Sony improves its budget earbuds by making them smaller, lighter and cheaper
Sony follows up its fantastic WF-C500 wireless earbuds by launching a new budget pair: the WF-C510. Like its predecessor, the revamp is focused on delivering a high-quality audio experience at an affordable price. This time around, however, the series has undergone a slight design change.
The WF-C510 is now more compact. Sony is said to have said online points of sale that their model is “20 percent smaller and 15 percent lighter than the C500.” It’s also apparently their smallest closed-back earbud. The company said in the official announcement that the earbuds have an “ergonomic surface design [allowing] for a more stable fit” in the users ears. They also have an external button for audio control.
Even the charging case has been updated. It’s now thinner, so it fits better in a pocket or bag. Despite its shrunken size, the WF-C510 proves that big things can come in smaller packages, as it introduces several improvements.
For starters, the earbuds have a slightly longer battery life at 11 hours, or 22 hours with the charging case. Sony says this number can be shorter depending on how you use the pair and what features you have active.
Features
The WF-C510 wireless earbuds pack a lot of features into their small frame. They are able to output high-quality audio thanks to their support for the DSEE (Digital Sound Enhancement Engine). This software optimizes low and high frequencies and makes sure the sound is well balanced.
360 Reality Audio is also included, allowing for immersive ‘spatial listening’. If you want to personalise the output further, you can connect the devices to the Sony | Headphone Connect App and then fine-tune them via custom EQ profiles. It’s easy to jump between different audio sources as the WF-C510 features Multipoint Connection, which allows you to connect to “two Bluetooth devices simultaneously”.
From my own experience, other people often find it annoying when they try to talk to you, but you can’t hear them. Sony’s earphones offer a solution. By activating Ambient Sound Mode, ambient sound flows better into your ears, so you are aware of your surroundings. In addition, users can turn on ‘Voice Focus’ to better capture people’s voices. Ambient noise is blocked out.
Other notable features include an IPX4 water resistance rating and Fast Pair. Like the old model, the WC-C510 earbuds lack active noise cancellation.
Sony’s WF-C510 wireless earbuds are now available for pre-order at the company website And Amazon for $59.99That’s cheaper than the WF-C500 when it first came out.
Amazon’s shipping date is set for September 2, and you can get the pair in three different colors: black, white, and yellow. Sony won’t be shipping their pair until September 9, though the tech giant is offering an exclusive baby blue option.
Also check out TechRadar’s roundup of the best earbuds for 2024.
