Test: do the Sony WF-XB700 wireless headphones do better than the 1000-XM3?

In April 2020, Sony unveiled its pair of headphones true wirelessthe most affordable. These are the WF-XB700, which benefit from the historic know-how of the Japanese brand. Created in 1946, its reputation is well established in the world of audio, and this is particularly what pushed me to choose this manufacturer rather than another like Apple orBeats which markets its own alternative, aimed at a more sporty audience.

Buy the Sony WF-XB700

Originally, I had equipped myself withSony WF-1000XM3, of which you can find the complete test at this address. But I ultimately saved seventy-five euros after testing theSony WF-XB700for more than a full month, which ultimately aren't that different. Here is why this solution is just as interesting, what its advantages and disadvantages are and some useful details to know how to choose them if you are hesitant with the more expensive version.

Sony WF-XB700 technical sheet

To begin with, here is what Sony displays when it comes to specifying the technical characteristics of its XB-700 wireless headphones on its official website:

• Connectivity
  • Bluetooth Low Energy 5.0
  • No NFC
  • USB-C port on the case
  • Recharge sans fil (2 x tripoints)
• Format
  • In-ear
  • Truly wireless (true wireless)
  • Color: black or blue
  • Material: plastic
  • Waterproof headphones with IPX4 certification (but not the external battery)
  • Weight: approximately 16 grams per pair but 62 with the wireless charging case
• Features(no app on iOS or Android)
  • No active noise reduction
  • Compatible voice assistants: Siri, Google Assistant, Amazon Alexa
  • Control via two push buttons (no touchpad)
  • No equalizer, but EXTRA BASS mode permanently engaged
• Components
  • Battery: officially recharged in an hour and a half, the headphones have a battery life of 9 hours (5 in calls and 200 in standby), the case charges in 3 hours to reach 18 hours of total battery life
  • Speakers 20 Hz-20,000 Hz
  • A microphone on each earpiece

Unboxing and accessories

At first glance, the box of the Sony WF-XB700 looks a little more “cheap” than that of the WF-1000XM3. The plastic used is indeed lighter, but that's a detail, because what we really want to test is on the inside.

And there, no surprise: there are four sizes of pairs of silicone tips, to suit all ear sizes, several user manuals or to take advantage of the warranty, the wireless charging box and finally a USB-C male to USB male cable to power it. Only downside: this one is particularlycourt, which drastically limits the situations in which the Sony WF-XB700 can be recharged. Especially since no power adapter is provided, which means that other than with a computer or an external battery, it will be complicated to recharge the duo safely.

• Our opinion (box test):the Sony WF-XB700 could have been delivered with a longer mains charger

Design and comfort: 8/10

The most notable difference at first glance between the Sony WF-XB700 and their big brothers is their external appearance: the new wireless headphones are in fact a little more protruding, while conversely their internal part is little finger seems shorter. You might therefore think that they could easily fall out of the ear canal while moving, but this is not the case: theyholdin fact as good as the more expensive model, even when tested under running conditions. They are even more difficult to remove when using the larger tips (essential to take full advantage of EXTRA BASS mode), which must then be put right side up because they are turned over during extraction. Furthermore, theboutonshave to be pushed too firmly to work, and they are too small so hard to use.

Buy the Sony WF-XB700

So much for ergonomics. As for the design, it must be said that we also benefit from lower quality with the Sony WF-XB700 than with other high-end products. Certainly, their circular shape is as neutral as possible unlike AirPods and their “tail”, but the material used is completely different. Here, whether it is the shell or the wireless headphones themselves, the material is not smooth but grainy and above all more flexible: you have to be careful, because you feel that the cover of the case couldbreak easily(it is even a little transparent, letting light from outside pass through). Despite everything, the colors are also more sober, with black and blue, which makes the headphones almost unnoticed in everyday life.

• Our opinion (design and comfort test):the Sony WF-XB700 are fragile but paradoxically particularly stable and pleasant to wear without needing to take a break

Sony WF-XB700: fewer features?

Now let's move on to the features offered by Sony on its WF-XB700. What we notice above all is that there is nono appcompanion: no matter how much you try to connect these wireless headphones to Headphones Connect, it will be wasted effort. Consequently, we have here a simple product – a physical accessory – and not a real experience enhanced by an additional service. It is therefore impossible to adjust anything in terms of audio, except by downloading a third-party equalizer but not optimized for the WF-XB700.

Many will also swear that theactive noise reductionis sorely lacking in these Bluetooth headphones, and yet: having tried it with many other articles offering it (AirPods Pro, WF-1000XM3, etc.) no manufacturer has ever been up to the task. Which makes this innovation still obsolete at the moment, probably because the miniaturization work done with technology created for airplanes has not yet seemed to bear fruit, except perhaps on certain headsets at higher prices. 300 euros per unit. Furthermore, theisolation passivetested with the Sony WF-XB700 is already so optimal that I can use them in the metro without hearing any annoying noise around me, while conversely I can hear the cars arriving when I am on my bike. In one word:parfait.

The Sony WF-1000XM3 wireless headphones are also compatible withvoice assistants, which allows you to orally control your iPhone or your Android laptop using Siri or the Google Assistant. To do this, simply press the button on the right earpiece firmly for a few seconds, then speak when a beep is emitted. Everything worked correctly there too during the test.

• Our opinion (functionality test):the Sony WF-XB700 do not offer additional options, but this is not a disadvantage

Performances des Sony WF-XB700

Battery, speakers, sensors, transmitters and hydrophobic coating are not of good quality from all brands. Here is how the Sony WF-XB700 performed in this area during our test.

