Compared to the other earbuds in the test that also have a collar, you cannot help but notice how big the XB70B is. The battery and electronics boxes at the ends of the neck collar are twice the size of certain competitors. Despite this, the battery life is not better, quite the opposite. It also makes the neck collar thick so it is quite noticeable that you have something around your neck. The cords of the earbuds are long, and they hang far down when not being used.
Thanks to NFC capability you can easily connect them with your phone. However, the handling is not as easy, since the buttons on the collar are hard to find with your fingers. The earbuds are quite lightweight though, and thanks to the angled shape they sit comfortably in the ear. The silicone tips come in four sizes, but some form of storage for transport is not included.
This model is part of Sony’s “Extra Bass” assortment, and it is therefore no surprise that they have a thundering bass. It’s certainly entertaining when listening to certain genres, but it dominates so much that other genres almost become annoying to listen to. It’s too bad, because the sound is otherwise warm, appealing and quite charming. If you listen at a low volume, you notice a rather prominent background noise that might become irritating.
Conclusion
We tend to associate Sony with smart solutions, neat designs and the latest technology. We almost wondered if XB70BT was really made by someone else. The earbuds are large and cumbersome, and gives the impression of anything but elegance. Despite this, battery time is far from the best. The last straw is nonetheless the sound, with the thundering bass drowning out nearly everything, making sure that only real bass buffs will be interested. But even then there are options with better sound.