Sony LinkBuds S Truly Wireless Noise Canceling Earbuds

Had the LinkBuds S for almost a month now and really pleased with them. They produce a good quality sound across the frequency range including low end bass. They are comfortable to wear and have a good charge duration. The charging case has a built in battery so can recharge the earbuds while out and about.

I’ve always struggled with in ear headphones and found my ears get tender even after short periods of use but not with these Sony Link Buds S and I have found I’ve been wearing them for hours on end - I did have to experiment with the variety of interchangeable ear pieces to get the most comfortable fit. The sound quality from something so small and light is astounding and it is easy to tweak the equaliser to suit your musical preferences in the Sony Headphones app. Noise cancelling is unbelievable - I used these while mowing the lawn and the mower noise was barely audible, conversely, switching to ambient mode allowed external noises to be heard clearly making these a safe option to wear when out walking / running. The fit of the headphones feel very secure so no problem with them slipping out while exercising. Battery life is as advertised with 6 hours of playback plus an additional 14 hours with the case and a quick 5 minute charge is enough to get another hour out of them. Packaging was a little fiddly when first opening the box but once unwrapped ghe experience is great. Overall, I’m incredibly impressed with what these ear buds have to offer and I think you’d be hard pressed to find a better sounding set of headphones that are so light to wear - highly recommended!

These are the first in ear buds I have ever found comfortable enough to wear. Any other brand have always found to uncomfortable to wear. Therefore prior to this I have always used full size headphones.
The sound quality is second to none with perfect clarity and a good degree of bass which many full size headphones fail to achieve. The adjustments within the settings allow many variations of adjustments to suit different types of music. I did however find getting to this part of the settings not the easiest in finding
I have only used them around the house at the moment but am looking forward to using them on a long flight to USA in a few months
The quality of the product starts with the packaging which is not cheap cardboard like many manufacturers use. I have only had to charge them once and this took about 4 hours although they still had some charge in them before I charged them .
The bluetooth connectin seems tonwork from quite a distance as they still wrok when I am at the bottom of the garden and my phone is in the house.
I would highly recommend this product to any of my friends and family

I used my Sony Linkbuds S earbuds in various places and conditions. I used them to listen to music in quiet rooms and in noisy outside places to test the noise cancelling qualities. In both situations the buds performed superbly, cancelling out practicly all of the ambient noise wherever I used them. I was able to conect with ease to my smart phone, tablet and music player useing the bluetooth button on the case. Linking to the Sony music center app was simple and quick which then gave me access to all of the programs for the buds, enabling me to change settings as I wished. I found the "speak to chat" function fun to use. This alows you to talk to someone whilst listening to your music. When it is enabled your music pauses, noise cancelation pauses and you can talk to people. When you have finished your music resumes as does noise cancelation. Useing the buds to take phone calls was easy once I had set up my buds to the configuration I wanted, a left or right handed configuration. The voice clarity was superb, and with noise cancelation activated the person who was calling did not know I was in a noisy location. The fitting of the buds was simple and useing the Sony Headphones Connect app, photographing them in my ears ensured they were fitted correctly. I wore them for many hours with no discomfort which is something I have not been adle to do with ear buds before, so these buds rate highly with me for comfort. The music quality was also very good, and having the Sony Headphones Connect app made even better with the sound equaliser facility. Prior to fully testing the buds I did an update to check for any new downloads useing the Sony Headphones Connect app to make sure my buds were up to date which again was very easy and quick. The overall size of the product is comfortably small, so fitted easily in my pocket. Charging the buds and case is done via a type C cable and wall charger, or compatible usb outlet on a computer, which does not take long. The only thing to let the buds down is that you cannot use a wireless charger or your phones charge share to charge the case and buds. This is not a major problem as the case will hold enough charge for a second or even third charge for the buds. The remaining charge can be checked in the app on your phone so you wont run out of charge during the day. My overall impression of the Sony Linkbuds S are that they are a quality product which perform exceptionally well with my stuff, effortlessly switches between phones, tablets and players, is comfortable to wear for hours on end and look stylish to boot.

For my particular level and taste in music the sound from these LinkBuds is very good. They also have quite a few extra offerings such as you can remove them over lunch and they automatically switch off your music on your player then resume it again when you return them to your ears.

I have had a succession of noise cancelling units over the years, usually to attempt to gain complete peace and quiet whilst travelling. These are not designed to do quite that...and they don't. They are for everyday, all day, use and they are rather good at it. I'm always aware of a little noise in the background and in a working environment such as an office this could be an asset. I find it easy to be sociable, keep my eye on the ball yet still enjoy my music.

