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Engadget
a day ago
- Engadget
Sony WF-C710N review: More than midrange
Sony's 1000X earbuds may get most of the attention in the company's lineup, but there are gems to be found on the roster for less money. The LinkBuds series offers some serious contenders for $100 less than the flagship WF-1000XM5. There have also been some compelling products under $150 from Sony, and the recently released WF-C710N ( $120 ) also fits the bill. A comfortable fit, a long list of features and above-average ANC performance lead the positives here, but there are a few caveats you'll need to consider before you commit. The WF-C710N outperforms similarly priced competitors in several areas, but don't expect flagship-quality audio at this price. $88 at Amazon Explore More Buying Options $90 at Target$90 at Best Buy The WF-C710N is the successor to the WF-C700N that debuted in 2023. That set was a formidable mid-range contender in its own right, thanks to a compact design and handy features. Sony didn't change the overall look too much for the C710N, but the touch panels for the controls are easier to find since they're now concave circles. The company also introduced a transparent blue color option that allows you to see inside the earbuds and case. It's giving Beats Solo Buds and Studio Buds + vibes, but I'm all for it. In my opinion, the more transparent gadgets, the better. Compared to much of the competition, the C710N's smaller size also means it is more comfortable to wear for long periods of time. The earbuds sit on the ridges of my ears nicely, and there isn't any unbalanced, excess weight projecting out from the side of my head. It's clear Sony fine-tuned the ergonomics for all-day use, and I had no trouble wearing them for the entirety of my battery tests. That's not always the case with larger, bulkier earbuds. The C710N might be a midrange set at $120, but the long list of features allows the earbuds to punch above their weight. Starting with the basics, there's active noise cancellation (ANC), adjustable ambient sound mode, customizable EQ (presets and sliders), multipoint connectivity, reconfigurable touch controls and automatic pausing when the buds are removed from your ears. On the more advanced end of the spec sheet, you get Adaptive Sound Control: Sony's trademark tool that automates changes to sound settings based on activity or location. There's also a personalized EQ, 360 Reality Audio support, DSEE upscaling and a Quick Attention feature that lowers the volume and activates ambient sound for any brief chats. The only notable omission here is Speak-to-Chat that does the same thing as Quick Attention automatically when you start talking, but I'm not surprised it was left off a pair of $120 earbuds. ANC performance is remarkably strong on the C710N, a feat that typically eludes the competition in this price range. In particular, I noticed these earbuds do an above average job of blocking human voices as I was able to greatly reduce the volume of nearby chatter in most instances. I'm not talking complete silence, but the amount of noise blocking is above average when you're in the vicinity of someone you'd rather not listen to at full volume. Constant distractions like loud fans are also reduced but not entirely thwarted, so that too is better than what you'll get from a lot of the similarly priced options. Billy Steele for Engadget Compared to other midrange earbuds, sound quality is slightly above average on the C710N, but it could be good enough to satisfy you at this price. The bass is tight and punchy, but oftentimes it overpowers the mix for hip-hop, rock and metal — basically any genre with a driving beat. And when you switch to something more mellow like bluegrass, the low-end tone still constrains the treble and mid range. Depending on the song, highs can cut through, but a boost in the middle of the EQ would do wonders for overall depth of sound here (you'll want to keep DSEE active). Is it good enough for someone looking to pick up a set of earbuds on a budget? Yes. Does the audio performance compete with flagship options like the WF-1000XM5 ? Not even close. In my tests, the C710N didn't last as long as Sony promised. The company says you'll get up to eight and a half hours on a charge with ANC active. But, using a mix of noise cancelling and ambient sound modes, I only managed between six and a half and seven hours. That's a respectable amount, but if you're looking to wear these for an entire work day, you might not make it. That's especially true if you need them to also stick around for your commute. Despite offering the option to 'Capture Voice During a Phone Call' in the Sound Connect app, the C710N doesn't pipe much of you back through the earbuds in that scenario. Even with ambient sound active, I still felt the need to speak up more than normal, so voice and video calls weren't as natural as they could be. Overall, Sony's assurance of 'crystal-clear calls' falls flat as you'll sound decent, but not pristine. The C710N will block most background noise from coming through, but in doing so the quality of your voice greatly suffers. All of that means these earbuds are usable for calls if you really need them, but if sounding comprehensible in calls is important , you'll want to look elsewhere. If comfort and handy features are your primary concern, the C710N will serve you well. Sound quality isn't the best, but it isn't bad either, so I have no doubt that many people will be pleased with it. If I had been able to hit (or even surpass) Sony's stated battery life, these earbuds would be easy to recommend. Despite that, they're still a solid option, especially at $120, since the company once again outpaces its midrange rivals with more convenient tools than you'll find anywhere else. The C710N is definitely a better choice than the slightly cheaper Beats Solo Buds , which are now $99.95 at full price ($80 at launch). The transparent option allows you to see the inner workings of the WF-C710N.
