Yes. I got the Sony LinkBuds.

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[@Kahara101]

You forgot to mention the best part: THEY HAVE A NAME. No clumsy "WH100X-M5," they're just the "Link Buds." A conventional name!

[@kroh7742]

I would definitely miss the demon i used to summon, pronouncing Sony's product names

[@cloverbeaumont2869]

"Catchy name, mate!"

[@9.5.9.5]

Who cares about the name of headphones

[@josir1994]

you mean WF-L900?

[@user-lw4dn2lt2c]

@@9.5.9.5 if they are an enthusiast then they care.

[@Lizlodude]

Let's just take a moment to appreciate the fact that Sony actually managed to give something a name that doesn't have more numbers than letters. Also these are actually pretty cool. Sorta in the same category as bone conduction headphones, but probably better sound quality.

[@mikehall3976]

(and more comfortable)

[@rickrolled3666]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/aZ24oWV5ZdWGlbs finally its here..

[@ThisMarv]

What about the "LinkBuds S" then? You'd assume they have a similar concept to the "LinkBuds" right? No, they're noise cancelling regular old bluetooth headphones. WTF SONY?

[@theepicgaminggod4275]

PlayStation series??

[@grdprojekt]

aaaaaannnddd they ruin it with the Linkbuds S which is a normal looking tws with ANC. Now, tbf to Sony, their mean by "Linkbuds" branding is a line-up of true wireless buds that would be comfortable to be used all day, so it's in the ergonomics. But the marketing is still bad enough that people thought Linkbuds branding is only for this donut tws model. You might want to pick up the marketing game Sony.

[@Horizontalvertigo]

It's nice when Sony suddenly remembers that it used to make really interesting, well made, market leading tech

[@samholdsworth420]

Made in China

[@samholdsworth420]

Sony was good when it was made in Japan not no mo

[@Horizontalvertigo]

@@samholdsworth420 doesn't matter where it's made if the design is brain-dead.

[@KChung-fg3kb]

@@Horizontalvertigo it's less about thinking that the same design made in a Japan factory will be better, than it is the observable fact that caring about design and being willing to pay more for better QC on your home turf is a package deal. The same Sony that cared enough to design good audio gear is the same Sony that would insist on making it in Japan

[@Horizontalvertigo]

@@KChung-fg3kb It's not like it's impossible to pour money into high quality QC overseas, it's a choice Sony's made to produce things at the quality they're at. Likewise, just because something is made in your home country doesn't mean that it'll be high quality if you don't properly invest into QC processes. Overall, the nation of manufacture is irrelevant, the company's design quality, and investment into materials, manufacture and QC will define the quality of the end product, all other things being equal. Sony has simply shifted its focus away from the core model that built the company up until the 2000s.

[@labhusky3]

Chef/mountain biker here. This is EXACTLY the kind of earbuds I love seeing in the world and would thoroughly enjoy a pair. You need to be able to hear everything and the people around you even if you're just in the dish pit as a chef. As a mountain biker audio can save you from a gnarly entanglement with a hiker. These headphones seem like the best of both worlds of you know, still knowing whats going on, but getting your groove on at the same time

[@phillippevictor]

I concur. I use 2nd gen AirPods while cycling as I can hear the roads and environment (that is why I haven’t upgraded yet)

[@danvarughese]

@@phillippevictor You can still hear them w 3rd gen airpods

[@phillippevictor]

@@danvarughese I tried. I feel like my second gens allow me to hear better (that’s just my preference)

[@Jo3sX]

I picked up a pair of these and ended up returning them and getting the Airpods 3. I really hoped they would be great as the fit is perfect and it's a nice design, but the sound quality, to my ears and how they fit at least, is truly pretty awful. They lack any bass which I expected, but the whole spectrum was lacking. They sound tinny for lack of a better word. Perhaps the biggest issue is the volume. I primarily purchased them for running and mountain biking where I mainly listen to podcasts, but at max volume if there is any background noise you can't hear much. The airpods fit nearly as well for me, let in maybe 90% of my surroundings compared to the linkbuds, actually sound good and they get loud. I think the linkbuds are just a little bit pointless at the moment, but if they can make them sound good and get more volume out of them, they could be a winner. The only purpose I can think of that the linkbuds would be perfect for is somebody who spends all day on conference calls as they really are great for phone calls, but that's a very expensive use case.

[@lukehunker6429]

as an mountain biker I whole heartedly agree. I love my aftershocks for mtb

[@mattkaplan7047]

My preference between Bluetooth and wired comes down to the age old battle between the hatred of tangled wires vs the hatred of pairing bullshit

[@michaelcorcoran8768]

I just use both. Bluetooth if I want convenience, portability and active noise cancellation, wired audio if I want to really listen to lossless audio. But a happy medium is something like the fiio utws3 or qudelix 5k

[@CrushedParagon]

I use Bluetooth when on the bus, wired literally everywhere else

[@aquaventus]

Speakers at home, wired outside. Headphones late at night, bluetooth if i want to walk around, wired if im trying to relax.

[@sdani.]

The main problem with bluetooth is keeping it charged💀

[@shad0w_dragon178]

I think NFC pairing has gone a long way to help the pairing issues (RIP apple users because iPhone still doesn't support nfc pairing)

[@Professor_Sex]

Hey Mate, I'd just like to sincerely thank you for doing what you do, it's inspiring to see someone so energetic and passionate about what they do. (Also thanks for introducing us to the world of proper good listening) Love from Canada!

[@STICKOMEDIA]

👌

[@Ben-ic1ve]

+1

[@spaceweedceo820]

What is this guys name

[@Professor_Sex]

​@@spaceweedceo820 Sex, Doctor Sex.

[@kylefaris5487]

@@spaceweedceo820 Wade

[@Supreme-King]

Using LinkBuds feels like having background music. Its strange at first but going to the gym and getting that one song in the track that pumps you up as background music is pretty epic.

