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Sony LinkBuds Truly Wireless Earbud Headphones with an Open-Ring Design for Ambient Sounds and Alexa Built-in, Bluetooth Ear Buds Compatible with iPhone and Android, Gray
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We offer easy, convenient returns with at least one free return option: no shipping charges. All returns must comply with our returns policy.
Learn more about free returns.- Go to your orders and start the return
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Return this item for free
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Alexa Built-in
This device has been certified by Amazon. With Alexa built-in, just ask to play music, get directions, control smart home devices, and more.
Purchase options and add-ons
Brand | Sony |
Color | Gray |
Ear Placement | In Ear |
Form Factor | In Ear |
Impedance | 16 Ohm |
About this item
- OPEN RING DESIGN- Hear calls, listen to music, play games, and hear other types of online content anytime, all while remaining naturally connected to what’s happening around you.Specific uses for product : Movies and Gaming.Bluetooth version : Bluetooth Specification Version 5.2.
- ULTRA-SMALL & LIGHT-Bluetooth ear buds with 5 sizes of fitting supporters to suit different ear shapes, and a USB-C charging cable.
- CRYSTAL CLEAR PHONE CALLS- With Precise Voice Pickup technology.
- BALANCED HIGH-QUALITY SOUND-With the Integrated V1 Processor.
- LONG BATTERY LIFE & QUICK CHARGING: 20 hours battery life with a 5 minute quick charge for up to 60 minutes of play time.
- IPX4 RATING-Protects against sweat and splashes.
- MULTIPOINT CONNECTION- Connect two devices at once (Available via firmware update).
- WIDE AREA TAP- Control audio by tapping in front of your ears on these wireless earbuds.
- ADAPTIVE VOLUMNE CONTROL- Optimizes sound to your environment.
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From the brand
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Sony is a creative entertainment company with a portfolio that encompasses electronics, music, motion pictures, mobile, gaming, and more.
For over 70 years, imagination has been the fuel of everything we do. From how people listen to music, to how they play games, to how they watch TV, our big imaginations have led us to create products that innovate and inspire generations.
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This Item Sony LinkBuds Truly Wireless Earbud Headphones with an Open-Ring Design for Ambient Sounds and Alexa Built-in, Bluetooth Ear Buds Compatible with iPhone and Android, Gray | Recommendations | dummy | dummy | dummy | dummy | |
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Price | -29% $128.00$128.00 List: $179.99 | $129.99$129.99 | -11% $17.00$17.00 List: $19.00 | $299.00$299.00 | $169.99$169.99 | $34.99$34.99 |
Delivery | Get it as soon as Wednesday, Jul 24 | Get it as soon as Wednesday, Jul 24 | Get it as soon as Wednesday, Jul 24 | Get it as soon as Wednesday, Jul 24 | Get it as soon as Wednesday, Jul 24 | Get it as soon as Wednesday, Jul 24 |
Customer Ratings | ||||||
Sound quality | 3.6 | 4.1 | 4.3 | 4.1 | 4.2 | 4.6 |
Comfort | 3.4 | 3.2 | 4.4 | 4.0 | 3.8 | 4.7 |
Battery life | 3.4 | 4.6 | 4.1 | 4.3 | 4.5 | 4.1 |
Noise cancellation | 2.1 | 4.2 | 3.8 | 2.8 | — | 4.5 |
Sold By | Amazon.com | 1MORE USA Inc | Amazon.com | Amazon.com | Cleer inc. | IFECCO-US |
connectivity tech | Wireless | Wireless | Wired | Wireless | Wireless | Wireless, Wired, Bluetooth |
headphones form factor | In Ear | On Ear | In Ear | Open Ear | True Wireless | Over Ear |
cable feature | Without Cable | Without Cable | Retractable | Without Cable | Retractable | Detachable |
control type | Alexa | Media Control | Media Control | Media Control | Volume Control | Button Control |
water resistance | water resistant | waterproof | not water resistant | — | water resistant | water resistant |
material | Plastic | Plastic | Plastic | — | Plastic | Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene (ABS) |
model name | Sony LinkBuds Truly Wireless Earbuds | EF906 | EarPods with USB-C Connector | Bose Ultra Open Earbuds, Black | Cleer Audio ARC II Sport Red | S5 |
From the manufacturer
Keep every world on
LinkBuds
LinkBuds Truly Wireless Earbuds connect all your worlds perfectly with an open-ring design that allows you to hear calls, listen to music, play games, and hear other types of online content anytime, all while remaining naturally connected to the ambient sounds around you.
