The original Sony LinkBuds are some of the most innovative wireless earbuds ever created. They featured a donut-like ring that sits in your ear and allows incidental sounds to flow in, while also delivering adequate sound from a miniature 12mm driver. However, the design is problematic in many ways, and performance isn’t as premium as some of the best Sony headphones.
With the subcategory growing in popularity, Sony figured now was the best time to reintroduce its teeny anti-noise-cancellers via the all-new LinkBuds Open. This sequel is enhanced with the latest Sony technologies and features an updated design that produces a more secure fit for better audio and ambient listening.
Not everything runs smoothly but what does is widely impressive. Here are my full thoughts on the LinkBuds Open.
Sony’s newest open earbuds are a triumph that build on the original’s ingenuity and expand on functionality with stronger features and sound quality.
What I liked about them
An ultra-modern design with endless personalization
The LinkBuds Open adopt the same unique design as the older version, but two new changes have been implemented: additional case covers and swappable fin stabilizers for optimal fit. Both sets of accessories come in a variety of colors, so the product can match your fashion taste. It’s a less expensive way to stylize the LinkBuds Open than sending them to custom-paint specialists like ColorWare. Just know that the accessories cost extra: $10 for fins and $20 for case covers.
Everything else remains solid. The build is high quality, with the buds composed mostly of hard plastic and protected by IPX4 sweat and water resistance. They rest pleasantly on the concha and can be worn for hours on end. The fins tuck into the upper area of the inner ear and stay put.
Natural, customizable sound
Audio on the first-generation LinkBuds was surprisingly good. I say that because their open-ear design should not have allowed for substantial sonic consumption. An all-new 11mm ring-shaped driver unit and Sony’s V2 processor grant these buds wide frequency response. Throw several patented sound technologies into the mix and you get satisfying, well-rounded sound that’s enjoyable in most open environments.
The frenetic vibes from Nirvana’s “Smells Like Teen Spirit” flowed through the tiny speakers, provoking a smile and subtle head-nodding. Guitar distortion was resonant and blended nicely with the upbeat kick drum pattern on the hook. Miguel’s “The Thrill” was a serene listen, highlighted by crisp synthesized vocals and a memorable guitar riff that exhibited superb reverberation throughout the track. Jazz tracks like Donald Byrd’s “Cristo Redentor” also performed well. I dug the prominent double bass and horn play, though I would have liked more highs; the cymbals were slightly hollow.
Listening in loud environments wasn’t as disruptive as I expected. Some background noise was audible, but the buds helped minimize it.
Sony’s EQ is perfect for tweaking sound, and using it, you can manually adjust frequency levels, select from multiple well-engineered presets or have the buds create a sound profile tailored to your hearing via the Find Your Equalizer function. The latter boosted audio performance by raising mids and stabilizing bass response.
New listening modes like Background Music Effect can adjust sound based on a selected location: café, living room or bedroom. The changes are evident when switching from one to the other. However, the feature reduces clarity and is unnecessary.
These buds also support upscaled technologies like 360 Reality Audio and DSEE (Digital Sound Enhancement Engine), though neither holds up well (more on that later).
Heavy on special features
The LinkBuds Open take advantage of Sony’s massive feature set. I already touched on all the high-end sound settings. Other notable features include Adaptive Volume Control, auto-power off, control customization, dual-device pairing, firmware updates, Google Fast Pair, Find My Device support, Speak-to-Chat, Sony voice controls, Sync with LinkBuds speaker, voice activation (Alexa/Google Assistant) and wear detection. That’s a huge number of perks for such small buds.
What I didn’t like about them
Buggy mobile app
The new Sony Sound Connect app crashed every time I tried accessing the Discover, Quick Access or Services pages. This also happened when attempting to use Sony’s voice controls while in the app. Keep in mind that both the app and buds are running the latest firmware updates.
Unfavorable controls
A full set of media controls are readily available with these earbuds: call management, digital assistance, playback voice activation and volume. Getting them to work is a much different story. The tap inputs don’t function well. Double- and triple-tap gestures wouldn’t always register. Sony’s voice commands struggled as well. The function activated when saying the wake-word phrase (“Hey, headphones”), but it wouldn’t always recognize or execute advertised commands such as to play/pause music and perform a battery check.
The buds don’t do certain sound features justice
I was disappointed with DSEE upscaling on music tracks. The feature usually does an excellent job of increasing fidelity on poorly engineered tracks, but its quality on the LinkBuds Open was mediocre. 360 Reality Audio lacked immersiveness, plus there was serious lag with the headtracking; I noticed a one-second delay when moving my head side to side. It also doesn’t help that Sony’s spatial audio format is now restricted to less popular music streaming platforms: Artist Connection, nugs.net and PeerTracks. Oh, how I miss the Tidal-optimized playlists.
Bottom line
The LinkBuds Open are what Sony originally set out to make — but ultimately failed to achieve — with the original. Upgrades to the design and hardware place these buds among the best wireless earbuds for those who want an open design. Audio is terrific and not compromised by ambient noise, which you’ll also hear clearly for greater awareness. Comfort and fit are unbeatable, features are abundant and the optional accessories are nice touches.
Some of Sony’s sound features don’t translate well on the LinkBuds Open, and the Sound Connect app needs serious fixing. Pricing is debatable when factoring in these flaws. That said, these buds are much cheaper than the category-leading $299 Bose Ultra Open Earbuds.
Nevertheless, the LinkBuds Open are a prime example of open wireless earbuds done right. If you want to experience audio on the go in a distinctively new way, these are worth a pickup.