[@123cache123]

For all those considering buying: yes, the bass is but symbolic, but the overall sound quality is surprisingly pleasing. There is this lightness that's unparallel. Being open, they also produce surprisingly wide audio stage and are the only pair of headphones that caused me to look around looking for the source of sound (which turned out to be within the buds). Stunning! They are also so darn light I often forget I even have them in. What lends to that is also the fact they are open and allow - well - effectively ventilation so you don't get this clogged feeling. The case, in my opinion, is nowhere near as bad as presented here, and no man's pockets would have any issue containing it. Two things to keep in mind, though, as it's not all roses. First off - the battery life is poor. 4h listening and more like 3-3,5h when used for calls. I was hoping to use them for work, but with the amount of calls I take, I need to charge them like 2-3x a day and I don't always have enough time between calls to charge them in the first place. The other downside (but given the above, probably not so dire) is fairly poor audio quality from the microphones. I had ppl complaining abut it on several occasions.

[@xBinyWolf]

I love the fact that everyone hates this. I bought them the during the -20% on warehouse deals for 59€ as new (110€ new) becouse 90% of people who buy them think bass=good sound. I love them: the sound is exactly what I wanted(maybe a little just a tiny amount of bass would have been nicer) and expected, my ears don't get hot as fuck after 2 hours of play time, I can walk on the streets without the fear of being hit by a car and turn my head like a psychopath to look around every second. The only issue is that I can't feel them in my ear most of the time and that is good but whenever I check them or they go a little out of place and I want to fix their position fucking touch controls get in the way but I still don't want to disable them because they are useful but I hate the fact that you could not enable ONLY expanded area touch so you avoid this problem. Best buy for my needs but I understand why a lot of people say they are overpriced/bad i think those a re the most love it or hate earbuds and i hope Sony will continue this series maybe every 2 years or so

[@its_alex1621]

How well do the headphones fit in the ear? I would like to bike with them.

[@azerik92]

Had mine for about a year now, The base isn't really all that bad, the default tuning is just kind of lazy. They take to EQ settings really well if you use Sony's app. They'll never be as good as some wired buds or a set of over ears, but they come with a lot less ear fatigue, but they're great for walking around town or working when you need to be able to pay attention to what's going on around you.

[@TyeTaylor]

That ending is the most Australian thing I've ever seen

[@Kayso789]

Bro he used the wrong brand of couch snake spray smh, you're supposed to use raid not WD-40

[@jordan.h]

Yo it’s my fav elden ring guy

[@Neojhun]

It's just his Dog named Frank.

[@Chipmunkboy]

can confirm

[@markwayne86]

Crocodile Dundee is the most Australian thing you’ll ever see.

[@l0gi550]

Linkbuds owner here: They’re great, except if you plan on eating with the headphones in, it’s NOT good. Chewing always activates the “touch controls”

[@dorupero]

Happened to me while brushing my teeth too. So I just turned that feature off

[@seancantwell5430]

I had that happen at first I turned off wide area touch and it fixed it

[@jefferydupuis6326]

This is my #1 problem with them, otherwise my pair helped *immensely* with my relatively sensitive ear-holes. The fit is extremely comfortable for me and this is one of the only sets of headphones I've been able to leave in my ears overnight and not regret when I wake up. I do love my KZ's though!

[@SkyLon9808]

Your hair also will trigger them if it touched the ear bud

[@PatGencarelli]

I gave up on those touch controls on day 1

[@Jake-qq5pq]

I've had these buds for a few months now and they are exactly what I've been looking for. The sound isn't amazing but thats what I have my cabled over ears for. What is amazing is how light they are and how well they stay in my ears and let other sounds in too. I prefer to exercise outside and these have made doing that vastly safer and also stops me from feeling plugged up and isolated from the world. I also golf a lot and being able to blast whatever song I want on the course without bothering anyone and still being able to hear the guy on the tee behind out try to drive a ball into my skull is great. My final favorite aspect of these is how well they fit behind PPE and earmuffs. I'm a pilot but I don't have the super expensive bose headset that let you mix in your music. These are the next best thing. I can listen to music with these under my headset without worrying about missing radio calls or sacrificing hearing protection on the flight deck. These earbuds are for people who like to mix music into daily life without shutting out the world.

[@sgm7650]

My guy what else can you do holy shit 😂😭

[@briannguyen6055]

I've had these for a few months they are super useful for me. I work in a kitchen and it's very important for me to hear everything and also listen to my own music. I also bike and having these in being hyper aware of your environment is the best. Having regular earbuds are down right dangerous while biking and the passthrough audio of other wireless iems are often just too unrealistic. I don't have this problem anymore. I still carry my airpod pros for when i need anc but these are there also in my bag.

[@LavenderAudio]

I adore my linkbuds. I bought them pretty much as soon as they came out and they're super neato. I'm visually impaired and need my ears when walking around to listen for obstacles or hazards, but I love listening to music, podcasts and audiobooks while out on walks. I've listened to three whole books, chonky 20 hour ones, several hours of podcasts, and countless Spotify mixes since I got them. Heck I just leave them in while sleeping sometimes, they're comfy because they just sit on your ears. I rate them.

[@meow_meow_J]

Wait, I recognize you from SPYW, I am Jim Pickens

[@berryquick6224]

1 more use-case, THEY'RE PERFECT FOR OUTDOOR WORKOUT/RUNNING, OR ANYTHING THAT REQUIRES YOU TO BE AWARE OF YOUR SURROUNDING LIKE CONSTRUCTION WORK OR WOODWORK

[@structor125]

Hey! You made Gilded!

[@LavenderAudio]

@@structor125 Thats me!

[@AustinNooe]

Also look into the shokz headphones. I love then even though the audio quality isn't perfect

[@jep0rox]

I got mine for using with my escooter, they seem like the safest things for listing to music when scooting, or biking, or running, anything outside where you need to be hyper aware of traffic and people. they're definitely not cheap in aussiebucks but they were £150 which isn't bad for something entirely unique. Also I've personally never liked in-ears for music listening, I want to listen to music and not have my ears canals violated to do so so these are honestly perfect, they're what samsung tried to do with the beans but they actually work and are comfortable.

