Customer Ratings & Reviews

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.

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.

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.

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.

TLDR: I have a love / hate relationship with the LinkBuds. I love the fit, love the weight, and the clarity, but hate the near complete lack of bass. These LinkBuds have great mids and highs, but without any real form of bass response make them disappointing for music and movie buffs. SET-UP The LinkBuds are set-up using Sony’s SoundConnect app. I find it works well for the most part with minimal frustrations. However, there are too many submenus after initial set-up making certain features more difficult to find than it should. Initial set-up though, couldn’t be easier. The SoundConnect app will walk you through the entire initial set-up without issue. Sony has taken a great deal of care designing the app to ensure that the LinkBuds sound their best and fit correctly to nearly anyone and everyone. Between equalizer settings, profiles, fitment guides, etc. the customization options are extremely thorough and nearly endless. USE Bottom Line Up Front – The LinkBuds are the lightest, most comfortable ear buds I’ve ever used. They fit great, are much more stable and secure than normal ear buds, and have outstanding audio clarity, but they have nearly zero low-end bass response making them less than ideal for music and movie lovers. Unlike traditional ear buds that stick down into your ear canal, the LinkBuds rest inside the dent in your ear without protruding into the ear canal. An interchangeable “tail” makes sure they are correctly positioned in your ear and secure as to not fall out. But, how do you know if you have the ear buds set correctly? Easy. The SoundConnect app uses your phone’s camera to measure your ear and pick the correct tail piece for the bud. Slick and effective! Once I selected the proper sized “tail” for the LinkBuds, I found them far more secure and resistant to falling out than normal earbuds. Like I said above, the LinkBuds are impressively light, impressively comfortable, and impressively small. Unlike normal earbuds that stick into the ear, these are the first buds that don’t wind up getting itchy and annoying after an hour or two. As a matter of fact, these are the ONLY earbuds I’ve used that I can tolerate in my ears for hours without annoyance. This has never happened before, and Sony hit it out of the park with the comfort. BATTERY LIFE Battery life, even with noise cancellation is excellent. Up to 8 hours of continuous use. This seems about right, as I was just under 50% after about 4 hours of constant use. While the LinkBuds technically might not make it a whole workday without a recharge, it isn’t a problem, as a simple 3-minute rest in the case gives you an extra 60 minutes of playtime. SOUND PROFILES & EQ I like the way Sony has implemented their equalizer settings in the SoundConnect app. There are your traditional equalizer settings like: Bright, Exciting, Bass Boost, etc. But Sony goes a step farther and includes a sound profile section in the app. This helps tailor all playback to your liking. What I appreciate about it, is that it doesn’t indicate what functions you are attempting to manipulate. Instead, you put on some of your favorite tunes and start selecting numbers based on which sound profile you prefer. Not until you are done, does the app tell you what adjustments it is making to the EQ. Well done! The LinkBuds utilize the same audio processor contained in Sony's excellent XF-1000 headphones. The processor is extremely effective at audio reproduction and active noise cancellation. Combine that with Sony’s DSEE tech and 360-degree audio with head tracking and you would be hard pressed to find a more comprehensive feature set on any set of earbuds or cans. Noise cancellation is surprisingly effective for an earbud that doesn’t protrude down into your ear and technically has a big hole in the middle of it. Owners of Bravia TV's can get even more benefit with the LinkBuds, as they can be paired with the TV to get 360-degree spatial sound. Sort of a quasi-Dolby Atmos set-up. I wish I had a TV to test the surround with, as these are the first and only earbuds I would actually consider using in conjunction with a TV. DISLIKES While I was extremely pleased at the comprehensiveness of the set-up process, I find the SoundConnect app difficult to navigate and many of finer details and settings too buried in sub-menus. Things that should be easy to find often require many different taps and even searches to find where they should be more intuitive and readily accessible. Furthermore, the firmware update process is painfully slow and tedious. Where other manufacturers take only a couple of minutes, a firmware update on these Sony's can take up to 60 minutes to complete. OUCH! The MAJOR drawback of the LinkBuds is their nearly complete lack of low frequency response. It is unfortunate too. This product excels at mid and high frequency reproduction. These frequencies are crystal clear, even clearer than many other more expensive headphones and earbuds I own. There’s an openness and I’ve never experienced before. But drop below 250Hz and the audio just gets lost. There is no large mass transducer to reproduce those lows. Movies and music like hip-hop just become boring and bland. CONCLUSIONS There is still plenty to love about the LinkBuds. These are, by far, the most COMFORTABLE earbud I’ve ever used. Leaps and bounds more comfortable than any of the competition. They sport excellent battery life and have many useful features not found on many similar products. Things like gestures to control functions and not having to physically tap the earbud to change functions are slick. Things I wish more manufacturers would adopt. Call quality is excellent. As good or better than any other product I have used to date. The clarity and noise cancellation rivals speaking directly into my phone. Honestly, it’s better on a windy day. The new Sony LinkBuds have become my new go-to earbud. They may lack nearly any form of bass reproduction, but they are so light and comfortable that I won’t stop using them. I can barely stand to use most earbuds for the duration of movie before they get itchy and annoying. Not the LinkBuds. I’ve used them up to 4 hours at a time and quite honestly, they are so light and comfortable, I actually forget I had them in. This is something I could never say about any other can or earbud I own. The only thing holding the LinkBuds back from a perfect 5-star rating is the bass response. It's unfortunate too, because they do everything else so well. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED

Sony is usually always at the top when it comes to headphones/earbuds in terms of quality/performance. In the market of "open ear buds" there isn't too much competition but these do stand out. Going in, you need to know that this market is for hearing everything around you while keeping them in all the time, not to be confused with pass through on in ear buds. In the box are the buds, the charging case that is the biggest fingerprint magnet in the world due to the piano black gloss top, quick start guide and the smallest USB A to C cable I've ever seen. Setup was standard. You can directly pair it with your normal BT pairing or you can use the new Sony app called Sound Connect (used to be called Sony | Headphones). As I own a couple of pairs of Sony's I already had the app and when I chose the add new option, it found the buds and paired it with no hitches. Using the app (which I recommend) you can get a walkthrough of all the features the LinkBuds can offer. I use the fit checker and the EQ the most. You can use a whole list of presets or for the advanced user, customize the EQ to your preferred liking. Sound is 3-4/5 depending on what you are listening to. The mids and highs sound great but unfortunately there is no bass. Even with Bass Boost or maxing it out on the EQ there is just no thump. This is not just Sony but every open bud's weakness because there is no seal and the sound is just being blasted toward your earholes. Other than that, sound quality is just fine. The design is meant for you to also hear the environment around you. They are great though in an office place that allows them because you can hear your co-workers still. I wouldn't recommend blasting them above 40-50% because then the audio will be loud enough for those who are close to hear. The fit was also difficult for me a little bit. The app will show they are perfectly fit into my ear, but the left one feels too loose. Don't get me wrong, when in, they feel great. Again though, while walking or even just bobbing or moving my head, I found it just kept falling out of my ear. If you look at the design, it is relying on the stem to keep them in. Battery life is decent. During my work week, they on average lasted me 6hrs 15-30min before dying and needing a charge. With the case Sony is claiming up to 22hrs of life and with just a quick 3min charge it should buy at least 1 hour of playtime. Also just me personally, but the glossy black top of the case is annoying and should have been matte like the bottom half. If you are a little more advanced with Codec knowledge then know at these only support SBC or AAC. It's funny because in the app there is an option to choose from either Higher Sound quality or Prioritize Connection. Switching between the 2 gives a pop up that says codecs will change, but no matter what you choose it stays at AAC. Maybe because the sound quality isn't the best of the best that is why Sony made these not compatible with LDAC or aptX so there wasn't a good point to it? Again this is just my observations.

Sony’s newest Open True Wireless Earbuds called LinkBuds, Are one of Sony’s newest products. After spending a few days with them, here is my review of what I think of them. First off, I consider myself an audiophile. I know what sounds good and what doesn’t, strictly based on the quality of sound, clarity, loudness, etc. I have reviewed many other headphones, earbuds and such. And one thing I can say about these right away is that they are unique. With that being said, these earbuds fall short on some areas and excel in others. Design: These earbuds might look like your normal in ear headphones, but they are a little bit different, they are designed so that you can hear music in your head, but are also aware of your surroundings sounds, it’s like Sony wants you to feel like there is music playing in the background, but you can still concentrate on whatever it is you’re doing whether it’s cooking, working, jogging etc. Sound: overall these earbuds sound good, but not great. Some of it is by design, they’re not supposed to be loud so that they have that effect like the music is coming from speakers nearby so that you can listen to music while still being able to concentrate on other sounds/work etc. Bass is lacking no matter the genre you listen to. Fit/comfort: This is where most people will either like these earbuds or they won’t. It’s basically one size fits all, meaning you cannot adjust them at all, there is no additional size gummies to fit your ear or anything of that nature. For me personally, these feel comfortable because I have average size ears. For other people, these might be too big or too small. in my opinion, this will be the single biggest factor that determines whether people like these or not. Even though they fit “normal” on me, I spent the first few hours feeling like they were going to fall out, And they did at first, a couple of times, But once I started getting used to them, it was fine. Features: These have all the features that we are used to earbuds having these days, for example, you can pause, skip songs and lower the volume just by tapping on them while they are in your ear. One feature I was surprised at is that if you receive a phone call while wearing these, you can just nod up and down to accept the call or nod left and right to decline the call. This feature works surprisingly well. App: The first thing you should do is download the app, it will show you how to use your new earbuds, how to use its features, how to wear them properly and you can play with the sound settings. Pros: -Premium look and feel -Creative design -Clear sound -Battery life Cons: -Not very loud -One size must fit all -Lacks bass

