Sony - LinkBuds Open True Wireless Earbuds - Black

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• 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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  Posted 8 months 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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  Posted 8 months ago by AZEqualizer

• Rated 4 out of 5 stars

  Hear the World Around You

  • Tech Insider Network Member
  • Top 250 Contributor

  The Sony LinkBuds Open offer a unique open-ear design, allowing users to stay aware of their surroundings while listening to audio. This design includes a stabilizer fin for a secure fit, providing comfort during extended use. I could wear them for hours without discomfort, and while they felt like they could fall out with sudden head movement, they stayed secure the entire time. The open-ear design results in significant ambient noise intrusion, which may not suit those seeking noise isolation. However, the sound quality is balanced, with clear highs and mids, though the bass is not as pronounced. The voice call quality on the Sony LinkBuds Open is generally good. The open-ear design allows for natural ambient sound, which can be beneficial in quieter environments. However, in noisier settings, the lack of noise isolation might make it harder to hear and be heard clearly. The Wide Area Tap feature enables playback control by tapping near the ear, enhancing user convenience. Additionally, the earbuds support LE Audio for improved sound quality and reduced latency. The earbuds offer approximately 7 hours of battery life on a single charge, with the case providing an additional 12 hours of charging, making them adequate for all day use. a 3-minute charge will add approximately 60 minutes of run time. The LinkBuds Open ensure stable Bluetooth connectivity with both Android and iOS devices. They also have an IPX4 rating, making them splash-proof. Smart features include instant pause/play when you take out an earbud, or answer the phone with yes/no head gestures. The Sony LinkBuds Open are designed for users who prioritize situational awareness and comfort over noise isolation. While they may not appeal to those who prefer noise isolation, they provide a solid listening experience while keeping you in tune with your surrounding.

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  Posted 8 months ago by hahanson