[@calllen]

how do you even hear the music in traffic

[@silverhand861]

@@calllen the music will just have to blend with the noise, I guess. Alternatively, the music could be super loud, but that's bad for anyone's ears...

[@BeerDone]

KSC75's are better for that I'd say. If it HAS to be wireless - Porta Pro wireless with KSC75's earhooks. But I just do BT adapter with the mic'd up KSC75X now.

[@theussmirage]

I literally wear them every single day for work, I work at a hospital and need to hear everything around me, yet take three calls an hour. For work-related phone calls, nothing beats the LinkBuds!

[@jep0rox]

@@calllen just have them at half volume, it blends pretty well.

[@frtzkng]

There's only one reason they're not bringing back the headphone jack, and you low key already mentioned it: these hit the bin in 2 to 5 years, whereas your STAXs hold up _decades._ So, they can sell you more wireless buds to throw away later.

[@theactualslapmaster2466]

pretty much all sony phones have the headphone jack still

[@aloedg3191]

My new phone is from oneplus and i am not planning on changing it, it also has a headphone jack

[@mareeeeeeeeeeeeeeee]

That makes me sad cuz it's so true

[@jamesdavis1917]

You act like wired headphones are any better. 2-5 years is standard for almost any mass produced tech item, when you aren't going out of your way to take good care of them. Sure you can get a phone to last you a decade, or get headphones to last 20 years, but only if you go outside of what people would consider a "normal" amount of care for them. At that point it's less about the quality of the product, and more about the quality of your care. I can make $5 headphones last 50 years if I keep them in the box between uses and only take them out for 30 minutes a year, or I can make $1000 headphones last 10 minutes if I go deep-sea diving with them on. It's how you use and care for your stuff that makes them last, not just the product itself.

[@hua..]

@@theactualslapmaster2466 and they are all either overpriced or just straight up suck

[@360lateflip]

I've had a pair for months and they're my favorite wireless buds I've had. A pair of wired skull candies out preforms them sound wise but I can leave the doughnuts in all day with out a care in the world. Crunchy food sometimes sets off the touch controls

[@peepeepoopoovdbhxvbcc6683]

The best part about these is that you can use Q-tips while you’re listening to your music. Thanks again Sony, always innovating and reshaping the market

[@efox4028]

Gotta keep your ears clean while you listen

[@dontaskdontjudge]

"re-shaping the market" *Makes doughnuts* Very punny. Take my like

[@geroni211]

The vibration from the music really helps to remove the harder to reach wax!

[@jellifygirl]

Finally, now you can give yourself ear infections without all the hassle of big clunky over-ears!

[@randaranatunga7259]

I love how shopping for Bluetooth earbuds sounds kinda like cruising through a grocery store “There are some Samsung beans over there, The Sony doughnuts, the odd truffle over there” Jokes aside I saw Linus’s and MKBHD’s review of these and I think they’re some of the most interesting Bluetooth earphones I’ve seen within the past year or so.

[@Professor_Sex]

It's like a shopping list

[@maskedbrocclli5603]

I’ve bought these and they were really neat but I couldn’t for the life of me get them in my ear so they fit and were comfortable, I tried so many positions and size rings, oh well

[@andrewduong2740]

Soughnuts

[@Professor_Sex]

@Don't Read My Profile Photo oh OK I won't :)

[@doriangrigorie7345]

Friendly advice: please dont take linus/mkbhd/supersaftv etc(mostly people who's youtube careers doesnt depend or go around audio) headphones reviews seriously. Their phones reviews are great, but the headphone/earphone reviews are not in their territory

[@zachsimsphoto5344]

These to me are 100% designed for walking and listening to an audio book or podcast. The ability to hear what is around you is perfect for that. Also the frequency response is destined for narration.

[@mynechan]

The shoo at 3:45 was the most satisfying shoo ever

[@kyleholloway3470]

I'm a service engineer, so being able to hear the outside world properly when I want to listen to music would be good. May hunt down a pair of these now.

[@AdelineTurner]

I'm a field engineer and I picked up a set of aeropex by aftershokz and they are a game changer for listening to audio and still being able to pay attention to your surroundings.

[@_Turbocat777]

check ebay, I got a refurbished pair within the last week for ~$80. can't say how much better the batt life is to new ones but $100 off can't complain.

[@AdelineTurner]

@@_Turbocat777 Sam's club has new ones on discount for only 100 right now I just picked up a spare set a week ago.

[@FloydBunsen]

Bone conduction headphones are good too

[@DL_Burga]

I use these regularly when I want to listen to music during work and they're amazing. The fit is great and I could sleep with them, done it multiple times lol

[@David_Drums]

I daily use these buds in an office where people talk to me often and I find that I can hear folks a lot better than when I have SoundCore Life P2s in. I mostly listen to podcasts at work and they sound good for that, but I'm not really an audiophile so take that with a grain of salt. My hope is they find a way to boost up the single battery charge to 9 hours so I don't have to worry about charging them during the workday. Thanks for reviewing these! Always love your opinion!

[@angjiapheng]

Ya, I calculated the Mac battery life is around 2 hours when turning on all features, and 5 hours when turn off everything. I have to charge them during lunch time. And also, ear wax stuck on those buds are not easy to clean.

[@JechtAruon]

Why not buy a second pair so that way you can listen all day with one charging.

[@David_Drums]

@@JechtAruon fair point, but I dont have $400 USD to throw around casually at 2 sets of earbuds.

[@Jedex96]

6:38 this actually remembered me to change the mono setting I forgot. Thanks!

[@Neon-Void]

Super happy to see you cover these and give them props for their niche. I got them shortly after they came out and I use them all the time at work so that I can still be more aware of my surroundings.

[@Wadosan]

I’m a Saxophonist, I can ONLY practice playing with open buds like AirPods simply because earplug style buds make it so that the sound I hear from my instrument is super wonky. I can barely hear myself play while wearing headphones or earplug iems, so being able to put some earbuds in and play to a metronome or backing track effectively is a big deal.