Ok, these are my 10 or 11th Wireless Earbuds.  I have more than one set of Sony's over the ear headphones.  They are truly top of the line.  But I can't use them when exercising or when working. I also have a eBike with a helmet that has "headphone" in them.  They are at best so-so.  I really don't expect open earbuds to have the quality of sound that over the ear headphones do.  But I do expect them to be lighter. Sony's previous LinkBuds open has an over the ear loop.  I tried them and found them uncomfortable, and bigger than was comfortable for my ear.  This new version is smaller and a tad heavier, they have a fin up the top of the earbud that should fit into the larger groove of your ear.  I found them much easier to get into my ear than the previous version.  The silicone ear insert only comes in one size.  Many other earbuds in this price range come with a choice of 4 or 5.  I'd have liked to have tried a slightly smaller ear insert, but not possible.  The earbuds are rated to get 8 hours of play time, and the case can charge them 2 more times.  They claim that a 1 minute charge will add 1 hour play time.  I did verify they got over 7 hours of playtime at a fairly high volume level.  Sony has new software called Sony Sound Connect that is used to set up and configure the earbuds.  I tried using them with the previous Sony Music Center app, and they were not recognized.  This surprised me as all my other Sony headphones/earbuds/speakers were. So to get started you need to load the Sony Sound Connect app.  This set up was easy, and the app allows you to connect to up to two input sources. The "Find your equalizer" walks you through setting up the 5 band equalizer where you choose the music.  This works pretty well. There are 8 default settings and a manual setting that you can store as Custom 1 or Custom 2.  During setup you can connect the voice apps: Alexa, Google.  I set up Alexa, without issues.  My first impression was it was difficult to get a proper stereo fit in both ears. One or the other ear sounded different, I spent quite some time tweaking the fit in my ear trying to get the same sound level in both ears.  When I went to a totally silent area it was somewhat easier.  A couple of more details, the earbuds when in the charging case, blinks when charging (green).  When the case is being charged (USB C) the led is solid amber. The case does not support wireless charging. I listened to several tracks from Boston's first album, and I was presently surprised by the quality and openness of the sound.  The LinkBuds bass is actually better than I expected for an open earbud. It's very full but fails to deliver real depth. The highest highs are not as quiet there but still a well rounded sound.  The mid-range was very good, at times exceptional.  I listened under different circumstances, with and without background noise (outside with birds etc, and in my office with a computer hum).  I went back and forth between "More than a feeling", "Foreplay" and "Smokin".  The bass was almost deep and tight, it sounded nice but not exactly what I'd call exceptional, just lacking some punch. When outside with the volume at 60% during low passages I could periodically hear birds and street noise.  In my office the humm of fans could be heard when low but not over louder volume.  The external sounds rarely interfered with the music when it was loud enough.  But when I heard my phone ring, it was easy to make out, one tap and I could pause/mute the music.  At that point it was hard to tell that I had earbuds on.  I could use my corded phone with the earbud in, it was a little awkward but doable (to my suprise). With my cell phone the sound from the LinkBuds was exceptional and I'm told I sounded very natural.  The mic worked very well, with little background noise being picked up. I then listened to Pink Floyd's DSOTM, and was quite impressed by the louder passages in "Time" and "Money". The quiet passages in "The Great Gig in the Sky" were better than I expected, very pleasant.  Some subtleties in the girls' voices were more soft. Here was where better EarBuds excel. I wore the earbuds for over two hours and barely noticed I had them on; the fit on my head was very comfortable (but I still wish the ear insert was slightly smaller). Listening to the deep bass heartbeats at the end of Eclipse, I could feel the bass, but it was still thinner than a closed earbud would be.  So the open design does have some tradeoffs.  The balance of what Sony's done with these is quite nice.  Nothings perfect but across the full frequency that is actually quite good from top to bottom.   I mentioned my eBike.  I tried these earbuds in place of the "open headphones" on my helmet.  Before turning them on I could hear the surrounding noises very clearly.  As I moved down the road the helmet buffeted most of the wind noise. But I could still hear pretty clearly through the earbuds.  Once the music was on it was still a nice balance, I could hear the ambient noise and still enjoy much higher quality music than my helmet headphones delivered. At a very loud level the ambient noise was harder to discern.  I suspect a car's horn would still cut through.  But as far as sound quality; a hands down winner. I don't think I'd feel safe at full volume.  The same when walking, to stay alert, the sound level needed to stay below 60%. There I found an acceptable comfort level.  The touch controls aren’t that responsive (or extensive), increasing the responsiveness too high in the Sound Connect app seemed to make them too sensitive, causing accidental touches.  Using the head shake as a mute/pause was my best friend. Like everything there are tradeoffs; if you want to hear ambient sounds you either have an open design or a closed design that amplifies external sound through the earbud.  In terms of a 100% passive design the open earbud requires less interaction. So if you're using earbuds where you might be interrupted frequently, I think I'd prefer Sony's open LinkBud design.  I think Sony can still make more improvements.  There are not that many other open earbuds. I think this version is better than the previous. And they can improve upon these (multiple earbud tips to begin with).  

