when running and working out since they will often slip out of your ears. They also have a poorly balanced sound that lacks a lot of bass, mostly due to their slightly awkward fit and poor seal they create within your ears. On the upside, they are fairly well built, and the slightly open design of the earbuds allows outdoor runners to monitor their surroundings for traffic. Unfortunately, they are not the best headphones for sports, especially when compared to some of the models below. See our recommendations for the best earbuds for bass, the best wireless headphones under $100, and the best budget earbuds.
The Jaybird Freedom 2 are much better sports headphones than the Sony WI-SP500. The Jaybirds have a better, more consistent sound quality that you can also customize via their app. They isolate better in noisy conditions, and their semi earbud fit is more comfortable and stable than that of the Sony. On the other hand, the SP500 last a longer on a single charge at seven hours compared to four, although the Jaybird do come with an additional four hours stored in the charging clip. The Sonys can also pair via NFC, which makes them slightly easier to connect to mobile devices.
The Anker SoundBuds Curve 2017 are much better sports headphones than the Sony WI-SP500 Wireless. The Anker offer a much better value for your money, thanks to their better sound quality, more comfortable and stable fit, and their long battery life. On the other hand, the Sony have NFC pairing and a slightly better wireless range. The Anker are the better choice for sports and most use cases, especially in the budget range.
The Plantronics BackBeat Fit are slightly better sports headphones than the Sony WI-SP500 Wireless, but they both have seal issues that negatively affect their sound quality. The Plantronics have a much better build quality and a more durable and sweat-proof design. They're also a lot more stable for the gym and will stay on your ears no matter the physical activity, thanks to the ear-hooks. On the upside, the Sony have a better control scheme that's a little easier to use than that of the Plantronics, although not by much. They also have a slightly longer battery life and are a little bit more comfortable to wear for some people.
The JBL Endurance Sprint are a much more versatile sports headphone than the Sony WI-SP500. The JBL have a better isolating fit that will block more ambient noise in loud environments. They have stable ear hooks and a better, more durable, and water-resistant design than the SP500. The JBL also last longer on a single charge and sound much better, although they may not get very loud. On the other hand, the Sonys are bit more comfortable than the JBL. They also have NFC pairing which makes them easy to connect to mobile devices.
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