At the moment, the Sony lineup has five TWS headphones: the most modern model WF-XB700, the most flagship – WF-1000XM3 with noise reduction, you can read our review. The first generation 1000X is slowly disappearing from the sale, and the WF-S700N – about seven hundred I’ll write a review, as they are common and now the price has become especially pleasant. The sports model WF-SP900 is still on sale – the review will also be in July.
The alignment of forces is extremely simple: at the top of the WF-1000XM3 with noise reduction and a bunch of functions, in the middle are the sports WF-SP900 with full protection against water and dust, and in the budget (relatively) segment the new Sony WF-XB700 will play. I tried to get them as quickly as possible and write about them as quickly as possible.
Design, construction
Traditionally, the Sony XB series is dedicated to low frequencies, so you should not look for velvety plastic on your skin or fingers caressing it. Everything is tough! The surface of the case is deliberately rough, the cups too, but, as for me, this is a cool feature of the model.
Despite the brutal texture, through the top cover you can see the indicator light for charging. The assembly is beautiful, the lid of the case is fixed, the buttons click nicely, the light indicators on the cups and in the case echo each other. The correct work of designers is visible!
I really like how the cups are made. They consist of three “terraces”: the main one is visible to the whole world, on the middle there are charging contacts, the lower one is in contact with the auricle. Channel marks are clearly marked, R is highlighted – you'll never go wrong!
Due to such a cunning device, the headphones sit perfectly. Nozzles, of course, can be changed, do not forget to choose the right size at the beginning of use. There is an interesting feeling that the cups seem to soar in the air! Cool. Shaking my head intensely – they remain in place. There seems to be no protection against sweat, but no one bothers to use headphones while jogging or in the gym – I guess they can withstand a lot.
Headphones are available in two colors, this device is black and light blue. I’m testing black headphones, and I would choose such a modification for use. They look practical, stylish, nothing more.
The declared operating time is about nine hours, the case gives another full charge. Compared to competitors, it seems to be not very long, but you think nine hours. The first AirPods lived for about four hours, over the past four years, the working time of fully wireless headphones has become consistent with the usual Bluetooth models of the past. I spent a couple of days with the Sony WF-XB700, listening to three hours a day – I guess I have enough charge until the end of the week. That is, you don’t think about work time at all. The charging time of the case is two and a half hours, there is a quick charge, for ten minutes of connection we get an hour of listening to music.
When you turn on the headphones for the first time, they are immediately ready to connect, to reconnect, you need to press and hold the buttons on the left and right cups for seven seconds, until the indicator lights begin to flash blue two times in a row. I understand that no one reads the instructions, so I decided to talk about it separately.
Bluetooth 5.0 profile, communication is stable, there were no interruptions. There is support for the AAC profile, this is a huge plus for Apple devices, I tested the headphones paired with the iPhone 11 Pro Max, iPad Pro, MacBook Pro 16. The reconnection is smooth, the range of work in the office is six to seven meters. In conditions of direct visibility, it can be about ten meters.
When connected, a female voice notifies you of the charge level. The control is perfect: the buttons on the cups are clear, you instantly remember the position of the finger, there is a volume control. If you wish, you can call the voice assistant, but I know that playback control is more important – and more importantly, the buttons here are physical, no sensors!
To summarize, these are well-assembled headphones that sit comfortably in your ears. A small case. Brutal design, very good build. Honestly, and I am surprised, I liked it! And even more than the flagship Sony WF-1000XM3. The only thing for this model of headphones is not support in the Sony Headphones program, but what about the updates? Unclear.
Music
I've heard the Deus Ex: Human Revolution soundtrack by Michael McCann again – really well. The XB series, I remind you about the bass, but here the low frequencies do not clog the effects, a lot of air, volume, pleasant emotion. Loved it!
I also listened with pleasure to the Party track, this is Victor Solf, look in Apple Music. Here you can see: the master is well prepared, each sound in its place, everything is cool. Pleasant work and immediately shows the potential of the headphones. With all the bass focus, the XB-700 leaves the middle alive.
Finally, the third track – I urge you to use all the music listed for the headphone test, if you buy in the store. It will be Emerald Rush (Solomun Remix), magnificent Jon Hopkins, listened in TIDAL service – in maximum quality, excellent sound, great emotion. I really liked it.
Verdict
Everything about the XB700 pleasantly surprised me. Headphones in retail cost about 10,000 rubles, are well made, sound pleasant, work for about 9 hours, there is support for AAC. There is a soul in the headphones and a lot of some small quality details – I directly remembered Sony of past years. Clear control, cool landing, nothing superfluous, cool sound tuning – I remember my first Sony plugs, bought on the “Hump” along with a Sony CD player and a bunch of discs: yelling at Block Rockin 'Beats, three more uni courses ahead, and no, come back I don’t want to go there, but it's nice to remember.
So buy a Sony WF-XB700 for a good sound and a good time in the summer. As an alternative, AirPods are a great solution.
In AvCentre.ru you can get a 7% discount on the entire line of headphones, enter the WYLSA promotional code, or 10% on Sony WF-XB700, the WYLSA promotional code.
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Chief editor of the blog – Erika J. Wells .