With the recent releases of open ear buds lately, I was interested on Sony's take on this. I have had numerous earbuds and headphone on and over the ear. I even tried the off the ear and induction types. My go to always have been over the ears with good noise cancellation from the Sony Ulta over the ear ones. If I wanted an open type of feel, I would turn on transparancy and that works for the most part. It was like hearing with a hearing aid or assited device. Some versions of different models have the transparancy mode and to be honest, is very annyoing to listen through. However with this open type, it's actually quite nice. The box is super minimal. Very little paperwork and packaging which I like. Also no ear bud or cushions with this one. The donut shaped part goes into the front of your ear and the knub on top wedges into your rear lobe. I must have really small ears because I really feel the fatigue when I first used it. Later in the day, I used these open buds when I washed my car. I didn't notice it, but I saw myself on my security cameras and found saw I kept constantly correcting the fit in my ears. It did hurt a bit after wearing for about two hours of detailing my car outside in hot Texas weather. At bed, I opted to listen to a few videos and tried to refit these without really wedging them into my ear. And doing that, I the fatigue was not too bad but I did feel like it kept becoming loose and fall out of my ears. They did not, but it was always in the back of my mind. The really cool thing this offers is the wide tap. Which is tapping not the ear phones but around the front of your ear, like my sideburns to perfom different taps and each side can be assigned and mapped to whatever you want. I had the left side doing my assistant things, which I used Gemini on my Pixel 9. It works, but the buds say it doesn't work, then a second later the Gemini assistant voice comes through. I give it to the newness of Gemini as a dedicated assistant. It works, but just ignore the message that it does not lol. Would I recommed it? I actully do like it and seem to reach out to it rather than my other buds for now. Not sure if it's because it's new to me, or just knowing that I can hear pretty much everything I need to and not be drowned out by ANC, which I do without thinking to just relax. There are times where open devices make sense and walking outside and maybe office wear works. Sometimes I want to get dialed in and want tunes to do so, and I believe this works pretty good. Will this work with everyone? I say no, but for most people it would be good, for the price of Sony its pretty satisfying to use.

The Sony Linkbuds Open are very different from your usual wireless earbuds in that they offer a truly open listening experience. What’s that mean? Well, unlike regular earbuds that seal off your ear canal, the Linkbuds Open leave your ear canal completely open, allowing you to hear your surroundings while still enjoying your audiobooks, music, or podcasts. You might be thinking why anyone would want headphones that don’t block sound, but that person might just be you. Wearing these at home, in an office or when exercising can provide an unparalleled experience in comfort and usability, especially with all the features that Sony has baked into these headphones. Design The design is eye catching, because it looks very different. They are a one piece design that looks like two pieces, and the way they kind of rest inside your outer ear make them even more unique looking. You can also customize the buds with custom colors for the case and the buds themselves. The case is small and very lightweight, as are the ear buds. I’d definitely suggest you buy a silicone case from Sony to help add a little heft to the case so you don’t lose that along with your headphones. The headphones are also splash resistant, so you don’t have to worry about some rain or sweat ruining them. Sound Quality Despite the open ear design, the Linkbuds Open provide fantastic sound. The mids and highs sound incredible and although the lows aren’t as punchy as with closed earbuds, they are surprisingly still there. I was pleasantly surprised while listening to music, podcasts, and audiobooks and even though your surroundings are still audible, you won’t have any issue listening to your favorite content. Features The Linkbuds Open really shines when you download the Sony | Sound Connect app on your phone. Make sure to update the firmware right away, as there are features that aren’t available without the newest firmware. Once you have the new firmware, you’ll be presented with many ways to customize the sound, audio quality, tapping preferences and even the way of the headphones interact with your voice. There’s a great setting that instantly pauses whatever you’re listening to whenever you speak, and that’s just such a great feature when you’re wearing them around the house or the office. I won’t even go into detail about the automatic volume adjustment based on your environment, the 360 degree audio capabilities, and the head tracking. Half the fun is finding out how you’ll be able to use those features to further bring value to these already incredible headphones. Just a tip, try the head gestures feature and the speak-to-chat, because I think you’ll like those a lot! Battery Life With the lack of noise cancellation, these headphones will give you up to 8 hours between charges and another 2–3 charges when put inside the case. That’s a super long battery life for how small and light the headphones and case are. Overall I’m enjoying the Sony Linkbuds Open more than I thought I would. I can wear them all day and never have to take them off when talking to people in person or on conference calls for work. They are so comfortable once you get adjusted to their unique fit that you won’t even feel like you’re wearing them. These headphones are unique enough to warrant their price tag and come with so much technology in them that I can’t help but recommend them to anyone looking for earbuds that won’t isolate them from their world. Pros: Unique design that doesn’t isolate you from the world Very comfortable to wear for long periods of time Surprisingly great sound quality with deep bass, clear mids, and crisp highs 8 hours of battery life and an additional 22 hours from the case is incredible Head tracking for 3d audio support Automatic volume adjustment based on environment Cons: These aren’t going to cancel any noise, so don’t expect that The fit is definitely different, so that’ll take a bit to get used to These probably wouldn’t work well in very loud environments