[@MrVTeta]

IEMs serve other purposes but one of the main benefits is offering protection from hearing damage. No way you can play the sax without damaging your hearing long term with open buds.

[@Wadosan]

@@MrVTeta …What? I don’t know what kind of saxophone you’re hearing but last I checked I don’t need hearing protection to play some low notes at mezzo forte.

[@dragoneye0979]

I totally agree with your friend. I almost never wear both of my buds at the same time. Thats why I was so interested in those bone conductance headphones because hey nothing blocking your hearing and you still get music? Awesome! too bad they bleed sound worse than anything Ive ever seen but I guess thats inherent to how sound works. If someone could design some way around that I'd be all in with those

[@maninino429]

Had a set of the aftershokz ones. Well, 3, they all shit the bed. Id definitely be interested in these

[@mrcraggle]

I have the newest model of Shokz (they changed their name) and I can easily wear them all day. No one even seems to notice I'm wearing headphones. They work for their intended purpose but if you keep your expectations in check, they're great at what they do.

[@AHungryHunky]

I like mine, I bought them for walking in town and hiking so I can hear everything around me and not disturb anything. Work fantastic for that, in town my music will be drowned by cars at times though if I'm in a busier intersection. Out in the woods it's usually quiet enough I can keep my volume fairly low and still hear with out any noticable bleed.

[@dereckguerra6863]

i love these as a uni student, cuz i can have an ambient playlist playing while in class and still hear the lecture crystal clear. that was the main reason i got them

[@bigdingus9333]

Hey Mr. Dank. Thanks to your channel, I’ve finally decided to pursue audio as a career and gotten myself my dream instrument, drums. If it weren’t for you, I wouldn’t know anything about the technicals of audio and music. Thanks!

[@Xanthelei]

So happy to see you reviewing these, and also that you highlight that not everyone wants/can use earplug-like buds. These have had a lot of Amazon warehouse workers' interest because the main reason cited against us having literally anything at all to listen to aside from the drone of conveyor belts for 10+ hours a day is "it's a safety hazard to not be able to hear what's around you!" Not a problem if my earbuds aren't blocking a damn thing, is it? And as someone who can't use earplugs in general because my ears are apparently my heat control valve, having earbuds that don't block airflow is sounding super nice in non-work settings too. Good luck with the couch snake infestation.

[@mipmipmipmipmip]

I find that they don't block, but do lower the outside volume.

[@Drazatis]

“Look at all these people talking with their ears plugged- they look NUTS!!!” Mate you never fail to make me belly laugh like an idiot

[@clangauss4155]

Real world applications, real world purpose, real world coverage. I love that you point out some specs and designs suit different needs. As obvious as it is, sometimes people need to hear it. These are great for podcasts, YT videos, and calls, but I'd like them while driving. I have a cabled pair of KZs I normally wear (on your recommendation, and yes they're sick) but cables around my neck and arms in the car are awkward and dangerous, and I feel the need to have one ear out just in case I need to hear a horn or siren. Nice work, Dank.

[@xbalogan]

I grabbed a pair of these on release since I have to wear ear defenders at work due to working with heavy machinery, thus far they have been the best earbuds for wearing underneath so I can still hear whats going on. That small profile and sound going through is truly chefs kiss

[@samjezard]

These being mid cannons and having total passthrough means they'd be awesome buds for listening to podcasts and audiobooks in an office environment. You can still hear your desk phone ringing and computer notifications noises, but you can also hear people walking around you and be able to have normal conversations - if the battery life is 4-6 hours with quick charging in the case, they would be perfect.

[@honichi1]

Interestingly the Sony's were the clearest but had the least bass in the mic test. Apple had a bit more bass but was a bit less clear. But the cashies had by far the most accurate representation of your voice just based on the frequencies, but it was also the muddiest

[@DrainYouOut]

@@beardsntools soy

[@gustiwidyanta5492]

BRING BACK THE JACK

[@g4mingaz]

@@beardsntools You are completely wrong.

[@chaos.corner]

The cashies have the mic on the wire so it can be closer to your mouth and in the direction of the sound. The earbuds have the mic in your ears which is less optimal. Possibly a less capable mic has to be used for size reasons too. I have wired bluetooth headphones I use and the mic works fairly well on those too.

[@Cobalt985]

@@beardsntools Dude the amount of people who call on discord using earbuds completely proves you wrong. Discord channels are 64k Opus by default and you can definitely tell the BT headphones apart from anything else -- they sound like shite!

[@nathanhunter3926]

I bought the Grado 80s bc of your channel and they are my favorite headphonies I've ever bought. Beautiful sound.

[@RandomAnimeGamer]

What confuses me the most is that I'm hearing that Apple wants to even remove the charging cable, so there's absolutely no cable ports on their future phones, opting for wireless charging. They're removing the only way to use wired earphones along with massively slowing down how fast their devices charge.

[@TypicalFoxxo]

Luckily, the European Union has come to the rescue, by forcing all phone companies to adopt the same universal connector, like USB-C. Rumours and leaks have indicated that Apple is going to put USB-C in their new iPhones, and thats due to the law introduced by the EU.

[@lain2236ad]

BUY AN ANDROID

[@cringeginge7663]

@@lain2236ad andoirds gonna end up following suit a year later

[@danksupplyco]

@@cringeginge7663 I could see some brands following suit, primarily the ones with fast wireless charging. The reality is this will never happen until wireless charging technology improves. Apple may be a fan of taking shit away from you, but they will make sure the alternative is at least satisfactory 9 times out of 10

[@forplayplay]

@@lain2236ad I guess if you're poor enough to have no data worth protecting

[@allaion2897]

What I love about Sony's wireless earbuds (at least with the WF line) is that the batteries are replaceable, meaning I will be able to use them for years longer than other wireless earbuds

[@mafiacat88]

Honestly that's HUGE. Like sure, right now it doesn't matter, but it can triple the lifespan of the device, and it's massive from the environmental side. Apple doing their "ecofriendly" crap while being the biggest seller of non-recyclable E-waste is a bit of a piss off.