Connected and aware
A newly developed ring-type driver unit with the center of the diaphragm open for audio transparency allows you to clearly hear all of the real-world sounds happening around you.
Multipoint Connection: pair 2 Bluetooth devices
When call comes in, your headphones know which device is ringing and connects to the right one automatically. You’ll also be able to quickly switch your headphones to either of the two devices at the touch of a button. (Available via firmware update)
LinkBuds connect all your worlds
-
Exercise
Enjoy your favorite workout playlist and be aware of traffic
-
Work Calls
Take a work call while keeping an ear out for your surroundings
-
Walking
Walk, listen to music, and still be able to talk with your neighbors
-
Social media
Scroll social and don’t miss important announcements.
IPX4 splash-proof
With IPX4 splash resistance and long battery life, LinkBuds keep you ready for anything that life brings.
Adaptive Volume Control
Automatically optimizes volume based on your environment. LinkBuds adjusts to lower volume in quieter places and higher volume in noisier situations.
Ideal form factor
Ultra-small and light for a fit that stays all day.
Wide Area Tap
You can double or triple tap the area in front of either ear to control your music playback. You never even need to touch LinkBuds to operate them.
Long Battery life
Up to 5.5 hours of battery life and up to 17.5 hours with charging case. Quick charging gives up to 90 minutes of playback with a 10 minute charge.
Voice Assistant compatible
One simple button press connects you instantly to your smartphone’s voice assistant so you can find directions, play music, and so much more.
Quick access to Amazon music
You can play Amazon music with just a couple of taps – no need to touch your smartphone
Crystal clear calling
Crystal clear phone calls and conversations with Precise Voice Pickup technology.
Sony Truly Wireless Headphones
WF-1000XM5 | LinkBuds S | LinkBuds |
---|---|---|
Noise CancelingYes/The best noise canceling earbuds | Noise CancelingYes | Noise CancelingN/A |
Battery Life8 Hrs (24 Hrs with case) | Battery Life6 Hrs (20 Hrs with case) | Battery Life5.5 Hrs (17.5 Hrs with case) |
Hands Free CallYes/Sony's best calling quality | Hands Free CallYes, with Advanced Voice Signal Processing | Hands Free CallYes, with Advanced Voice Signal Processing |
Water Resistant/Splash ProofYes / IPX4 | Water Resistant/Splash ProofYes / IPX4 | Water Resistant/Splash ProofYes / IPX4 |
Special FeaturesAuto Play, High Resolution Audio, Speak to Chat, Intuitive Touch Controls | Special FeaturesSpeak to Chat, High Resolution Audio, Touch Panel, Auto Play | Special FeaturesSpeak to Chat, Auto Play, Open-Ring Design, Wide Area Tap |
Product guides and documents
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Videos
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Sony LinkBuds - REVIEW + COMPARED to AIRPODS
The French Glow
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Sony LinkBuds Truly Wireless Earbud Headphones
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Sony Link Buds - Before You Buy!
➡️ Mick Reviews Stuff
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Noting Goes Into Your Ear- Sony Link Buds
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Product information
Noise Control | None |
---|---|
Frequency Response | 20000 Hz |
Headphones Jack | 3.5 mm Jack |
Model Name | Sony LinkBuds Truly Wireless Earbuds |
Connectivity Technology | Wireless |
Wireless Communication Technology | Bluetooth |
Special Feature | Sweatproof, Precise Voice Pickup technology, Wide Area Tap, Adaptive Volume Control, Open-Ring Design, Fast Charging, Microphone Included |
Included Components | Wireless Charging Case |
Age Range (Description) | Adult |
Material | Plastic |
Specific Uses For Product | Movies and Gaming |
Charging Time | 20 Hours |
Recommended Uses For Product | Calling |
Theme | Video Game |
Control Type | Alexa |
Cable Feature | Without Cable |
Item Weight | 1.4 Ounces |
Water Resistance Level | Water Resistant |
Frequency Range | 2.4 GHz band (2.4000 GHz–2.4835 GHz) |
Unit Count | 1.0 Count |
Control Method | Voice |
Number of Items | 1 |
Battery Life | 20 Hour |
Bluetooth Version | 5.2 |
UPC | 027242923003 |
Manufacturer | Sony |
Product Dimensions | 1.91 x 1.22 x 1.63 inches |
Item Weight | 1.4 ounces |
ASIN | B09QNLR4GD |
Item model number | WFL900/H |
Batteries | 2 Lithium Ion batteries required. (included) |
Customer Reviews |
3.5 out of 5 stars |
Best Sellers Rank | #11,402 in Electronics (See Top 100 in Electronics) #1,138 in Earbud & In-Ear Headphones |
Is Discontinued By Manufacturer | No |
Date First Available | February 15, 2022 |
Warranty & Support
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Sony LinkBuds Truly Wireless Earbud Headphones with an Open-Ring Design for Ambient Sounds and Alexa Built-in, Bluetooth Ear Buds Compatible with iPhone and Android, Gray
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Product Description
Link your online and offline worlds with bluetooth headphones that keep you in both. The all-new Sony LinkBuds true wireless earbuds feature a comfortable open-ring design that naturally blends natural and digital sound. Stay authentically connected to everyday life while listening to music, taking calls, gaming, and more, all with dynamic sound.
