Sony - LinkBuds (WF-L900)

Previous ones include WF1000XM3 (battery dead). OG Linkbuds (driver dead). WF1000XM4 (my fault for losing it on a korean bus), Galaxy Buds 2 Pro (battery dead). So far the only one that's still holding up is the WH1000XM4 headset, tho i had to replace the earpads multiple times until I found a non-pu leather one that could withstand our humidity. I've already switch to IEMs and a open-back headset for home use while the moondrop earbuds is for when im outdoors or moving around.

I used the original Sony Linkbuds until they stopped working & now upgraded to the v2, Sony Linkbuds Open. They're normal earbuds w/ a donut shaped driver, so you can actually hear everything around you

Bought some Sony Linkbuds back when they first came out because they intrigued me: [https://www.amazon.co.uk/Sony-LinkBuds-concept-conversations-removing-Grey/dp/B09QMMHL3H?th=1](https://www.amazon.co.uk/Sony-LinkBuds-concept-conversations-removing-Grey/dp/B09QMMHL3H?th=1) They work great if you want to still hear what's going on in the room around you - I'm usually playing docked on the TV sat next to my partner while they are doing their own thing.

I own the original Sony Linkbuds, there's a new model I haven't tried but god damn the original are so incredible. I'm not gonna pretend I have super ears or anything, but I've only had like two "holy shit" moments throughout my foray into this hobby. The first being the timbre of the Truthear Hexas, the second being the soundstage of the Sony Linkbuds. Obviously, there's no sub bass to talk of, and zero isolation because there's a massive hole in them but I was surprised at how well they handle regular bass and soundstage, Ive used the app to crank bass way up, and tone down the higher frequencies and honestly, I use them all the time and I'm still blown away by them, I probably use them the most due to convenience of being wireless. When watching videos and not just listening to music, I still occasionally get the odd sound my brain is tricked into thinking is coming from my surroundings. Temper your expectations a little, you can't use them in noisy environments, and louder volumes are really unpleasant, but for casual at home listening I can't rate them highly enough. Oh yeah, after a while they can make my ears ache a bit because they're hard plastic, wish they had a silicone layer over them or something.

Personally, I use the Sony Linkbuds wf-l900, only headphones that Don't build pressure in my ears.

Shokz bone conduction works well. My wife just got a set for swimming laps and I was impressed by how they don't block any outside noise at all. Sound quality is meh through this medium but nothing for this purpose is going to be (or needs to be) audiophile quality. I've been using the Sony open donut-style earbuds for 4 seasons now. First the original LinkBuds and now the Linkbuds Open. They both do the trick but comfort is not great under helmet earpads after awhile, plus your ear shape can make it harder to keep them secure in your ears under a helmet. I've had them pop out in my balaclava every once in awhile. I haven't tried the Shokz for any significant time, but I suspect they'd be the better option both for comfort and awareness.

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 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.

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

Beats have always been crap, I've never had one pair that has lasted or even sound good. Sony all the way, I've been using my S-linkbuds for three years now with zero issues.