The Sony LinkBuds S are the most comfortable in-ear headphones in the test field and, despite their lower price, don't miss much of the WF-1000XM4. Sound and ANC are very good. LDAC offers Hi-Res audio on Android. Sony also promises an update to LE Audio, the next generation of Bluetooth technology.
Table of Contents
- 1 The most comfortable in-ears attack the WF-1000XM4
- Technical data and functions of the LinkBuds S
- Speak-to-Chat, DSEE and 360 Reality Audio
- Touch control and Wearer recognition
- Single use
- App connection for updates and adjustments
- The wearing comfort is a dream
- 2 Sound, ANC, telephony, latency and conclusion
- The sound of the Sony LinkBuds S
- Analysis of the frequency curve
- The ANC of the LinkBuds S
- Transparency mode
- Telephony
- Latency of the Sony LinkBuds S
- Conclusion
With the LinkBuds S, Sony has surprisingly launched new wireless ANC in-ears, which are designed to be particularly comfortable to wear as small headphones with active noise cancellation and Hi-Res Audio certification to accompany the user throughout the day. The new model has little in common with the Sony LinkBuds (test) with ring drivers and a hole in the middle for full transparency, because the LinkBuds S are closed and have a transparency mode in addition to ANC. The suffix “S” therefore stands for “Sound”. Because the new LinkBuds S should offer more sound than the LinkBuds without becoming dangerous to the manufacturer's flagship, the Sony WF-1000XM4 (test).
In addition to LDAC for Hi-Res audio, the LinkBuds S inherited many more features from the WF-1000XM4, so they could eventually become the value for money winner in Sony's portfolio.
In terms of price, the new model is also between the LinkBuds (180 euros) and the WF-1000XM4 (280 euros), because the LinkBuds S have been available in black, white and ecru since the end of May at a recommended retail price of 199.99 euros available. This price has not yet been undercut in online retail. In addition to the earphones and the charging case, Sony includes silicone ear tips in four sizes and a short USB-C to USB-A charging cable.
Sony LinkBuds S: Package Contents Technical data and functions of LinkBuds S
Bluetooth 5.2, Fast pair and (no) multipoint
The dynamic drivers in the LinkBuds S are 5mm in diameter and 6mm in the WF-1000XM4. The current Bluetooth 5.2 is used for wireless transmission from the smartphone or tablet, with Google Fast Pair also being supported. Microsoft Swift Pair is integrated for quick pairing with Windows 10 and 11. However, multipoint is currently not offered without restrictions, but is only supported in connection with Android smartphones in the form that the playback button can be used to switch between the devices. In connection with a PC, iOS device or Mac, however, the LinkBuds S only offer manual switching of the connection without having to first disconnect the other device. The LinkBuds S do not have real multipoint, where the call of a connected, arbitrary second device can be accepted at any time.
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Sony LinkBuds S
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Sony LinkBuds S 
Sony LinkBuds S < /figure>
Sony LinkBuds S LE Audio: next-generation Bluetooth audio
The new LinkBuds S are also compatible with LE Audio, the next-generation Bluetooth audio technology that enables transmission with lower latencies, making it ideal for gaming. LE Audio features a completely new architecture to support audio applications over Bluetooth. In order to be able to use LE Audio, however, a firmware update is still required, which is to be released later this year. In addition, an LE audio-capable smartphone must be used. In this test it does not play any role. However, ComputerBase will address the subject again in due course.
LDAC for Hi-Res Audio
According to Sony, the LinkBuds S are the world's smallest and lightest in-ear headphones that support Hi-Res audio and offer active noise cancellation. The Hi-Res audio quality is provided by the proprietary audio codec LDAC, which is offered in addition to SBC and AAC. With this, the LinkBuds S also support Hi-Res audio with up to 990 kbit/s, 24-bit and 96 kHz sampling and an extended frequency response of 20 to 40,000 Hz. When using the other codecs, this is 20 to 20,000 Hz limited. Another point in which the LinkBuds S are superior to the LinkBuds, because the open model does without LDAC. The WF-1000XM4, on the other hand, also offer LDAC.
ANC and transparency with V1 SoC
In addition to ANC, the LinkBuds S have a transparency mode and support adaptive noise control, which the WH-1000XM5 also offer. With this function, the settings for ambient noise adapt to the respective location. For the ANC, Sony uses the V1 processor in the earphones, which – but there in combination with the QN1 SoC – is also used in the WH-1000XM5. It is also the technical basis of the WF-1000XM4 and, as the successor to the QN1e, integrates the Bluetooth chip into the SoC. According to Sony, the integration of all audio components in the V1 SoC has a positive effect on the noise behavior and the latency of the signal processing. The shortest possible delay time is important for noise suppression, for example, in order to achieve optimal coordination of feed-forward and feedback processing.
