Home Wireless Earbuds Sony Wf C500 Vs. Sony Wf 1000Xm4

A Review By Comparison of the Sony Wf C500 Vs. Sony Wf 1000Xm4

Last updated on Mar 14, 2023   7 min read
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Sony WF 1000XM4

Sony WF 1000XM4

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Reasons why you might like the Sony WF 1000XM4

Overall Score 6.6 Represents average audio ecosystem compatibility score.

  • Ingress Protection (Ip) Rating of IPX4
  • Has Active Noise Cancellation (Noise Control)
  • Battery Life of 8 hours
  • Has Usb Type-C
  • Number Of Microphones of 4 only
  • Has Ambient Sound Mode
VS
Sony WF C500

Sony WF C500

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Reasons why you might like the Sony WF C500

Overall Score 5.3 Represents average audio ecosystem compatibility score.

  • Ingress Protection (Ip) Rating of IPX4
  • Battery Life of 10 hours
  • Has Usb Type-C
  • Number Of Microphones of 2 only

A summary of the review by comparison

Category Features Sony WF C500 Sony WF 1000XM4
DESIGN ingress protection (ip) rating IPX4 IPX4
weight 10.8g 41g
has no wires or cables
sweat resistance
has stereo speakers
SOUND QUALITY has active noise cancellation (noise control)
has passive noise reduction
driver unit size 5.8mm 6mm
lowest frequency 20Hz 20Hz
highest frequency 20000Hz 40000Hz
has a neodymium magnet
POWER battery life 10hours 8hours
battery life of charging case 10hours 16hours
charge time 2.5hours 1.5hours
has wireless charging
has a battery level indicator
CONNECTIVITY has usb type-c
bluetooth version v5 v5.2
maximum bluetooth range 9meters
has aac
has ldac
MICROPHONE number of microphones 2only 4only
has a noise-canceling microphone
EXTRAS has ambient sound mode
has in/on-ear detection
has find earbuds feature
supports fast charging
multipoint count 1only
has a mute function
control panel placed on a device
warranty period 1Years
has voice prompts
travel bag is included
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A breakdown of the review per specifications

Design

Ingress Protection (Ip) Rating

Sony WF 1000XM4 IPX4
Sony WF C500 IPX4

IP ratings is the level of protection given by a casing, against dust and liquids. The letters 'IP' are followed by two values The first value refers to protection against solids such as dust, followed by the one that refers to protection against liquids (sweat).

Scoring IPX4, the Sony WF C500's rating is read as, the first value of X denotes that no data available to specify a protection rating, and the second number of 4 means that they can withstand low pressure spray similar to that of a shower head when tilted at 180° for 10 minutes.

Compared to the Sony WF C500, Sony WF 1000XM4 have a rating of IPX4 meaning that we are not yet certain of their rating with solids (dust) and that of liquids is that, they both have the same rating against liquids

Weight

Sony WF 1000XM4 41g
Sony WF C500 10.8g

The Sony WF C500 have a weight of 10.8g . We take in account a lower weight better because lighter devices are more comfortable to transport.

Sony WF 1000XM4, at 41g weigh more than the Sony WF C500 with a difference of 30.2g

Has No Wires Or Cables

Sony WF 1000XM4
Sony WF C500

True wireless devices have no cables linking any part of the device together, Sony WF C500 are true wireless for this case since they don't have cables. This is an important difference as some wireless earbuds have wires linking the 2 earbuds .

Sony WF 1000XM4 also is true wireless since it doesn't have cables linking the pair of earbuds .

Sweat Resistance

Sony WF 1000XM4
Sony WF C500

Sony WF C500 are resistant to sweat

Sony WF 1000XM4's resistance to sweat makes both devices fit for use while doing sports such as long-distance running, marathons, cardio sweat workouts , etc

Has Stereo Speakers

Sony WF 1000XM4
Sony WF C500

Sony WF C500 have stereo speakers, what this means is that Sony WF C500's speakers deliver sound from separate channels on both left and right sides, this creates a richer sound and a better listening experience.

The Sony WF 1000XM4 also have stereo speakers

Sony WF 1000XM4
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Sound Quality

Has Active Noise Cancellation (Noise Control)

Sony WF 1000XM4
Sony WF C500

Active noise cancellation utilises advanced technology to actively cancel noise. How it works, it listens to the sound pattern outside and inside the earbud and then generates a mirror signal to counter it. In simple terms, it's like taking +1 (noise) and adding -1 (inverted noise) giving zero which results in a reduced level of noise.

The Sony WF 1000XM4 have Active Noise Cancellation enabling you to listen at lower volume levels, good for your ears as you don't have to crank up the earbuds volume to overcome background noise.

