So today Sony officially announced their new WF-XB700 truly wireless earbuds and their
new entry level ANC headphones the WH-CH710N.
And we’ve known that both of these products were on the way all the way back in December.
So here are my thoughts on the official tech specs on both of these products and what this
product launch could mean for the Sony 1000XM4’s.
Which if you want to learn more about those you can click or tap here.
Now first off lets start off with the WH-CH710N’s cause ive really been looking forward to these
for awhile now.
The WH-CH710N’s are the successors to the WH-CH700N.
These are a pair of very popular $200 ANC headphones cause these headphones have active
noise cancellation, they sound decent enough, and they’re very comfortable cause they
have very large ear pads and not a lot of clamping force.
But the biggest reason why they’re so popular is cause these headphones routinely go on
sale for $100 or even less on shopping holidays like prime day, black friday, or just because.
But the problem with the WH-CH700N is that they feel very cheap compared to the Sennheiser
HD 4.50BTNC’s or even now the updated Sennheiser 450 BTNC, and the Audio-technica SR50BT…
two other pairs or $200 ANC headphones.
And the WH-CH700N also don’t sound as good as both of these other two headphones.
Now yeah they have a lot of physical head thumping bass… but these headphones do lack
when it comes to clarity and instrument separation when compared to the Sennheiser’s and Audio-Technica.
But from the looks of it, it looks like the WH-CH710N’s are taking on some of this criticism
head on.
The WH-CH710N’s have a new rounded out design which is similar to that of the Sony XB900N,
and Sony 1000XM3’s… but more importantly these headphones have a completely different
headband assembly from the WH-CH700N’s.
So hopefully the WH-CH710N’s won’t crack and squeak so much when you flex their headband
like the WH-CH700N do.
It also looks like the WH-CH710N’s will sound better than the WH-CH700N cause these
headphones now have new 30 millimeter drivers.
Versus the 40 millimeter drivers found on the WH-CH700N.
Now personally I just hope the WH-CH710N don’t lose the head thumping bass found on the WH-CH700N
cause some people like that, but I really do hope these headphones have better clarity
this time around.
But it also looks like the WH-CH710N are going to have improved active noise from the WH-CH700N.
Now just to tapper expectations, the active noise cancelation on $200 headphones isn’t
going to block out nearly as much noise as a pair of premium ANC headphones.
Please don’t fall into the trap where you see people going “these headphones block
out just as much noise as the 1000XM3 or Bose NC 700 for half the price” no they don’t
they mainly reduce constant low frequency sounds like road noise and a little bit of
chatter.
But I do think the ANC on the WH-CH710N will be improved a little bit from the WH-CH700N
cause sony is touting this new Artificial intelligence Noice cancellation.
Maybe these headphones will be able to block out a little more chatter than the WH-CH700N
cause maybe Sony developed a cheaper version of their QN1 Chip which handles the ANC on
the Sony 1000XM3’s… or maybe this is just a marketing ploy and sony is just tagging
on Artificial Intelligence onto things like startups like adding block chain to the name
of everything to get investors excited.
So we’ll just have to see if the WH-CH710N manage to block out more noise then WH-CH700N
when we get them.
But what I can confirm is that the WH-CH710N will have an ambient mode.
Which is something the WH-CH700N don’t have and its an extremely useful feature for whenever
you’re commuting or even watching movies on your headphones at home.
But finally the WH-CH710N’s have been upgraded to USB C charging, and they still have an
audio jack.
Obviously this is simple stuff but its great to see them here.
Now like I mentioned earlier these headphones will be retailing for $200 and they’ll be
going up on pre order later this month.
But I haven’t been able to pin down an official release date… so with everything thats going
on I wouldn’t be surprised if these headphones still got delayed.
But now lets switch our attention to the Sony WF-XB700’s.
Now WF stands for wireless freedom and XB stands for extra bass.
So presumably these new truly wireless earbuds are going to have way more bass than your
average truly wireless earbuds.
And personally I’m a little cautious about how these earbuds will sound, cause usually
with a lot of other bass heavy truly wireless earbuds they end up sounding very muffled
and shallow.
Now I assume that these earbud will be able to connect to Sony’s headphones app so you’ll
probably be able to reduce the bass on these earbud and just use them like any other pair
of earbuds just like how if you don’t want to use the Extra Bass feature on both WH-XB700
or the WH-XB900N you can just turn it off.
Cause having a lot of bass all the time, can get old after while.
But everything else about the WF-XB700’s looks very attractive.
They have a retail price of $130, each earbud establishes a connection with your phone which
means you can use either earbud at a time unlike the Jabra Elite 75T or the Sennheiser
Momentum TW 2…
But more importantly it looks like these earbuds have a way smaller case than Sony WF-1000XM3.
Now it still looks bigger than the Galaxy Buds Plus case or the Jabra Elite 75T’s
case… but something is better than nothing.
The only draw back is that these earbuds are only going to have a combined battery life
of 18 hours which is a little below average for earbud cause the industry standard right
now is around the 24 hours mark.
And again this new case does look a little bigger compared to some of these other earbuds.
But fit wise, it looks like the WF-XB700 won’t be going as deep into your ear canal as the
Sony WF-1000XM3’s hopefully making them more comfortable.
Something that I’ve realized lately about sony is that even though their headphones
are great… their earbuds and speakers are a little behind.
Sony obviously found their grove with their headphones… but their earbuds are constantly
getting redesigned with every release cause they still haven’t found a formula that
works for them I think.
So like I mentioned earlier, these earbuds will be retailing for $130 and they’ll be
available for pre order later this month.
But again there’s no solid release date probably cause of our global health situation.
So personally I think sony will officially announce the 1000XM4’s around June and put
them up for pre order but still won’t have an official release date.
But ultimately, its cool that sony announced these new products… but their release dates
still aren’t official.
But thats what ever, they come out when ever they come out.
The important thing is that you stay safe and wash your hands.