Customer reviews
Customer Reviews, including Product Star Ratings help customers to learn more about the product and decide whether it is the right product for them.
To calculate the overall star rating and percentage breakdown by star, we don’t use a simple average. Instead, our system considers things like how recent a review is and if the reviewer bought the item on Amazon. It also analyzed reviews to verify trustworthiness.
Learn more how customers reviews work on AmazonCustomers say
Customers like the unique design of the headphones. They say it looks pretty cool and appreciate the sci-fi look. However, some customers have connectivity issues with the Bluetooth connection. Opinions are mixed on performance, fit, comfort, sound quality, quality, and battery life.
AI-generated from the text of customer reviews
Customers like the appearance of the headphones. For example, they say they have a unique design, look cool, and are comfortable. Some appreciate the sci-fi look and the recycled plastic look. Overall, most are happy with the product's appearance.
"...The recycled plastic is a nice, unique touch, and the case feels sturdy enough (definitely nowhere near airpods)...." Read more
"...They are good headphones with a unique design." Read more
"...The unique design will obviously be interesting since there's nothing else like it. I like the creative problem solving for making open earbuds...." Read more
"...The wide area tap controls are awesome and feel really futuristic when you're tapping on your head and pausing, skipping tracks or changing volume...." Read more
Customers are mixed about the sound quality of the headphones. Some mention that the sound is fuller, they love the open feeling of the sound, and they can hear their surroundings. They also appreciate the separate bass boost and the fact that they don't muffle outside noises. However, some say that the quality does vary somewhat based on how they sit in their ear, and the sub-bass is non-existent.
"...I didn’t like how quiet they were. The sound quality was great in a decently loud room but when I was at work with heavy machinery it got hard to..." Read more
"...Because of the “open” design, they are somewhat more natural sounding in terms of airiness and don’t have that “dome in your head” kind of feeling...." Read more
"...They have an oddly bright sound, but I don't think they have a poor sound quality at all like many reviewers are saying. More on that later.-..." Read more
"...The added benefit of them not muffling outside noises was a HUGE plus for talking to people, commuting, and just overall being comfortable...." Read more
Customers have mixed opinions about the fit of the headphones. Some mention that the bud fits securely with a noticeable clack, while others say that the fit is just too loose. The case is very small and the earphones include many different sizes of silicone rings so that they can try to fit any ear size. However, some customers say that one ear didn't fit as well as the other. Bluetooth connectivity is prone to dropouts and the speaker won't be correctly aligned.
"...That said, the stage itself is not hugely bigger than “regular” buds (goes ear to ear, maybe a tad outside the ear), it’s just a slightly more open..." Read more
"...I swapped them out for the small on both ears and voila. Perfect fit. Perfect volume.It feels like you have nothing in the ear...." Read more
"...Main points being:- They are difficult to put into your ear, even after repeated practice, reducing the convenience factor of having true..." Read more
"...They stay in pretty well. If you are doing jumping jacks or headbanging, perhaps these are not ideal...." Read more
Customers are mixed about the comfort of the headphones. Some mention that they are extremely comfortable, while others say that they were very uncomfortable and became painful after an hour of use.
"...Before the AirPods 3 I used the Galaxy buds Live. They were great. Most comfortable I’ve ver used. No issues with comfort...." Read more
"...you can hear your surroundings while wearing them... But they aren't comfortable enough for me to wear them for more than an hour or two...." Read more
"...was a HUGE plus for talking to people, commuting, and just overall being comfortable. These where my favorite earbuds ever until......." Read more
"...On my first day of usage, the part of my ears where these buds rest began aching, despite its lightweightness...." Read more
Customers are mixed about the battery life of the headphones. Some mention that it's good, designed for all-day usage, and excellent for work. They also say that it has a great battery indicator with Android. However, other customers say that the battery lasts only two hours and that the case doesn't hold much charge.
