Sony LinkBuds WF-L900 Review: Unique, interesting, but not for the masses- Technology News, Firstpost
Pros:– Unique design and good build– Can be aware of your surroundings even while wearing the earbuds– Impressive vocal clarity and soundstage– Good call quality– Wide Area Tap is too cool– Wear detection sensors, IPX4 water resistant
Cons:– Low on bass– Average battery backup– No high-end codec support– Expensive
Rating: 3.5/5
Price: Rs 14,990
Reading the product manual is a good thing, but I don’t remember considering reading one just to figure out how to wear a particular earphone correctly. Sony has been challenging established wearable audio designs this year, and the LinkBuds are the latest in that endeavour. Other than a unique design, these TWS earbuds have some cool features too. But can they deliver the one thing that matters most – great sound quality? Let’s figure it out.
Image Credit: Tech2 Ameya Dalvi
Volume control is also available along with a few other options but you can only choose a set each for the left and the right ear. Given that these earbuds do not support a single tap gesture, you get limited control over the buds and need to go back to the source device to execute the rest. About time Sony takes a more granular approach to configuring controls. Other than that, the buds have wear detection sensors to pause the audio automatically when you remove a bud from the ear and resume when you wear it back.
These earphones are Bluetooth 5.2 compliant but the codec support is limited to AAC and SBC. For a premium product, Sony could have at least opted for LDAC support here. The LinkBuds are IPX4 sweat resistant and can be worn during workouts. The wireless range is good, with the buds maintaining a strong connection up to 10 metres with a clear line of sight, and more than half of that with a concrete wall in between.
Sony LinkBuds WF-L900: Performance (7/10)Before we head to the sound quality, let’s understand the purpose of the LinkBuds. It is not just about enjoying your audio but also being aware of your surroundings and converse with people around you without removing the buds from the ear. Think of it as a natural transparency mode that you get in earphones with ANC. Now you know why there’s a hole right at the centre of each earpiece. While in theory this is great, it requires a fine balancing act.
Image Credit: Tech2