Sony WI-C600N Wireless Noise-Canceling Headphones Review

Sony is a reliable brand when it comes to audio. And it’s becoming increasingly popular after its release of the now famous, noise-cancelling WH-1000 headphones. In terms of noise-cancellation, they’ve caught up with Bose, while beating them with respect to sound quality. But what about in-ear noise cancelling headphones, like the recently released WI-C600N? Does it live up to Sony’s new reputation as one of the leaders in the noise-cancelling technology? Or are we in for disappointment? Let’s find out in this Sony WI-C600N Wireless Noise-Canceling Headphones Review.

Sony WI-C600N Wireless Noise-Canceling Headphones Review

IN the BOX

FIT

You can expect a snug and secure fit. At the same time, the buds feel comfortable even after long periods of use. Neckbands have never been my thing. So, I had to get used to the feeling of rubber on my skin. That’s what she said. But it’s certainly light and flexible, and it helps stabilize the earphones when on the go. If you’ve ever worn wireless buds before and heard thumping while running, the neckband should solve that issue.

DESIGN

Here’s the unfortunate truth about in-ear noise-cancelling headphones: too often, they don’t work. And this is the case with the WI-C600N. When you switch to noise cancelling mode, there’s virtually no difference. But this also means that the sound isolation is naturally effective on these buds. The other good news is that you have the option of switching to ambient mode to let in surrounding sound. This feature actually works well, and is handy when biking through the city or ordering coffee. But if noise-cancellation is your only priority and you can’t do over-ear headphones, consider purchasing a brand like Shure, which is famous for its effective sound isolation.

You’ll get 6.5 hours of battery life on these things, which isn’t particularly impressive, considering that the equally priced Sennheiser CX 7.00BT (with neckband) offers up to 10 hours of usage. Debbie Downer’s got nothing on me.

As mentioned above, the neckband is very light and flexible. So, it’s easy to scrunch these buds into a ball and just throw them into your bag or pocket. The earpieces themselves are magnetic, and stick together when they’re off your ears, so you have no dangling wires all over the place.

Pairing is quick and easy, and once you go through the process the first time, the earphones will connect to your device automatically every time you turn them on. The functions are simple to use as well. On the left side of the neckband, you’ll find the on/off switch, which you also use to pair with your phone (hold it down for a few seconds). This side also has volume control, play/pause, skip and call answering.Noise-cancelling and ambient mode are controlled on the right side of the neckband. These buds also work with the Google Assistant app, which will allow you to set reminders, make lists, and ask about the meaning of life.

SOUND

Overall Impressions: Rich lows, well balanced, easy on the the ears.

Lows

In classic Sony fashion, the Wi-C600N offers juicy, powerful lows. The bass gives pop music tons of impact, while the generous sub frequencies make it ideal for hip-hop as well. At the same time, the lows avoid going overboard. Listening to rock, the bass frequencies didn’t steal the stage. Instead, the low end just added extra warmth and body to the track.

Mids

The midrange is very present here. The low mids get plenty of love, giving tons of fullness to rock songs with big choruses. At the same time, the clarity is surprisingly great for wireless buds at this price. Even tracks with the most convoluted arrangements had impressively clean layering, while acoustic instruments, like guitars, had plenty of clean separation.

Highs

These buds lean on the darker side. So, if you love sparkly, crispy highs, you might want to look for a brighter sound signature. That being said, the WI-C600N is no slouch in this frequency range, hitting a nice balance between smoothness and transparency. So, if you appreciate a detailed sound but can’t handle high frequencies for too long, these are fatigue free buds.

Soundstage

A very spacious soundstage for a pair $150 wireless buds. And instrument placement is precise enough to give you real multidimensional sound experience.

SUMMARY

These buds sound good. And if you’re particularly attached to the neckband design, the WI-C600N is a decent choice. At the same time, there’s a plethora of affordable high quality wireless earphones on the market. And considering that the Wi-C600N’s defining feature – noise cancellation – doesn’t work, this model is overpriced for what it offers.

You can find these underwhelming earphones for the best price here:

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