Even after they fit me, I noticed a darker, fuzzier sound signature than I experienced on the original pair. This appears to be by design, as one of the main complaints above was a lack of bass, something almost all open-back headphones struggle with. The new headphones add a little more punch in the bass, but at the cost of clarity and presence in the mids and highs.
Fortunately, Sony’s Sound Connect app provides a capable equalizer, and after some tinkering with the Excitement preset, including reducing the Clear Bass function and increasing the midrange a notch or two, I was able to get more crispness in the attacks. instruments for everything from boxes. and guitars to voices and trumpets. I still never got things as clear or vibrant as the Bose pair, but for $100 less, that’s not all that surprising, and I think the Sony gets the bass win.
Open Season
You’re not really buying open-back headphones for their sound quality, especially if you’re a discerning audiophile like me. It’s much more about merging the vibes of your two realities: playing podcasts or your favorite ’80s playlist while staying in touch with the world (and other humans). WIRED editor Adrienne So loves open-back headphones for the gym or other public places where she feels more confident that no one is stalking her.
They are also ideal for situations where regular buds just won’t cut it. like my beloved Mark Bose or the Ray-Ban Meta Audio Sunglasses, the Linkbuds are great for staying safe while riding your bike or e-bike on a cool fall day, where wind shear would naturally overwhelm the small microphones on traditional buds using the mode. of transparency.
I was also very surprised at how well the Linkbuds Open suppressed outside sounds during calls. In a recent conversation with my mom, I could barely hear my own voice as I moved trash bins out of the street, but she barely noticed the bellow of the plastic tires covering my voice, and she always lets me know when I’m too loud.
If I could only afford one pair, I’d still choose more rounded earbuds that can shut out or let in the ambient world with noise cancellation or transparency mode respectively, like Apple’s excellent AirPods Pro (8/10, WIRED recommended). I would also consider the cheaper original Linkbuds, although the battery life is more limiting. Otherwise, if you’re looking for a pair that will keep you naturally present in virtually any scenario and you don’t mind all the chaos that comes with it, the Linkbuds Open are a solid new option in this still-evolving segment.