Notice: Your browser is not supported or outdated so some features of the site might not be available.

Sony WI-XB400 EXTRA BASS Wireless  Headphones Review

Reviewed Jan 24, 2020 at 08:53am
Test bench update Aug 11, 2021 at 02:40pm
Tested using methodology v1.5 
Sony WI-XB400 EXTRA BASS Wireless
7.1
Neutral Sound 
7.2
Commute/Travel 
7.9
Sports/Fitness 
6.8
Office 
5.4
Wireless Gaming 
5.3
Wired Gaming 
6.7
Phone Calls 
 0
The Sony WI-XB400 EXTRA BASS Wireless in-ear headphones are decent budget earbuds for everyday use. Although they're marketed towards fans of bass-heavy genres, their overall sound profile remains relatively well-balanced, without any hint of boominess. They provide a fairly stable fit that shouldn't fall out during exercise, and they have a good battery life that should last all day. Unfortunately, they're not compatible with Sony's Headphones Connect app for customization and their noise isolation is rather disappointing. Nonetheless, they're a good choice for those looking for a basic pair of wireless headphones with an extra kick of bass.

Our Verdict

7.1
Neutral Sound 

The Sony WI-XB400 are decent headphones for critical listening. Although they're branded as having extra bass, their overall sound signature is fairly well-balanced, as the bass is tight and punchy without being overpowering. The treble can be a bit sharp, but it doesn't sound sibilant. Sadly, there's no soundstage to speak of, as they're closed-back in-ear headphones.

7.2
Commute/Travel 

The Sony WI-XB400 are decent for commuting. They're fairly comfortable to wear for a long time, and they have a great battery life; however, noise isolation is disappointing. They can isolate you against ambient chatter, but won't be able to block out the rumbles of bus engines.

7.9
Sports/Fitness 

The Sony WI-XB400 are great for sports. They're extremely portable and they're stable enough for most sports. Breathability shouldn't be an issue, as they're earbuds, and the in-line remote is easy to use, though it can be slightly annoying, as it tends to bounce around a lot during heavy movements.

6.8
Office 

The Sony WI-XB400 are okay for office use. They can be worn for a long time without causing discomfort, and they have good noise isolation in the mid range, which is good for blocking out ambient chatter. Battery life is good and should last through an entire work day, and the headphones don't leak much, as long as you don't listen at a very high volume.

5.4
Wireless Gaming 

The Sony WI-XB400 aren't a good choice for gaming. Even though they're comfortable to wear for a long time, the high latency can cause the audio to be out of sync. Also, they're not compatible with gaming consoles such as the Xbox One and PS4.

5.3
Wired Gaming 

The Sony WI-XB400 are Bluetooth-only headphones.

6.7
Phone Calls 

The Sony WI-XB400 are mediocre for phone calls. In a quiet environment, speech sounds clear and understandable, but in a noisy environment such as a subway train, it struggles to separate speech from background noise, often causing speech to cut out.

  • 7.1
    Neutral Sound
  • 7.2
    Commute/Travel
  • 7.9
    Sports/Fitness
  • 6.8
    Office
  • 5.4
    Wireless Gaming
  • 5.3
    Wired Gaming
  • 6.7
    Phone Calls
  • Changelog

    1.  Updated Aug 11, 2021: Converted to Test Bench 1.5.
    2.  Updated Feb 13, 2020: Converted to Test Bench 1.4.
    3.  Updated Jan 24, 2020: Review published.
    4.  Updated Jan 22, 2020: Early access published.

    Differences Between Sizes And Variants

    There are no variants of these headphones except that they come in two colors: black or blue.

    Popular Headphones Comparisons

    The Sony WI-XB400 are pretty basic wireless in-ears when compared to other headphones of the same type. They lack features such as active noise cancelling and they can't be customized through a mobile companion app. They perform decently well in most uses, but there's nothing that really stands out. If you're looking for a pair with more features, take a look at our recommendations for the best headphones, the best earbuds, and the best neckband headphones.

    Sony WI-C310 Wireless

    The Sony WI-C310 Wireless are better than the Sony WI-XB400 EXTRA BASS Wireless in mixed usage. They perform similarly in most aspects, but the WI-C310 have a more neutral sound since they don't have the extra emphasis in the bass. Also, the WI-C310 have better noise isolation, especially in the treble range, but the microphone quality is significantly worse.

