I Tested the Sony SP700N – The Best Workout Earbuds You’ve Never Heard Of

On the one hand, fully wireless headphones are undeniably convenient. On the other hand, the technology still feels slightly unfinished, and such headphones rarely manage to become the only pair in a portable audio setup. The engineers at Sony seem to recognize this as well. Instead of trying to create a universal model, they focused on a specific niche where fully wireless systems make the most sense — sports and active use.

The SP700N clearly reflects this philosophy.

Design and Build

The headphones are made from matte plastic with a slightly rough texture. Large circular elements dominate the outer surface and may initially look like buttons, but they are not. These circles actually conceal the microphones used for noise reduction and voice calls, as well as the status LEDs.

The real buttons are small transparent plastic protrusions that are easy to locate by touch. Thankfully, they respond well: presses are clear and precise, and you don’t need to apply excessive pressure while wearing the earbuds.

The button on the left earpiece controls power and switching between headphone modes, while the button on the right earpiece handles playback functions such as pause and track skipping. Unfortunately, volume cannot be adjusted directly on the SP700N; you’ll need to use the source device instead.

The headphones connect via Bluetooth 4.1 with support for the AAC codec. Interestingly, they do not use Sony’s proprietary LDAC codec even when paired with Sony smartphones.

Accessories and Charging Case

The package contents are surprisingly generous. Alongside the headphones themselves, the box includes a charging case, four pairs of silicone ear tips, each marked with a different color for easy identification, and three pairs of silicone stabilizing supports designed to help secure the earbuds during activity.

The charging case, however, is somewhat disappointing. It features a sliding lid that feels less than solid — the mechanism tends to creak and rattle slightly when handled. The case contains enough power to recharge the headphones twice more.

On a single charge, the SP700N lasts roughly three hours, or closer to two hours with noise cancellation enabled. By modern standards, this is modest battery life even for true wireless earbuds. However, if we view them strictly as workout headphones, the endurance makes more sense: there is enough battery to travel to the gym, complete a training session, and return home. Budget-friendly true wireless models have improved dramatically in recent years, as we also discovered in our JBL Vibe Flex 2 review.

Fit and Comfort

Thanks to the wide selection of ear tips and stabilizers, it is easy to find a configuration that fits securely and comfortably. The earbuds themselves are lightweight and almost disappear in the ears once properly fitted. After some experimentation, I found a combination of attachments that made the headphones feel practically weightless while remaining firmly in place.

Fit is crucial for workout headphones, particularly for listeners with smaller ears. We covered several options in our guide to wireless earbuds for small ears.

Their stability is genuinely impressive. During exercise, they barely moved at all — no slipping, no repositioning, just music steadily flowing while you focus on your workout.

Even after 2 hours of use, the ears remain comfortable and free from fatigue, a major advantage. Some true wireless earbuds become irritating long before that point, but the SP700N avoids this problem quite successfully.

Connectivity and App Control

An NFC zone is located on the body of the charging case, allowing quick pairing with compatible devices — though the earbuds must be inside the case during the process. In theory, this should make pairing quick and effortless. In practice, however, the feature does not always work perfectly, and occasional pairing attempts may fail for unclear reasons.

The headphones are supported by the Sony Headphones Connect mobile application, which provides access to several useful features. Through the app, you can select equalizer presets, adjust connection priorities, control the noise cancellation modes, and monitor battery levels.

There is also a custom sound mode that can be activated by double-clicking the button on the left earpiece. Any EQ adjustments or noise control settings assigned to this mode can be quickly recalled during use.

Noise Cancellation

The noise control system offers three modes:

• Active noise cancellation
• Ambient Sound (voice-focused)
• Full Ambient Sound (allowing environmental sounds)

The noise-cancelling itself is not among the strongest implementations available today, but it performs reasonably well. Every day, background noise is softened effectively — for example, a robot vacuum cleaner moving nearby is noticeably reduced.

Passive noise isolation is also decent thanks to the in-ear design, although it is not exceptional.

