The Sony WI-C600N are wireless in-ears that sound decent and have pretty good isolation performance thanks to their active noise cancelling (ANC) feature. Although their in-ear fit and around-the-neck design may not be for everyone, they’re fairly comfortable thanks to their lightweight, flexible neckband. They have good audio reproduction out-of-the-box and you can adjust the way they sound thanks to the EQ provided with their mobile companion app. The C600N can isolate a reasonable amount of noise thanks to their ANC feature combined with their in-ear fit, and they don’t leak much sound. Unfortunately, their battery performance is mediocre and, like most Bluetooth headphones, their integrated microphone is rather unremarkable. They have an excellent wireless range, though, and support NFC for easier Bluetooth pairing.
Pros
+ Decent audio reproduction
+ Lightweight and fairly comfortable design
+ Good isolation performance
Cons
- Mediocre battery life
- In-ear fit and neckband design won’t be for everyone
Design
Type: In-ear
Enclosure: Closed-back
The Sony WI-C600N are wireless in-ear headphones. They have an around-the-neck design with a lightweight and flexible neckband. The neckband has a smooth matte finish and the headphones feel fairly well-built overall. They’re reasonably comfortable for in-ear headphones and come with 4 tip options to help you find the best possible fit. Their controls are located at each end of the neckband, with buttons for power, volume, and call and music control on the right side, and ANC control on the left. Unfortunately, the buttons are very small, so the controls aren’t the easiest to use since they can be a bit hard to press.
The WI-C600N also have rather thin cables that don’t feel very durable. On the upside, they have a stable fit and, like most in-ears, are very breathable. They’re less portable than regular wireless in-ears, but their neckband design ensures that your earbuds are always at arm’s reach, which is convenient while travelling or working at your desk.
Sound
The Sony WI-C600N are decent-sounding closed-back wireless in-ear headphones. They have excellent bass, a reasonably well-balanced mid-range, and good treble. They have deep, extended bass that brings out the low thump and rumble of more bass-heavy genres like EDM or hip-hop. However, they have a slight over-emphasis in high-bass that makes them sound slightly boomy and muddy. This over-emphasis continues partway into the mid-range, which makes vocals and lead instruments sound a bit thick and cluttered. The rest of the mid-range is even and well-balanced, so vocals and leads have good intensity, but there’s a broad dip in low-treble that reduces brightness and detail. In mid-treble, the response gets rather uneven, which means that sibilants like S or T sounds could sound either overly piercing or lacking in detail.
That said, not everyone hears treble frequencies the same way, so your experience may vary. In addition, the Sony WI-C600N are compatible with a mobile app that provides access to a decent EQ, so you can adjust the way they sound to better suit your tastes.
Isolation
Noise Cancelling:
The Sony WI-C600N have an active noise cancelling (ANC) feature that does an alright job at reducing noise. Combined with their in-ear fit that helps block out noise passively, the C600N have pretty good isolation performance. They isolate a decent amount of noise in the bass range, which can help reduce the intensity of engine rumble on your bus to work. They isolate fairly well in the mid-range, which is important for blocking out speech, like in a lively office. Interestingly enough, they seem to block out more noise in the treble range passively than with ANC enabled, but they do a good job regardless. In addition, their earbud design results in very little sound leakage, so if they don’t block out enough noise for you, you can raise your listening volume a bit without having to worry about bothering your colleagues or fellow commuters.
Microphone
Mic Type: Integrated
The Sony WI-C600, like most Bluetooth headphones, have an unremarkable integrated microphone. Speech transmitted or recorded with this mic in quiet environments is decently intelligible but sounds thin, noticeably muffled, and lacking in detail. If you take a call in a quiet hallway or empty meeting room, the person on the other end of the line should be able to make out what you’re saying most of the time, but if you venture in a noisier environment, like a busy street, you’ll be much harder to understand. Although it has mediocre noise handling, this microphone should be passable for most, especially if you’re used to finding a quiet space to make your calls.
Active Features
Battery Life: 5.9 hrs
Charge Time: 2.1 hrs
App Support: Yes
Passive Playback: No
The Sony WI-C600N are wireless headphones that use a rechargeable battery. Unfortunately, they only provide about 6 hours of playback on a charge, which is slightly disappointing when compared to similar headphones, especially considering they take over 2 hours to charge. On the upside, they can be paired with a dedicated companion app on your smartphone, called Sony | Headphones Connect. The app provides access to a decent graphic EQ, lets you toggle the ANC settings, and even map the ANC button on the neckband to trigger your Google Assistant if you prefer. Although the app doesn’t provide as many customization options with the WI-C600N as it does with other Sony headphones, it feels well-designed and easy-to-use.
Connectivity
Bluetooth: Yes
Wired: No
Wireless Range: 54 ft
Latency: 209 ms
The Sony WI-C600N are wireless headphones that use Bluetooth 4.2 to connect to your devices. They can’t be used wired with an audio cable, nor can they pair to multiple devices, which can be disappointing if your work PC doesn’t have Bluetooth or if you like to stay connected to your smartphone and laptop at the same time, but they do support NFC. They have a bit too much latency to enjoy video content without audio lag, but on the upside, their excellent 54-ft wireless range means you should be able to leave your phone at your desk and go to a nearby room without experiencing audio cuts.
Who Should Buy Them?
If you’re looking for sleek, low-profile in-ear headphones to compliment your daily routine, the Sony WI-C600 are a decent choice. Their neckband design is well-suited to a variety of uses since it keeps the earbuds always within reach. They can block a decent amount of noise thanks to their ANC feature and in-ear fit, which is great if you’re looking to bring a bit of peace and quiet to your daily commute. If you work in an office, you’ll likely appreciate their excellent wireless range when going to get something from the printer in the next room over. The WI-C600 can even be a good choice to wear while running or working out if you don’t mind the neckband fit. Although they’re not ideal to use while watching TV or gaming due to their poor latency performance, and their 6-hour battery life is rather mediocre, they’re still decent headphones overall.
To see all our measurements and our test results of the Sony WI-C600N, please go here.