[@amimanot]

@@techno1561 if I recall correctly the WF-1000xm3 uses hearing aid batteries, making it easier to find replacements when the battery dies eventually

[@weedsmokinator420]

@@amimanot That is absolutely clever, no joke. Good one, Sony!

[@kaitlyn__L]

@@amimanot hell yeah

[@dhruvtukadiya]

The WH line also has replaceable batteries. The over-ear XM3 and XM4 use the same kind, although I'm not sure about the new XM5.

[@millerf]

It is also very good security-wise, when biking for example. Always hearing env sounds is very important.

[@CedricsSpecialLP]

I know that this channel is mainly about MP3 players, but your headphone reviews were the videos that made me subscribe to you. I always love how you give us the same information (like EQ graphs), but it never gets boring, and I especially love when you do sound comparisons. I would love to see more of those videos.

[@thecursingsaltine3097]

I love this channel, It makes my day every time I see a video from you! Keep up the gnarly work!

[@mxce420]

I literally own DT770’s and KZ’s because of you. I appreciate your work and you actually make being an audiophile and just general audio appreciation fun. Thank you. Edit: I don’t claim to be a huge audiophile or anything I just took an interest in the whole scene after seeing your videos. I’ve always been big into music even tho my music taste is pretty narrow so it made sense that I’d enjoy this type of shit.

[@geroni211]

I received my set of KZs yesterday and never heard sound so clear before, everything else is so much muddier now. Thanks to DankPods for making videos that are so fun that I don't even have to care about the subject to enjoy them

[@eagle7015]

Me too....got the zsn Pro x andh God was i surprised with the audio quality

[@Jaunty_Jeff]

Haven't started watching yet but I'm sure it'll be a great one as always!! Keep it Up!!

[@Excalibur9905]

Dankpods has gotten me into audio. I would call myself an “audiophile” now.

[@alessandrolira4035]

Nice m8. What headphones do you have?

[@justindesrosiers3145]

Honnestly, same. But I’m kind of scared to call myself an audiophile… Borderline ashamed… Why so? It’s a stupid reason but let me explain Vinyl audiophiles Before discovering Dankpods (and later on Crinacle) and his headphone world, I actually started my audio journey with vinyl records. A friend of my mom gave me her old Victrola for free, then I bought myself an Audio-Technica LP60X as an upgrade. I wanted to share my newly aquired Victrola to my friend and some audiophile forums Great mistake « What a piece of junk! » « Only 4 plays until your records are ruined! » « Don’t put that thing near my discs! » I panicked so hard. What do you mean my Victrola ruins records?! I immediatly bought my LP60 (which was actually worth it), but even then, some snobby audiophiles kept bashing on my turntable… A bit later, after informing myself a bit, I came to a conclusion: Vinyl audiophiles are full of crap. They buy turntables that cost what? 2000? Without a single feature other than the tonearm and the cartridge. Otherwise, it « creates surface noise and distorsion ». Meanwhile, turntables from the 80, stacked with features like automatic start and ever track skipping like a CD player sound just as good as their 3000 buck garbage… Cherry on top, I think my turntable sounds awesome for the 170$ CAN that I paid! My friends love it too, and they own ATLP120s that cost twice the price of mine. I could’ve gone more in depht in my audio journey, but I don’t want to write a full book. Just remember this tho: don’t go into the vinyl world. People are retarded here, especially the snobby audiophiles. They’ll trash talk you for buying an LP60 instead of their overpriced behemoth with no features (not even better sound…) and try to sell you turntable belts that « extend the bass response » (true story, I laughed my ass off when I saw this) Stick to your DAP or cellphone, they sound just as good as my vinyls

[@isaacramirez3729]

I saw this vid when you first posted it. I'm in love with these doughnuts. I've been wanting open back earbuds for the longest time

[@askme7777777]

i got 'em a couple months ago and they've been perfect for what i do, which is mostly stocking and odd jobs around a plumbing business. i can pop on the tunes when i've got a big box of fittings or pipe to put away or paperwork to deal with, but i can also hear my surroundings so i don't get hit by a truck in the alley or i can hear my boss without having to constantly pop an ear bud in and out. and a big thing i didn't have to think about until i got this job was whether or not things were glove friendly. touch controls of any sort aren't compatible with work gloves. i had a pair of jaybird vistas i bought for the gym a while back which have a nice big button, but i got sick of having to pop them in and out. i tried the pair of bose quiet comforts i got for travelling and blocking out my roommate since i could slide an ear off, but i couldn't hit the tiny buttons with gloves on. what was working well for a while was a pair of jlab rewinds. they were $15USD, bluetooth, a similar form factor to the koss portapros so i could hear around me and slide an ear off, and they've got one button the size of an oreo so i could hit it with a glove on. the link buds just happened to fall into the exact niche i needed.

[@Jamvan001]

I love mine for basically all the same reasons, the ability to retain situational awareness in an industrial environment is great. BUT also - when I do have to operate machinery, they're small enough to fit under earmuffs and *the controls still work*. Because the controls aren't touch and just listen for "thumps", you can operate the buds by tapping the earmuffs. So good!

[@EmeraldSpencer]

I've been looking for this video from you since the Link Buds launched (mainly because I bought them the day they came out). So as someone who has been using them for a few months, I'd like to offer some of my perspective. The lack of bass is only in the stock configuration. Sony has an app for all their headphones that lets you adjust many of the earbuds' settings, including bass, and these things get THUMPY when cranked. As for the fit, while I am in agreement they are quite comfortable off the bat, they won't stay that way. The fact that these are hard plastic means they won't conform to your ear like silicone does (which ia a plus to me, silicone ear tips never stayed where they were supposed to whenever I used them). Instead, they will force your ears to conform to them, causing pain, swelling, and blisters the entire time. In my experience this only lasts a month or so, and after that they'll be even more comfortable than when they started, but it is something to keep in mind. I stuck with them through the discomfort and pain for one simple reason: there's nothing else like them. If you work retail like I do and need to be able to hear/listen to a customer at a moment's notice, or you are waiting for transit and need to keep an ear out for announcements, or are in any situation where your hearing needs to be completely unobstructed, yet you also want to jam out or listen to podcasts or KZbin or whatever between those moments, there really is nothing truly comperable.

