Sony - LinkBuds Open

Sony linkbuds Open if you have a large ear canal or a smaller ear. But they are either going to fit your ear great or not. I loved them but had to return them, they hurt the part next to my ear canal.

I tried using the Sony Linkbuds Open, but they kept slipping as well. I just didn't feel comfortable because I felt I needed to adjust them every few minutes since I was paranoid they would fall out. [https://electronics.sony.com/audio/headphones/all-headphones/p/wfl910-b](https://electronics.sony.com/audio/headphones/all-headphones/p/wfl910-b)

AirPods (any of the models without the soft rubber insert) - they sit most securely in my ear!

Great for open-ear comfort, but sound is just okay (weak bass). Pricey at $180, but worth it if you need that design. Best for podcasts and staying aware of surroundings. You can read full review about Sony Linkbuds Open on [me.pcmag.com](https://me.pcmag.com/en/headphones/30267/sony-linkbuds-open)

I love mine! Just got mine back from repair andi forgot just how flexible it is to use! Goodsound ithouthaving thecin ofisolation. Perfect for when waiting on flight gate announcements! Had mine since February too.

I use them occasionally, the connection is not that strong compared to my over ear XM4 and obviously the base sound is trash, but has good open high and mids. My biggest problem right now, that plagues nearly all Sony buds, the battery. Taking them out of the case, the right one is at 80% while the left is 100%. Easy to fix so not a big concern.

I tried the Sony LinkBuds Open but could not get them into a comfortable secure fit whatsoever so I switched to the SoundCore AeroClips and they work perfectly!

I love the sony linkbuds open. Gives better 3d effect than airpods and other in ear

I don't have battery problems with LinkBuds Open. I had battery problems with LinkBuds and LinkBuds S. On LinkBuds battery died on right bud and on LinkBuds batteries died on both buds. Other Sony buds that I had battery problems was WF-1000XM4. With WF-1000XM5 after 2 years no any battery problems. So, this is not related to all Sony buds, just LinkBuds, LinkBuds S and WF-1000XM4. This is shit batteries or bad firmware optimisation. For this tipe of buds LinkBuds Open are the best buds. Bass is not the best, but they still have bass. Yes, I had some connection problems and after latest firmware update those connection problems has almost gone. If you don't like NC get LinkBuds Open.

I don't have battery problems with LinkBuds Open. I had battery problems with LinkBuds and LinkBuds S. On LinkBuds battery died on right bud and on LinkBuds batteries died on both buds. Other Sony buds that I had battery problems was WF-1000XM4. With WF-1000XM5 after 2 years no any battery problems. So, this is not related to all Sony buds, just LinkBuds, LinkBuds S and WF-1000XM4. This is shit batteries or bad firmware optimisation. For this tipe of buds LinkBuds Open are the best buds. Bass is not the best, but they still have bass. Yes, I had some connection problems and after latest firmware update those connection problems has almost gone. If you don't like NC get LinkBuds Open.

I don't have battery problems with LinkBuds Open. I had battery problems with LinkBuds and LinkBuds S. On LinkBuds battery died on right bud and on LinkBuds batteries died on both buds. Other Sony buds that I had battery problems was WF-1000XM4. With WF-1000XM5 after 2 years no any battery problems. So, this is not related to all Sony buds, just LinkBuds, LinkBuds S and WF-1000XM4. This is shit batteries or bad firmware optimisation. For this tipe of buds LinkBuds Open are the best buds. Bass is not the best, but they still have bass. Yes, I had some connection problems and after latest firmware update those connection problems has almost gone. If you don't like NC get LinkBuds Open.

I really love the LinkBuds open for the same reason as you…I don’t like things blocking my ears and they also cause itching after a short while. The linkbuds are great for that reason. I have both the old and new versions. Both work fine but I actually prefer the original version which for me fit more comfortably than the newer earwing unit. Also the original has a larger opening and hear through is just a bit better. The only issue I have is they tend to fall out easily with more active movement. If I’m doing more active things I use either Oladance or Shokz style earbuds even though both cause fatigue on my ears over time but they don’t fall out! You can get the original LinkBuds on eBay for a good price if you want to try them before spending more for the newer version. The newer version does sound a bit better but I had to request the larger earwing to get a good fit in my left ear.