They are small, light and very, very comfortable to wear for long periods of time, to the point where you can almost forget that you're wearing them. I need to listen to TV at a higher volume level than the people around me and with the help of a third party unit I have been doing this for some time although I believe that a direct wireless connection is possible with later Sony TVs. These buds are the most comfortable I've ever experienced. Maybe good for a whole box set perhaps

Ambient sound interruption easily becomes part of your daily use as do phone calls and this can be tweaked in the Headphones Connect App on your phone.

Pros:

Cool looking buds and a pleasure to wear.

I'm now quite comfortable with these LinkBuds in most situations. They are small, light, smooth and comfortable. I don't feel shut off from my surroundings when wearing them but still listen comfortably and yet I feel enabled to be more easily sociable and maybe a little safer with the awareness of what is around me.

Cons:

Slightly fiddly removing them from their lovely charging case but then again I am not a youngster.

OVERVIEW

Being an individual who loves working, walking, exercising and reading with music; a good set of headphones/earphones is a must. Sony has been always my first choice, mainly because of the quality of their products and the constant innovation. Pioneers on noise-cancelling, 360 surround and other marvelous audio enhancements make Sony a referent when picking new headphones.

I received these earbuds and my overall impression is very good. Before doing this review I ran 10 rounds to have a better picture of their performance. I call ‘round’ to the interval with the battery at 100% until it was exhausted.

BATTERY – Enough for the day.

As the buds came with 80% battery, I exhausted the battery before start my review. I, then, took notes in 3 different rounds monitoring the % of juice every 30 minutes. In a very general way, the battery goes down by 10% every 30 minutes although that’s not entirely accurate. I listened music non-stop on round 4 whilst walking to the gym, exercising, walking back, going for a stroll and shopping and reading a book.

As you will see in the chart below, the 100% lasted for a full hour, which seemed promising but it then started to go down, as mentioned before, by 10% every half an hour. At 60% the battery did not show any decrease until on hour later and once it was on 30% it seemed like the battery was striving to last longer.

The earbuds battery management runs independently, in other words, the battery does not last exactly the same on each bud, yet the performance is quite similar. At 14:39 I’ve got the alert on the right bud that the battery was low. The reading on my mobile indicated 20%. 7 minutes later I’ve got the same alert for the left bud.

At 15:03 the right bud was off and 19’ later, the left bud followed.

So, nearly 7 hours of use with a full charge. As I mentioned before, the LinkBuds give you what you need for a day, considering in any given day our circumstances do not allow to listen music continuously as I did for this test. And, anyway, once you put the buds back in their case, they will recharge. And speaking about charging, I did not measure the time it takes for the buds to be recharged, but I estimate it is about 1 hour. So, go for lunch with your mates, socialise and your buds will be ready when you are back to your desk.

The test on the battery wasn’t done with Headphones Connect of Sony but, if you use it, you will be able to track the battery of the buds separately.

SETTING UP – What’s that?

The easiest part of this. Put them on, turn on your Bluetooth on the device you want them and you are ready. No hassle at all!

Of course, you can use the Headphones Connect of Sony which allows a lot of improvements such as adaptive sound based on your recorded locations and activities. It will take some time for the software to register your main places and activities but it is worth the effort. Plus, if you have previous headphones, the app will import the settings.

Calls – Better that a face-to-face conversation.
The reception of the microphone is just marvellous. I had a couple of calls one day at the gym and, thanks to the noise cancelling (see next section) I got nice chats with my friends despite the loud music and the guys around painfully grunting. Even one of my friends could hear a guy 2 benches ahead when he was breathing very fast. How cool is that!

NOISE CANCELLING

Just like with my previous tested pair, the WF-1000XM4, the noise cancelling works very well but, let’s keep the perspective on this. As they are not overhear devices, they cannot fully isolate you from the sounds around, however, the level of reduction is great.

Thanks to my wife, I’ve got a good test for reference which I call the ‘kettle test’. One morning, she turned on the kettle to cook some water for coffee and tea. Coincidentally, I was wearing the buds and entered the kitchen and stood next to the kettle. To give you an idea of the difference, imagine that you stick your ear to a punctured tyre and you hear the air escaping. Well, that’s the level of noise reduction you get.

In short, low wave sounds will be cancelled, mid-wave are seriously reduced (kettle test), high pitch will be still there which is not a bad thing. I could hear the ambulances whilst walking my way to the gym, for example. After all, it is important to be aware of our surroundings, isn’t.