[@gydeme]

I own the linkbuds and have for a number of months and, at least for my ears, I've found them to be by far the most comfortable earbuds I've ever tried. They just rest right there and are more secure than previous buds I've had like jaybird and others that feel reliant upon the force of the silicone being pushed into the ear canal. Because of the hole in them even I often forget to take them off at work and they stay in for hours off lol

[@kumimukimu]

I've had the samsung beans, and while they don't offer the openness that these sonys provide, I also love them for the points that you mention. And when I'm wearing them whilst on the bike I'd like to be aware of my surroundings, In ears really block out too much noise for that

[@CheckEmGG]

i have these and been dailying them since release for like 5ish months now. they don't replace my normal openbacks but for work and wearing all day paired with multiple devices paired and not worrying about missing a sound in the lab and office these have been my favorite. (was using cabled IEMs prior)

[@Arif-in3vi]

Finally, I was waiting for this episode. Tysm Dankpods!!, your channel is GOAT

[@Sandaasu]

Nice overview of these. I've got a pair and they've been great to have around. I use them at work where it's nice to be able to listen to stuff while also being able to easily interact with customers as needed. I think they're now my favorite pair for running too, allowing me to hear the cars that are all out to kill me about as well as I would without them while also being plenty secure and comfortable. They've also ended up going with me when shopping now, and in general I just don't leave the house without the things anymore. I think the sound is better when the FR graph would seem to suggest, and EQ helps, but that lower bass deficit is very real. They certainly don't sound good for the price, but as a whole package, I've found them to be very much worth it.

[@Nenacu]

Honestly, as somebody who uses the beans at work, these interest me. I mostly listen to audio books while plugging away at the office and usually have one sitting in the case because I have to have an ear out. These feel purpose built for my use case.

[@whatistruth_1]

I feel like them being open would allow sound to leak out which is personally always a deal breaker for me

[@jamesestey9246]

These were a huge game changer for me, they allowed me to listen to music in class and not miss a thing. I was the kind of person who only ever had one earbud in because not being able to hear drives me crazy too often, so these were great because now I can have both in with no issues

[@Haloruler64]

I've been using the LinkBuds since they came out and they're my favorite Bluetooth earphones of all time. It's all I carry. I can hear through them perfectly and can listen to music fairly loudly in both ears while hearing others talk around me at work. It's absolutely wonderful. Plus I love how wide the soundstage and how pleasant the sound is. No bass, but great smooth mids.

[@MageTheEmperor]

7:05 Welp, we all got caught on being nuts, didn't we?

[@crispsediment]

Thank you for bringing the couch snake issue to light. I’ve had pythons in my cushions for weeks now, and I feel like more people need to be aware of this serious issue. You’re doing God’s work mate ❤️

[@thedragonshellfire]

I love these earbuds I work retail and since it has a auto pause when you start talking and you can hear so well even with the sound up. Great video mate.

[@alejololer]

Hell yeah!!! I knew asking you to review this ones would be worth a shot, I'm seriously considering on buying this for the novelty

[@SuspiciousSniff]

We’ve got the Beans, The Truffles, and now finally, the amazing Donuts 😂

[@wizard4599]

Bought these the first week they came out and haven't regretted it once! I hate the feeling of having my ears plugged up, so these are amazing. Even on a train or other noisy environments where people like to have noise cancelation - I actually prefer these as I mostly use music as a distraction when I'm out and about and having perfect audio quality isn't necessary to me. I get really anxious and stressed when I have my ears fully plugged up around other people, so having these is just so refreshing and it frees my mind up. Regarding the audio quality, even though these don't have the best frequency response, them being fully open makes a huge difference as the music doesn't sound so much like it's in your head. The only issue I've encountered is fitment. My ears are very unusually large for someone with a relatively small head, so I have to use the biggest silicon ear hoops, but even then the buds still sometimes feel a bit loose. Although, these are the only earbuds that have never fallen out of my ears (even though they do feel loose, they do not fall out, even after violently shaking my head and giving myself a headache for the rest of the day - these still stayed firmly in my ears). Everyone else who I've given these to said that they fit very tightly in their ears and some said that it was even painful. Also, something to keep in mind is that these earbuds do have a relatively decent amount of bass, but you only really hear it if you forcefully push them further into your ears. Because of this, ear shape and size makes a big difference in the perceived sound of them. In terms of sound bleed, at about 50% volume (which for these is pretty quiet), there is no noticeable noise bleed from a comfortable couch/sofa seating distance. At full volume, there is a great deal of sound bleed, but you wouldn't really want to max them out anyway since that defeats the purpose of being able to hear things around you. P.S I do not usually wear earbuds and I'm someone who swears by open backs and I only own one pair of closed back headphones at the moment.

[@RazelVideo]

I've had a pair of these since day one and I love them. I use them at work to listen to audiobooks and podcasts, but I also have to listen to people talking. Perfect for my use case. I will suggest to avoid using a case that hangs from your belt loop. Amazon has a silicon case with a chinsy D-Ring and after using it for a month I did notice the case lid does not stay shut with all the bumping around from walking. I removed the case and the headphone live in my backpack/pocket now. No sense in losing a bud due to a weak case latch.

[@Tellea]

I was one of those waiting for something like this! I work in an office where I have random questions fired at me all day long and having to pause, take out or remove my headphone is tedious so being able to have these in all day and being able to hear everyone and respond at a normal volume is great! I still have some proper headphones for when I want to shut the world out but sometimes I just need background noise

[@captainnurbles9169]

Why are Sony's engineers perpetually hungry enough that everything they design looks like food :o First beans, now donuts!

[@LambdaMiscellaneous]

nah Samsung made the beans, Sony made the truffles.