"...Keep these on, and battery is more like two hours, which is FAR below, by more than half, what most buds get nowadays...." Read more
"...Great for relaxation though! --..." Read more
"...where the charge level is all over the place when in use and does not last very long...." Read more
"...They are designed for all day usage since you can hear your surroundings while wearing them... But they aren't comfortable enough for me to wear..." Read more
Customers are mixed about the quality of the headphones. Some mention that it's amazing, great, and impressive, while others say that they're disappointed in the quality and battery life.
"...They are good headphones with a unique design." Read more
"...: I was really excited for these headphones and they are slightly disappointing. Main points being:-..." Read more
"...Enter the LinkBudsOn paper, these are the perfect earbuds for me. No better "passthrough" audio than literal holes cut in your earbuds...." Read more
"...Overall, awesome casual set headset when you want to listen to music, podcast while doing other activities...." Read more
Customers are mixed about the performance of the headphones. Some mention that it works pretty well for when it detects speech, the app works really well, and it works very well for casual listening experience where you want to interact with the outside world. However, others say that it's very laborious and doesn't always work, the commands are frequently unresponsive, and they don't work for their ears.
"...plugs my ear completely.... Which means the hole literally does nothing for my left ear except when I reposition it to a really specific way, but it..." Read more
"...Alexa implementation is good and works well, but again, Alexa can’t do as much as Siri: most of the things you’d ask her are like music selections...." Read more
"...Great idea very poor execution...." Read more
"...Call performance is decent, and fit for me is also decent, though individual ears always vary with fit...." Read more
Customers have connectivity issues with the headphones. They mention that the right earphone doesn't connect to the phone without the left earbud, the quality of the connection isn't up to par, and the ear buds can get out of sync playing music. They also say that the product is only able to connect to one device at a time and that it randomly disconnects their calls.
"...My only real complaint is the wireless range can be lacking with certain devices. When they are paired to my Pixel 6 the range is excellent...." Read more
"...No multi-point connection. Only able to connect to one device at a time. Must re-sync Bluetooth when using a new device..." Read more
"...Pairing is consistent for me. I can easily switch between paired devices...." Read more
"...Walking through the weather - windy conditions, the earphones kind of lose connection for a moment, but if I make a sudden turn with my head it..." Read more
Reviews with images
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Top reviews
Top reviews from the United States
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For some reason I can’t handle iems. If they go in the ear, or even AirPods. My ears have always been so sensitive that any pressure results in pain or swelling. I try to stay away from most in ear styles for this main reason.
A secondary reason is the pressure from the sound isolation has never been comfortable to me. Feeling like I’m underwater, rather than silence. It’s awful.
AirPods 3 were my go to since their release late last year, but they still caused a bit of discomfort. They would also fall out. The convenience of using iOS and AirPods plus the higher than average sound quality made me push through.
Before the AirPods 3 I used the Galaxy buds Live. They were great. Most comfortable I’ve ver used. No issues with comfort. Despite enjoying the ANC implementation whereas it focused on outside lower frequencies like hums and engines (opposed to something like the AirPods Pro which attempt to block all sound). I didn’t like how quiet they were. The sound quality was great in a decently loud room but when I was at work with heavy machinery it got hard to hear without cranking up the sound which caused a bit of distortion.
Enter the Sony Linkbuds. Out of the box these things come with the medium wing tip which to my horror began causing some burning sensations from the pressure. I swapped them out for the small on both ears and voila. Perfect fit. Perfect volume.
It feels like you have nothing in the ear. The Galaxy buds live were close to perfect but they did block sound a bit when you were wearing them. The whole in these Linkbuds make it so that’s a problem of the past.
The auto speech detect works well. Too well honestly that I feel like I’m killing my battery by having it on. Speaking of batter it’s still to be seen how long they last. The app will show one percentage one minute and then it’ll jump down like 20%. I don’t think it updates frequently but it’s jarring.
The extra features like spatial audio and Alexa are cool but I use iOS and those aren’t that well supported. Maybe in the future, but right now don’t buy the buds if you have iOS and want to make use of those features.
The spatial audio is similar to AirPods 3 and pro implementation. It works very well with the supported apps. Seems highly unlikely more will add the feature though.
I’m assuming on android it’s a system wide effect that can be toggled on or off. So if you have an android I’d look for more information elsewhere.