    Beats Flex Wireless

    The Beats Flex Wireless and the Sony WI-XB400 EXTRA BASS Wireless perform similarly. The Beats are more comfortable, stable, and have a better build quality. They also isolate more noise and pair seamlessly with Apple devices. However, the Sony headphones have a better-balanced sound profile, which some users may prefer, and a longer continuous battery life of 19.5 hours.

    Sony WI-C200 Wireless

    The Sony WI-XB400 EXTRA BASS Wireless and the Sony WI-C200 Wireless are very similar headphones and have nearly identical performance in most uses. The C200 have less bass, but they tend to sound a bit muddy and cluttered, and the treble sounds much more piercing than the XB400. The XB400 have better noise isolation and the microphone is significantly better.

    Jaybird Tarah Pro Wireless

    The Jaybird Tarah Pro Wireless are significantly better than the Sony WI-XB400 EXTRA BASS Wireless in most uses. The Jaybird have much better noise isolation and leakage performance, but battery life is much shorter. Also, the Jaybird have a significantly better build quality and they can be customized through Jaybird's mobile app. However, the Sonys are more consistent and will perform similarly from one person to another.

    Show more 

    Test Results

    perceptual testing image
    Sort:
    RATINGS
    Category:
    All
    Design
    Style
    TypeIn-ear
    EnclosureClosed-Back
    WirelessYes
    TransducerDynamic

    The Sony WI-XB400 have a fairly simple design. There's a rather long cable connecting both earbuds, and there's an in-line remote that also houses the microphone. The earbuds are magnetic and they snap together when you're not using them. They're nearly identical to the Sony WI-C310.

    7.0
    Comfort
    Weight0.05 lbs
    Clamping Force
    0 lbs

    These earbuds have decent comfort. They're fairly small and should fit in most ears, and they come with 3 different sizes of eartips. The earbuds need to be inserted deeply into the ear canal for stability and isolation; however, due to their small size, they shouldn't cause any discomfort when wearing them for an extended period.

    6.5
    Controls
    OS Compatibility
    Not OS specific
    Ease Of UseGood
    FeedbackOkay
    Call/Music ControlYes
    Volume ControlYes
    Microphone ControlNo
    Channel Mixing
    No
    Noise Cancelling ControlNo
    Talk-Through
    No
    Additional ControlsVoice Assistant

    The WI-XB400 have a decent control scheme. The in-line remote is easy to use and provides decent feedback when pressing the buttons. You can also use voice control by activating your preferred digital assistant.

    9.2
    Breathability
    Avg.Temp.Difference0.8 °C

    As these are earbuds, you shouldn't have any issues with heat when wearing them for a long time and they're suitable for sports.

    9.1
    Portability
    L3.0" (7.6 cm)
    W1.5" (3.8 cm)
    H0.7" (1.8 cm)
    Volume3.20 in³ (52.44 cm³)
    Transmitter RequiredNo

    These headphones have excellent portability. The neckband is flexible and should fit in most pockets or bags easily.

    0.0
    Case
    TypeNo case
    LN/A
    WN/A
    HN/A
    VolumeN/A

    These earbuds don't come with a carrying case.

    6.5
    Build Quality

    Build quality is decent. The earbuds and the in-line remote are made of plastic, while the cable is rubberized and flat. They should be able to survive a few accidental drops, but the cables leading up to the earbuds feel a bit thin and can potentially break if pulled too hard.

    7.0
    Stability

    These earbuds are reasonably stable. As long as you're able to achieve a good fit with the provided eartips, you shouldn't have any stability issues when using them for sports. However, a small tug on the cable can cause them to fall out. Also, the cable is rather long, causing the in-line remote to bounce around during exercise.

    Headshots 1
    Headshots 2
    Top
    In The Box

    • Sony WI-XB400 EXTRA BASS headphones
    • USB-C charging cable
    • 3 Sizes of eartips
    • User Guide

    Sound
    Sound Profile
    See details on graph tool
    Bass Amount
    3.28 dB
    Treble Amount
    -3.15 dB

    As the name suggests, the Sony WI-XB400 are bass-heavy. That said, the overall sound profile is still fairly well-balanced, as the bass isn't overpowering. There's a spike in the treble that can sound a bit sharp at times, but they're in no way sibilant.

