Sony’s new entry-level wireless earbuds are priced at Rs 4,990 and go up against the likes of the OnePlus Buds 3, CMF Buds Pro 2, and JBL Tune 245 NC. Sony has an immense reputation in the TWS category, boasting the gargantuan WF-1000XM5 earbuds in its catalogue. The WF-C510 earbuds seek to bring the signature Sony sound profile to a more affordable category. However, players like OnePlus, Nothing, and CMF have proven that you need something more than an impressive soundstage to compete in this cut-throat segment. So how does Sony’s entry-level TWS rank when it comes to design, form factor, and connectivity features? We used the Sony WF-C510 for a week to get to the bottom of these questions, here is our review of the TWS.
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Sony WF-C510 TWS Review: Design
- Charging case with earbuds inside
- Extra ear tips
- Reference guide
Sony’s dedication to eliminating plastic packaging even from its entry-level products is commendable but the lack of a USB Type-C charging cable inside the box is slightly disappointing.
The charging case has a compact, pill-shaped design, which makes it easy to slip inside pockets. The case doesn’t occupy a lot of space and is very easy to grab and pull out. The plastic body has a matte finish that lends it a premium in-hand feel. The ‘Sony’ branding is etched on the top of the lid. A wide notch separates the lid from the rest of the body, making it easier to open with one hand. The LED notification light is placed right below this notch. The pairing button lies next to the hinge.
The stem-less in-ear design of the Sony WF-C510 earbuds is what makes it stand out in this category. We’re big fans of this form factor as it offers a very snug fit that doesn’t require periodic adjustments. You can freely move your arms without having to worry about dislodging your earbuds. The compactness of the buds has a role to play in their superior fit as well. We did not experience major ear fatigue even after wearing these earbuds for multiple hours at a stretch.
Instead of a touch panel, the WF-C510 has physical buttons for media playback control. This eliminates the annoying pauses caused by accidental touches. The physical buttons can be customised to pause media playback, alter the volume, skip tracks, trigger the voice assistant, pick up or hang up calls, toggle the transparency mode, and more.
The Sony WF-C510 earbuds are rated IPX4 for dust and water resistance. This makes them ideal to wear during long hikes and workout sessions. The earbuds remain unfazed by sweat and continue putting up a crushing performance. However, we wouldn’t recommend wearing them while it’s raining.
Sony WF-C510 Review: Performance
With Bluetooth 5.3 onboard, the Sony WF-C510 earbuds connect easily to any smartphone. If you can’t find the TWS in discoverable devices, put the earbuds back in the case and long-press the pairing button. Each earbud is equipped with a 6mm driver. The TWS has a frequency response range between 20Hz and 20,000Hz. There are 2 audio codecs on offer – SBC and AAC.
During the review period, we used the Sony WF-C510 to listen to an exhaustive range of genres including pop, folk, grunge, and classic rock. The soundstage produced by these earbuds is lush and balanced. The low-end frequencies are tuned nicely and do not overpower the mids and the highs. The level of detail in the mix is quite satisfying. While playing UFO’s Lights Out, the earbuds relayed the crunching guitar riffs and crisp clapper hits with expert precision. However, we feel like the vocal frequencies could have been dialled higher for the overall output to ‘pop’ more.
The lack of Active Noise Cancellation is one of the biggest misses on this TWS. There is no excuse for skipping this feature when it is considered standard for this price category. Even the affordable OnePlus Nord Buds 3 (priced at Rs 2,299) can nullify up to 32dB of surrounding sound. The WF-C510 can passively tune out some noise due to its airtight fit. Sony’s companion app for the TWS has a handy transparency mode which can be deployed when you want to engage in a conversation or want to be more aware of your surroundings.
The Sony Sound Connect app also lets you choose from a range of equaliser profiles. These include Bright, Excited, Mellow, Relaxed, Vocal, Treble Boost, Bass Boost, Speech, and Manual. You can set up and save 2 customised equaliser profiles on the app. This companion app gives you access to special features like 360 Reality Audio, Multi-point Connection, and DSEE.
The calling experience provided by the WF-C510 is quite satisfactory in indoor conditions. The earbuds do a good job of picking up the voice of the speaker, suppressing the ambient noise, and relaying it to the listener without losing any details. The earbuds hold up quite well in outdoor conditions as well, but the call quality drops rapidly in busy streets and loud markets.
The compact form factor of the TWS means that you have some compromises on the battery front. The earbuds have a battery life of 11 hours with additional 11 hours in the case. We used the Sony WF-C510 for 3-4 hours every day during the week-long review period. By the 6th day, the charging case ran out of battery and had to be plugged into the charger. It took us a little over 90 minutes to fully charge the device. While the battery life of this TWS is remarkably lower than its competitors, we think it’s worth the tradeoff for a more compact and portable form factor. Charging the TWS once every 5-6 days isn’t a deal breaker for us.
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Verdict
The Sony WF-C510 is a no-nonsense TWS that gets the essential aspects just right. Its minimal approach to design is refreshing and practical. You can easily carry this TWS in your pocket without worrying about them taking up too much space or offering any discomfort. The stemless design of the earbuds facilitates an exquisite in-ear fit.
The audio output produced by these earbuds has the signature Sony tuning. The balanced soundstage is not muddled by a boosted bass. The richness of the output is very enjoyable. The wide range of equaliser profiles in Sony’s companion app is a bonus. However, the lack of Active Noise Cancellation is one tradeoff that you will need to endure on Sony’s entry-level wireless earbuds. The lack of this feature is what keeps the TWS from being the outright winner in its category. If you don’t care about noise cancellation, then you should certainly give this TWS a shot!
Sony WF-C510: Pros
- Compact design
- Amazing fit
- Physical controls
- Lush soundstage
Sony WF-C510: Cons
- Lacks Active Noise Cancellation
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