The main intention in the design of this model was, in addition to quality sound, also ergonomics, so that the headphones are as comfortable as possible and you can keep them in your ear for as long as you need. The attribute Open in this case means that the part with the acoustic transducer, which is inserted into the ear, has the shape of a ring with a hole in the middle. Through this opening, you can hear the sounds of the surroundings, and it also allows ventilation of the ear canal, which, together with the shape, contributes to comfort during prolonged wear. I have to praise the Adaptive Volume function, which adjusts the volume based on the noise of the environment. The stabilizing fin fixes the headphones in the ears, so they hold well even during dynamic movement activities. The manufacturer indicates resistance to moisture at the IPX4 level.
I tested the white color variant, to be precise, the top glossy part of the charging case was not completely white, but had a subtle marble pattern. Why should the manufacturer hide the fact that the case is made of recycled plastic when others boast about it?
Playback and other functions are controlled by tapping the outside of the headphones, tapping the skin near the ear also works. More functions and settings are available in the Sound Connect app. In it, you can also adjust the sound using the equalizer. There’s also voice control and even head gesture control, so you can nod your head to accept a call and shake your head to reject a call. On the one hand, it’s intuitive, on the other hand, it’s hard to say what people around you will think. After installing the application, you will also be able to use 360 Reality Audio with head tracking. If your smartphone supports LE audio, you can switch to this low latency mode. It goes without saying that the headphones can be paired with two devices at the same time.
Initially, you will probably work with the placement of the headphones in the ear so that the circular part with the acoustic transducer is aligned with the ear canal. Then the sound is truly brilliant. The sound quality is very good across the entire frequency range. You will be surprised by good bass and brilliant high tones, so the music is plastic and you have no problem recognizing individual instruments. For some genres, I slightly reduced the treble in the equalizer. Of course, it should be remembered that Sony LinkBuds S are primarily aimed at listening to music as part of a dynamic lifestyle, i.e. during walks, hiking or sports. Other over-ear models are available for audiophiles to listen to music in a chair in the living room. When using headphones, I especially appreciated the fact that I did not lose acoustic contact with the surroundings. You want that if you’re moving around the city, in a coffee shop, etc., but you definitely don’t want it during long plane journeys. Due to the open design, the headphones do not have implemented noise suppression.
The battery lasts for 8 hours of listening or 4.5 hours of talk time. Together with the battery in the charging case, you have energy for 22 hours of listening. The case is truly miniature. Charges via USB-C connector, wireless charging is not supported.
PROS, CONS:
+ Excellent ergonomics, excellent sound, you can hear the surrounding sounds well
– They do not support wireless charging
PARAMETERS:
Acoustic drivers: 11 mm; frequency range 20 Hz – 20 kHz, sampling frequency 44.1 kHz; bluetooth 5.3; codecs SBC, AAC, LC3; battery life 8 h; weight 5.1 g handset, 30.6 g case
Cena: 199 EUR
Source: www.nextech.sk