I really love the LinkBuds open for the same reason as you…I don’t like things blocking my ears and they also cause itching after a short while. The linkbuds are great for that reason. I have both the old and new versions. Both work fine but I actually prefer the original version which for me fit more comfortably than the newer earwing unit. Also the original has a larger opening and hear through is just a bit better. The only issue I have is they tend to fall out easily with more active movement. If I’m doing more active things I use either Oladance or Shokz style earbuds even though both cause fatigue on my ears over time but they don’t fall out! You can get the original LinkBuds on eBay for a good price if you want to try them before spending more for the newer version. The newer version does sound a bit better but I had to request the larger earwing to get a good fit in my left ear.

newer ones dont have the silicone earbuds, i personally find this to be a deal breaker but it all comes down to preference

I use the Sonly Open Link Buds and I love them. I will say though, I have pretty big ears and feel that they wouldn't fit well on someone with smaller ears. They sound really good and I can wear them all day without feeling uncomfortable.

Sony XtraBass is probably better than the regular Sony...I paid $40 and $15. (The magnets not that strong and I've found them in the back of my shirt, almost lost them) Beats Flex has strong magnets to hold it like a necklace....you won't lose them but Sony sounds much better. I haven't tried Bose, what's wrong with them. Is the magnet weak? I want the open ear earbuds...but they're like $250 There's neckbands with small speakers or I can throw something in my hard hat (once my phone fell out of my hard hat, just a Bluetooth speaker) I had the Sony open ear buds 🕳️ but they broke exactly 1 year after I bought them....

About 6 months now. No battery problems, still getting me through nearly 10 to 12 hours with ANC or Transparency. I've used the XM4s and LinkBuds before, and I can say that I've had issues with both in terms of connectivity. As for battery, I think that's an issue with earlier models, it should be a lot less prevalent with the XM5s

I've just replaced mine, I have weird shaped and small ears so I ordered like 7 different pairs, from Bose ultras down to some odd Amazon knock-off brands to compare both fit and quality. The Sony Linkbuds S were far and away the winner for me, quality is great, I think it spent £109, and I personally found the noise cancelling better on them than the Bose at twice the price. Partly due to the fit I'm sure, but still really impressed My previous pair were Melomania 1+, I loved them at the time but I think my Sony's are even better now

I use a Linkbuds S. Feels special to me keeping it Sony branded and amazing to have ANC and quality sound while gaming on PSP.

They are great buds but they don’t fit well in my ears. The link bud S are the best feeling earbuds I’ve ever used, the xm5’s fall out or start to fall out, breaking the seal, resulting in ambient mode all the time because it’s hanging out my ear. I’d say save yourself a couple hundred $’s and get the link bud s from Sony.

Oh also the foam tips trap earwax like a mofo

Jabra elite 7 active or sony link buds, both great mics and all rounder daily use.

Shokz open run pro for secure fit or sony linkbuds for better calls in open ear style.

As someone with similar struggles - soft in-ear hooks. There's the occasional unicorn design that just works, but your best bet is something that fits securely not just into your ear canal. Unfortunately most of that category is sports gear that's both very bassy and uncomfortable to outright painful for longer sessions, but something like the Sony Linkbuds, basic Beats Fit Pro or previous gen of Bose QuietComfort might pop up just within your budget if you keep an eye on sales and discounts.

I have sony linkbuds s but they got damaged so i wanted to ask should i buy this or look for som more premium to compare to the sony linkbuds s? Please any opinion please share really confused

Avoid WF xm4, and link buds they have battery problem

Link buds series

Hi I’m considering buying someone new headphones. After the issue i am having with my current Bose quiet comforts. That I’ve had less than a year. I got them back in October. My issue is that whenever im outside the audio cuts out or glitches. Most of the time this is on the aware mode. But i realized the other day that it happens on noise cancellation aswell. Less often but still happens. It’ll cut out with the slightest noise ( like the wind is barely blowing or a car drive by) I’m not even in that noisy of an environment. For example a single car will go by like every 10 minutes or so. They seem to work mostly fine indoors though. Just getting fed up with the audio cutting out for a second or 2. I’ve had some Sony link buds s before that did pretty much the same thing. So please what are some of your recommendations? They would need to at least be able to play a podcast or music for 4hours without a break.

