Sony LinkBuds Open review: This is what the open-ear headphones sound like
A TEST REPORT from Dominic Lux 
on November 29, 2024, 15:00 | Write a comment
The Sony LinkBuds Open offer a new approach to wireless in-ear headphones that are designed to impress with their open ring design and everyday usability. But how do they perform in practical use? We've tried to find out for you.
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tl;dr: The first "open-ear headphones"
The LinkBuds Open impress with an open ring design that lets in ambient noise and is ideal for environments where situational awareness is important. The sound is clear and detailed, especially in the mids and highs, but the bass is rather restrained due to the open design. Unfortunately, the equalizer in the new Sony Connect Headphones app doesn't help either.
Functions such as Speak-to-Chat or Quick Tap control and multipoint connection highlight the everyday suitability. The battery life of 5,5h (plus 12 hours with charging case) is solid, but lacks wireless charging and active noise cancellation.
The LinkBuds Open are lightweight, comfortable and particularly suitable for people who want to be aware of their surroundings - whether it's commuting, working or jogging. However, they are less suitable for bass-heavy music or noisy environments.
Design and comfort
The LinkBuds Open stand out visually from classic in-ear headphones. They look more like earrings and are therefore a bit more fashionable. This allows ambient noise to pass through freely, which is particularly useful when walking or working in a busy environment. The rubber temples ensure a secure hold and the weight of just 4,1 grams pro earphones make them comfortable to wear – even over longer periods
Picture: TechnikNews
However, the wearing comfort can vary from person to person, as the ring shape is unconventional. I had to get used to the headphones for the first time. At first they didn't really want to stay in place, but that was because I was wearing them the wrong way round in my ears.
But if you wear them properly in your ears and feel good about the "floating" feeling, then they really make a comfortable and good impression. They also provide the necessary support when walking.
sound and functions
The LinkBuds surprise with a clear and balanced sound, which is particularly noticeable in the mid and high frequency range. Music sounds detailed and natural, but the bass is rather restrained due to the open design, as already described at the beginning. But fortunately it is not completely missing. Using the equalizer in the associated app, you can also make many fine adjustments if you wish.
Picture: TechnikNews
You can even have your own hearingprofil, this is then evaluated in the app and you have an equalizer tailored to your needs. They are therefore less suitable for bass-heavy genres or intensive audio experiences. However, they shine with podcasts, audio books or light acoustic tracks. Support for 360 Reality Audio further increases the quality of compatible streaming services.
Functions: Smart and well thought out
With the multipoint connection, two Bluetooth sources can be connected to the Sony LinkBuds Open at the same time. This means that if you are listening to music on your smartphone, for example, but want to take an important Teams call on your laptop, this works without any problems. Switching to the playback device after a call also worked smoothly.
The gesture control also worked reliably. You tap the balls on the earphones to execute various commands, which can also be personalized for both earphones in the app. Finally, there is the Speak-to-Chat function, which newer Sony over-ear headphones also support. This pauses the music while you talk, and would also deactivate the active noise canceling feature on headphones with active noise canceling, so you can have a conversation as if you didn't have any headphones in your ears at all.
The LinkBuds Open are definitely unique and offer a design that is not commonplace. However, you do need a certain amount of time to get used to them. They are also IPX4, sweat and splash-proof. If you want to get the LinkBuds Open on Black Friday today and don't want to pay the current new price of 179 euros (including 19% VAT), you can definitely go for it with our recommendation.