    9.4
    Frequency Response Consistency
    See details on graph tool
    See details on graph tool
    Avg. Std. Deviation
    0.12 dB

    The WI-XB400 have exceptional consistency. As long as you're able to achieve a proper fit, these earbuds should perform similarly every time.

    Raw Frequency Response
    See details on graph tool
    See details on graph tool
    7.5
    Bass Accuracy
    See details on graph tool
    Std. Err.
    3.65 dB
    Low-Frequency Extension
    10 Hz
    Low-Bass
    5.39 dB
    Mid-Bass
    3.7 dB
    High-Bass
    3.11 dB

    These earbuds have impressive bass accuracy. As expected, there's an emphasis in the low-bass that gives a good amount of rumble and thump, as well as a small bump in the high-bass, but not enough to make them sound muddy or cluttered.

    8.9
    Mid Accuracy
    See details on graph tool
    Std. Err.
    1.43 dB
    Low-Mid
    1.73 dB
    Mid-Mid
    -0.76 dB
    High-Mid
    -0.16 dB

    The mid-range accuracy is excellent. The slight dip in the mid-mid and high-mid is barely noticeable, as vocals and leads are still very prominent.

    7.7
    Treble Accuracy
    See details on graph tool
    Std. Err.
    3.49 dB
    Low-Treble
    0.01 dB
    Mid-Treble
    -2.51 dB
    High-Treble
    -10.98 dB

    The WI-XB400's treble accuracy is decent. The mid-treble dip can make vocals and leads sound less detailed and lacking in brightness, and the mid-treble spike can cause a bit of sharpness, especially on tracks that are already bright or poorly recorded.

    8.1
    Peaks/Dips
    See details on graph tool
    Peaks
    1.22 dB
    Dips
    0.93 dB

    The WI-XB400's peaks and dips performance is okay. Although it's a bit uneven, the overall sound is still well-balanced. The treble peak can sound sharp, but not sibilant.

    9.0
    Imaging
    See details on graph tool
    See details on graph tool
    Weighted Group Delay
    0.14
    Weighted Phase Mismatch
    1.92
    Weighted Amplitude Mismatch
    0.67
    Weighted Frequency Mismatch
    1.25

    The WI-XB400's imaging is excellent. The weighted group delay is very low and shouldn't be noticeable. This results in a bass that sounds tight and fast, and a treble that sounds transparent. Both ears are well-matched, which is great for an accurate stereo imaging.

    1.3
    Passive Soundstage
    PRTF Accuracy (Std. Dev.)
    N/A
    PRTF Size (Avg.)
    N/A
    PRTF Distance
    N/A
    Openness
    4.1
    Acoustic Space Excitation
    1.5

    The WI-XB400's soundstage is bad. Like most in-ears, they don't interact with the pinna (inner ear) at all, which is essential for creating a large, spacious soundstage. Also, closed-back headphones can't produce an open sound the way that open-back headphones can.

    0.0
    Virtual Soundstage
    Head Modeling
    No
    Speaker Modeling
    No
    Room Ambience
    No
    Head Tracking
    No
    Virtual Surround
    No App
    7.2
    Weighted Harmonic Distortion
    See details on graph tool
    WHD @ 90
    0.430
    WHD @ 100
    0.215

    The weighted harmonic distortion is decent. Although there's a bump in the mid-treble, it shouldn't be noticeable for most people. This results in a clean and pure audio reproduction.

    Test Settings
    Firmware
    Unknown
    Power
    On
    Connection
    Bluetooth 4.2
    Codec
    SBC, 16-bit, 48kHz
    EQ
    No EQ
    ANC
    No ANC
    Tip/Pad
    Silicone (small)
    Microphone
    In-line
    Isolation
    5.7
    Noise Isolation
    See details on graph tool
    Isolation Audio
    Overall Attenuation
    -13.54 dB
    Noise CancellingNo
    Bass
    -4.88 dB
    Mid
    -17.97 dB
    Treble
    -19.27 dB

    Noise isolation on the WI-XB400 is sub-par. They have good performance in the mid-range to block out ambient chatter, and performance in the treble range is decent, but they won't do much in the bass range, where the rumbles of bus and airplane engines sit.

    8.6
    Leakage
    See details on graph tool
    Leakage Audio
    Overall Leakage @ 1ft
    29.46 dB

    Leakage performance is excellent. At a moderate volume level, they shouldn't leak at all, but at higher volume levels, there's a bit of leakage, particularly in the low-bass and treble.