Excellent autonomy

Sony WF-XB700 wireless headphones can holdnine o'clockin a row. It's substantial and better than most other competing models, except perhaps from Bang & Olufsen. Of course, on a daily basis it is difficult to verify this data, especially by regularly pushing the sound to more than 70% of its power during the test, but we last long enough in any case to come to completely forget that it is sometimes necessary to recharge the battery. The wireless charging box, for its part, powers up quite quickly thanks to the standardUSB-C, but as seen above you will often need to use an extension cord if you move around a lot.

During my test of the Sony WF-XB700, working all day in front of the screen with music in my ears and taking regular breaks to eat or rest my eyes, I never needed to recharge the headphones anymore ofonce a week. This shows how particularly enduring they are. We may regret the absence of a case capable of inductive charging with Qi certification, but it is still a detail at a time when few users are really already equipped with this type of gadget.

• Our opinion (battery test):the Sony WF-XB700 wireless headphones last so long that you can travel with them for several days without electricity without worrying about running out of energy!

Is this the best sound found in Sony headphones?

Now we come to the most important part: the Sony WF-XB700 audio performance test. You'd think that because these are such compact, wireless headphones, the quality would never be as good as real speakers. And yet. Even having tested the Danley or Funktion One subwoofers from the German capital, you can have an excellent time with the WF-XB700 because they have a filter calledEXTRA BASS, which as its name suggests improves the power and roundness of the bass frequencies, without this being to the detriment of the highs and mids.

Buy the Sony WF-XB700

To date, no other pair of wireless headphones, except perhaps from real specialists like Bose and Audio Technica, seem to come close to the Sony WF-XB700 in terms of audio, and particularly in the area of thereelectronic music, who from acid jazz to dubadub builds most of his melodies around this key rhythm. This is truly a product designed according to the customs of its time.

• Our opinion (sound test):the Sony WF-XB700 wireless headphones broadcast the clearest and most faithful music possible, so it's a big 20/20 for the audio with very good mention for the bass, better than the 1000-XM3

Connection: almost all good

During my test of the Sony WF-1000XM3, I was particularly disappointed by unexpected disconnections, which can quickly pose confidentiality problems in the event of a private conversation. A bug which fortunately is not found in the Sony WF-XB700, which are victims of another technical problem. Indeed, since the start of my test, inanswering a callreceived on the iPhone, the sound automatically returns to the phone's speakers instead of remaining in the headphones. This requires removing the earbuds to resume the call on the cell phone, especially since even if a menu appears to allow you to select the WF-XB700 as an output device, the choice is not made.

For the rest, we see that connectivityBluetoothis particularly “stable and reliable“, as Sony indicates in its marketing materials, without suffering any naturally detectable latency. Even when watching quick videos, the result is there. As for pairing with the smartphone or with the computer (I tested with a 15-inch MacBook Pro from 2018 and an iPhone XR), everything goes as expected there too. The only drawback: you often have to remember to disconnect the WF-XB700 wireless headphones from the first device to which they are connected in order to connect to another source.

• Our opinion (network test):the Sony WF-XB700s are not particularly optimized for incoming calls

The XB-700s are water resistant

One of the major selection criteria when deciding to test the Sony WF-XB700 is also theircertification IPX4. This standard means that they are capable of sustaining a few splashes without being damaged (be careful, this is only the case for the headphones but not for the wireless charging case). This way, even if it rains, you don't have to worry about leaving the house with music in your ears: a significant advantage.

Testing these headphones while doing sports won't be a problem either, unless perhaps you plan to swim underwater. Because in terms of standard, the IPX4 label officially means “protected against splashing water from all directions” :no immersion,SO. If in activity it is very practical, it is however better to invest in a protective shell for the case of the Sony WF-XB700 when they are stored there, because let's not forget that this one is much more fragile.

• Our opinion (watertightness):the Sony WF-XB700s are not particularly optimized for incoming calls

Buy the Sony WF-XB700

Our opinion on the Sony WF-XB700 wireless headphones

To conclude this test, I would say that the Sony WF-XB700 arethe best wireless headphones on the market all criteria combined. The absence of active noise reduction seems to be a stain, but it is in any case not a real handicap in everyday life because the passive insulation here does the same job. The audio is also of an almost unrivaled level, and EXTRA BASS technology restores its true value to contemporary music where many competitors make you feel a real loss of reality between a listening session at home and an event of great magnitude.

The Sony WF-XB700 headphones will thus be the ideal companions for both the younger generation and those with small budgets who cannot spend several hundred euros on this type of headphones.accessory. Their brand, Sony, takes nothing away from their prestige and also guarantees proper after-sales service. In addition, we can use the Sony WF-XB700 both in the office and at home, thanks to a flawless Bluetooth connection except perhaps on the calls side.

To conclude, we can only strongly advisethe Sony WF-XB700 rather than the 1000-XM3following their respective tests, because the price difference between the two is significant for an almost equal experience. Good to know if you are hesitating between these articles!

Buy the Sony WF-XB700

Price and availability of Sony WF-XB700

The Sony WF-XB700 wireless earbuds were displayed during their release at150 euros. That is, cheaper than classic AirPods, even though the sound quality is better and Siri is still there. But we are already seeing promotions, although this product was released in stores in May 2020. On Amazon, for example, they are sold for only 99 euros during the sales.

In fact, all the cheaper brands at the moment only offer entry-level products. But insaving on material, Sony has succeeded with its WF-XB700 headphones in offering a better price, where others have chosen not to upgrade the speakers in favor of a more polished exterior appearance.

• Our opinion (price):the quality/price ratio of the Sony WF-XB700 wireless headphones is unbeatable