Sony WF-SP800N: The Porsche among sports headphones tested
24.8.2020
Translation: machine translated
I tried out the new true wireless sports headphones from Sony. My conclusion: instead of a Porsche in my ears, I would have preferred a tractor.
Nervous. This is the first adjective that comes to mind when I think of the new sports headphones from Sony. With their many features, the WF-SP800N true wireless headphones seem to me like a Porsche with oversensitive driving characteristics, because they don't always do what they're supposed to. I would prefer a tractor.
(Too) many features
The product developers at Sony meant well. Too well. Or their new true wireless sports headphones with noise cancelling were developed by people who don't do sport. The problem is the many features and the hyper-sensitive controls of the WF-SP800N.
You connect the headphones to your smartphone via the Sony Headphones Connect app. This is where you set the functions of the left and right earbuds. You can also see the battery status of the buds and the charging case. You can assign the following functions to the buds, which you operate via their touch sensor:
- Control of the ambient noise
- Playback control
- Volume control
- Google Assistant
- Amazon Alexa
You should therefore think carefully about what you want to control during your workout and how. Otherwise, you'll be constantly busy with your smartphone and the app instead of focussing on your performance.
Operation
I control the playback via the right earbud and the volume via the left earbud. However, the sensors are so sensitive that controlling them is a pain. For example, you're in the gym and want to switch to the next song. In my case, I tap twice on the right and what happens? The right Bud registers three taps and jumps back to the beginning of the current song. This is repeated a few times until I tap at the right speed and end up at the desired song. This is annoying when I'm actually concentrating on the next set of backsquats and just want to change the song quickly. Even after six weeks, I still haven't got it under control. Or you do a bench press, touch the touch sensor lightly with your right shoulder when lifting the bar and the music stops. This also disturbs my concentration and throws me off my rhythm. The controls on the WF-SP800N are definitely too nervous for me.
Other specs of the WF-SP800N
According to Sony, the fully charged headphones have up to nine hours of juice, while the charging case makes another nine hours possible. With noise minimisation deactivated, the battery is said to last 13 hours and another 13 hours via the charging case - a total of up to 26 hours of playback time. If you're in a hurry, you can listen to another 60 minutes of music after ten minutes using the quick charge function. As I've never done sport for more than three hours at a time, I'm more than happy with that. And these headphones should also have enough power for a 24-hour run.
The Bluetooth connection is stable both indoors and outdoors and the low audio latency also allows for interference-free video streaming.
The headphones are waterproof and dustproof according to protection class IP55, so you can even wash them. I tried it out and lightly rinsed the buds under running water. As promised, this didn't affect them at all.
Noise cancelling and adaptive control
On the train or in the open-plan office, I use the WH-1000XM3 noise-cancelling headphones from Sony. Of course, the WF-SP800N can't quite keep up with the sound of the over-ears. Nevertheless, their sound quality suits me. Music is a matter of taste, just like sound. More bass, less bass - everyone likes something different. That's where the app's equaliser comes into play. You can choose from various pre-programmed settings or create your own customised sound profile. More bass during your workout, less on the trail.
If adaptive noise control is activated, the app can recognise whether you are lingering in a place, walking, running or travelling in a vehicle. You can also save places that you visit regularly and assign a sound profile to them. For example, noise cancelling on the train and in the gym, active ambient noise when jogging. It becomes difficult when you switch back and forth. Sometimes sitting, sometimes walking, then sitting again. In this case, it is advisable to switch off the notification sound in the app, otherwise you will have a constant ringing in your ears.
Wearing comfort
I keep reading about people who have problems with in-ear headphones. The buds fall out of their ears or are very uncomfortable to wear. I'm probably equipped with standard in-ears in this respect. After two hours, they still sit comfortably in the same place and the buds don't bother me either 😉. Another point: many people seem to hear their own footsteps when doing sport with in-ears. I don't have this problem with these Sonys either. The scope of delivery includes silicone ear tips in four sizes. There should be the right size for every ear to maximise sound quality and minimise ambient noise. Ear hooks are available in two sizes.
Conclusion: better a tractor than a Porsche
The WF-SP800N sit comfortably in my ears, the sound suits me. The same goes for the design, the battery life and the fact that I can sweat all over them without hesitation. Or that I can drop them in a puddle. And it's great that I can predefine a specific sound setting for each location in the app. But the controls are a real nuisance. If I were travelling to work with it or using the Buds in the office, I might be able to overlook it. Because I rarely or never use the barbell on the train or in the open-plan office. However, with the WH-1000XM3 from Sony, I already have the product of my choice for everyday work. And for sport? I need headphones that are robust, can withstand any activity I do and, above all, are easy to use. For sport, I need a tractor in my ears, not a Porsche. <p
Patrick Bardelli
Senior Editor
Patrick.Bardelli@digitecgalaxus.chFrom radio journalist to product tester and storyteller, jogger to gravel bike novice and fitness enthusiast with barbells and dumbbells. I'm excited to see where the journey'll take me next.