You said you found them for the same price?  What was the price? I'm not seeing them for less than $250. Linkbuds fit are $200, on sale for $180.  Damn I think I'm still gonna buy the Fit despite reading some issues--you want to try talking me off this ledge?  I just loved the comfort of the Linkbuds S so much until the battery failed just short of 2 years.

Sony linkbuds fit only one u can sleep on and good sound quality tws

I have a pair of Sony Linkbuds s, they're a great little set of noise cancelling ear buds - highly recommended!

I got Sony Linkbuds S. A little overpriced in my opinion. I think it probably makes sense to stick to wired earbuds.

I had them. The ear shape is really important here. They kept falling out whenever I was doing basic things, let alone skating. Switched to Sony Linkbuds S. They sit tight

I am skating with Sony Linkbuds S. They are tight and I never worry about them falling out

Sony bricked them with a software update. Also looking for an alternative, did you find anything comparable?

Also the Sony linkbuds S are a good option for $150.

Heavy on the linkbuds s

Sony Linkbuds S, love them

I'm using the Sony LinkBuds S at the moment as my Jabra's Elite Active 8's died and the store I bought them from gave me the choice between the Linkbuds which were the closest price/feature comparable product or a refund. The Linkbuds take a beating I jog in them without issue. ANC is good, Multipoint is good, battery life is ok, I'm getting about 4-5 hours with ANC on, 6-7 with ANC off. Hearthrough is also good and picks up a lot without being annoying. My only bugbear coming from Jabra is * I miss real/actuated buttons that Jabra has * The earbuds don't have any mute button which is annoying for calls/confrencing * Microphone isn't all that good, can randomly sound like I'm speaking in a toilet or a room with echo and voice isolation is not good, there is too much background pickup. * Pairing requires them being in the case or using the app, you can't put them into pairing mode using buttons like you can with Jabra. Mine are ususally paired with phone, laptop, ipad, android tablet & Nintendo switch and it can get annoying when I need to switch.

The Sony Linkbuds S is also worth noting imo. I’ve been using them for almost everything in the past year and a half and it sounds great for the price. I got a deal on Amazon for them (probably like 20% I don’t remember entirely) and they still sound great today. Though I have overtaxed it now and the right side is starting to die super early. I still feel like it was worth the purchase

I really like the sony linkbuds s, they are very lightweight, have pretty decent sound and very good ANC if you care for that at all. They can last for a very long time. After two years of multiple hours a day one of the buds wouldn't last more than half an hour, but I don't know why and I don't think it is that common. I would still recommend them, they are great especially when purchasing during a sale which happens pretty often for them.

Forget what I said then, but yeah apart from that they are great

I cant emphasize enough how good sony linkbuds fit for this kind of activities

Buy the Sony link bud S I love them it’s about $230

You need to get a pair of Sony Linkbuds S. They're not that expensive and honestly incredible. Best active noise csncelling I've seen by far on earbuds, great audio quality and ambient sound mode (also pretty impressive). I used a pair heavily on a daily basis and just got another pair 2 years later (batteries were at the end of their life cycle). I've rarely been more impressed by headphones, let alone earbuds as I was by the Linkbuds S.

Go with a set of good earbuds, they’ll last all day and then some. I liked the jbl tunes, but upgraded to the Sony link buds and they’re awesome and comfortable, you forget you even have them in

I have the Linkbuds S and they're great! They do not fall off even if I headbang aggressively (as a test since I'm not a metal head). And sometimes you don't even notice that you're wearing them. I just wish they had a longer battery life on the earphones + case and they would be top-tier.

I have sony linkbuds s and technics az80.  I wfh and switching between calls and teams etc, I always get told how clear and good the technics are for voice and no background noise (the multipoint is always perfect t too!) Technics has an adjustable "just my voice" feature and works well!  with the sony the multipoint is hit & miss (unreliable) and I get told I sound like I'm in a empty hall. Lots of background noise etc. 

I can confirm this problem with the Linkbuds S as well, I got mine a couple of weeks ago, and after just 1 day a scretching sound came from the right earbud, then the sound like the wind is heard only when the ANC is activated. I took them to Sony, so hope they can give me a refund. Anyways thanks for informing about the linkbuds fit, 'cause I was thinking in getting them instead of another Linkbuds S pair.

