# True Wireless (TWS) Earphones **URL:** \ **Category:** General IEM Discussion\ **Created:** [June 27, 2020, 2:15pm UTC](https://forum.headphones.com/t/true-wireless-tws-earphones/7276 "2020-06-27T14:15:43Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 1\ **Showing post:** 31
**Author:** ![generic](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/forum.headphones.com/generic/32/61169_2.png) [@generic](https://forum.headphones.com/u/generic)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2021, 7:11pm UTC](https://forum.headphones.com/t/true-wireless-tws-earphones/7276/31 "2021-03-04T19:11:54Z")
**Sony WF-XB700 “Extra Bass” IEMs: Initial Impressions** ![image](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/uploads/headphones/original/3X/5/2/528faf09cdeb3d1ea6315bd10a38abfe2e45c98f.jpeg) I purchased a set of Sony WF-XB700s for my annual sports/work-out IEM replacement. Per the noise and distractions when used, I don’t care a whole lot about tone or audiophile quality. These have a [retail price of $129.99](https://www.sony.com/electronics/truly-wireless/wf-xb700/specifications#features), but are easily found for less than $100. I snagged a perfect and unopened new box for $39 at Amazon. Hmmm. **Fit and Function** While these look bulky in photos, they are the most comfortable IEMs I’ve ever owned. Sony describes a [3-point balance system](https://www.sony.com/electronics/truly-wireless/wf-xb700) – believe it. With correct size tips, these are rock-solid stable. Comfort also follows from probably the thinnest silicone tips I’ve ever seen. They’ll easily flip inside out during removal from the ears. I’m concerned about long-term durability, but they are quite comfortable. The buttons have simple and conventional functions, including play/pause, forward, reverse, volume, and phone. I never use a phone with IEMs, so I can’t comment about call quality. **Tone and Sound Quality** In a picture, these IEMs are the [Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde](https://www.britannica.com/topic/The-Strange-Case-of-Dr-Jekyll-and-Mr-Hyde) of audio: ![image](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/uploads/headphones/original/3X/b/6/b6f35af15b1257eff67d37fb96015cb1ee2ce84a.jpeg) First, these are plainly consumer products with a mass-market bassy profile. This seems to be a function of the super large 12mm dynamic drivers. They take a lot of energy to get it going, but slam once moving. Phil Collins’ _In the Air Tonight_ comes to mind – the drum break comes out of nowhere and dominates. It’s the most memorable part of the song and his career (and the only Phil Collins song I can make it through). The WF-XB700 turns most every song into _In the Air Tonight._ Sony may have intentionally created a two-stage driver, as they have three personalities depending on the music source: - With non-bass music, such as female voice and guitar, they are neutral and even thin. In comparison with other bassy tracks, these tracks sound like someone suddenly turned down the music. - With contemporary mixes and bass-oriented tracks, they become car-thumping, club-shaking, high-school party beasts. Beats beasts. However, the bass doesn’t bleed much into the mids and highs. They come across as an over-boosted subwoofer paired with bookshelf speakers. - With poorly mastered and some older bass-oriented music the bass takes on a one-note character. The lows dominate but doesn’t actually go very low. Again, this resembles a consumer-grade subwoofer. These are indeed _fun_ for a paired source, but distracting and _weak_ with quiet, acoustic, gentle vocals, or old rock that had the bass cut off. Odd product. We’ll see how much I like them over time. --- _[View the full topic](https://forum.headphones.com/t/true-wireless-tws-earphones/7276)._