The Sony LinkBuds Open True Wireless Earbuds offer great sound - deep, rich bass and excellent noise cancellation. For the purposes of this review, I am comparing them with the earbuds I use every day with my iPhone and Macs. The Good: - The setup is straightforward and easy. - Charging out of the box took about 3 hours. - The Sony Sound Connect app is fantastic for customizing the LinkBuds, although it's a little bit clunky to figure out. - The app helps you set up various features including spatial recognition and the ability to nod up and down to answer a call or shake side to side to decline a call. - I was able to set up the LinkBuds to work with Alexa which is also an option in the Sony Sound Connect app and is very useful and far more reliable than the earbuds I usually use on a day-to-day basis. - The LinkBuds have OUTSTANDING battery life - after the first charge several days ago, I'm still over 50% which is definitely a stand-out feature in comparison to other earbuds. The Not-So-Good: The LinkBuds have an odd fit. I don't know if it's just me and the way my ears are shaped, but the small rubber flap that is supposed to secure the LinkBuds into each ear just didn't work for me. The LinkBuds were constantly falling out of my ears. It's a shame because the sound quality and the battery life are amazing. I would have given these LinkBuds a 5-star review if not for the fit issue. Perhaps it's just the shape of my ears -- I am not sure, but I would recommend these with the caveat that you may have difficulty keeping the LinkBuds in your ears.

I have and currently owned many pairs of earbuds. I will be honest I hate pretty much all of them because they get super uncomfortable to wear to a point of causing pain. These are a game changer as they are the most comfortable pair of earbuds I have ever had. I can wear these for hours on end and forget they are in my ear. The battery life also lasts a very long time and charging in the case is very quick as well. The shape of these headphones to me is a little odd and figured they would fall out when walking or have just okay sound. I was wrong on both as they stay in place rather well and when walking they never once felt like they were going to pop out. I like that my ear is filled with music but due to the design of the earbuds I can still hear the ambient sound around me. I hate walking around and not hearing my surroundings and thankfully these let enough sound in that I can feel comfortable wearing them when walking outside. While I do have some other earbuds that sound slightly better, but due to the comfort level these Sony earbuds blow away my other ones. The sound quality is pretty fantastic, you can even customize EQ settings via the app. I like a little more bass, so I was able to set the earbuds for my specific liking. Listening to music or watching movies, these headphones do not disappoint. You can also connect two sources to these headphones. I have them paired with my iPhone and Windows 11 computer. I love that you can use the two sources at once and not have to choose. You definitely need to use the app to fully set these earbuds up. During the setup the app had me take pictures of both my ears to analyze my ears for the 360 reality audio setup. I did this and tested the 360 audio and wow did it sound great. The problem I have is you need to have a specific source for this immersive sound. The apps that Sony recommends are pay sites and will I love the way it sounds I do not need to pay for another service. Even without paying a service to use the 360 sound these earbuds still are amazing. I have started to give away my other earbuds because of how uncomfortable they are to wear, whereas these are just perfect. If you are looking for a great pair of earbuds, I highly recommend checking these out. After using for hours on end for a few days I'm still amazed at how great the Sony Earbuds are.

I've been a big fan of the Sony earbuds/headphones for quite some time now. Biggest feature for me being their Extra Bass setting which is great for the music I listen to as well as their noise cancelling feature. I have their WH1000XM3 headphones as well as their WF-1000XM3 earbuds which are probably my most favorite for listening to music. Both these have great sound and noise cancellation but these LinkBuds kinda fall flat compared to these other ones I have. As far as sound, they sound OK in my opinion. There isn't that ooompf on those low bass notes like with the other headphones I have. Even with the noise cancelling active, still not really that impressive to me. Highs/Mids come out OK but doesn't seem as crisp as one would expect. My biggest complaint with these is the fit. I have normal ears and have no problem with using the Sony headphones/earbuds, Beats or Apple Air Pods. The fit with these LinkBuds is downright terrible for me. They don't fit well at all no matter how I position them or how tightly I cram them in my ear. As such, they come loose just from walking, chewing food or talking. Unless I hold my head completely still, they'll fall out. The right one, specifically, WILL NOT STAY PUT and it drives me crazy. I've already dropped them several times just from them falling out on their own. Kind of makes it impossible to enjoy and music when this keeps happening. These earbuds come with a very small charging/storage case which is nice as well as short USB-C cable for charging. Normally I love Sony audio products but I'm not really sure what they were trying to accomplish with these.