The last thing I want to mention that makes these a must have is the wide area tap. Every time I tap it registers the proper gesture. EVERYTIME! That’s huge. With my Galaxy Buds I would always skip songs, or be unable to accept calls because the tapping was so inaccurate. Most tap to use headphones suck ass and for me, caused me physical pain to use. Here you don’t tap the headphone. You actually tap your temple… sort of. The side of your head. It’s like something out of a sci-fi movie and it works.
Few quirks when using these with iOS but most are now standard fare if you don’t use AirPods. Stuff like sometimes the screen will come on when I use Siri so my thigh will cancel out commands. I don’t use Siri that much anyways. And when I do need an assistant it’s only to do math problems for me that I’m too slow to do on my own. But it is something to be wary about.
Alexa implementation is good and works well, but again, Alexa can’t do as much as Siri: most of the things you’d ask her are like music selections. It’s kind of a non issue for me personally.
Also the app to set these up is kind of annoying to use. Features work, but the menus are confusing to know if they are turned on or not. Certain apps seem like they are required to set up certain features but not really. I spent about five minutes in the soundscapes app wondering how to I use the spatial audio for movies only to realize the app was trying to tell me the soundscapes app is compatible with the buds and that’s the end of the integration.
To use Alexa and Spotify features make sure to go to assign menu and change the left or right settings to the proper apps. Then the rest of the features will work. It’s very confusing at first.
With time as I use these through the warm up period they might get better sounding but the fit and comfort are apparent from the start. If you have sensitive ears please try the xs wingtips. Those are the ones on all the promotional material but for some reason they come with the medium.
This is my first review on Amazon and I just had to let everyone with similar problems to me that we’ve been saved. The perfect earbud is here.
For everyone else you might feel a bit let down. They aren’t as bass heavy as IEM’s and definitely don’t block outside sound. Some people really don’t want to hear anything and these aren’t for those people. For everyone else these are it!!!
For some reason I can’t handle iems. If they go in the ear, or even AirPods. My ears have always been so sensitive that any pressure results in pain or swelling. I try to stay away from most in ear styles for this main reason.
A secondary reason is the pressure from the sound isolation has never been comfortable to me. Feeling like I’m underwater, rather than silence. It’s awful.
AirPods 3 were my go to since their release late last year, but they still caused a bit of discomfort. They would also fall out. The convenience of using iOS and AirPods plus the higher than average sound quality made me push through.
Before the AirPods 3 I used the Galaxy buds Live. They were great. Most comfortable I’ve ver used. No issues with comfort. Despite enjoying the ANC implementation whereas it focused on outside lower frequencies like hums and engines (opposed to something like the AirPods Pro which attempt to block all sound). I didn’t like how quiet they were. The sound quality was great in a decently loud room but when I was at work with heavy machinery it got hard to hear without cranking up the sound which caused a bit of distortion.
Enter the Sony Linkbuds. Out of the box these things come with the medium wing tip which to my horror began causing some burning sensations from the pressure. I swapped them out for the small on both ears and voila. Perfect fit. Perfect volume.
It feels like you have nothing in the ear. The Galaxy buds live were close to perfect but they did block sound a bit when you were wearing them. The whole in these Linkbuds make it so that’s a problem of the past.
The auto speech detect works well. Too well honestly that I feel like I’m killing my battery by having it on. Speaking of batter it’s still to be seen how long they last. The app will show one percentage one minute and then it’ll jump down like 20%. I don’t think it updates frequently but it’s jarring.
The extra features like spatial audio and Alexa are cool but I use iOS and those aren’t that well supported. Maybe in the future, but right now don’t buy the buds if you have iOS and want to make use of those features.
The spatial audio is similar to AirPods 3 and pro implementation. It works very well with the supported apps. Seems highly unlikely more will add the feature though.
I’m assuming on android it’s a system wide effect that can be toggled on or off. So if you have an android I’d look for more information elsewhere.
The last thing I want to mention that makes these a must have is the wide area tap. Every time I tap it registers the proper gesture. EVERYTIME! That’s huge. With my Galaxy Buds I would always skip songs, or be unable to accept calls because the tapping was so inaccurate. Most tap to use headphones suck ass and for me, caused me physical pain to use. Here you don’t tap the headphone. You actually tap your temple… sort of. The side of your head. It’s like something out of a sci-fi movie and it works.
Few quirks when using these with iOS but most are now standard fare if you don’t use AirPods. Stuff like sometimes the screen will come on when I use Siri so my thigh will cancel out commands. I don’t use Siri that much anyways. And when I do need an assistant it’s only to do math problems for me that I’m too slow to do on my own. But it is something to be wary about.
