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 Apr 20, 2023   8 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 7.9 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 feature comparison

Category Features Sony WF 1000XM4 Sony WF C500
DESIGN ingress protection (ip) rating IPX4 IPX4
weight 7.1g 10.8g
has no wires or cables
sweat resistance
has an earbud foam
has stereo speakers
SOUND QUALITY has active noise cancellation (noise control)
has passive noise reduction
driver unit size 6mm 5.8mm
lowest frequency 20Hz 20Hz
highest frequency 40000Hz 20000Hz
sound pressure level 105dB/mW
has a neodymium magnet
POWER battery life 8hours 10hours
battery life of charging case 16hours 10hours
charge time 1.5hours 2.5hours
battery power 40mAh
has wireless charging
has a battery level indicator
CONNECTIVITY has usb type-c
bluetooth version v5.2 v5
maximum bluetooth range 10meters 9meters
has aac
has ldac
has aptx hd
audio latency 40ms
MICROPHONE number of microphones 4only 2only
has a noise-canceling microphone
EXTRAS has ambient sound mode
has in/on-ear detection
has find earbuds feature
supports fast charging
multipoint count 2only
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

Ingress protection ratings refer to the level of protection offered by an enclosure, against dust and liquids. The letters 'IP' are followed by two values The first value refers to protection against solids say dust, while the second refers to protection against liquids (sweat).

Having a value of 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.

In comparison 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 7.1g
Sony WF C500 10.8g

Sony WF C500 have a weight of 10.8g . We consider a lower weight better for the reason that lighter devices are easier to carry.

Sony WF 1000XM4, at 7.1g weigh less than the Sony WF C500 with a difference -3.7g

Has No Wires Or Cables

Sony WF 1000XM4
Sony WF C500

True wireless devices have no cables connecting any part of the device together, Sony WF C500 are true wireless for this case since they don't have cables. This is a key distinction since wireless earbuds have cables linking the pair of earbuds together.

Sony WF 1000XM4 also is true wireless because it has no wires linking the two earbuds .

Sweat Resistance

Sony WF 1000XM4
Sony WF C500

Sony WF C500 have sweat resistance

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

Has An Earbud Foam

Sony WF 1000XM4
Sony WF C500

The earbud foam is designed to be ultracompact and lightweight, with little interference with earrings, spectacles, hats, or hairstyles. The Sony WF 1000XM4 have an earbud foam for some people it is more comfortable than the in-ear foam.

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 independent channels on both left and right sides, this creates a richer sound and a better listening experience.

Both Sony WF 1000XM4 and Sony WF C500 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 uses advanced kind of tech to actively counter noise. How it works, it detects and analyzes the sound pattern of incoming noise and inverts the soundwaves to cancel it out. Simply put, it's like having +1 (noise) then adding -1 (inverted noise) giving zero therefore "diluting" the noise.

The Sony WF 1000XM4 have ANC enabling you to listen at lower volume levels, good for your ears as you don't have to crank up the device volume to outcompete background noise.

Has Passive Noise Reduction

Sony WF 1000XM4
Sony WF C500

The Sony WF C500 sit tightly in place, creating an acoustic covering that tones down your environment sounds while preventing the device music from leaking out .

Both of these devices have passive noise reduction this means that both reduce ambient noise instead of actively using ANC to cancel it out.

Driver Unit Size

Sony WF 1000XM4 6mm
Sony WF C500 5.8mm

The Sony WF C500 have a unit size of 5.8mm in diameter, the bigger the unit the more powerful, and can produce better bass. A driver unit is basically a mini speaker that produces sound in the device, its size dictates the loudness of 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 , many people have a misconception 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 indicate that they produce better quality sound.

Lowest Frequency

Sony WF 1000XM4 20Hz
Sony WF C500 20Hz

Sony WF C500's lowest frequency is at 20Hz, low-frequency response measures if and how well an audio component produces low recognizable frequencies and if it alters the signal while at it.

Sony WF 1000XM4's lowest frequency is at 20Hz, this implies that both devices can 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 shows how well a particular audio component generates high human frequencies and if it changes 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

Sound Pressure Level

Sony WF 1000XM4 105dB/mW
Sony WF C500

SPL, is the pressure level of sound, in decibels, dB, Sony WF 1000XM4's measurement is 105dB/mW. Devices with a higher sound pressure level are generally louder when supplied with any given audio source.

Has A Neodymium Magnet

Sony WF 1000XM4
Sony WF C500

The Sony WF C500 have neodymium magnets, if used in audio devices produce a higher sensitivity and substantial sound output using less power to do so. They can help generate music at quite a high sound pressure level, using high magnetic flux.

Sony WF 1000XM4 have it too, devices with neodymium magnets are lighter and more powerful . It is also known that they produce 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, these last longer than 5 hours of listening which is considered average for a single charge. A device's battery life is given by the manufacturer, and with more battery hours, you get to use it for longer and requires fewer chargings.

