Sony Float Run review: Open headphones, with a twist

As the name suggests, these earphones float over the ear (Image credit: Anuj Bhatia/The Indian Express)

Sony Float Run price in India (as reviewed): Rs 10,990

Design: When I first received the Float Run, I was a little surprised. They neither look nor feel like TWS (True Wireless Stereo) nor a traditional pair of headphones. Instead, they come close to neckband sports earphones, but again, Float Run has a unique design. They have an ear hook that wraps around the front of your ear and connects to the neckband.

To be clear, they don’t enter the ear but are also different from bone-conduction headphones. The concept behind these headphones is to make you aware of your surroundings when the music is still on, and that’s reflected in how they are designed. I wore them all day and jogged with them. They never caused discomfort, although I would like to add that they might be a little uncomfortable to wear if you have glasses.

That being said, they are lightweight but don’t fold like headphones or become as compact as TWS. However, you can take these out of your ears and let them hang. In terms of controls, you will find three buttons to control playback and volume. Frankly, it takes some time to get used to the button layout. They have good tactile feedback, but because they are located on the extreme right end of the hook, it can be challenging to operate them as swiftly as you would with your TWS or headphones. The Float Run does not support Sony’s Headphones Connect app, meaning there is no way you can adjust EQ or other settings. They come in only “black”, and Sony provides a case for storing them.

For me, though, the biggest advantage of Float Run is that they stay in my ears more securely. You also don’t have to worry about the perfect fit. Just wear them and forget. No need to change the fins or adjust the buds you would often do with your TWS. Sony says the Float Run are IPX4 splashproof, so they can be used for workouts and runs.

The earphone just weighs 33 grams (Image credit: Anuj Bhatia/The Indian Express)

Sound: “How do they sound?” That was my reaction when I first tried them. I genuinely had so many questions about the Float Run because I hadn’t tried wireless sports headphones with an open design ever. But if you ask me now, well, they sound good but not as good as the WF-1000XM4.

They do make listening to music sound more open and natural, something I liked about the Float Run. These headphones have a nice, well-balanced sound with good details, but don’t expect the same level of bass as you get with TWS and headphones.

For example, when I was listening to “Teri Yeh Baatein” from the movie “Kho Gaye Hum Kahan,” the vocals and instruments seemed more distinct. The sound is precise and crisper when I am listening to the song in my room, with no distractions around—away from the noisy environment.

That’s not to say I didn’t enjoy listening to music on every version of the Float Run. It’s just that the quality of the sound and music changes the moment you step out of home and come to an open space. They have the same issue that all open wireless earbuds have in noisier environments. They let sound in, and since they lack active noise cancellation or transparency mode, some people may not like how loud the Float Run plays music. The thing is, even though Sony has added 16mm drivers to the Float Run, because the speaker drivers are positioned outside the ears (and not inside), you can hear the ambient noise, and that affects the sound quality. Just think about a small speaker attached to headphones, and the sound is beamed directly to your ears.

Comfortable headphones designed for runners (Image credit: Anuj Bhatia/The Indian Express)

Should you buy the Sony Float Run?

As I said in the beginning, Float Run is not your typical wireless earbuds. The idea is to make you aware of the outside world when the music is still on. Again, some people are in favour of it, and some people may not like this concept at all. The Float Run is the first-generation model, but there is room for substantial improvements for future models. Open headphones are comfortable to wear, and although they don’t get as loud in noisier environments, they sound excellent if you can live with certain limitations.

Pros:

*Fit comfortably and securely with a lightweight design
*Good sound for open earbuds
*Open design allows you to hear the outside world
*Excellent headphones for taking calls
*Solid battery life (up to 10 hours)
*IPX4 splash proof

Cons:

*May not get as loud as TWS and other headphones
*Missing app support