SONY WI-SP500 Wireless In-Ear Headphone

13.5mm Driver · Open-Type

Sony Sound + Outdoor Awareness

The 13.5mm neodymium dynamic driver in the WI-SP500 is large for an in-ear headphone — most sport earphones use 9–11mm drivers. The larger driver surface produces more air movement at low frequencies, contributing to the bass extension and impact Sony’s Extra Bass tuning is designed to deliver in a sport context. The open-type acoustic design is a deliberate engineering choice rather than a cost-cutting measure. A standard canal earphone creates a sealed air column between the driver and the eardrum — the seal is important for bass performance but completely blocks ambient sound, which creates a safety issue for outdoor runners and cyclists who cannot hear traffic approaching from behind. The WI-SP500’s open-type design does not form an airtight seal at the ear canal — environmental sound passes around and through the driver housing to reach the ear, allowing the user to hear what is around them while simultaneously hearing music from the driver. This is a different approach from both bone conduction (no driver in ear) and traditional open-back headphones (large over-ear with open grill). The practical effect for outdoor sport is that music and environmental sound are heard simultaneously at moderate listening levels, improving safety and awareness without requiring the user to pause music or remove the earphone when awareness is needed.

BT 4.2 · NFC · IPX4

Wireless, Waterproof, Easy Connect

Bluetooth 4.2 provides a stable wireless connection for music streaming and call audio. While newer devices support Bluetooth 5.x, BT 4.2 operates within the same audible quality range for audio streaming — the additional bandwidth of BT 5.x does not improve audio quality at the codec bitrates used for music streaming, and BT 4.2 maintains reliable connection within the standard listening range. NFC one-touch pairing is one of the WI-SP500’s convenience features that reduces the usual multi-step Bluetooth pairing process to a single touch action on NFC-enabled Android devices — open Settings, touch the phone to the earphone’s N-mark, and the Bluetooth connection is established. Standard manual Bluetooth pairing works for all other devices. IPX4 is the waterproofing standard for resistance to water splashing from any direction — this covers sweat from intense exercise, rain, and incidental water contact from handwashing or light rain exposure. IPX4 does not cover submersion or immersion — the WI-SP500 is not rated for swimming or showering. The 8-hour battery life covers most training schedules at moderate to high listening volume, and the 200-hour standby means the earphone can be left switched on between sessions without significant battery drain.

Behind-Neck · Earpiece Controls

Sport Design Details

The behind-the-neck cable connects the two earpieces via a cable that sits behind the head rather than hanging down from each ear. During running and high-movement exercise, a behind-the-neck cable moves with the head rather than swinging in front of the chest, which reduces the mechanical noise from cable movement transmitted up to the earpieces — a common distraction with front-hanging cables. The earpiece-mounted controls — volume up, volume down, play/pause, call answer/end — are integrated into the right earpiece housing. Earpiece controls are preferable to cable controls during sport because they are in a predictable location regardless of how the cable sits: during exercise a cable remote can slide or twist, making it harder to find and operate by touch. The microphone is also integrated into the earpiece for clear voice capture at the ear rather than at chest height, which improves call audio in windy or noisy outdoor environments. Multiple ear tip sizes are included for fit adjustment. A carrying holder is included for transport when not in use.

Right choice if you…

✔ Run or cycle outdoors and want to hear traffic — open-type design keeps ambient sound audible without removing the earphone
✔ Want a secure behind-the-neck fit for sport — no pendant cable bounce, stable during high-movement exercise
✔ Want 8 hours of battery for extended sessions — gym, long runs, commuting, all from a single charge
✔ Use NFC-enabled Android — one-touch pairing eliminates the Bluetooth settings menu pairing step

Consider something else if…

✖ You want active noise cancellation or strong passive isolation — open-type design provides minimal isolation; ambient sound is always audible
✖ You want deep bass in a quiet environment — open-type drivers produce less bass than sealed canal earphones at the same listening volume
✖ You want USB-C charging — the WI-SP500 charges via Micro-USB; a USB-A to Micro-USB cable is required (included in box)

Technical Specifications

In the Box

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I hear traffic and ambient sound while wearing these?

Yes — this is by design. The open-type acoustic design does not seal the ear canal, so ambient sound mixes with the music at all times. You will hear traffic, voices and your environment alongside the audio output. This is Sony’s intended design for outdoor sport safety. If you want noise isolation, the WI-SP500 is not the appropriate choice — look for closed-type or canal-seal earphones.

How does NFC pairing work?

On an NFC-enabled Android phone, touch the phone to the N-mark on the right earpiece of the WI-SP500. The phone’s NFC chip detects the earphone, Bluetooth turns on automatically, and the pairing and connection sequence completes without navigating Bluetooth settings. NFC pairing requires Android with NFC — iPhone does not support NFC Bluetooth pairing in this way. For iOS and non-NFC Android, use standard manual Bluetooth pairing through your device’s settings menu.

Is the WI-SP500 waterproof enough for running in rain?

IPX4 covers splashing from any direction — sweat, light rain, and incidental water contact. Running in moderate rain is within the IPX4 rating. Heavy rain or submersion is not — the WI-SP500 is not rated for swimming or showering. For the vast majority of outdoor running and gym use, IPX4 provides sufficient protection.

Does the behind-the-neck cable get in the way during exercise?

The behind-the-neck cable sits behind the head and is held in place by the cable tension between the two earpieces. During running and most exercise it stays out of the way — it does not swing in front of the face or chest as a pendant cable would. Some users find it slightly restricts head rotation during certain exercises; if full unrestricted head movement is required, true wireless (TWS) earphones with no cable are the alternative.

Condition

Brand New — Retail Packaging

Warranty

Manufacturer warranty (Sony)

Delivery

4–5 Working Days · Fully Tracked

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