The Sony LinkBuds S are the world’s smallest and lightest noise-cancelling true wireless earbuds. But that’s not all. While the original LinkBuds made a name for themselves with their ring-shaped driver, the LinkBuds S pack in extra tech, ANC and a new 5mm driver. Intrigued? Here are three reasons to buy the superb Sony Linkbuds S…
1. Compact design
The LinkBuds S are a technological marvel: 41 per cent smaller than the Award-winning WF-1000XM4 earbuds and 33 per cent lighter (4.8g vs 7.3g). How did Sony achieve this shrinkage? Firstly, by developing its own ultra-compact 5mm drivers and secondly, by combining the Bluetooth Audio SoC (System on Chip) with a high-quality noise-cancelling processor.
The result of all this engineering can be felt when you slip on the LinkBuds S. They slide neatly into place, offer exceptional all-day comfort and provide a good seal thanks to four different sizes of tips (supplied in the box). They’re also IPX4 water resistant, meaning they’re perfect for workouts as well as commutes.
2. Noise-cancelling
The LinkBuds S aren’t just the smallest and lightest Hi-Res noise-cancelling headphones on the market – they’re a brilliant ‘best of both worlds’ solution. Active noise-cancellation blocks out the world when you want to focus; ambient sound mode lets you hear more of what’s going on when needed.
In fact, the LinkBuds S offer a staggering 20 levels of adjustment so you can achieve the perfect balance between complete isolation and total transparency. Even better, they automatically switch between ambient mode and noise-cancelling (depending on where you are and what you’re doing) so you can wear them around the clock – without losing touch with the people and places you love.
3. Superior sound
Sony has always been serious about sound so you won’t be surprised to hear that the LinkBuds S boast the same Integrated Processor V1 found in the five-star WF-1000XM4, not to mention the same DSEE Extreme processor, which can upscale digital music files to near hi-res quality. And while those new 5mm drivers are compact, they’re also more than capable of reproducing powerful bass and crystal clear vocals.
Those who care about quality should also note that the LinkBuds S can handle tracks in Sony’s LDAC format which, streamed over Bluetooth from a compatible source (a Sony Xperia 1 III smartphone, for example), allows hi-res audio files up to 24-bit/96kHz to be transmitted at data rates of up to 990kbps. Impressive.
Tempted by these lightweight, comfortable headphones? You might think all this cutting-edge tech would push the price up but thankfully that’s not the case here. The LinkBuds S are available from Sony for just £149.
