Good deal – Sony WF-C500 true wireless headphones at €50.17 (-17%)

Alongside the master standards that are the WF-1000XM4, Sony offers much more affordable headphones, called WF-C500. Despite their apparent simplicity, they are no less capable.

Undisputed king of the high-end sector, Sony gives birth here to a much more modest model than the excellent WF-1000XM4, but which manages to impress with its comfort and more than generous autonomy. The WF-C500s are also able to offer an honest sound experience thanks to a warm signature which is however tarnished by treble which is far too withdrawn. On the headphone segment true-wireless at less than €100, the WF-C500s therefore have almost everything to please, but the competition is likely to be tough given the number of equally capable models and sometimes offering the active noise reduction that they lack.

Strong points

• Flattering sound signature with well-present and controlled bass.
• Top notch comfort.
• Excessive autonomy of 13 hours for a single charge.
• Very easy to learn and very complete app.

Weak points

• High mids a little too prominent (slightly nasal sound).
• Treble very set back.
• Very average quality of the hands-free kit.
• The case barely has an extra charge.
• Overall design a little “cheap”.

NB: The reported price drop is calculated by comparing the lowest price of the day with the average of the lowest prices charged by all merchants for the product last month, with security rules to exclude prices from shops whose the VAT policy is not clear (known as “grey” shops, typically in the case of imports from China).

Alternatively

Despite its ergonomic qualities (intuitive and complete user experience, good comfort/support, good battery life), the Backbeat Pro 5100 will struggle to stand out in terms of sound performance. They fail to recreate the very good surprise of the first Backbeat Pro (headphones) and give us a particularly flattering and energetic sound rendering; too energetic even, which immediately limits the listening volume or the listening time. We prefer the Elite 65t, just as complete, but with a slightly softer and above all flexible sound reproduction, or the Beoplay E8, for example.