Has Passive Noise Reduction

Sony WF 1000XM4
Sony WF C500

The Sony WF C500 stay well in place, this creates an acoustic seal that tones down background noise while preventing the device sound from leaking out .

Both of these devices have passive noise reduction which implies that they tone down ambient noise without using technology to cancel it out.

Driver Unit Size

Sony WF 1000XM4 6mm
Sony WF C500 5.8mm

Sony WF C500 driver unit is 5.8mm in diameter, bigger drivers are more powerful, therefor producing better bass. The driver unit is the component that makes sound in the earbuds, the unit size dictates the sound made by the earbuds.

Sony WF 1000XM4 driver unit is 6mm in diameter, making them have a larger driver unit than that of Sony WF C500 by 0.2mm , a common assumption that driver units of a bigger size automatically produce better sound quality.

However, large drivers find it difficult to produce high frequencies so it's true that, larger drivers are capable of generating louder sound, but this does not imply that they produce better quality sound.

Lowest Frequency

Sony WF 1000XM4 20Hz
Sony WF C500 20Hz

The Sony WF C500's lowest frequency is at 20Hz, low-frequency response inidcates how well an audio device produces low audible frequencies and if it alters the signal on its way through.

Sony WF 1000XM4's lowest frequency is at 20Hz, this implies that both devices make sound with equal bass

Highest Frequency

Sony WF 1000XM4 40000Hz
Sony WF C500 20000Hz

Sony WF C500's highest frequency is at 20000Hz, high-frequency response indicates how well a particular audio component makes high audible frequencies and if it adjustments to the signal on its way through.

Sony WF 1000XM4's highest frequency is at 40000Hz, this implies that Sony WF 1000XM4 can produce a clearer and crispier treble than the Sony WF C500

Has A Neodymium Magnet

Sony WF 1000XM4
Sony WF C500

Sony WF C500 have neodymium magnets, when used in earbuds produce a higher sensitivity and substantial sound output using less power to do so. They can help produce music at quite a high sound pressure level, with the use of high magnetic flux.

Sony WF 1000XM4 have it too, devices with neodymium magnets are lighter and more powerful than those which use ferrite magnets. It is also known that they have more bass and clearer high notes.

Power

Battery Life

Sony WF 1000XM4 8hours
Sony WF C500 10hours

Sony WF C500's battery life is 10 hours, a device's battery life is usually given by the manufacturer, and with longer battery life, you get to use it for longer and have to charge the device less often.

Sony WF 1000XM4's battery life is less than that of Sony WF C500 by 2 hours . Every time you recharge your earbuds, they get a little less listening time. The effect is barely noticeable at first, but over a few years, your wireless earbuds will no longer play for long like they used to.

Battery Life Of Charging Case

Sony WF 1000XM4 16hours
Sony WF C500 10hours

This is given by the manufacturer, and Sony WF C500's case has a full charge of 10 hours. A charging case with more battery hours allows you to recharge your earbuds on the go many times before recharging the case itself.

Sony WF 1000XM4's charging case has a battery life of 16 hours, more than that of Sony WF C500 by 6 hours

Charge Time

Sony WF 1000XM4 1.5hours
Sony WF C500 2.5hours

It takes 2.5 hours to fully charge the Sony WF C500's battery. It is recommended to fully charge the battery before using the earbuds when they have been in storage for long periods.

Sony WF 1000XM4 takes 1.5 hours to fully charge the battery, less than that of Sony WF C500 by 1 hours

Has Wireless Charging

Sony WF 1000XM4
Sony WF C500

Sony WF 1000XM4, the device supports wireless charging. To charge the earbuds, you simply put down on a supported charging pad.

Has A Battery Level Indicator

Sony WF 1000XM4
Sony WF C500

Sony WF C500 have a battery level indicator, an indicator shows you when the device has a low battery. Its lights show the charging state of your earbuds and case.

Sony WF 1000XM4 too have a battery level indicator, these allow you determine the charging state of your device, whether fully charged, or the battery is running low.

Sony WF 1000XM4
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Connectivity

Has Usb Type-C

Sony WF 1000XM4
Sony WF C500

Sony WF C500 have USB TYPE-C, a standard connector for transmitting both data and power through a single cable.

Sony WF 1000XM4 too use USB TYPE-C. This USB-C plug comes along with most current electronics.

Bluetooth Version

Sony WF 1000XM4 v5.2
Sony WF C500 v5

The Sony WF C500 have Bluetooth version of 5, Bluetooth is a wireless technology standard that allows data transfers between devices placed in range, using short-wavelength, ultra-high frequency radio waves.