COMFORT

Size: They are slightly smaller than the previous generation, the WF-1000XM4, and the comfort is pretty much the same.

Fitting: What I like the most is that the LinkBuds come with 4 pairs of silicon fitters, so just take your time to find the right ones. I tried just the middle size options. As my ears and the entrance of the ear canal are not identical, I ended up using two different sizes, one for each ear. If the fitter is not the correct one, you can feel some popping whilst walking as the earbud will be moving.

Move: I do not run so I cannot tell you if the impact will make the buds go off, but I can tell you that I did some rope skipping once and the buds were in place all the time. So, I presume that the same will happen when jogging or running.

Sweat: Again, it all goes down to the correct fit. But, if you use the correct size, no sweat will get into your ears and, more important, into your buds! As long as you clean your buds, they will be fine. Take into account that the mic is exposed but thanks to is position and the windscreen, they will be fine. So, just be a neat person and take a minute to wipe your buds after use, ok?

PACKING

Love the cardboard packing, not just resistant but also fully recyclable. I tend to keep the original pack of all my gadgets, but if you are thinking of disposing it, please put it the in right bin! The buds come with some instructions and guarantee in God know how many languages, a USB-USBc cable and the silicon fitters. If you need further instructions, just use the QR to access the full manual.

Downsides of MY buds.

Okay, this bit is only because I think that MY buds came defective and I relate the fails ONLY TO MY PRODUCT and not as a general issue. Based on my experience using Sony products, I am confident that this is an isolated case.

Buzzing: In a couple of rounds, the right bud started buzzing for no reason. In both occasions I removed the buds and put them back in their case. After five minutes or so, I put them back on and the buzz on the right bud was over.

Wind-like noise: The left bud, also with no apparent reason started to emit this noise as if you would be driving at high speed on a motorway with your windows open. It happened after the six or seven round whilst in the gym. I tried few times to resolve it by switching off and back on the noise cancelling, stopping the music and playing it back again to no avail. Just like with the buzzing problem, I had to put them back on the case before use them again.

The problem is, if you are in the gym and you remove your buds, you do not want to put them in the case straight after without wiping them, right? So, it was a bit annoying.

CONCLUSION

A perfect solution for music/podcast/radio lovers on their everyday lives. Portable and comfortable and with excellent performance on noise-cancelling and with a very decent battery life.
Any manufacturer’s downside will be covered by the guarantee so register your products as soon as you get them!

One of many ideas on helping our environment from Sony is its commitment to reducing packaging waste. The LinkBuds S are produced in a small paper-devised package. Inside the box reveals a removable insert that stores the earbuds in their charging case and sections that slide out easily containing the guide, a six-inch USB-A to USB-C cable, and four extra ear tips to fit various earlobe sizes.

The charging case is so smooth and looks awesome while being slightly thinner and longer than the previous LinkBuds case. Like other earphones the case features the flip-top configuration that makes for an easy set-up for your wireless earbuds.

After downloading the Sony Headphones Connect App for my non-Android Smartphone it is the easiest set up I’ve seen with a step by step guide to help you get the best feel in your ear, the superb steps to supporting you get the benefits from the use of finger touch controls on both left and right earbud to either use volume, pause and forward to next songs in your library.

I’ve listened to many headphones but earbuds and overhead sets and the Sony LinkBuds S are in a league of their own. The crisp and clear sounds heard while I excitedly shuffled through my music playlist brought to life the stunning clarity, sound and incredible bass. I fell in love instantly.

I am an outdoors enthusiast and I’ve searched many brands to find a set of earbuds that not only feel snug in my ear and safe while I’m moving across various terrain but I wanted earbuds that let me enjoy the music with simply stunning sound, complimented by outstanding noise reduction.

They fit my ears perfectly without going too deep inside my ear canal and as I’ve said, they were never in danger of falling out. Even for the few hikes and runs I took with the LinkBuds S, I was never concerned they would move or fall out and the IPX4 gives you extra peace of mind.

Set Up was again so easy and straightforward. While you can control play functions, calling, and noise canceling with touch controls on the sides, the excellent Sony Headphones app is brilliant for most features.
Sony’s Adaptive Sound Control, Speak-to-Chat, an equalizer with 12 sound profile settings with two custom options. 360 Reality Audio Setup with the Sony App.