Alexa implementation is good and works well, but again, Alexa can’t do as much as Siri: most of the things you’d ask her are like music selections. It’s kind of a non issue for me personally.
Also the app to set these up is kind of annoying to use. Features work, but the menus are confusing to know if they are turned on or not. Certain apps seem like they are required to set up certain features but not really. I spent about five minutes in the soundscapes app wondering how to I use the spatial audio for movies only to realize the app was trying to tell me the soundscapes app is compatible with the buds and that’s the end of the integration.
To use Alexa and Spotify features make sure to go to assign menu and change the left or right settings to the proper apps. Then the rest of the features will work. It’s very confusing at first.
With time as I use these through the warm up period they might get better sounding but the fit and comfort are apparent from the start. If you have sensitive ears please try the xs wingtips. Those are the ones on all the promotional material but for some reason they come with the medium.
This is my first review on Amazon and I just had to let everyone with similar problems to me that we’ve been saved. The perfect earbud is here.
For everyone else you might feel a bit let down. They aren’t as bass heavy as IEM’s and definitely don’t block outside sound. Some people really don’t want to hear anything and these aren’t for those people. For everyone else these are it!!!
So to start, I’m big into music and headphones, and I own a total of 12 pairs. Four of those are “consumer” headphones like AirPods Pro 2, AirPods Max, Sennheiser True Wireless 3, and all of the rest are true HiFi headphones like Audeze, Focal, Fostex, Denon, etc. and all of the accompanying amplifiers and DACs. I generally enjoy lots of different genres of music - rock, alternative, R&B, hip-hop, pop, some classical. I just point this out, to point out I do a LOT of detailed sound comparisons and appreciate lots of different types of music and how different headphones may impact the experience.
So, with these, I think there are only a few specific reasons one should even consider these, as if you don’t fall into BOTH #1 AND at least one of the other reasons below, there are far better options for this price.
#1 - you really don’t like the “closed” feeling of buds and want a more “open” sound (and as such don’t care at all about noise isolation - both from outside and others hearing your listen, which is standard for any open setup)
#2 - you don’t care about sound quality much but want some wireless buds that are stable enough to do light workouts in or just want some really small/discrete buds
#3 - you primarily listen to music like jazz and classical
Now onto the logic and trade-offs.
First, with respect to the sound. The tonal balance is extremely lacking in low end. The reviews that have said that these are a “balanced sound” are simply wrong. If you search around the net, you can see some sites have actually measured the frequency response of these, and not only is the bass very rolled off, it creeps up into the lower mids as well. This results in a very hollow listen. Music has nearly no low-end impact at all. Even with every bass setting cranked all the way up, it makes almost no noticeable difference because the drivers and design simply can’t handle it (which I’ll get back to). Further evidence of this, the EQ in the app only even goes down to 400Hz, which should be a sign, as most wouldn’t even consider it true “bass” until maybe 150Hz, and humans can hear down to 20Hz - yet the EQ doesn’t even let you adjust these frequencies. To call this balanced is just wrong. Good balanced headphones simply do not OVER-emphasize bass or let it bleed into the other frequencies - these lack bass, period. This is a very big difference if you listen to basically any Top 40 type music - hip-hop, pop, R&B, EDM, even rock or alternative. There will be no bass. This CAN be ok, however, if you’re a classical music listener or jazz or music that doesn’t have a lot of low-end (including bass drums, bass guitar, etc.). These would also be OK if you’re primarily going to use them for listening to voice stuff - podcasts, audiobooks, news, etc.
The rest of the frequency response is overall just OK. You can adjust the mids and upper frequencies to your liking, and those adjustments make more of a difference than the bass adjustment, as I mentioned. So you can tone down or up the brightness to your liking, for example. They do an OK job at brining out detail, about what I would expect for buds in this price range. The semi-standout in the overall sound is the soundstage, or the way the music is presented in terms of position in space. Because of the “open” design, they are somewhat more natural sounding in terms of airiness and don’t have that “dome in your head” kind of feeling. That said, the stage itself is not hugely bigger than “regular” buds (goes ear to ear, maybe a tad outside the ear), it’s just a slightly more open stage. Because the buds are still sitting in your ear, versus when an over-ear open headphone has a driver sitting outside your ear, i would call these only semi-open sounding. The inside your head feeling is gone, but you still don’t get that great open naturalness of a true open-back headphone. The positioning is also good, meaning, individual pieces of the mix are fairly separated and identifiable, for this price range. The question is it worth the trade offs…
Open back headphones of all types (buds, over-ear, etc.), all else equal, have less bass response than closed-backs. This is because there’s less pressure build up and resonance for the bass to build (in simple terms). So the tradeoff for losing that “in your head” feeling is less bass. Bigger, over ear headphones can counter this by using bigger drivers that can pump more bass and by still creating somewhat of a seal around your ear with the pads. in this case, these buds just sit in your ear, create no seal, and the drivers are tiny, so you get basically no bass. This is the biggest trade off of these. Whether that trade off is for you or not…your call.