If you are thinking about using them without playing music just for mere noice isolation keep in mind that most anc earbuds produce more or less slight white noice. I use anc earbuds for meditation as a dad of toddlers and that white noice is a dealbreaker for me. Bose qc earbuds II/ultra have the most of this white noise I ever experienced, while having undeniably the most effective anc on the market these days. I can recommend the Sony linkbuds s for the best balance between effective noice isolation and the least white noice from it. The xm5 also don’t have a lot of white noice, but the foam tips are pretty uncomfortable to wear. If that doesn’t bother you, I’d recommend these too.

That’s very subjective, but I always end up with my AirPods Pro 2, the whole package is just too compelling at least when you are in the apple eco system. They are like amongst the top three best anc earbuds and everything else is so fluid and reliable while the sound is solid but nothing special. My second most used earbuds are the Sony linkbuds s, which I prefer over the xm5 due to the better comfort, at least in my ears. The Bose qc (II,ultra, gen 2) are supposed to have market leading anc, but as far as I tested them, the connection wasn’t reliable enough and there was too much white noise for my taste. And the cases are too bulky for me to carry them always in my pocket - I don’t use what I don’t have at hand anytime. I wish there was something more exciting than the AirPods, but nothing could beat them for me for longer than a week so far. I don’t have tested many over ears, I own the xm4 and the Bose quiet comfort 45. Both are supposed to be great last generation anc headphones but I don’t get more anc out of them than with my AirPods. Since these are way more convenient, I usually don’t come up using overears. When I sit down in order to listen to music concentrated I use my sennheisers or betweens and so on, but that happens very rarely. 99% of the time I use my AirPods especially while commuting, when reliability is key and I want to make sure that a during a long day out of the house my earbuds won’t let me down.

It’s important you buy from a retailer with good return policies, because earbuds are incredibly subjective. You need to wear them for a while and you have no risk then. If you can tolerate the foam tips, the wf1000xm5 are great earbuds with one of the most effective anc and fantastic sound, IF… you have to try it yourself. Keeping AirPods up to date with a MacBook should work, I never tried it myself because they date up clandestinely in the background when connected to my iPhone. There are new Sonys about to be released later this month, the linkbuds fit, but there is no review so far so we can’t tell about their quality. Since I like the linkbuds s a lot, I am very interested in these.

yes linkbuds s after 1 year can just last around 1 hour for me and the left side always drain first

I highly recommend you go out to a sony store and try out the linkbuds s. I didn't consider it much but after trying it at the store only for 5 minutes I know it was gonna be my next earphone.

The Sony LinkBuds S which are MFI-certified and are the only earbuds that fit perfectly in my ears. I’ve tried the normal Airpods, the AirPods Pro and Huawei FreeBuds Pro, but neither fit well. Every time I smiled, they would pop out and cause significant discomfort.

I use sony linkbuds s with iphone 15 and i’m very satisfied with it.

Sony Linkbuds S for in-ear. They are very small. Soundcore Aerofit 2 for on-ear.

Just wanted to chime in, as I found this post during my own search. I have the linkbuds S. They are super lightweight, and fit my tiny ears great. Sound is great and ANC is amazing. However the Bluetooth connection is abysmal. Constant audio drops and glitches and pops. I've adjusted every conceivable setting, priority to stable, AAC instead of LDAC etc.... but it's just shit. I've had several pairs of galaxy buds (none of which particularly fit well) but they never had the Bluetooth problems these have. I have Sony XM4 over ears, and they don't have this problem either. Seems to be just the linkbuds, and a google search will find similar sufferers. Also using the silicone tips I get lots of noise from head movement too, terrible for the gym (but not a problem with 3rd party foam tips). This is using a galaxy S10, then a galaxy s24. Same problem on both phones. The search continues.....

As a woman who loves comfy earbuds, I’ve tried a few that really stand out. The Sony LinkBuds are super light and comfortable, and I love that they let me hear everything around me while still enjoying my music or calls. The Oladance Wearable Stereo surprised me with how comfy they are too. They sit outside your ears but stay in place, and the sound quality is impressive.