Another brilliant feature is the Adaptive Sound Control that allows noise canceling with a transparency mode to be automated depending on what you’re activity is along with your location. So if you’re relaxing, walking running or using public transport this can all be assigned to have noise canceling on, Ambient Sound is featured with a 20-point sliding scale, or everything off.

So if you’re in a coffee shop and you need to hear the barista when getting your coffee? you can add your local coffee shop to the learned locations list in the Sony app and set the Ambient Sound to 20 so every time you walk in you’ll be able to hear what’s going on allowing you to order and collect your drink.

The Noice Cancelling is genuinely superb and so much better than other brands I’ve used particularly with crowd noise than the other branded Earbuds. The additional battery life is superb if you have planned a longer trip yet I always try when travelling to pack a travel battery charge pack. Even with the added ANC functionality, Sony have the LinkBuds S at 6 hours of use, this was so accurate and in fact I was getting close to 6.5 hours changing some volume settings.

The specs for the Sony LinkBuds S:

* Battery Life: Up to 6+ hours, 20 hours total with the case
* Fast charging: 5 minutes charge for 1 hour of listening
* Colors: Black, White
* Ambient sound modes: Adaptive Active Noise Canceling (ANC) with Sony V1 chip, Transparency mode
* Speakers: 5mm drivers
* Connectivity: Bluetooth 5.2
* Audio codecs: AAC, LDAC, DSEE Extreme
* Dust/water resistance: IPX4
* Fit: Four sizes (SS, S, M, LL)
* Weight: 4.8 grams per bud, 35 grams for charging case

I believe the LinkBuds S are the perfect All-Rounder for most people and their lifestyle, they look great in either colours and the set up guide as described is streamline. You won’t go wrong with the LinkBuds S, so go ahead and give them a go, you will not be disappointed in fact you’ll be in awe of the pure sound, quality and overall aesthetics of a truly innovative product.

Well done Sony!

This product is really nicely packaged in recyclable material which is a great start.
I’ve struggled with ear pods in the past but these fit a treat & stay in place too. The sound & sound controls are brilliant ~ work extremely well with phone calls and music all of which is crisp and clear. The 360 Reality Audio is amazing. The noise cancelling technology is also 1st rate.
I’ve used these for 3-4 hours at a time with no problems at all, the battery life seems excellent too. The supplied charging cable is too short though.

Had these about a week now and normally I find in ear phones the mist uncomfortable things so don't use them. These are so comfortable I sometimes forget ai have them in. I even went to bed one night and woke up to find them in my ears the next morning.
The quality of sound is second to none with even the bass being really effective. The preset levels are good but you definately need to set up your own to enjoy the full range if sound. The volume levels are nice and easy to adjust.
They look stunning and the box is very cleverly packaged. Charging time is very reasonable and I have used them all day and not had to charge them.
I think I prefer them to my usual headphones and would definitely recommend them to anybody.

I received the Link buds by post..it's said that some very good things come in small parcels...well it is a small package for sure but the contents are big in purpose. Immediately on opening the box to examine the contents I could feel quality...the layout is easy to follow and the initial 'easy start' pictures leave you in no doubt as how to start off using the linkbuds ..just download the fully detailed instruction manual and applied app and crack on . Its important to choose between set up for i-phone or android. I am the proud owner of a Sony Xperia Mobile so obviously there was compatability built in . The advice to fully charge the unit before starting to use was normal but only took a little while to reach full charge...talking about charge, note that when the buds are shown to be fully charged there is a reserve battery in the unit home box that will replace an individual charge into each bud when you replace them into their base position after use!
Naturally there's a specific 'app' to download to your phone to compliment the learning and use of the linkbuds
....it was quick and very straight forward to use...back to the unpacking ...the buds were already fitted with a set of 'tips...I just tried them in my ear and found them absolutely right.The other choice of 3 sets are still in their case and Ive no doubt there's a size to fit every ear...they are extremely comfortable.Ive tried other buds before and to be honest not really got on too well and have taken recently to wearing standard type bluetooth headphones. However those are now consigned to the 'drawer' as the linkbuds are so comfortable to wear..
Its necessary to set up the bluetooth connection to your first chosen device..in this case my Xperia...it was so easy and positive and connected immdediately..I have since paired my link buds with another mobile, 3 sony home televisions and my laptop...very easy to pair...Its great that when I open the 'home box', the buds automatically pair to my chosen switched on unit....(I do have a blue tooth app which allows me to immediately pair to any given device I want to use them with but the link buds know what device I'm using)
I'll give my age as 'senior' for the purpose of the reader knowing what my tech knowledge might be...I'm catching up fast in all things techie..but to me the specification and what the linkbuds will do is nothing short of brilliant ...I am not able to describe the processes of how the Linkbuds actually allow things to happen and Im still steadily learning as I find a use for each function available. The app tutorial is extremely detailed in the functions that are set into the linkbuds but very easy to follow and trial ...here's a summary ...remote answering and use of your mobile phone....each ear bud, left or right, can be programmed and customised to a particular function...volume control, track selection when listening to your favourite music app, for example Spotify..full use of 'hey Google'. I love the spoken notification of the arrival of e-mails or messages...the name 'Linkbuds' is extremely appropriate as the buds will team up with so many apps and functions.. and there is a built in 'learning' process by the buds and app to personalise the benefits of their functions to your own specific uses...like normal volume playback levels
I'm reviewing after approximately 2 weeks using the buds and there's more to learn ..Im quite certain that I'll still find plaenty to play with...I'd like to summarise with some quite simple basics...as fiollows ...the reproduction of sound detail is nothing short of perfect, the noise cancelling is second to none as far as my experience is concerned, the comfort for the wearer , again in my experience , just incredible...am I over the top? ...I dont think so ...I would tell anyone to experience the linkbuds and know what true personal sound reproduction can be like...