Time of India
08-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Time of India
Sony LinkBuds Fit review: Links up nicely with your ears
Sony 's been playing name games with their LinkBuds series, first with those donut-shaped originals, then the not-so-linked LinkBuds S, and now these marshmallow-looking Fits. These buds are a different beast from their namesake predecessors, trading the original LinkBuds' donut-shaped drivers for something that promises to actually stay in place without stabbing your ear cartilage. The word "fit" here is doing some heavy lifting, much like those air-filled silicone fins that anchor these buds into your ears. Operation Sindoor Pahalgam payback continues: Operation Sindoor Day 2 keeps Pakistan on edge 'Operation Sindoor': PM Modi chairs high-level review meet on national security Operation Sindoor: India repels drone, missile attack across LoC Spoiler alert, they do fit well. Sony's throwing their hat into the comfort-first ring, where the battle isn't just about sound quality or battery life anymore, but about whether you can forget you're wearing them in the first place. But comfortable ears don't automatically mean happy ears, especially when there's music involved. So do they sound as good as they feel? Let's find out. Fits better than your favourite sweater I wasn't kidding when I said these things fit well. The LinkBuds Fit are essentially Sony's answer to the age-old earbud dilemma: how do you make something stay put without feeling like you've jammed a foreign object into your ear canal? Their solution comes in the form of those peculiar "Air Fitting Supporters,' hollow silicone fins that nestle under your ear ridge without the rigid pressure that makes some sports buds feel like ear torture devices after an hour. These disappear from your awareness during extended listening sessions. Although, with the ear tips only available three sizes, finding your perfect fit might be more challenging than it should be for earbuds that literally have "Fit" in their name. I, myself, tried each of the ear tips sizes, at least thrice, before settling down on one. The short silicone ear tips don't delve deep into your ear canal, which enhances comfort but, as we'll discuss later, comes with some acoustic trade-offs in passive noise isolation. At just 4.9 grams per bud, they're featherweights that don't drag your ears down during extended listening sessions. The buds themselves are shaped with a subdued, rounded aesthetic and comes in three understated colours, black, white, and also Fits are far less clinical looking than Sony's own WF-1000XM5s. The touch controls deserve special mention, though not always for the right reasons. The LinkBuds Fit feature Sony's "Wide Area Tap" technology, which uses accelerometers to detect taps not just on the buds themselves but on the area around your temple. It's clever in theory, but in practice it's quite its frustratingly unresponsive at times. You will eventually find yourself tapping on the earbuds, and might even go stronger taps (it takes a while to figure out how the controls work), which only serves to jam the buds further into your ears, somewhat an irony for their name. Double taps control play/pause, triple taps skip tracks, and four taps adjust volume, a control scheme that works but lacks the intuitive simplicity of some competitors' offerings. The charging case is something refreshing to see from Sony. It's satisfyingly small with a marshmallow-like quality to its soft white finish, and on the lid has marbled effect (even the earbuds). The best part? It fits perfectly in the coin pocket of the bottoms. One thing that I couldn't get past is wireless charging, somewhat standard feature at this price point that Sony has oddly omitted. Good vibrations, sweet sensations Sonically, the LinkBuds Fit deliver a warm, bass-forward signature that's become something of a Sony calling card. The 8.4mm drivers (the same "Driver X" transducers found in Sony's XM5s) handles the range pretty well. Cueing up Radiohead 's "Everything In Its Right Place," the LinkBuds Fit deliver Thom Yorke's haunting vocals with respectable clarity, though the synth-heavy arrangement feels slightly thicker than intended. The bass has a forceful, hearty quality that works brilliantly when I switch to something more assertive like The Prodigy's "Breathe" or Kendrick Lamar 's 'DNA," tracks that benefit from that extra low-end oomph. It's a presentation that energizes rather than analyzes, filling your head with sound rather than dissecting it. When I shift to something more delicate like Nick Drake 's " Pink Moon ," the piano maintains decent glossiness, but there's a sense that