The Sony LinkBuds Open bring a unique design to the wireless ear buds market and deliver nice clean sound at the same time. When I first saw the original LinkBuds I was always intrigued with them but never tried them. I’m glad these have the little wing tips that help keep them in your ear unlike the first generation. Because of that wing tip, the ear buds always stayed put in my ear while wearing them and I wasn’t having to constantly adjust them. This is one of my biggest pet peeves with ear buds and whenever I can find a pair that I don’t have to constantly adjust is a big plus for me. Next to fit, sound is the most important element for any ear buds and these deliver crisp clean sound no matter the genre. Being an open design, I was worried they would lack depth especially with bass but I was wrong. They deliver plenty of bass and they give you that sense of depth that allows you to truly feel the music. It’s easy to dial in the sound that’s perfect for you alswith the excellent app. Besides preset eq settings, the app will walk you thru customizing the perfect sound that just right for you. The app allows you to customize other settings for the ear buds such as speak to chat, pause when headphones are removed and a lot more. Battery life has been excellent and Sony claims up to 22 hours and a 3 min charge will provide 60 minutes of playback. When it’s time to charge you only have one option unfortunately as theirs no wireless charging which honestly surprised me at this price. If you like using your ear buds for calls, I’m happy to say you can use them independent of each other. The LinkBuds Open are either gonna be a design that works for you or they don’t, they’re comfortable, though not the most comfortable design I’ve ever used when it comes to earbuds. Overall, they deliver excellent sound and have an app that offers a lot of customization, probably more than I’ve seen from any other earbuds, but do lack wireless charging.

The Sony LinkBuds Open are completely wireless earbuds that most users are now accustomed to. A rather unique (at least to me) design feature is that there is a hole in the middle of the driver that allows for outside noises to pass through into your ears so that you are not cut off sonically from the outside world. Meaning the driver, or speaker looks like a donut with a hole in the middle. This makes it safer to wear in public because you are more aware of what is going on around you, and also allows you to interact with others without having to remove the buds from your ears to hear them speak. The product (like most nowadays) does not come with a paper user guide. I tried finding the full user guide on Sony’s web site searching by model number, using the model number listed on the back of the charging case, but that wasn’t the right one. There is a QR code on the “Reference Guide” paper that comes with the buds, but it makes no indication as to what it links to - the QR code on the outside of the packaging links to information about Sony and the environment. It IS worth your time to peruse the online “Help Guide” and to download it for future reference as these are no longer simple listening devices like the old days of wired and even some wireless earbuds. By the way the model number is WF-L910, and not YY2964 like it appears to be. LinkBuds Open includes the ear buds, a charging case, and an 8 inch long charging cable (USB-A to USC-C). Eight inches long…really? Plugging into your computer is about the only place where the case will not be dangling in thin air, like from most electrical outlets. There is no charging adapter as is the case with virtually every new rechargeable electronic device nowadays. Sony is doing its part for sustainability with packaging that is completely paper product and parts of the buds and charging case are made of recycled plastic. The first thing you should do is download the “Sony ⎮Sound Connect” app to your phone - this used to be called “Sony ⎮ Headphones Connect”, so you might already have it and just have to update the app. Then fully charge the case and earbuds, then you should update to the newest firmware for the earbuds. The app stated this update could take up to 60 minutes for an iPhone, and that is just about how long it took. I don’t think I’ve ever had even a complete operating system update on my phone take that long. The electronic “Help Guide” for the LinkBuds is 147 pages long - for real? And I just discovered another link on their web site for a Help Guide for the Sound Connect app, and that is 93 pages long! Large sections are devoted to proper fit of these earbuds and troubleshooting of fit issues. I give Sony credit for coming up with a design that fits in your ear with an integrated flexible, silicone tip that negates the need to buy a third-party, add-on “wing” or “fin” to keep the buds in your ears. That said, I must also state that I have never had such a frustrating time getting these things in my ears so that they stay in place. Every suggestion made in the text or videos was of no help to me in getting the buds to stay in my ears. I can sum up what worked for me in two sentences. “Insert the left LinkBud into the ear with the driver openings facing the ear canal and twist the whole bud clockwise until it is seated firmly in the ear. Insert the right LinkBud into the ear with the driver openings facing the ear canal and twist the whole bud counter-clockwise until it is seated firmly in the ear.” Done. Granted, everyone’s ears are shaped slightly different, but I have never had earbuds that required so much documentation for wearing them, and app tools to detect proper use (using your phone’s camera), as with the Sony LinkBuds Open. Somewhere during the fit I had in fitting these in my ears, there was mention of being able to obtain different “fitting supporters” (this is what Sony calls the soft, silicone tips that keep the buds in your ear) from Sony. I can only assume these are of varying sizes or shapes as I cannot again find where I originally saw mention of this information the first time. The Help Guide is full of links that jump you around in the electronic document. While I can understand the want to do this, it leads to frustration in getting back to where you were prior to the jump, as I could find no easy way back. And makes it hard to remember where you saw something. These earbuds are so chock full of sophisticated (and sometimes complicated to use) features, there is no way for me to cover all that they can do in this review. In the Sony ⎮ Sound Connect app it lists 43 items under “What You Can Do With Sony Sound Connect App”. It should have come with a dictionary. In the Help Guide was the curious word “tragus”. I had to look it up to see what they were talking about…and I worked in healthcare for 40 years. While I commend Sony for developing a set of earbuds designed to have something for everybody, and maybe too much for a lot of somebodies (especially me), what it comes down to for a lot of people for earbuds is how do they sound? I was not particularly pleased with their sound signature. Not only do I have to futz around with settings in the Sound Connect app, I also have to do so in any other app that have settings that affect sound reproduction, such as the “Music” app on my phone. Granted, this isn’t a big deal if you have just the one set of earbuds and all of your listening is through them. I have multiple sets that I keep in a variety of locations and do occasionally switch amongst them. This requires a lot of fiddling around to tailor the sound to my liking when using a different listening device. I found the LinkBuds to sound a little “muddy” and lacking in high frequencies. Even after playing around with the settings, which I did a LOT, they still were not my favorite when it came to both music reproduction or when listening to the spoken word such as a phone call or podcast. I have had a lot of Sony products over the decades, and a lot of them hit a home run in performance, features, or both. I have to say in all honesty that I found the LinkBuds Open to be frustrating on many fronts, and somewhat of a disappointment when it comes to the ultimate parameter which is sound quality. I really wanted to like these and I spent a lot of time working with them because I wanted to give Sony a fair review. I agonized over writing this for a long time. Maybe I am getting too old for new things, I don’t know. I want to give them 5 stars for all the technology built in to them, but I want to give 1 star for the frustration I had with fit, and the documentation that I found confusing and hard to use. I’m going to go with an average of 3 stars and urge people to try them before committing to purchase, or make sure of the return policy in case you don’t care for them.