The other tradeoff is size. Smaller size leads to smaller drivers, which as I discussed means less bass, and it also means - way small batteries. Although the “up to” five hours of battery life may be accurate, there are some big issues with this. First, you have to turn off all of the electronic conveniences to hit this target - automatic voice detection, automatic volume adjustment, wide area tap - which are all pretty cool. Keep these on, and battery is more like two hours, which is FAR below, by more than half, what most buds get nowadays.
Call performance is decent, and fit for me is also decent, though individual ears always vary with fit. The smallest included piece is what got me the best fit, and they are stable in my ears.
What these actually remind me of are the first AirPods that were released, then upgraded to the AirPods Pro. The original AirPods also had a “sit in your ear” plastic design that was somewhat like this. While they were wireless and packed with nice new apple “magic” features, many had a view that they really still sounded like the $30 wired buds that came with iPods/iPhones at the time, but they were wireless. Then Apple released the AirPods Pro that claimed “far better sound”, and the biggest change was that they used a silicon tip to create a seal in the ear - and that added a way more appropriate low-end to the sound that was missing before, and NOW and AirPods Pro and Pro 2 are known as a mostly balanced set of buds. These are the opposite - by having no seal, combined with tiny drivers, I would say these have the sound profile of a $50 or less pair of buds, but you are paying for the true wireless stuff and fancy features. They MAY be worth it for you if you don’t mind the trade offs, but that’s not most.
Top reviews from other countries
Lo mejor de estos audífonos son las funciones integradas extra. Que se detengan cuando hablo es la segunda función más útil, pues me pasa que pido permiso para pasar en el transporte público. Gracias a su diseño puedo escuchar cuando me hablan para preguntarte algo en la calle. La tercera función que me parece fascinante es que se ajuste el volumen según el ruido ambiental. Esto me ayuda cuando cambio de espacios en la calle o una plaza comercial ya que el sonido se ajusta a la perfección.
Lo que me ha costado trabajo adaptarme ha sido el sistema de toques sin botón. Me fue bastante frustrante subir o bajar volumen, tuve que configurar mediante la aplicación y aún así me costó acostumbrarme. Después me di cuenta que puedo tocar los audífonos en si y me funciona mejor así.
Ahora lo malo de los audífonos. Lo primero es que me lastimaron casi de inmediato. La oreja me quedaba adolorida al quitármelos y me costó mucho entender como se colocan adecuadamente. Tenía la sensación que se iban a caer en cualquier momento. Incluso me causaron heridas en la parte interna de la oreja. Aún así desistí por el reembolso debido a que no hay nada parecido en el mercado. Por lo que aprendí a colocarlos de la forma adecuada. Tampoco sé porqué me molesta más en una oreja que en otra.
Lo segundo molesto es la batería. Entre más opciones activadas tengas más rápido se descarga. Y vaya que se descarga rápido si tienes EQ, hablar por chat y DSSE activado. Yo llegué a descargarlos en menos de dos horas. La recomendación es quitarle todas las opciones y dejar solamente las que vamos a necesitar. La ventaja es que su estuche los recarga muy rápido.
Lo último molesto es el tamaño. Me preocupa mucho que un día me los ponga mal y se caigan en la calle, son muy pequeños y si se van a una coladera será su fin. No hay forma de localizarlos como los de Apple.
En general, los recomiendo para la gente que necesite escuchar su exterior todo el tiempo.
Reviewed in Mexico on December 18, 2023
Lo mejor de estos audífonos son las funciones integradas extra. Que se detengan cuando hablo es la segunda función más útil, pues me pasa que pido permiso para pasar en el transporte público. Gracias a su diseño puedo escuchar cuando me hablan para preguntarte algo en la calle. La tercera función que me parece fascinante es que se ajuste el volumen según el ruido ambiental. Esto me ayuda cuando cambio de espacios en la calle o una plaza comercial ya que el sonido se ajusta a la perfección.
Lo que me ha costado trabajo adaptarme ha sido el sistema de toques sin botón. Me fue bastante frustrante subir o bajar volumen, tuve que configurar mediante la aplicación y aún así me costó acostumbrarme. Después me di cuenta que puedo tocar los audífonos en si y me funciona mejor así.