Sony WF 1000XM4's battery life is less than that of Sony WF C500 by 2 hours . Each time you recharge your earbuds, they get a little less playing time. The effect is barely noticeable at first, but over a few years, your wireless earbuds will have shorter listening time.

Battery Life Of Charging Case

Sony WF 1000XM4 16hours
Sony WF C500 10hours

The battery life of the charging case is given by the vendor, and Sony WF C500's case has a charge of 10 hours. A charging case with more battery hours allows you to recharge your earbuds on the go multiple 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 highly adivsable to fully charge the battery before using the earbuds when they have been unused 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

Battery Power

Sony WF 1000XM4 40mAh
Sony WF C500

Sony WF 1000XM4's battery power is 40mAh, battery capacity, represents the amount of electrical energy that a battery can keep.

Has Wireless Charging

Sony WF 1000XM4
Sony WF C500

Sony WF 1000XM4, the device supports wireless charging. To charge the device, you simply place down on a compatible charging pad.

Has A Battery Level Indicator

Sony WF 1000XM4
Sony WF C500

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

Sony WF 1000XM4 too have a battery level indicator, charging indicators enable you determine the charging state of your earbuds, if charged fully, or having a low battery.

Sony WF 1000XM4
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Connectivity

Has Usb Type-C

Sony WF 1000XM4
Sony WF C500

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

Sony WF 1000XM4 too have USB TYPE-C. This USB-C plug is part and parcel of most current laptops, phones, and tablets.

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 10meters
Sony WF C500 9meters

The Sony WF C500 have a 9meters distance connecting via Bluetooth.

Sony WF 1000XM4 have a maximum range of 10meters, longer than that of Sony WF C500 by 1meters

Has Aac

Sony WF 1000XM4
Sony WF C500

Sony WF C500 support AAC, a codec that is 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 the same bit rate.

Being the highest quality codec that any Bluetooth-supporting Apple product supports, the Sony WF C500 will work well with your MacBook. If you are planning on using these with Android , 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 can reach a high bitrate of 990kbps, providing high-resolution audio.

Has Aptx Hd

Sony WF 1000XM4
Sony WF C500

The Sony WF 1000XM4 support APTX HD, an audio codec for Bluetooth devices that are developed by Qualcomm. It supports high-quality 24-bit audio (at a bit rate of 576kbps).

Audio Latency

Sony WF 1000XM4 40ms
Sony WF C500

Latency refers to the time it takes for the audio signal to be transmitted to your earbuds. Sony WF 1000XM4 have a latency of 40ms, a lower latency reduces audio lag and is particularly important when playing games or watching videos.

Microphone

Number Of Microphones

Sony WF 1000XM4 4only
Sony WF C500 2only

The Sony WF C500 have 2 microphones.

The Sony WF 1000XM4 microphones are 4, more than that of Sony WF C500 by 2 . More microphones result in better sound quality and enable the device to filter out noise.

Has A Noise-Canceling Microphone

Sony WF 1000XM4
Sony WF C500

Sony WF 1000XM4 have a noise-canceling microphone, these microphones are designed to filter out background sounds from the desired sound.

Sony WF 1000XM4
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Extras

Has Ambient Sound Mode

Sony WF 1000XM4
Sony WF C500

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

Has In/On-Ear Detection

Sony WF 1000XM4
Sony WF C500

The Sony WF 1000XM4 support in/on-ear detection, the sensors in the earbuds can detect when they are removed from your ears so that the music is paused.

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 support the find earbuds feature.

Supports Fast Charging

Sony WF 1000XM4
Sony WF C500

Sony WF C500 support fast charging. Most often, technologies like Qualcomm’s Quick Charge, are used to reduce the amount of time it takes to fully charge the earbuds.

The Sony WF 1000XM4 support fast charging. It's very similar to regular charging, just that the battery is filling up much faster. Say, with Quick Charge 3.0, the battery is charged to 50% in just 30 minutes.

Multipoint Count

Sony WF 1000XM4 2only
Sony WF C500

The Sony WF 1000XM4 support multipoint of 2 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

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

The Sony WF 1000XM4 also have this function. The mute function means that you are in position 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 features are supported on the device.

Sony WF 1000XM4 also 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 following instruction manuals.

Has Voice Prompts

Sony WF 1000XM4
Sony WF C500

The Sony WF C500 have voice prompts. With voice prompts, you receive information through audio messages, like if there is a problem with the connection.

Sony WF 1000XM4 too support voice prompts meaning the device will notify you if the battery is 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 earphones openly, or putting them inside your bag without a cover may easily damage them.

Sony WF 1000XM4 too have a travel bag included, which offers safe transportation.

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