[@schrottkanal8892]

@@LambdaMiscellaneous but sony made the bean mp3 player

[@LambdaMiscellaneous]

@@schrottkanal8892 ah yes, the beanp3

[@OnlyDianes]

@@LambdaMiscellaneous the grand daddy bean

[@sladflob]

I imagine these would also be good for running, where in-ear buds just seem to amplify the thumping of my feet hitting the ground in my head. My Aftershokz are actually perfect for this but these could be a good alternative.

[@free_hugs_4011]

They'll fall out of your ears if you go running

[@YeOldeKamikaze]

_>in-ear buds just seem to amplify the thumping of my feet hitting the ground_ They also seem to amplify the sound of the wind hitting my ears when cycling. Very annoying!

[@Jake-qq5pq]

@@free_hugs_4011 I run with mine all the time and have never had one fall out. They felt loose the first couple runs but I went up a size on the loops and now they fit super snug without adding pressure. These are amazing for running and hiking or just being outside in general.

[@josephbolton5199]

@@free_hugs_4011 nobody who owned them would say that. They don't fall out. I leave them in all day long

[@josephbolton5199]

@@Jake-qq5pq I totally agree. It's like a mini stereo that only you can hear. I feel way safer on my bike, even just walking down the street at night

[@Mazakanubis]

I saw an article about these just before they released. My first reaction was well that's dumb...then I realized they're perfect for me. I have a JBL clip that I have on my belt loop at work. I work as a dog trainer and I need to be able to hear everything going on in the yards. When I take the dogs out to train, I need to be very aware of my surroundings and if other dogs are around. I bought them on release day and I honestly use them the most out of my Buds Pro, Jabra Elite 75t, and the WHXM4. The call quality is excellent. These have replaced my Buds Pro as my go to in my pocket ear buds wherever I go. Absolutely pleased with them. I just purchased another pair for my wife this weekend actually.

[@EugeneJOooOo]

Thanks for this! I was super interested in getting a pair of these but needed someone's input- thank God for your channel lol

[@Evie0133]

1:14 We've had Beans, Truffles, and now DONUTS

[@LillyValentineFGC]

Yo Mr dank pods man! I got the kz's because of your recommendation I finally caved in and shelled out and WOW am I happy about the decision! Thanks mate

[@Professor_Sex]

Ooh which ones? I bought some IEM's from them and I sadly lost them crawling all over a Sherman tank (for research) BUT I LOVED THEM

[@LillyValentineFGC]

@@Professor_Sex got the zsn pros! Fuckers looks like they're a whole ass fashion statement while sounding dope also love the username!

[@person-yq8di]

@@Professor_Sex Dankpods talks highly of the KZ ZSN Pro X in a video of his, so I assume it's those.

[@Professor_Sex]

@@LillyValentineFGC I know right? I got the gold ones and people kept looking at me dressed like an outdoorsman with these shiny gold mirrors in my ears lol

[@Professor_Sex]

@@LillyValentineFGC also thanks :)

[@somathkid]

I really wanted these, and your dank review has convinced me. Placing my order now

[@Zephyrian1st]

wonderful for retail workers, discreet, easy to use, the mono feature is great, if you use forklifts and stuff they are good, i love these things, absolute game changer, way better than listening to country music on a loop everyday at work

[@Adrienne_Quelle]

My first reaction seeing the LinkBuds was honestly just “oh hey it sounds like they’re actually trying to do something new with Bluetooth in ears!” I personally can’t stand the physical pressure of earplugs and I’ve been wondering if these might be something to try as a lower-profile thing than semi-open/open back headphones. K240s are great for anything but portability (in comparison to a pair of in ears).

[@r1chardj0n3s]

I can't stand the pressure of regular earplugs too, especially when walking or running, and got the LinkBuds because of that and they're great for me.

[@mipmipmipmipmip]

I got these and lower pressure in the ears is really a main selling point. They don't block but do lower the volume of outside sounds (significantly imho)

[@cubix626]

They're crazy expensive but the only one of their kind. I bought a pair once they came up straight from the ginza store in Tokyo, and use them mainly for cycling. Almost all transparency modes pick up wind noise from the mics, so this has been great, though they're useless on the subway since the windows are open and you have to crank them way up. I find them best cycling or snowboarding, but outside of that I'll have a pair of wired buds or my jabras for when I'm not on the move.

[@vidigre]

It took me a couple weeks to get used to my linkbuds, but I really enjoy them for the usecase of being able to hear stuff at the same time

[@DJ.1001]

I love my link buds. They let me listen to music, podcasts, videos, whatever when I'm at work were I need to be aware of my coworkers and answer the phone or in person questions. I find that the frequency response graph does not at all reflect the perceived sound, they adequate bass and clear but not harsh high end. Not to mention they have been reliable, sound good, and are comfortable to wear for hours.

[@officialfinndevlin]

There's a company called loop that make a set of earbuds for people with misophonia or ASD, which are supposed to block out certain sounds like chewing, snoring etc These follow a very similar design but with a driver. Pretty cool!

[@sofastuffing]

From what I've seen of Loop they're mostly targeted towards people attended concerts/nightclubs Though I do remember them having an ad for people with noise sensitivity

[@genericembarrassingusernam7843]

are those buds or plugs?

[@sofastuffing]

@@genericembarrassingusernam7843 they're ear plugs, the original commenter must have made a typo

[@Spectremint]

You should actually review the Surface Buds! They look so strange and I kinda wonder how that glass surface affects the handling ability

[@NickzAndMikz]

Are they still in production?

[@Spectremint]

@@NickzAndMikz I've got no clue, but I'm pretty sure they are

[@Spectremint]

Finally.. the prophecy

[@lonely9823]

the best part of your videos, is when you test the microphones, the random dialogue in the background is just perfecto

[@buccob]

I only got them a week ago but I love them... While walking outside it feels like being at a concert that only I can hear... In the office I never have to take them off, not even for meetings, and they get loud enough to drown my commute in the tram. Also they just released a firmware update that allows for multi point connection which works great with my work laptop or at home.

