While most earbuds makers are trying ways and means to keep environmental sound out of users’ soundholes, Sony has gone the opposite way with its latest TWS earbuds.
The Sony LinkBuds Truly Wireless Earbuds, as it is called, is not your ordinary earbuds both aesthetically and functionality. Most TWS has just a main body with the earbud integrated into it.
The LinkBuds, however, has two parts forming a shape of the numeral ‘8’. One part of the earphone is where you find the electronics and battery while the other part is a ring-shaped driver.
Sound is delivered through the 12 mm ring-shaped driver while the hole allows for the wearer to hear the ambient noise without the need to remove the earbuds. So the LinkBuds is kind of a pair of anti-active noise cancelation earbuds.
This unique TWS is smart too. With Speak to Chat feature, it detects you are having a conversation, it will automatically pause whatever it is playing. Not sure if singing along to a song will trigger this feature. If yes, it would be damn annoying.
Plus, there is the Adaptive Volume Control that automatically optimizes the volume based on the environment you are in.
Sony said the fit of this unusual earbud is based on extensive ear shape data collected the electronics company have collected since 1982. In other words, it should have the best fit despite its non-traditional form.
Other notables include a built-in noise reduction algorithm developed using AI for clear voice pickup, Bluetooth 5.2, Sony’s DSEE (Digital Sound Enhancement Engine), support for 360 Reality Audio, Alexa built-in, IPX4 rated construction, and up to 5.5 hours of battery on a single charge or up to 17.5 hours with the charging case.
The ring driver is not the only highlight of LinkBuds. The Sony LinkBuds also boasts a thing called Wide Area Tap that, instead of touching the earbud, you can adjust playback by double or triple tapping in front of either of your ears. That’s right. The side of the face is the control surface. Folks welcome to the future.
Sony LinkBuds TWS is available now for US$179.99 in a choice of gray or white from Sony.com, Amazon, and Best Buy.
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Images: Sony Electronics [US].