These in ear wireless headphones are a step up from my previous ones. They are smaller and seem to fit easier right in the ear, instead off relying on a hook to fit in the ear. There are 4 sizes of inserts included and I am using the second smallest size. I have used them while gardening and walking, during which time they never moved. I can’t comment on more vigorous activity though.
The sound is very crisp and clear when using them for speech( f1 commentary, football, YouTube,ect). I don’t generally listen to music on headphones so I can’t comment on that.
My only issue is the colour, white is not ideal as will get dirty easily. I would get black next time.
Would I get again Yes
Different colour. Yes
More comfortable than last pair Yes
Better sound than last pair Just the same

These are the smallest, lightest, most comfortable, unobtrusive, and well-fitting earbuds that I have ever worn. They come for all ear sizes with four pairs of differently sized silicone ear tips (extra small, small, medium, and large) and can be worn securely for hours during all activities of daily living - studying, talking, eating and exercising. Additionally, they are IPX 4 certified to be sweat and water-splash resistant. The nicely contoured case charges with a USB-C lead (supplied) with no wireless charging and the battery life is about six hours. Some Sony special technical advancements such as 360 reality audio surround sound, high resolution audio and active noise cancellation contribute to a delightful listening experience for music, speech, and drama. I enjoyed the crisp clarity of sound without distortion at all frequencies and these earbuds are magnificent for the fully immersive stereo textures of operatic and concert hall performances. They also provide podcasts and radio drama with a vibrant, authentic voice quality. While the sound quality will exceed the expectations of all, there are issues with the user guide – especially for the older audiophile with gradually reducing visual acuity. The text in a six-point font is virtually illegible and many valuable additional features such as the Speak-to-Chat facility, controlling the LinkBuds, Spotify, Alexa, and pairing procedures merit far more instruction than is currently provided. Perhaps, too in the literature, there could be clearer direction to selected video websites for improved guidance. A few minor improvements in this area would enhance the enjoyment of many.

These are the latest Sony Linkbuds S launched May 2022. Held securely in a much more compact case these are really comfortable and light, with great sound, superb battery life. The full Sony App support is provided and Sony continues the plastic recyclng and zero plastic packaging policy.
I use wired and wireless earbuds all the time as I find over the ear headphones can be too warm to wear. I have used the Sony Linkbuds S in several situations to test them against other earbuds both from Sony and elsewhere.
1) Listening at home. Compared to other earbuds from Sony and other manufacturers this product fares really well with a very clear and loud sound across all frequencies. I still prefer the WF 1000XM3 for its fuller sound. Linkbuds S are better than the older WF SP700N and better still than the Nothing Ear 1. The Sony Headphone app is superb compared to others with more features to provide lots of options to enhance, upgrade or change the sound. For the Linkbud S, this App now offers an extra services area, where the Endel sound relaxation is currently included for a month
2) Walking on the beach. Really comfortable and with ANC these block out the wind noise but you can still hear the Sea if you want. The Sony Headphones app really enhances the sound options for any activity.
3) Workout in the gym. The sound quality is very fresh and clear across all frequencies, with not too much bass and loud enough to block out the noise in the Gym. Always a good connection and also do not cut off or fall out during vigorous movement which I found with the Nothing Ear and XM3's..Equally the battery life is excellent with enough for several full 2 hour sessions. with no recharging. The older SP700Ns are still good but loudness and battery life are not sufficient for the Gym.
4) Use in the office. The excellent battery life and light earbuds make these the first I could comfortably wear all day both listening to music or taking part in many Teams or Zoom meetings. The bluetooth connection/microphone sensitivity is perfect and does not lead to sound cutting off when you use the keyboard. the speak to chat function works really well too..
This is another really positive step forward in earbud performance, I cant wait fot the next upgrade.