I recently received the Sony LinkBuds Open earbuds and have been listening to them for many hours the past few days. First and foremost for me, the sound is simply outstanding. I have a pair of Sony’s previous generation earbuds which were great, but the sound from the LinkBuds Open is even better. I used the Sony Sound Connect app to customize the sound to my liking using the equalizer functions and the sound is pretty incredible. Regarding the fit of the LinkBuds Open, it took me a bit of manipulating since the design is different than past ear buds I’ve owned. But once I figured out what works for my ears they are rock-solid. The do not move and stay in my ears much better than previous ear buds I’ve owned. Through weightlifting workouts and bike rides they never budged. Very comfortable, I can barely feel them. The tap function worked well if you want to pause/play music, skip to the next track, and increase/decrease the volume. Answering phone calls also works with the tap function. You have to tap three times to answer (and to hang up) so honestly, its probably easier for me just to use my phone for that. But if I’m some distance from my phone then yeah, I can see that being useful. Interestingly, you don’t have to tap the ear bud itself. You can, but you can also tap just in front of your ear and it works just as well. Sony says you get 22 hours of battery life with these which is excellent. I have not tested this to confirm, to me if I get 3 or 4 hours that’s more than enough. Electrical outlets are plentiful, its not that big a deal to me to recharge the case occasionally. In the documentation I received along with product, these are described as “Sony LinkBuds Open Noise Cancelling Headphones”. I’m guessing that was a typo for products sent out to testers like myself, because these do not have noise cancelling functionality. I went through the entire 147 page user manual and it is not there. So no, these are not noise cancelling ear buds. From my understanding and research, I believe the LinkBuds Fit will have noise cancelling functionality. Since this product was sent to me for testing and I don’t think they have been released yet, I do not know the cost of the LinkBuds Open or the Fit. I’m sure the LinkBuds Open will cost less since they don’t have noise cancelling. Personally, I really like noise cancelling and being able to turn it on or off for ambient sound. So keeping that in mind and knowing what functionality the LinkBuds Open do and do not have, I would say that these are outstanding ear buds, particularly for the sound and the comfort and I would highly recommend them if you don’t care about having noise cancelling capability.