    Microphone
    Microphone Style
    Integrated
    No
    In-Line
    Yes
    Boom
    No
    Detachable Boom
    No
    MicYes
    6.3
    Recording Quality
    See details on graph tool
    Recorded Speech
    LFE
    507.97 Hz
    FR Std. Dev.
    2.84 dB
    HFE
    7,452.94 Hz
    Weighted THD
    1.6
    Gain
    4.47 dB

    The microphone's recording quality is passable. While recorded speech sounds clear and understandable, it can be a bit quiet.

    7.5
    Noise Handling
    See details on graph tool
    SpNR
    14.21 dB
    Noise Gate
    No
    Speech + Pink Noise Handling
    7.5
    Speech + Pink Noise Audio Sample
    Speech + Subway Noise Handling
    7.5
    Speech + Subway Noise Audio Sample

    The microphone's noise handling is mediocre. It performs well in a quiet environment, but in a noisy setting, speech can get drowned out by background noise and cut out at times.

    Active Features
    6.8
    Battery
    Battery Type
    Rechargable
    Continuous Battery Life
    19.5 hrs
    Additional Charges
    0.0
    Total Battery Life
    19.5 hrs
    Charge Time
    2.7 hrs
    Power-Saving Feature
    No
    Audio While Charging
    No
    Passive Playback
    No
    Charging PortUSB-C

    Battery life is good. It exceeds the advertised 15 hours of continuous playback time, but there's no power-saving feature available.

    0.0
    App Support
    App NameNo App
    iOSNo
    AndroidNo
    macOSNo
    WindowsNo
    Equalizer
    No
    ANC Control
    No
    Mic ControlNo
    Room Effects
    No
    Playback Control
    No
    Button MappingNo
    Surround Support
    No

    Unfortunately, these earbuds aren't compatible with Sony's Headphones Connect app and can't be customized in any way.

    Connectivity
    6.9
    Bluetooth
    Bluetooth Version
    5.0
    Multi-Device Pairing
    No
    NFC Pairing
    No
    Line Of Sight Range
    221.00 ft (67.36 m)
    PC Latency (SBC)
    209 ms
    PC Latency (aptX)
    N/A
    PC Latency (aptX HD)
    N/A
    PC Latency (aptX-LL)
    N/A
    iOS Latency
    102 ms
    Android Latency
    165 ms

    The WI-XB400 have decent Bluetooth capabilities. They have a good connection range, but they can't be paired to multiple devices simultaneously. Additionally, latency may be an issue when watching videos or gaming, though your results may vary.

    0.0
    Non-Bluetooth Wireless
    Non-BT Line Of Sight Range
    N/A
    Non-BT Latency
    N/A

    These headphones can only connect via Bluetooth.

    0.0
    Wired
    Analog Audio
    No
    USB Audio
    No
    DetachableNo
    LengthN/A
    Connection
    No Wired Option
    Analog/USB Audio Latency
    N/A

    These earbuds can't be used wired; the USB-C cable is for charging only.

    PC Compatibility
    Analog
    No
    Wired USB
    No
    Non-BT Wireless
    No
    PlayStation Compatibility
    PS4 Analog
    No
    PS4 Wired USB
    No
    PS4 Non-BT Wireless
    No
    PS5 Analog
    No
    PS5 Wired USB
    No
    PS5 Non-BT Wireless
    No
    Xbox Compatibility
    Xbox One Analog
    No
    Xbox One Wired USB
    No
    Xbox One Non-BT Wireless
    No
    Xbox Series X|S Analog
    No
    Xbox Series X|S Wired USB
    No
    Xbox Series X|S Non-BT Wireless
    No

    These headphones aren't compatible with the Xbox One.

    0.0
    Base/Dock
    Type
    No Base/Dock
    USB Input
    No
    Line In
    No
    Line Out
    No
    Optical Input
    No
    RCA Input
    No
    Dock Charging
    No
    Power Supply
    No Base/Dock

    The WI-XB400 don't have a dock.

    Recommended Articles

    Comments

    1. Product

    Sony WI-XB400 EXTRA BASS Wireless: Main Discussion

    Let us know why you want us to review the product here, or encourage others to vote for this product.

    PreviewBack to editorFormat guide
    No comments yet, refresh to see new ones