The Linkbuds S are supplied in sturdy charging case with good shape that fits neatly in pocket. The Linkbuds themselves fit more snuggly into the ears than any other era buds I have ever used providing complete confidence that they are not going to fall out when walking,exercising or general day to day use. They claimed to be the lightest earbuds and to be honest once they were in the ears they are so light you can actually forget they are in. The fit in the ears also ensures great sound quality,clarity with great bass and noise cancelling is second to none.The Linkbuds are also easy to see which is left and right as colour coded identification.The battery life is good as I use a few hours a day and went several days without needing a charge, charging is also quick.I also have Huawei,Apple and Samsung earbuds but these are by far my favourite.

Sony LinkBuds S (Model YY 2950) Review by David Lewin 04/06/2022

Wonderful sound quality for music and drama

These are the smallest, lightest, most comfortable, unobtrusive, and well-fitting earbuds that I have ever worn. They come for all ear sizes with four pairs of differently sized silicone ear tips (extra small, small, medium, and large) and can be worn securely for hours during all activities of daily living - studying, talking, eating and exercising. Additionally, they are IPX 4 certified to be sweat and water-splash resistant. The nicely contoured case charges with a USB-C lead (supplied) with no wireless charging and the battery life is about six hours. Some Sony special technical advancements such as 360 reality audio surround sound, high resolution audio and active noise cancellation contribute to a delightful listening experience for music, speech, and drama. I enjoyed the crisp clarity of sound without distortion at all frequencies and these earbuds are magnificent for the fully immersive stereo textures of operatic and concert hall performances. They also provide podcasts and radio drama with a vibrant, authentic voice quality. While the sound quality will exceed the expectations of all, there are issues with the user guide – especially for the older audiophile with gradually reducing visual acuity. The text in a six-point font is virtually illegible and many valuable additional features such as the Speak-to-Chat facility, controlling the LinkBuds, Spotify, Alexa, and pairing procedures merit far more instruction than is currently provided. Perhaps, too in the literature, there could be clearer direction to selected video websites for improved guidance. A few minor improvements in this area would enhance the enjoyment of many.

The linkBuds S are delightful confortable, and i had no issue wearing them for hours at a time. they stayed planted in my ears while talking, eating and during exercise .

They are packed with smart abilities like adaptive sound control, with automatic switches between noise-cancelling and transparency modes depending on the environment you're in, and speak to chat, brilliat feuture which automatically lowers the volume of your music when it detects that you are talking
The whole design is brilliant, the charging case is a nice size, small, lighter design and easily pocketable
with Sony Headphone connect intergration, you can enjoy unlimited featurs with the linkbuds S with Biult in EQ and Speak -to-chat which again is a handy feature that pauses your music automatically when you start talking to someone

the LinkBuds S sound great compared to other family type devices for it size and a wooping 6 hours of batery usage
a die-for feature of the LinkBuds S are:-
All day comfort
Good Bass handling
Effective Ambient awareness
Intuitive control
all rounder light weight

CONS:-
no wireless charging
ANC performance not as great as family devices
case materials dose not look premium

Having received the Sony LinkBuds S I could not wait to try them out. Firstly I loved the packaging very simple and recycling friendly. I was also impressed by the recycled plastic used to make the buds and the box they came in, but did read later that the buds were not repairable, a shame so they have only a certain shelf life! The buds had already been charged so I downloaded the apps on my phone. The LinkBuds were so easy to use, and the sound was really superb, my old headphones will now be a thing of the past! I tried them with Spotify and YouTube both came through very clearly. After testing them for a few hours they needed recharging, which was such a simple and quick process. Well done Sony I shall be buying these LinkBuds for my grandchildren without doubt.

The Sony LinkBuds S produce a good quality sound with a balanced output across the frequency range, including a good level of low end bass which is impressive from such a small unit. Voices are nice and clear when using the LinkBuds while making calls with your mobile phone.