Sony LinkBuds S
6 hours of battery life with ANC
According to Sony, the battery life of the LinkBuds S is 6 hours with ANC activated and 9 hours without ANC. The charging case adds 14 hours (with ANC) or 21 hours (without ANC) for a total playback time of 20 to 30 hours. The battery in each earphone has a capacity of 51 mAh, in the charging case it is 450 mAh. With a quick charge mode, after 5 minutes of charging there is enough energy for an hour of music playback. It takes two hours to fully charge the earphones, and the charging case is fully charged in three hours via USB-C.
In the test, the LinkBuds S lasted 6:15 hours with activated ANC and the use of AAC at medium volume, slightly exceeding the specification from Sony.
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Sony LinkBuds S charging case
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Sony LinkBuds S charging case 
Sony LinkBuds S charging case 
Sony LinkBuds S: Charging case with USB-C Small charging case without wireless charging
The LinkBuds S charging case weighs 35 g and measures 42.8 × 60 × 27.6 mm. It's roughly the same weight as the LinkBuds charging case, which weighs 34g, but due to the larger shape of the earbuds, it's also larger than the LinkBuds, where the charging case is just 31.1 × 48.5 × 41.1mm. The charging case of the Sony WF-1000XM4 is 40.0 × 67.0 × 30.0 mm, slightly larger than the LinkBuds S and also heavier at 41 g, but offers wireless charging according to the Qi standard. However, like the LinkBuds, the LinkBuds S have to do without wireless charging. They are charged via USB-C. Each earbud is splash-proof to IPX4 and weighs 4.8 g.
Sony LinkBuds S Sony WF-1000XM4 Sony LinkBuds Apple AirPods Pro Bluetooth standard: 5.2 5.0 Audio codecs: SBC, AAC, LDAC SBC, AAC Operation: Touch Battery life of the earphones: 9.0/6.0 (ANC) h 12, 0/8.0 (ANC) h 5.5 h 5.0/4.5 (ANC) h Battery life with charging case: 30.0 h 36.0 h 17.5 h 24.0 h Wireless charging: – Yes – Yes ANC: Yes – Yes Single use: Yes IP certification: IPX4 Weight per earbud/charging case only: 4.8/35.0g 7.3/41.0g 4.1/34.0g 5.5/46 .0 g USB charging port: USB-C Lightning Charging case dimensions: 42.8 × 60.0 × 27.6 mm 40.0 × 67.0 × 30.0 mm 31.1 × 48.5 × 41.1 mm 45.2 × 60.6 × 21.7 mm Price: €199.99 from €216 from €130 from €179
Speak-to-Chat , DSEE and 360 Reality Audio
When it comes to features, the LinkBuds S also inherit a lot from the WF-1000XM4. Like the other models, the LinkBuds S also offer Sony's Speak-to-Chat, which pauses playback when the wearer starts talking and resumes when he stops speaking. As with the manufacturer's other earphones, playback also stops when the wearer coughs or hums along. In these situations, the feature interferes. But if you have a conversation every now and then, for example at work, it is extremely useful in everyday life.
Sony's familiar DSEE Extreme (“Digital Sound Enhancement Engine Extreme”) feature, which adjusts music in real time to restore frequencies lost through compression, is also supported. However, the difference is usually minimal. In addition, the spatial sound technology 360 Reality Audio is at the start, which requires appropriately mastered music. The functions can be controlled via the Headphones Connect app from Sony, which is explained in more detail below.
Google Assistant and Alexa with wake word
The LinkBuds S also support the language assistants Google Assistant and Amazon Alexa. Both can be called up with the activation words “Ok Google” or “Alexa” without having to press a button if the user has linked the services via the app. You don't have to activate it.
Sony LinkBuds S Touch control and porter detection
Touch sensors are installed in the outer surfaces for control. They can still be adjusted in the ears without incorrect input, since the edge and the mesh surface above the microphone are good starting points for grabbing the earphones without touching the touch surface.
In the delivery state, the right earphone is configured for playback control, the left one for controlling ambient noise or noise cancellation. In this respect, the LinkBuds S are similar to the Sony WF-1000XM4.
A single tap on the right earbud starts and pauses playback. Double-tap skips one track forward, triple-tap skips back one track. A long press, on the other hand, calls up the voice assistant of the connected device – or the alternative configured in the app, which can also be activated by voice alone if necessary. On the other hand, tapping on the left toggles between active noise cancellation and transparency mode, or disables both features. A long press triggers the Quick Heed feature, which greatly reduces the volume of music playback and activates transparency mode. Anyone who knows the WF-1000XM4 also knows this operation.
Control only adjustable to a limited extent
The adjustment of the operation that is possible via the app has also been adopted, which is no praise, because the user again has to choose between profiles instead of being able to freely adapt the assignment according to his needs.
The “Playback Control” and the “Ambient Sound Control” are the two profiles selected at the factory on the right and left. Volume Control and Unassigned are the other two options. For the volume slider, tapping increases the volume and pressing and holding decreases the volume. The control is therefore always restricted, since the unassigned gestures cannot simply be assigned to volume control, for example, without losing control of the ANC.
