I’ve had the opportunity to use some of the best Sony earbuds, and I must say, they really do embody the best features of the brand. When it comes to personal audio experiences, they deliver on multiple fronts. First and foremost, the audio quality is exceptional. The sound is crisp, clear, and immersive, making every note and beat come to life. Whether I’m listening to my favorite music or catching up on podcasts, these earbuds never disappoint.
The selection of Sony headphones and earbuds includes inexpensive items under $10 to ultra-premium models that cost more than a decent laptop. We sifted through the specifications, model numbers, and customer reviews of the brand’s latest offerings to identify the best of the best and help you choose the best Sony headphones and earbuds for your lifestyle and budget.
However, with different styles, models, and price points, it can get confusing. Sony is undoubtedly one of the most recognizable consumer electronics brands of our time. Sony is one of our favorite brands when it comes to headphones and earphones. Our team of experts has reviewed some of the best models on the market this year to help you find the best pair of Sony earbuds for your needs. To make these rankings, we considered many aspects, including sound quality, comfort and fit, durability, and additional features such as noise cancellation and Bluetooth dual pairing. Below, we have mentioned the best Sony earbuds.
Best Sony Earbuds
Sony WF-1000XM3
The Sony WF-1000XM3 True Wireless is neutral-sounding and versatile wireless headphones. Their design is sleek and quality, but it is a bit difficult to find a good seal, as the tips are larger than average. This negatively affects bass response and isolation performance.
On the other hand, once a watertight seal is achieved, the ANC function makes them suitable for commuting and blocks out a huge amount of noise in an office environment. They also offer about seven hours of uninterrupted battery life, the case offers three additional full recharges, and is compatible with a companion app that allows you to customize the audio appropriately.
Sony WF-SP800N
Sony continues to make waves for its 360-degree audio format, which aims to put the user at the center of the aural action, so a 360-degree audio master of A Tribe Called Quests Scenario via Tidal seems like a good place to start. There is no denying the effectiveness of this spatial audio format over the stereo alternative.
The sounds have a much greater variety of origins than a regular stereo mix and, as a result, the sound effect is much more enveloping. But as for the way the WF-SP800N makes music, it is much more revealing (and applicable to most people’s actual experience) than listening to stereo music. And with a high-resolution file of Beck’s Guess, I’m Doing Fine playing, they are undeniably safe and insightful.
Sony WF-1000X
The Sony WF1000X have a fairly typical earbud fit, but thanks to the variety of tips included in the package, they are quite comfortable. Seven sizes of tips are available, including foam tips. The earbuds are relatively lightweight, and because they are truly wireless, there is no cord pulling on them, making them less noticeable in the ears.
Being in-ear, they do exert some pressure on the ear canal, which may not be as comfortable. Also, the tips are not angled like those on the Jaybird Run Truly Wireless, making them a little less comfortable. These are truly wireless and breathable headphones. Their compact in-ear design does not cause significant heating during sports or training.
Sony WF-SP700N
The design is not the most elegant. The curved earbuds are rather bulky, but they fit very well in the ear. They are reminiscent of Bluetooth headsets that were still ubiquitous a few years ago. The earbuds have a small silicone hook that fits the contours of the ear. Three different sizes of silicone tips and an additional pair of hooks are available in the package.
The soft, plush silicone tips and ergonomic hooks help make the Sony WF-SP700N one of the most comfortable wireless earbuds we have tested in a long time. We were able to listen to music for hours without major problems. On the other hand, the bulky earbuds make it almost impossible to listen to music at night while lying on your side.
Sony WF-1000XM4
The previous model WF-1000XM3 gave us many reasons to recommend it, but “discretion” was not at the top of the list. The earbuds were large, as was their charging case, and Sony wisely chose to reduce some of the bulk in this new model. The charging case is 40% smaller, while the earbuds are 10% smaller.
The WF-1000XM4 includes some of the features first introduced in last year’s WH-1000XM4 over-ears: active noise cancellation, which can detect what you are doing and where you are doing it to adapt to circumstances; quick pairing for Android and Windows devices; and the Speak to Chat feature, which allows you to pause music without having to remove the earbuds.
Sony WF-C500
The WF-C500 uses Bluetooth 5.0 for wireless connectivity and is compatible with SBC and AAC codecs. Once digital audio information is on board, it is transmitted to the ears by a pair of dynamic 5.8 mm full-range neodymium drivers. The WF-C500 earphones have a battery life of ten hours, which is not bad at all. The charging case can hold another full charge for a total of 20 hours, which is a perfectly normal number.
It is certainly less than the Cambridge Audio Melomania 1 Plus’s approximately 45 hours of battery life between web visits. However, if you plug in the Sonys for just 10 minutes-there is a USB-C to USB-A cable in the package that is fully recyclable-the WF-C500 should be ready for another hour or so. Of course, there is no wireless charging function.
Sony LinkBuds
Thanks to their open-ring design, Sony LinkBuds offer an incredibly wide and spacious soundstage that you cannot get from a pair of in-ear headphones. They also offer an abundance of detail, superb rhythmic accuracy and a balanced soundstage that allows every instrument in your favorite songs to emerge clearly. The 12 mm drivers are quite powerful, while the built-in Sony V1 processor ensures authentic sound of music with minimal distortion.
However, open drivers have some disadvantages. First, they let in a lot of ambient noise-which is what these earphones were designed for-which means that every detail of the music is altered by the chatter of people talking nearby, the rumble of passing cars, and other ambient noise.
Sony WF-XB700
The Sony WF-XB700s are a fairly versatile pair of wireless in-ears without many extra features. Belonging to Sony’s “XB” or “Extra Bass” series, they are intended to add power to the bass range, but their sound profile is still fairly neutral and should be suitable for a wide range of audio content and music genres. The battery has a battery life of about 10 hours and comes with a charging case, but it can only hold one additional charge.
They are well built and sturdy enough for light exercise if you can get a good fit, but their somewhat bulky in-ear design may be uncomfortable for some. They do not have active noise cancellation or companion app or sound tuning capabilities, but they should still be suitable for casual listeners who want relatively simple headphones.
Final Words
Since music is at the heart of Sony’s story, choosing the best Sony earbuds should be a top priority. Check which models use the Sony Headphones Connect app, which allows you to customize sounds, and which have powerful drivers. Bass lovers may want to check which models offer Extra Bass technology for more powerful sound output.
Although not all Sony earbuds and headphones are equipped with ANC, those that offer basic or sophisticated noise cancellation. The latter is found in newer models and includes the adaptive ability to optimize performance based on surroundings.