The Bluetooth pairing with an Android smart phone was incredibly easy. After charging the LinkBuds, simply took them out of the charging case, they switched on automatically when put them in my ears and appeared straight away on the Bluetooth settings screen on the Android phone and was able to listen with them instantly. There is a Sony Headphone Connect app to install which is used for changing various settings, for example, the touch sensor operations assigned to each earbud, and viewing the battery status of both earbuds and the charging case. Pairing later with an iPad was also very easy. Music or podcast playback automatically stops when you remove an earbud from your ear and then continues when you put them back in so no need to pause on your playback device.

The charging case contains a rechargeable battery which is very useful for recharging the earbuds without needing to keep connecting the charging case to a USB power source to recharge the earbuds.

Being light and compact the LinkBuds S fit easily in the ear and are comfortable to wear. The Sony Headphones Connect app has an "ear fit test" function which is useful for checking that the correct earbud tip size is being used for a good seal in your ear and therefore get the best performance from the LinkBuds.

Having used wired in-ear headphones for many years I have found using the LinkBuds S headphones a big leap forward in capability and usability, as well as having no dangling wires tugging or moving around. I really like the ambient sound feature when using the LinkBuds while out walking. For example, it is great to be able to listen to a podcast while on a walk without felling cut-off from the outside world, so still able to hear the birds chirping and the traffic around you. When sat listening to music the LinkBuds detect you are stationary and automatically switch from ambient sound to noise cancellation.

In summary, as well as sounding good, the LinkBuds S pack in an impressive level of functionality in a compact earbud, with a quality design and build you can rely on from Sony.

Great buds however, they need an urgent update! Every time I use these buds they loose their Bluetooth connection. Not good! To get the connection back, I have to replace the buds back in their charging container. Very, very annoying.

The Linkbuds S are a great pair of ear buds.
They're light and comfortable and feel far more secure in my ears than other buds I have owned.
The sound quality is excellent. The noise cancelling feature is superb too, as is the ambient mode.

All calls I made using these buds were clear and I had no problem connecting them to different devices. The Sony Headphones App was great to use with these as it lets you change the sound settings of your headphones and also lets you check the battery levels in each ear bud and the charging case too!
The charging case is well designed and great for travel.
Great ear buds.

The sound quality is much better than expected, especially at higher volume. They work well with the sony headphones app. N/C performed really well on a recent flight. Fit securely in the ear and don't feel like there's any chance of them falling out.

The first thing I noticed was the size, they are half the size of any of my previous pairs of in-ear buds and a lot lighter. They fit in the ear slightly differently to previous units, bit of a twist, then once in, they are very secure. Whether it is a brisk walk or doing the gardening I never felt they were going to drop out. Connecting to my phone was instant, can’t fault.

The sound quality is exceptional for such a small unit, good depth of bass and crystal-clear high notes. I have an eclectic taste in music and enjoyed putting my new LinkBuds through their paces. Classical (1812 overture, Tchaikovsky), rock (Queen and Pink Floyd), electro (Kraftwerk and Daft Punk) all sounded great. The cannons in the 1812th sounded like they were behind me. All together a great experience.

Using the touch and speech controls was simple and straight forward. Playing music was simple with all the usual actions you would expect (See specs for details) and receiving and answering calls whilst listening to music was quick and easy. The controls can be configured through the phone app which I think is essential if you want to get the best out of them.

I think the favourite part of these LinkBuds for me, is the slightly different way they fit in the ear, for me, comfier and far more secure. My best buds yet.

This is my first pair of wireless in ear headphones and I must say that I am very impressed!

They arrive in a small environmentally friendly cardboard box – no plastics used at all, even the headphones themselves are made of recycled materials.

Scan the QR code and you will be directed to the product online manual.

On unpacking, I was really surprised just how compact and light they are. They are a snug fit and very comfortable, it’s easy to forget you’ve got them in your ears!
I’ve used them on my phone, tablet and my PC. all with excellent results.
The sound quality is exceptional. The bass is well defined and not at all boomy and the midrange is clear and transparent, the high frequencies are detailed but not at all tinny. They do not cause you any listening fatigue even after hours of listening.

The noise cancelling is very effective and cuts out most of the ambient noise. You can control the ambient sound level if you wish to hear your surroundings.
You can also speak to chat. This feature detects your voice and pauses the music, when you’ve finished your conversation after a few seconds the music resumes automatically, no buttons to press!

Most operations can be accessed via a simple tap or multi-tap on the earpieces i.e. play/pause/track select and ambient sound etc. Further personal settings and preferences can be accessed via the Sony headphones app.
The Sony headphones app is an essential download. It enables you to adjust the sound to your liking and customise the operation of the buds to your requirements.

