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The vast majority of our reviews come from verified purchases. Reviews from customers may include My Best Buy members, employees, and Tech Insider Network members (as tagged). Select reviewers may receive discounted products, promotional considerations or entries into drawings for honest, helpful reviews.

• Rated 4 out of 5 stars

  Interesting Design!

  • Tech Insider Network Member

  The Sony LinkBuds Open marks the return of the donut shaped earbud! These have such an interesting design and are something you’ll want to check out if you like the idea of unobstructed environmental sound while still having a quality earbud experience. The LinkBuds Open are well made and deliver a sense of quality. They're lightweight but still feel durable. If you wear earbuds daily, I can see these being able to stand up to your average wear and tear without issue. Keep in mind that they aren’t waterproof. However, they are IPX4 rated and should be able to handle sweat and light rain without issue. If you are sensitive to ear pressure you may fall in love with these. The open ear style is ear pressure free. They sat comfortably in my ears at first, and I had no issues with a secure fit – the design of the little ear wing did its job! After longer wears, I found them to be slightly uncomfortable inside my ear. I’m generally pretty sensitive with earbuds, but I have a more traditional style Sony set that I can wear all day without the same discomfort. The open ear design seems strange, but the sound is clear and balanced, albeit a little high on the treble for me. You get some bass, but the mids and highs are the stars. If you don’t listen to bass heavy music, these earbuds might be more your style. If you're a podcast lover or someone who takes a lot of calls, the clarity these earbuds provide is great. The Sony open ear concept brings a fresh perspective to the wireless earbud market and they might be the standout choice if you find that they fit your needs. If you value high-quality audio and want to try out the open ear design the LinkBuds Open should be on your radar.

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  This review is from Sony - LinkBuds Open True Wireless Earbuds - Black

  Posted 1 year ago by zero325

• Rated 4 out of 5 stars

  Comfortable Open-style Earbuds

  • Tech Insider Network Member

  Sony LinkBuds Open Sony’s open ring design of the Sony LinkBuds Open are designed to be comfortable and allow you to be exposed to the outside surroundings while still listening to music a video or using your phone. This is very good for activities where you need to hear the world around you, say, biking or interacting with other people. If you are already used to unsealed or open-style earbuds, you will already have the correct expectations that the LinkBuds provide. The earbuds let in most of the sound environment around you, but they still sit in your ears right in front of your ear canal so they direct the speakers' sounds to be a more direct route to your ears. The construction of the LinkBuds allows for a broad area of fitment. A small ring fits over the ear canal, and a soft silicone fin fits into the pinnae area of the ear. This allows for comfort over a long period of time and doesn’t require a lot of fitment accessories to find the right one to fit your ears. I found I could exercise and run with the LinkBuds in, and they stayed secure in my ears. I watched a couple of movies on my tablet and didn’t find them uncomfortable after a two-hour movie. It features a clear, nicely detailed sound. They don't deliver as much bass as other premium noise-isolating buds, but in quieter environments, there's a relatively small drop-off in sound quality from noise-isolating buds. Also, like other open buds, their sound has an open, airy quality. Voice-calling performance was good, and the buds have good battery life. I received 8 plus hours on a single charge, and the compact case provided an additional 14 hours with a quick recharge time. A 3-minute charge provides 60 minutes of additional play time. The case is small, secure, and well-built. It has a USB-C connection but doesn’t come with a power brick. The LinkBuds Open are equipped with Sony's Speak-To-Chat feature that pauses your music when you start a conversation, and they have some voice controls built into the buds themselves. The voice-control feature has to be activated in the settings menu, as does Speak-To-Chat. But once it's activated, you simply say, "Hey, headphones," then say one of the available voice commands, which include commands for skipping tracks forward and back as well as raising and lowering volume. You can also tap the buds to start your playlist and move to next selection. I didn’t like the head movement commands and turned those off. The equalizer is manually adjustable, as well as having a variety of preprogrammed settings. If you remove the buds they go into standby mode One of the big pluses is being able to connect to two devices at once. I have on connection on my phone and one on my laptop. It is too bad I can’t connect them to my laptop. The app shows your settings and the power levels of the buds and the case. It also gives you access to the equalizer and things like autoplay. If you like unsealed or open-style earbuds or have a need for earbuds that do not remove you from your surrounding environment, I would recommend the Sony LinkBuds Open.