If you're looking at these earbuds, then im assuming you know they won't have the best sound quality or that there is absolutely no sound cancelling, digital or physical. If those are deal breakers, these buds aren't made for you. With that out of the way, this generation of the Linkbuds sound far better than the previous Linkbuds. I was genuinely surprised when I first tried them. They also look more premium than its previous version. That being said, the design is different. The new design looks better but seems to be less versatile. The previous version, with the right loop, could stay in my ear all day and i'd forget its there. The Open will fatigue my ear within and hour, though it seems like my ears might be adjusting over repeated use. Small nitpick, the shape of the case is a perfect square with no physical indication of its orientation. You'll need to fidle around before opening it without looking, which i do often.

Since we are in an overly saturated headphone market, specifically wireless earbuds, it can be difficult for companies to stand out amongst the competition. However, being the innovators as they are known for, Sony has somehow done just that with their new LinkBuds Open wireless earbuds. Please, allow me to explain. My wife, specifically, has always had an issue with finding wireless earbuds because of the size of her ears; they have relatively small openings therefore many of the earbuds I have used don’t work in her ears and tend to either not seat or seal correctly and/or constantly fall out regardless of what she is doing. Over the years, we have gone through several design and brand options and she ultimately just ends up going back to what she has been accustomed to in her, in my opinion, poorly designed well-known phone maker’s design that she still has issues with or simply giving up and using her speakerphone which is an issue considering she owns an in-home daycare where the noise level can be quite high. When Sony’s new LinkBud Open design was revealed, I was sure that we would end up in the same boat and figured I would just end up with another pair of earbuds for me that she couldn’t use. It was worth a LONG shot and I knew I ultimately wasn’t sacrificing anything because I would end up with a great pair of earbuds having experience with Sony’s line of headphones and what they are capable of. The LinkBuds Open came in a small, extraordinarily plain box with little to no advertising information or technical features noted on the outside therefore you’ll have to do some homework to know what you are investing in. Even the small, gloss black charging case they earbuds come with isn’t something you would do a double take on however, as I’m sure everyone would agree on, it’s what’s inside that really counts. From prior experience, I think this is something that Sony’s headphone line has been known for and has become somewhat of an internet sensation as they continually rate higher than many other high-end headphone manufacturers. Perhaps this is because Sony has been in the headphone market for longer than most starting all the way back to before the Walkman and their trademark orange foam headphones came to existence (please create me a high-end retro remake of these, pretty please). One thing you’ll want to do before trying it yourself is to take the time and watch or review the guide on how to fit your new earbuds; they are not like many other earbuds that either dangle in your ear or use a vinyl or foam tip that squeezes into your ear canal, many of which have active noise cancelling (ANC) features. This does have a bit of a learning curve because if you don’t do it correctly, they will just fall out. After a quick initial charge and syncing the LinkBuds to the Sony Smart Controller headphone application via Bluetooth, I was ready to rock. Having used numerous Sony headphones in the past, I know their focus is typically on the sound, specifically the loudness and deep bass. This especially rings true with these which is fantastic for a lifelong audiophile and considering how small earbuds are. Using large 11mm drivers and high-power neodymium magnets, they are incredibly loud in comparison to other earbuds I have tested, some of which are over double the price. Within the app there are several equalizer settings to tinker with including a manual mode and two custom EQ settings. There is also an interesting background music effect feature that will mimic background noises such as a café or your living room. I haven’t quite figured out what I would use this feature for but perhaps it is something someone else might want to use :/. I would recommend having the app analyze your ear shape to ensure a correct fitting; it’s very quick and easy to do using your smartphone. Back to my wife’s small ears, I was shocked to find out that they seated in her ears even better than they did in mine and were a perfect fit; I couldn’t believe it after all these years of trial and error. One of the first things I noticed after setting them up is there is not an option in the app for ANC and, as I’ll explain later, this ends up being a great feature in my wife’s case. If you’re specifically in the market for ANC earbuds, you may still want to consider these as an option as they somehow still do the trick in blocking out unwanted noises while still allowing you to hear what’s going on around you, I assume hence the “Open” name. One of the features you can enable in the app is the ability to sense when you start talking or someone else starts talking to you and will pause what you re listening to. After a short amount of time or using the tap features, it will resume play. This is convenient for us, as parents of little children, as you can enjoy your music or podcasts but still know when someone else is trying to get your attention. You can customize certain tap features to perform functions such as automatically opening a music streaming service. Sony also has a cool 360 Reality Audio feature that you can use via another app and the LinkBuds come with a 30-day free trial. Considering the plethora of headphones and earbuds I have been through over decades, we have finally found a pair that actually did have more of a universal fit compared to other manufacturers that made this claim and ended up not working for my wife. Even if that weren’t the case, the sound that Sony headphones and earbuds is able to produce is, in most cases, far superior than the competition and at a much more reasonable price compared to most high-end manufacturers.

These earbuds sound amazing and fit perfectly. I can barely tell the difference between having these in and using a high quality speaker.

Does not let you hear anything outside being open-eared. It does not fit in the ear very well. Very low on sound