Auto pause and auto play via sensors
The headphones also feature wear detection using proximity sensors on the inside of the earbuds, which pauses playback when an earbud is removed from the ear or resumes when it is reinserted. In the test, this worked again without any problems and reliably. As mentioned, the LinkBuds S also offer Speak-to-Chat, which pauses playback as soon as the wearer starts talking. This function does not react to people talking around the user.
Sony LinkBuds S Adaptive noise control detects usage
The LinkBuds S offer the same adaptive noise control as the WF-1000XM4, which automatically recognizes where the user is and what they are doing – whether they are sitting, walking or running. The function automatically activates the appropriate ambient noise mode, i.e. ANC or transparency, if desired. The feature can also recognize locations such as home or work. The whole thing is optional and can be switched on and off in the app.
single use
Unrestricted single use is now part of good form with wireless in-ear headphones. The LinkBuds S from Sony are no exception here. If an earphone is placed in the charging case, the change from stereo to mono is uninterrupted if the playback is not automatically paused when an earphone is removed. If you switch from mono to stereo, this is also done without interruption, announcement or signal tone.
The operation is not automatically changed for single use, so that when using the left earphone alone, no playback control via the earphone is possible ex works.
Sony LinkBuds S App connection for updates and customizations
The LinkBuds S support Sony's Headphones Connect app. Many functions have already been discussed, other options include the ability to update the firmware of the earphones and select and adjust equalizer presets.
In the transparency mode, the intensity of the amplification can be adjusted in order to be able to choose between a louder environment or less ambient noise in 20 levels. The intensity cannot be adjusted with ANC. In addition to the adjustments to operation mentioned above, it can also be specified whether the transparency mode should be omitted when switching through the ambient noise control, so that the earphones only switch between “ANC” and “Off”.
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Sony LinkBuds S with Headphones Connect app
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Sony LinkBuds S with Headphones Connect app 
Sony LinkBuds S with Headphones Connect app 
Sony LinkBuds S with Headphones Connect app 
Sony LinkBuds S with Headphones Connect app 
Sony LinkBuds S with Headphones Connect app 
Sony LinkBuds S with Headphones Connect app 
Sony LinkBuds S with Headphones Connect app < figure> 
Sony LinkBuds S with Headphones Connect app
Sony LinkBuds S with Headphones Connect app 
Sony LinkBuds S with Headphones Connect app 
Sony LinkBuds S with Headphones Connect app < figure> 
Sony LinkBuds S with Headphones Connect app
Sony LinkBuds S with Headphones Connect app 
Sony LinkBuds S with Headphones Connect app 
Sony LinkBuds S with Headphones Connect app 
Sony LinkBuds S with Headphones Connect app 
Sony LinkBuds S with Headphones Connect app 
Sony LinkBuds S with Headphones Connect app 
Sony LinkBuds S with Headphones Connect app 
Sony LinkBuds S with Headphones Connect app 
Sony LinkBuds S with Headphones Connect app 
Sony LinkBuds S with Headphones Connect app 
Sony LinkBuds S with Headphones Connect app 
Sony LinkBuds S with Headphones Connect app 
Sony LinkBuds S with Headphones Connect app 
Sony LinkBuds S with Headphones Connect app < figure> 
Sony LinkBuds S with Headphones Connect app
In addition to the battery status of the earphones and the charging case, the current playback is displayed and can also be controlled in the app. The already mentioned functions such as Speak-to-Chat, 360 Reality Audio and DSEE Extreme can be switched on and off in the app. In addition, the Bluetooth connection quality can be chosen between better sound quality and a secure connection. In everyday life, it is easily possible to choose the better quality. Even then, disconnections do not occur under normal conditions.
Artificial restrictions compared to the WF-1000XM4, Sony does not miss the LinkBuds S in the app, so that again numerous and many sensible options are offered. Which ones can be used when it makes sense can vary quite a bit. However, it is worth dealing with them.
The wearing comfort is a dream
The Sony LinkBuds S are great to wear. In this respect, they are among the most comfortable in-ear headphones in the test field, if not the most comfortable to wear. You don't have to shy away from the comparison to the Apple AirPods Pro (test), which many users appreciate because they are comfortable to wear because they don't press into the ear canal. The LinkBuds S manage to seal the ear equally, but without exerting pressure or being disturbing. In a direct comparison, they are even more comfortable than the Sony LinkBuds (test) and the Sony WF-1000XM4 (test). Weight distribution and size are excellent, at least for the tester.
The Sony LinkBuds S are very comfortable to wear
The LinkBuds S sit securely in the tester's ear and are also light jog or a short sprint. However, in the case of the tester, they are not suitable for every type of sport, because they loosen with excessively fast and jerky head movements.
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Sound, ANC, telephony, latency and conclusion