Idk. My linkbuds S have been fine for a year. I haven’t heard about xm5 having the issue at least not as widespread as xm4 did But, I get all my Sony stuff from Secondipity @ eBay now, for the 2yr ebay refurbished warranty

Out of all the buds I tested and tried the least obtrusove ones and probably the most comfortable ones for me personally were the Sony Linkbuds S ones. They are small and somehow shaped to fit weird ears. Subjective opinion of course.

I was very disappointed in the linkbuds s, battery died completely after 2yrs and noise cancelling wasnt nothing to praise

having used XM4, XM5 and Linkbuds, so far 710N are doing better job.. no one complained of call quality. however for call quality Huawei freebuds pro 4 are the best

Try different ear tip, my linkbuds s only have that pulsing sound when I finishing showering and I think that's maybe because my ear have water or my blood veins expanded because of the hot water

I do recommend Linkbuds S, you really forget that they are in your ears. Very good fit good for sports, good for sleeping (I can sleep with them on the się but for my wife they're to big)

Those earbuds (I think you may be referencing the A40s?) hurt my ears as well. I find the 1more aero quite comfortable, decent performer all around as well, although I don't see them getting mentioned much. Although, I have too many earbuds throughout the price range, kind of an obsession. I feel like the aero are a solid option if your ears happen to be shaped like mine, which have a relatively shallower concha. Sony linkbuds s are probably the most comfortable \*for me\* besides sleep buds, but above $100. Earfun air pro 4 are reasonably comfortable to me as well and a really good value.

>After two years of multiple hours a day one of the buds wouldn't last more than half an hour, but I don't know why and I don't think it is that common. It's unfortunately very common, mine have the same issue, and you can find tons if reports on the /r/Sony sub. Amazing buds otherwise.

I feel your pain. Your best bet is the Steelseries Gamebuds. They are almost 0 latency with the dongle. The ANC is terrible though. I didn't like the fit, even though the functionality was excellent. I've tried various BT-LE buds which are lower latency than normal buds but even they only ever get to about 120ms which I can still notice. Most recently I tried the Sony Linkbuds S in LE mode and while much better than normal BT buds, there was still noticable latency. Too much for any kind of competative gaming. It seems that no one makes a good set of 2.4GHz dongle buds that have top end ANC and sound quality. In the end I went with an over-ear headset on 2.4GHz I have just ordered the Jlabs by the way. I'll have them tomorrow and will report back.

Durable will hardly matter if the battery isn't replaceable. The number of brands with any model with intentionally user-replaceable battery is almost zero. Some can still be replaced. I replaced the battery on my Sony Linkbuds S, but it was not for the feint of heart. Otherwise, they've been good. I don't love the app, and I think it should be illegal for apps that you need to interface with hardware that you bought to have any kind of ad (even if its minimal like with Sony's). repair-ability isn't everything, but the batteries in wireless earbuds are tiny and their lifespans are short because of the batteries, and other than the batteries, there is no reason why these devices shouldn't last a decade or more. So knowing that the battery can be replaced (even with some difficulty) is a big deal to me. I think with EU regulations coming into effect in the future, there will start to be more offerings and some might even be sold in the US. Fairbuds are not available in the US and they are the only wireless earbuds I know of with properly user replaceable batteries.

Jabra Elite 18 gen1.samsung galaxy bur 2 pro.sony links buds S.Never fell down.dilby atmos and head tracking very sweet.

Pretty much any premium choice, like sony, Bose, Samsung, etc. if you want something lightweight, the new Sony link buds are great. Bose has great sound in their quietcomfort earbuds, but call volume is a bit lower than the competition. Galaxy buds are great all around. I have owned a few pairs.