Noise cancelling is decent, though it does not reach the level of more advanced models like those discussed in our JBL Tune 235NC review.

Sound Quality

The sound signature is very typical of modern Sony lifestyle headphones; bass plays the dominant role.

However, while larger models such as the Sony h.ear on 2 Wireless NC handle bass emphasis with relative elegance, the SP700N pushes it more aggressively. The low end is strong and energetic, sometimes at the expense of the upper frequencies.

In my case, the issue was partially corrected using the equalizer. The Treble Boost preset delivered the most balanced presentation, bringing the sound closer to Sony’s larger lifestyle headphones. Bass still remained dominant, but it became less overwhelming and began interacting more naturally with the mids and highs.

Enabling noise cancellation slightly compresses the soundstage, making the presentation more intimate and less spacious. For certain music, this reduces the sense of liveliness.

Interestingly, artists like Shpongle and Green Beats sounded more engaging with noise cancellation disabled. The already thick, psychedelic bass gained additional openness as the mids and highs spread through the space.

Even this bass-heavy tuning could not diminish the magic of vocals from artists such as Imogen Heap, Agnes Obel, and Florence Welch. Their voices, accompanied by strings, synthesizers, and layered instrumentation, sounded rich and emotionally engaging.

Of course, the emotional depth cannot match that of serious full-size headphones, but the SP700N still delivers moments of genuine musical involvement.

Where these headphones truly shine is in workout music. Drum & bass, neurofunk, and hip-hop benefit enormously from the energetic presentation. The rhythm is punchy, powerful, and extremely motivating, making it an excellent companion for training playlists.

Despite the emphasis on bass, there is still enough detail to catch subtle high-frequency effects floating in the mix.

Practical Use and Limitations

Interestingly, the sound signature grows on you rather quickly. It is dark and bass-forward, yet still engaging enough to keep you involved with the music. While the level of detail is not exceptionally high, it is sufficient to follow the structure of complex tracks.

However, these are not headphones meant for long analytical listening sessions with a carefully curated music library.

The sporty focus is reinforced by IPX4 water resistance, which protects against sweat and light rain. With the SP700N, you can comfortably lift weights while listening to Adele or run to energetic electronic mixes.

More delicate genres such as audiophile jazz are not really their strength, though rhythmic ensembles like 1/2 Orchestra or BadBadNotGood still work reasonably well.

One notable drawback is audio latency. There is a noticeable delay between the video and the sound, making these headphones poorly suited for watching movies or videos. Additionally, during phone calls, the caller’s voice plays through only one earbud, a limitation of the wireless chipset.

Conclusion:

In the end, the SP700N emerges as a highly specialized pair of headphones designed primarily for sports and active lifestyles.

They sit securely in the ears, deliver a powerful rhythmic presentation, and offer some tonal adjustment through the equalizer. Battery life is sufficient for a gym session and the journey there and back.

They are certainly not intended to replace a primary pair of headphones for every situation. But within their specific role, energetic music during workouts, they perform their task surprisingly well.

Pros:

• Secure and stable fit: stays firmly in the ears even during intense workouts
• Effective noise reduction for everyday environments
• Custom EQ allows you to tame the overly aggressive bass

Cons:

• Strong “signature” sound with heavy bass emphasis
• Short battery life compared to modern true wireless earbuds
• Highly specialized: not ideal for general listening or video use

Sony SP700N Specifications:

• Design: in-ear, completely wireless
• Type: dynamic
• Noise Cancellation: Active, with Ambient Sound Mode
• Water resistance: IPX4
• Codec support: SBC, AAC
• Connection: Bluetooth 4.1 (there is NFC)
• Speaker: 6mm neodymium dome
• Frequency range: 20 – 20,000 Hz
• Management: buttons on the case
• Battery life: up to 3 hours
• Battery charging time: 1.5 hours
• Weight: 7.6 g each earpiece, excluding silicone pads
• Case size: 61.3 x 58.7 x 38.0mm
• Case weight: 45 g
• Case battery charging time: 3 hours