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  This review is from Sony - LinkBuds Open True Wireless Earbuds - Black

  Posted 1 year ago by AZEqualizer

• Rated 5 out of 5 stars

  Redefining Comfort and Awareness

  • Tech Insider Network Member

  This New Gen Sony LinkBuds Open set out to be earphones with a unique open-ear design and premium sound. As I am using this earbuds for a while, I can give you my honest opinion. Superior Architectural and Design Work: You can't help but notice the Sony LinkBuds Open’s distinctive open-ear appearance. By positioning themselves slightly outside the ear canal, these provide a more "open" listening experience compared to the conventional in-ear earbuds. For people who dislike the feeling of a gadget buried deep inside their ear for long periods of time, this design becomes more comfortable, even though it seems unusual at first considering our practice of inserting our ears into headphones for a more immersive experience. Crafted from a sturdy yet aesthetically pleasing matte plastic, these buds are not only lightweight but also fashionable. Additionally, a compact, spherical charging case is included, eliminating the need to carry a bulky case. You may easily include these Sony earphones into your daily routine because of their subtle design. For unwinding, I can say that having used numerous earbuds, the LinkBuds Open’s exceptional comfort was a pleasant surprise. Since they don't rest so deeply in your ear canal, they won't clog it up or cause any pressure like in-ear models. The fact that I could wear them for hours on end without getting tired or uncomfortable is a huge plus, particularly for things like walking, commuting, listening to music, or extended phone calls. The opposite is true if you plan on wearing them during strenuous physical exercise; you may not experience the most secure fit. Even while they remain placed well when used casually or while sitting at a computer, I had to reposition them numerous times while jogging. Clarity of Sound: Okay, let's get down to brass tacks—audio quality. Although the open-ear design may not provide the same amount of bass or sound isolation as closed-ear headphones, the sound quality is surprisingly good considering their form. Perfectly defined mids and highs highlight the instruments and singers, making them ideal for podcasts, acoustic music, or even traditional radio. Those who like bass-heavy or heavily electronic music, though, might find the lower frequencies lacking. You won't get the same punchy bass from these open-ear headphones as you would from traditional in-ear or over-ear designs. On the other hand, the soundstage is top-notch. You will adore this if you are seeking a more natural, ambient listening experience. It makes the sound seem more like it's surrounding you, rather than coming from your head. By simulating a speaker system rather than headphones, you can achieve a less isolating listening experience. The Sony LinkBuds Open’s ability to subtly handle ambient noise is one of their numerous impressive features. Because of its design, background noise can be easily detected without compromising audio quality. People who like to listen to music or talk on the phone at the same time as they listen to traffic, announcements, or other sounds may appreciate this function. The earbuds have the ability to adjust the volume, so you may listen to music loudly in a busy metropolis and softly in a quiet area. All of this is made possible by Sony's groundbreaking adaptive sound control technology. In spite of my frequent wishes for greater control over the adjustments, this tool serves its purpose admirably. Time Between Charges: The LinkBuds Open’s time between charges is adequate but nothing special. With moderate use or daily commutes, I was able to get around 5 or 6 hours of playback time on a full charge. However, if you're using them nonstop, you could need more juice. The charging case gives a good additional 14 hours of use, which should be more than enough for a day or more of typical use. With a quick 5-minute charge, you may enjoy up to 60 minutes of playtime, perfect for those moments when you're strapped for time but still want to play. It usually takes about 1.5 hours to fully charge. Features and Connections: There are a plethora of practical uses for these earbuds. Because they work with Google Assistant and Alexa, you can control your music, ask questions, and make calls without ever lifting a finger. The delicate touch controls on the sides of the earphones allow you to pause, skip tracks, and answer calls. By integrating with Sony's Headphones Connect app, you can customize these controls and adjust the equalization settings. From what I can tell, the connection has always been stable. I had no problems pairing them with my phone, and the Bluetooth connection stayed strong even as I moved around my office or home. The LinkBuds Open really won me over with its excellent call quality. Despite ambient noise, the other party assured me that they could hear me clearly thanks to the open-ear design that allowed the mics to pass through. Although the call quality isn't ideal, it's sufficient for casual use or light office tasks. Although the LinkBuds Open are very eco-conscious and comfortable, they do have a few drawbacks. The lack of bass may be off-putting to some, and they aren't ideal for crowded areas where you want to get into the music. Furthermore, there are earphones that cost the same yet have battery lives that are far longer. Additionally, fitness enthusiasts shouldn't choose them because of how they don't provide a solid fit throughout intense workouts. During regular use, they stay put, but when you work out, they could slide a bit. Overall, the Sony LinkBuds Open are a great pick for people who prefer music with less bass and more ambient sound and who value situational awareness. Their one-of-a-kind design is perfect for people who like to live in the now when traveling, but they might not be the best option for those who like to listen to music at a low level or who have to deal with a highly noisy workplace. If you care about comfort, natural sound, and the environment, these earbuds are a great choice. If you're looking for earbuds with top-notch noise cancellation and bass response though, you might want to look at other Sony models.

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  This review is from Sony - LinkBuds Open True Wireless Earbuds - Black

  Posted 1 year ago by pb22