The new ones Sony LinkBuds are the first Sony headphones designed to be always on and placed in our ears. It is a new concept that seeks that we do not have to be taking off and putting on our headphones depending on what we are doing, but that we can always wear them to be able to be connected at the same time that we are aware of what is happening around us.
To achieve this, Sony has used a new ring design with audio transparency. In addition, the Sony LinkBuds have been designed to be ultra comfortable, thanks to a very small size and a perfect fit. All this without giving up great sound quality, both in music and in calls. A new headset concept in which Sony has put all the meat on the grill, including its best technology and even developing new control systems. We’re going to take an in-depth look at everything the new Sony LinkBuds have to offer.
Sony LinkBuds: new design so that we are always connected
As we advanced, the Sony LinkBuds have been created so that we can listen to our favorite music (or podcast, or videos or whatever we want) without the need to “disconnect” from our environment. To achieve this, Sony has created a open ring design that allows you to listen to calls, music and other content, but also the ambient sound.
The Japanese manufacturer has developed a ring transducer that has an open diaphragm center for audio transparency, thus allowing users to clearly hear the sounds around them. This new design is designed so that we never have to disconnect the headphones to listen to a conversation with someone, a call in an airport or a car that beeps when we are exercising.
But being able to hear the environment is not the only feature that headphones designed to be used throughout the day should have. Comfort becomes a key feature in a device of this type. And it is something that Sony has taken into account. In fact, the manufacturer has done a complex miniaturization job to make the Sony LinkBuds weigh only four grams and can fit perfectly in any ear. They are 51% smaller and weigh 44% less than the Sony WF-1000XM4.
Unlike conventional headphones, the protection surface that covers the speaker diaphragm is integrated into it, saving space. The overall design has been crafted using a wealth of data on ear shape, collected since Sony introduced the world’s first in-ear headphones in 1982. The idea is that you barely notice you’re wearing them .
They are made from recycled ABS from auto parts, mixed with natural stone (mica) to give them a premium finish. On the other hand, to be able to adapt to any ear, the headphones use a small rubber support (available in 5 different sizes) that presses against the antihelix to keep the headphones in place without getting in the way. As they are not earphones that are inserted into the ear, the Sony LinkBuds do not exert pressure, they do not bother when eating, they are less dirty and prevent the accumulation of moisture in the ear. Also has IPX4 certificationthus being resistant to water, splashes and sweat.
Sony LinkBuds: a newly designed ring driver and all the manufacturer’s audio technology
Sony has also wanted to take great care of the sound quality of its new headphones. As we have already mentioned, the Sony LinkBuds incorporate a 12mm ring transducer specially designed that, according to the manufacturer, provides a rich and well-balanced sound. This is accompanied by a DAC and headphone amplifier with high S/N ratio and low distortionaided by Sony’s V1 processor.
On the other hand, the LinkBuds incorporate DSEE (Digital Sound Enhancement Engine), a system that restores high-frequency sounds lost by compressing the original music source. The integrated processor V1 reproduces all the music detail with minimal distortion, for a high-quality listening experience.
In addition, in order to achieve the sound we are looking for, Sony LinkBuds can be customized using the equalizer in the Headphones Connect app. This offers several preset equalization profiles, but also allows you to create your own profiles.
Sony LinkBuds can be a great option for those who spend all day on the phone, which is why Sony has included a precise voice pickup technology that optimally controls multiple microphones and performs advanced voice signal processing to achieve high call quality.
On the other hand, headphones use a noise reduction system powered by AI-based machine learning algorithms which suppresses ambient noise and extracts the voice clearly. Be careful, we are not referring to an active noise cancellation system, something that would not make much sense in headphones with an open design.
Another of the systems that we find in the Sony LinkBuds is the adaptive sound control. This automatically optimizes the volume based on where we are. Thus, if it detects that there is a lot of noise in our environment, it will increase the volume, while if the noise is less, it will automatically lower it.
And how do we control the Sony LinkBuds? Considering its small size, a touch control on the surface of the headset would have been very uncomfortable. So what Sony has done is create a new UX that extends the control zone to the front of our ears. That is, we will not have to touch the headphones, but our own face. By means of a double or triple touch we can control the vast majority of the headset’s functions. Sony has disabled the one-touch option to avoid accidental presses.
On the other hand, the Sony LinkBuds incorporate the option Speak-to-Chat, which automatically pauses the music as soon as we start talking to someone. Once the conversation is over, the music will start playing again, so you won’t need to touch any controls. The LinkBuds also come with a hands-free function and are compatible with Google and Amazon voice assistants.
And to finish, two important details. The LinkBuds are compatible with Google’s new and useful Fast Pair feature, which allows effortless pairing with Android devices. We can also locate where we last left the headphones. On the other hand, SwiftPair makes it quick and easy to pair the LinkBuds to a Windows 11 or Windows 10 laptop, computer or tablet. And for the first time ever, when you take the earbuds out of their case a pop-up window will appear automatically.
Finally, autonomy. Sony LinkBuds offer 5.5 hours of playback on a single charge, plus an additional 12 hours of battery life with the charging case. That would be a total of 17.5 hours of battery life. If we exhaust it, we have a system of fast charge which offers 1.5 hours of playback with just 10 minutes of charging.
In short, a new headset concept that we will have to try to see if it really works as well as the manufacturer says. The sony linkbuds will be available in gray and white from this month at an approximate price of 180 euros.