Sony WF 1000XM4 has a Bluetooth version of 5.2, newer than that of Sony WF C500 . Newer versions provide faster data transfers.

Maximum Bluetooth Range

Sony WF 1000XM4
Sony WF C500 9meters

Sony WF C500 have a 9meters distance to connect via Bluetooth.

Has Aac

Sony WF 1000XM4
Sony WF C500

Sony WF C500 support AAC, a codec used for Bluetooth audio. It supports 24-bit audio at 250kbps. Since it uses psychoacoustic modeling, it can provide better results than other codecs at a similar bit rate.

Since its the highest quality codec that any Bluetooth-supporting Apple product supports, the Sony WF C500 will work fine with your iPhone. If you intend on using these with Android you need to pay even closer attention to codec support for if they only have AAC they won't provide the best audio quality possible, ensure that they also support aptX HD, LDAC, or LHDC as well.

The Sony WF 1000XM4 support AAC as well. Designed to be the successor of the MP3 format, AAC generally achieves higher sound quality than MP3 encoders at the same bit rate.

Has Ldac

Sony WF 1000XM4
Sony WF C500

Sony WF 1000XM4 support LDAC, a codec developed by Sony which allows streaming high-resolution audio over Bluetooth connections at up to 990 kbps at 32 bit/96 kHz. It is capable of a very high bitrate of 990kbps, providing high-resolution audio.

Microphone

Number Of Microphones

Sony WF 1000XM4 4only
Sony WF C500 2only

Sony WF C500 have 2 microphones.

Sony WF 1000XM4 microphones are 4, more than that of Sony WF C500 by 2 . More microphones result in better sound quality and help the earbuds to filter out background sounds.

Has A Noise-Canceling Microphone

Sony WF 1000XM4
Sony WF C500

The Sony WF 1000XM4 use a noise-canceling type of microphone, these microphones are designed to filter out background sounds from the earbuds' sound.

Sony WF 1000XM4
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Extras

Has Ambient Sound Mode

Sony WF 1000XM4
Sony WF C500

Sony WF 1000XM4 support ambient sound mode, which uses microphones to channel ambient sound to still be heard even while wearing the earbuds

Has In/On-Ear Detection

Sony WF 1000XM4
Sony WF C500

The Sony WF 1000XM4 have in/on-ear detection, the sensors in the earbuds can detect when they are removed from your ears .

Has Find Earbuds Feature

Sony WF 1000XM4
Sony WF C500

If lost in a room, or can't easily find them in your bag, the Sony WF 1000XM4 have a find earbuds feature.

Supports Fast Charging

Sony WF 1000XM4
Sony WF C500

Sony WF C500 support fast charging. Usually, technologies like MediaTek’s Pump Express, are used to reduce the time it takes to charge the earbuds.

Also the Sony WF 1000XM4 too support fast charging. This kind is similar to regular charging, only that the battery is filling up much faster. Say, with Quick Charge 3.0, the battery is charged to 50% in 30 minutes.

Multipoint Count

Sony WF 1000XM4 1only
Sony WF C500

The Sony WF 1000XM4 have a multipoint of 1 connections, this feature allows you connect to more than one Bluetooth device and switch between them. Say, you can seemlessly switch calls from one device to another without manually disconnect and reconnect.

Has A Mute Function

Sony WF 1000XM4
Sony WF C500

Sony WF C500 have a mute function, they have the feature to mute/unmute a conversation directly from the earbuds.

The Sony WF 1000XM4 also support this function. The mute function means that you can turn off the earbuds' microphone, but you can still hear the other party's voice.

Control Panel Placed On A Device

Sony WF 1000XM4
Sony WF C500

The Sony WF C500, so you can easily access the volume control, pause, play, mute, etc whichever functions are supported on the earbuds.

The Sony WF 1000XM4 too have a control panel on them.

Warranty Period

Sony WF 1000XM4
Sony WF C500 1Years

Sony WF C500 have a warranty period of 1 Years, the period of time that warrant free repair and adjustment services in case of a malfunction occurring under normal use that has followed instruction manuals.

Has Voice Prompts

Sony WF 1000XM4
Sony WF C500

The Sony WF C500 support voice prompts. Automatically receive information via audio messages, like if there is a problem with the connection.

The Sony WF 1000XM4 also have voice prompts meaning the earbuds will notify you when the battery is running low, and you need to recharge the earbuds.

Travel Bag Is Included

Sony WF 1000XM4
Sony WF C500

The Sony WF C500 come with their own special case. Carrying earbuds without a case, or putting them inside your bag without a casing may easily put them at risk of getting damaged.

Sony WF 1000XM4 also have a case included, which is useful for safe transportation.

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