Ahora lo malo de los audífonos. Lo primero es que me lastimaron casi de inmediato. La oreja me quedaba adolorida al quitármelos y me costó mucho entender como se colocan adecuadamente. Tenía la sensación que se iban a caer en cualquier momento. Incluso me causaron heridas en la parte interna de la oreja. Aún así desistí por el reembolso debido a que no hay nada parecido en el mercado. Por lo que aprendí a colocarlos de la forma adecuada. Tampoco sé porqué me molesta más en una oreja que en otra.
Lo segundo molesto es la batería. Entre más opciones activadas tengas más rápido se descarga. Y vaya que se descarga rápido si tienes EQ, hablar por chat y DSSE activado. Yo llegué a descargarlos en menos de dos horas. La recomendación es quitarle todas las opciones y dejar solamente las que vamos a necesitar. La ventaja es que su estuche los recarga muy rápido.
Lo último molesto es el tamaño. Me preocupa mucho que un día me los ponga mal y se caigan en la calle, son muy pequeños y si se van a una coladera será su fin. No hay forma de localizarlos como los de Apple.
En general, los recomiendo para la gente que necesite escuchar su exterior todo el tiempo.
Here’s my original review:
I was nervous about buying these. I'd tried open earbuds made by the other guys and while the sound was great, the design was awful. They hurt my ears, were impossible to wear with glasses and made every workout painful. I'd tried bone conduction headphones, but the cheap ones sounded awful and the most expensive set made my entire head vibrate if you turned the volume up even slightly. The sound was also quite muffled.
So would it be third time lucky? I read the reviews and the fact that some people complained about the lack of bass with the Sony Linkbuds made me even more nervous. But when they arrived, I literally could not believe my ears.
These buds sound absolutely amazing. There's plenty bass for me, and the sound is clear. I don't know how to explain this other than to say that it sounds "clean". Every note is crystal clear. I actually want to work out more often because my music sounds so good.
Also, the wide area tap is terrific. It works instantly. With all my old wireless earphones, there's been a slight delay when skipping to the next song. It's never bothered me, but with the Linkbuds, you tap three times and your new song starts instantly. That's so much better.
They also stay in my ears perfectly, even when I stand up on the bike and push hard. I've done a 2 hour indoor ride and they were comfortable throughout. No irritation, no itching, no pain. In fact, it's easy to forget that you're even wearing them, and not listening to your music out loud.
Thank you Sony! You really did get these right.
TL;DR : After 13 months (warranty of 12 months), this 250$ pairs of earbuds is basically thrash.
The right bud sounds like the driver is busted, and the left bud has always had trouble charging in the case (the clip inside the case doesn't hold on tigh to the earbud so it sometimes doesn't charge or register like the bud has been taken out of the case, so there are problems pairing as well).
I find it so bad that a 250$ piece of tech doesn't have more than a year of warranty.
The sound was good due to open back design, but comfort will depend from person to person since it depends on your ear shape. For me the right one is super confy but the left hurts if i wear it for more than a couple hours.
I would not recommend this product and unless sony cha ges its warranty, I won't be buying from them anymore. 13 months of use for a busted driver is unforgivable, especially since i always use at low volume (use in public or before going to sleep).
Edit : after 18 months or so of use, the right bud not only sounds like a busted driver, it wont hold charge properly. It will randomly loose charge and drain case battery overnight, even when plugged in. For all that is good and fair in this world, do not buy this product.
Reviewed in Canada on May 24, 2023
TL;DR : After 13 months (warranty of 12 months), this 250$ pairs of earbuds is basically thrash.
The right bud sounds like the driver is busted, and the left bud has always had trouble charging in the case (the clip inside the case doesn't hold on tigh to the earbud so it sometimes doesn't charge or register like the bud has been taken out of the case, so there are problems pairing as well).
I find it so bad that a 250$ piece of tech doesn't have more than a year of warranty.
The sound was good due to open back design, but comfort will depend from person to person since it depends on your ear shape. For me the right one is super confy but the left hurts if i wear it for more than a couple hours.
I would not recommend this product and unless sony cha ges its warranty, I won't be buying from them anymore. 13 months of use for a busted driver is unforgivable, especially since i always use at low volume (use in public or before going to sleep).
Edit : after 18 months or so of use, the right bud not only sounds like a busted driver, it wont hold charge properly. It will randomly loose charge and drain case battery overnight, even when plugged in. For all that is good and fair in this world, do not buy this product.