[@pnthien21]

How about phone calls? Is it good enough to make phone calls? Thanks

[@buccob]

@@pnthien21 it is very good for calls, in fact I think it has one of the best microphones systems for calls, never had a complained on my end. Recently I used them for a Teams meeting (2 hours) outside with the freeway nearby. No issues. The only drawback is battery life but it gets me through the day no problem.

[@chloeprice6813]

Thanks Dankpods for all the good videos! I been watching you for almost about a year now.. and still surprise you are still posting your a part of my life and I’m happy you are. Once again thank you Dankpods and thank you for the good videos you made us to enjoy it and have fun with it!

[@LukeSmithXD]

@yo trash

[@chloeprice6813]

Thanks Dankpods for the heart ❤️!

[@snoog3439]

After watching this i will never not be able to refer to the linkbuds as donuts, thank you for your words of wisdom. Honestly tho thanks for making such good content man! Its hard for me to find interesting stuff and not to mention your content is super humorous yet educational at the same time. Your channel is quite honestly a gem in the world of KZbin. Anyway thanks from the U.S. of A!

[@shadowblade2149]

I played with the EQ on the app for these linkbuds and now I've found the perfect mix if bass where it's not overly bassy in quiet environment and has enough bass in public

[@rustyshackleford5166]

Love how Sony managed to make open back ear buds that still have the seal of plugs. Open-back earplugs. GG Sony.

[@Sabuuchi]

I can't get over how that $3 cashies mic is better than the audio setup of 80% of twitch streamers.

[@devynmounteer6696]

Super cool to see you talk about these. I jumped on the bandwagon with them shortly after release and for my day to day at work they were the perfect earbuds. I'm a beer merchandiser/vendor and I need to be able to hear what's going on around me not just for safety reasons but also to talk to people who have questions or store managers that need something. These earbuds did what I needed them to do, and with a little eq shaping in Sony's headphone app I got the sound pretty darn balanced. Sure they still lacked some bass but bass happens to be the frequencies where machinery and stuff lies so I was okay with the lack of it so I could hear forklifts and other such machinery moving around. Unfortunately they did not survive the washer and dryer wombo combo. Left them in a pair of shorts on accident and yeah they don't work anymore sadly. But all said I would most likely buy an updated version if Sony keeps improving them.

[@jumboojett7120]

I personally use these for snowboarding and 100% recommend them for it because it is down right dangerous if you can’t here someone on the mountain behind you and they don’t stick out so I don’t feel my helmet press on them which is definitely a plus

[@2bleubird]

0:27 Sony was so scared of being roasted by DankPods that they prevented all Aussies from buying the Sony Linkbuds.

[@panagiotispappas1001]

Hey Dankpods, I think I might have found the worts dirty buds that I have ever heard! My little cousin is the proud owner of this e-waste. There are made from Maxell and the plastic is so thin you can flex it and they feel lighter than paper. They have litteraly NO volume and even on full blast they sound like absolutely nothing. About the audio quality, well... I can only describe this as: removing the highs and the lows but leaving only a little bit of the mids. It's like the music is missing! They basically sound like a busted speaker and they are absolutely hideous!

[@masterdoge17]

what are they called?

[@kingd00fu52]

I have a pair and they are definitely great for outdoors where traffic is an issue, they aren’t the best but I do believe they are a great stepping stone for open end earphones

[@coky6252]

That Mistabishi album is sick! Dank always got the best music recommendations!

[@ivanpatarcic73]

I was waiting for this for so long. Thank you.

[@Heymoss69]

same

[@nicholasmooney2821]

This review is bang on what I found. I was hanging out to replace my airpods 2 with something that didn't seal around my ear so I can hear while I run and I waited for months for these to release in Oz and then bought them on release. Yeah the case is mid and the sound is mid (literally) but the experience compared to using airpods with Android and the fact that they let sound in - mint. Also the controls are great, I very rarely trigger them by accident and they work way more reliably than most of in ears. And with a bit of eq tweak I was happy with the sound Great vid, keep it Dank!

[@johnpaulunderhill1388]

love the video, love the buds. I think the camera is changing the exposure type back and forth from warm to grey though.

[@weinerjuice9920]

i got these things the week they came out for my classes and they are wonderful to listen to music and listen at the same time

[@sirvector5008]

DankPods is just the best, his videos are perfect chaos.

[@TheKrzysiek]

3:13 - teenage boys when noone is home

[@11thcenturycrusader31]

i do A LOT of lifting and just casual listening to music, so i love the airpod 3's, tho i can see how some people would love these

[@GreenhornPhototaker]

I really appreciate these, I use them for hiking and it really is important to be able to hear a bear approaching or the rattle of snake or people approaching. And before these it meant only 1 earbud in and the other ear naked. This is so much better and yes, it is because when using them, i don't need the perfect sound. Really great for audio books and podcasts too.

[@sampenfold7837]

I don’t know how, but I only ever seem to come across new Dankpod videos when I’m either super drunk or super low. Either way they seem to come around at the perfect time and I just wanted to say I am grateful and I love everyone within the dankpod community for being there even when you didn’t realise it. Watching these videos just make me feel at ease, and reading the comments just let me know that I’m not alone in my thinking. I don’t want to drag this love letter on too long, so I’ll end it here by saying that I’m grateful for every single one of you. I have a setup consisting of mostly Audioengine speakers and subwoofers, if anyone has any advice for upgrades, I’d love to hear them

[@Whotfisbryce]

10:03 just normal Australia and things (Also hi frank!)

[@calebdavey1700]

The style of these actually remind me of the loop/ flare audio earplugs, which I use almost daily due to sensory issues related to my autism. Granted I have not tried these, but I can actually see them being used as an accessibility tool

[@icedcoffeecapricorn]

Good thing I was wearing an IEM while you said this lmao 7:11

[@acat.793]

I've been watching dankpods for a while, never knowing he was this good of a content creator to make me stay with him for a few years.

[@jasonpearson1555]

You knew