Sony Linkbuds S are pretty nice.. i think you can get a pair at 500 or slightly above

Sony Linkbuds.. not too expensive, not too cheap, a lot of case customization from shopee can connect to 2 device at same time

The best buds are the iFi Go Pods with a pair of dedicated IEMs. I'm running them with the Theiaudio Hype 4 For traditional earbuds, my personal ranking list: Technics AZ80 > Denon Perl Pro > Sennheiser Momentum TW 4 (w/ Sound Personalization) > Sony Linkbuds S > AirPods Pro 2 > Sony XM5 > Galaxy Buds2 Pro > Beats Studio Buds+/Beats Fit Pro > Powerbeats Pro I end up daily driving the Momentum 4s most days, just given their ANC/Transparency is competitive with other sets, and the app is fairly solid. Sound quality alone, toss up between the AZ80 and Perl Pro.

i love the fit of the linkbuds fit but the ANC is horrible . i was not expecting this from SONY , i have the previous model linkbuds s and they have better noise cancelling then these. even tozo 50 bucks earbuds have better anc then these . i really hope they release an update and fix it

Temporarily need new Bluetooth, had Linksbuds S until now and was very happy with them. I want to try out some 'higher class' ones for this time, What can you suggest?

Linkbuds or Linkbuds S? Have mine since February and didn't notice any decline in battery life..

Alright then, I always had a good fit with Linkbuds S

You could try the sony linkbuds S, a cheaper alternative to the xm5 their flagship. Similar quality of noise cancelling and sound quality in my opinion, but with a cheaper price tag

Same issue happened with my linkbuds S-- battery issue after a year. In the same boat trying to find a similar alternative, but struggling to switch because I loved them while they lasted.

Sony consistently makes bad quality earphones, it's just nobody has had the will to document all cases to sue. I bought a pair of LinkBuds back in 2024 and they broke within the year—sound was like the membrane broke. They replaced for used headphones (they registered with a fucking John Rando's name in Android). Now, battery life is very uneven between the two pieces. Honestly I got tired of looking for service because they make you work too much for it. $150 plus tax I'll never see again. F** Sony.

Sony imo. DISCLAIMER, PLEASE READ!! Every good Bluetooth headphone has an App with an equalizer (EQ) If they don't avoid them like the plague. Download the app to customize the equalizer to your preferred sound and they will sound like perfection. For earbuds Sony wh-1000xm4 for best sound 10/10 but bad fit 5.5/10, link bud S for fit 10/10 and sound 8.5/10 mic is good too for how small they are, and you can get them refurbished for cheap. For headphones the 1000xm4 are better than xm5 imo, 10/10 comfort, mic I'm pretty sure is just alright but the sound is as good as it gets for non open back headphones.

I use Sony Linkbuds. Super comfortable. Long battery life.

What about the Sony LinkBuds S? I love them!

I used Sony Linkbuds S until the battery issue killed them. I enjoyed then but couldn't justify buying Sony again after they died Shirley after 1 year of use. Now I've switched to the Samsung Buds3 Pro. The have been pretty good and are fairly comfortable. I got them for a really good price when I upgraded my Samsung Galaxy Watch.

Agree on Linkbuds S, but the battery isssue is a disgrace. I had to replace the battery on mines a bit after 2 years.

Sony Linkbuds S

I own the AirPods and the Sony and use both with my iPhone. The Sonys are about 120 Euro and there are worlds between both in sound quality. The Sonys sound so much better than the Apple AirPods. Both have a very similar noise cancellation. But the Sonys have way more bass and you can tune them with the eq. And keep one thing in mind: both are not able to change the battery. So in 3-4 years you can throw them into garbage. The Sonys are about 120 Euro. And the AirPods are 270 Euro. I think it’s a no brainer to buy the Sonys.

Not at all.

Own them since may 2024. My wife got a pair first and I’ve tried hers. Before I was AirPods only. I was so blown away by the Sonys that I bought a pair for me. As I don’t have any problems I didn’t search the internet for problems. Bought them on Amazon. So if there’s a problem, I know that Amazon will help men out.

I'm on my second set of the Sony link buds S mainly because I have relatively small ears. They don't move an inch on a 10 mile run and their also super comfy to casually wear in work etc. the ANC and sound quality i would say is very good too but I'm not an audio expert. I feel like their overlooked a lot of the time, I went for them mainly because I wanted something small and I love them.

Do they make a version that doesn't look like a little ding a ling falling out of my ear? I spent a good amount of time a year ago trying to find best buds for phone calls around $150. Settled on Sony Linkbuds S but they've got their own little problems - random disconnects, connect to phone while in case. I'm looking for buds that have good call quality, I can't stand some of my coworkers dollar store buds where my ears are getting echo chamber blasted.