Phone calls are crystal clear even when you are in a noisy environment thanks to the precise voice pick up technology built in.

On a full charge you will get about 20 hours of use. They are also IPX4 water resistant rated too, so a bit of rain or sweat won’t cause any problems.

The headphones are extremely user friendly, just pop them into your ears and they will power up and connect to your device automatically. They are extremely comfortable and the sound quality is amazing.

Highly recommended!

10/10

This is my first pair of wireless in ear headphones and I must say that I am very impressed!

They arrive in a small environmentally friendly cardboard box – no plastics used at all, even the headphones themselves are made of recycled materials.

Scan the QR code and you will be directed to the product online manual.

On unpacking, I was really surprised just how compact and light they are. They are a snug fit and very comfortable, it’s easy to forget you’ve got them in your ears!
I’ve used them on my phone, tablet and my PC. all with excellent results.
The sound quality is exceptional. The bass is well defined and not at all boomy and the midrange is clear and transparent, the high frequencies are detailed but not at all tinny. They do not cause you any listening fatigue even after hours of listening.

The noise cancelling is very effective and cuts out most of the ambient noise. You can control the ambient sound level if you wish to hear your surroundings.
You can also speak to chat. This feature detects your voice and pauses the music, when you’ve finished your conversation after a few seconds the music resumes automatically, no buttons to press!

Most operations can be accessed via a simple tap or multi-tap on the earpieces i.e. play/pause/track select and ambient sound etc. Further personal settings and preferences can be accessed via the Sony headphones app.
The Sony headphones app is an essential download. It enables you to adjust the sound to your liking and customise the operation of the buds to your requirements.

Phone calls are crystal clear even when you are in a noisy environment thanks to the precise voice pick up technology built in.

On a full charge you will get about 20 hours of use. They are also IPX4 water resistant rated too, so a bit of rain or sweat won’t cause any problems.

The headphones are extremely user friendly, just pop them into your ears and they will power up and connect to your device automatically. They are extremely comfortable and the sound quality is amazing.

Highly recommended!

10/10

My first impression was how small the packaging was and all recyclable.
Upon opening it I was really impressed at the size of the earphones, then putting them in my ears they fitted snugly and so compact not sticking out like my others.
They quickly connected via Bluetooth to my mobile device and then the fun began! I’m
I experienced a sound like I have not experienced before it was so clear and the bass was just as it was needed.
I tried several variations of sound pre fixed and set up my own equaliser adding a bit more bass as I like deep sounded music with bass.
I then linked them to my streaming music and tried the 360 spacial it’s was as if I was in the room with the vocalist all around me wow it was Fantastic.
Taking a call on them it was like they were stood next to me crystal clear.
Overall these are the best in ear headphones I have ever had and so impressed with the size and comfort fit so small love that there not sticking right out my ears like others.

Sony LinkBuds S

I have never been a great fan of “in-ear” headphones since my early experiences listening to John Peel on Sounds of the Seventies under the bed covers on my first pocket transistor radio. Fast forward a few decades, now with tinnitus, I tend to favour “over ear” headphones (corded, FM and latterly Bluetooth).
With all that said: the Sony LinkBuds S have proved a revelation to me.

Getting Started

The QR code on the box took me directly to the on line help guide to set up the device.

I first charged the buds (via the supplied usb cable) next was to select the correct size of silicone loops which fit inside the ear (there are four pairs to choose from SS, S, M, LL attaching/detaching to change size couldn’t be simpler) Small was most comfortable for me, I then popped the LinkBuds S in my ears, paired them to my iPhone and started listening to music and podcasts. I literally forgot they were in my ears until I needed to recharge them over 5 hours later! Then I just popped them in their case to recharge Up to 20 hours on a single charge.

The noise cancellation feature allowed me switch between my own audio world or invite the outside world in Taking a phone call while listening to The Beatles Abbey Road using the “Speak to Chat” function gave me crystal clear sound quality (even when walking the dog on a breezy May afternoon!)

I particularly like the fact that the LinkBuds S are discreet. I see many people wearing buds that draw attention to themselves as they look like Shrek or one of his siblings.

I found the sound balanced, the treble clear and clean, the bass rich without booming. The broad soundstage allowed the mid-range to come through nicely providing a totally immersive sound experience from these lightweight and compact buds. The graphic equalizer accessible via the Headphone Connect app gave me a selection of additional settings and custom modes.

The LinkBuds S ticked all the boxes for me.