the LinkBuds Fit are flexing muscles they don't need here. They're perfectly serviceable for acoustic fare, but that's not where they excel. The soundstage isn't particularly expansive either, more intimate living room than concert hall. Instrument separation remains adequate rather than exceptional, and while you won't struggle to pick out elements in simpler arrangements, densely layered tracks like Radiohead's "Idioteque" start to congeal a bit in the mid-range. What's particularly noticeable is how the LinkBuds Fit's semi-in-ear design affects the listening experience. Without that vacuum-tight seal that fully in-ear monitors provide, you lose some bass impact and detail. Sony's tried to compensate with EQ, which mostly works, but creates a slightly artificially enhanced low-end. It's not unpleasant, in fact, many will prefer this tuning for everyday listening and workout sessions, but audio purists might find themselves reaching for the equaliser in Sony's Sound Connect app to dial back some of that enthusiasm in the lower registers. City-ready, even for the loudest lanes The noise cancellation on the LinkBuds Fit lives in that nebulous territory between "decent enough" and "nothing special." The semi-in-ear design that makes these buds so comfortable becomes their Achilles heel when it comes to blocking external noise. Without that deep seal, passive isolation is mediocre at best, leaving the active noise cancellation system to work overtime. In practice, the LinkBuds Fit handle consistent low-frequency noises reasonably well, subway rumbles, air conditioner hums, and the drone of office chatter get noticeably diminished. But anything with a dynamic character or higher-frequency signature cuts through with minimal resistance. A suddenly raised voice, keyboard clatter, or the clinking of dishes will all make their way to your ears without much trouble. It's not terrible, you'll still get enough noise reduction to make your commute more pleasant – but if you're looking for that vacuum-sealed cone of silence that top-tier ANC buds provide, you'll need to look elsewhere or crank up the volume to compensate. All the small things make the difference Sony has completely reworked its companion app, now called Sound Connect, and it's now more intuitive than before. The five-band equaliser offers genuine customisation rather than just presets, letting you tame that bass emphasis if it's not to your taste. The app also includes Sony's 360 Reality Audio setup, which creates a personalised spatial audio profile after taking photos of your earsa gimmick to some, but impressive tech nonetheless. Multipoint connectivity works flawlessly, allowing you to stay connected to both your laptop and phone simultaneously. The wear detection is equally reliable, automatically pausing when you remove a bud. Sony's Speak-to-Chat feature remains divisive, it pauses music when it detects you speaking, which is either incredibly convenient or incredibly annoying depending on your habits. I found myself turning it off after it paused music one too many times when I was just mumbling to myself. One new feature that LinkBuds Fit introduce is the "Background Music Effect,' which artificially increases the perception of space around your music. With settings like "My Room," "Living Room," and "Café," it simulates different acoustic environments, essentially creating the opposite of noise cancellation, it makes your music sound like it's coming from farther away. It's a niche feature, but for those who want awareness while still enjoying their tunes, it's a thoughtful addition that works surprisingly well. Time after time, charge after charge At 5.5 hours with ANC enabled (extending to 8 hours with it off), the LinkBuds Fit offers respectable but not the best run you could get on a pair of earbuds. The case adds another three full charges for a total of around 21 hours of listening time. A quick 5-minute charge yields an hour of playback, handy for those moments when you've forgotten to charge and need to dash out the door. The lack of wireless charging is a notable omission at this price point, especially when other earbuds have it as standard. Should I stay or should I go? The Sony LinkBuds Fit occupies a sweet spot in Sony's lineup, more comfortable than the WF-1000XM5, more feature-rich than the budget ones, and less quirky than the original LinkBuds. At Rs 17,990, the LinkBuds Fit sits in a highly competitive segment where small compromises can make or break a recommendation. If comfort is something you want over absolute noise isolation, or if you've struggled to find earbuds that stay put without causing discomfort, these should be high on your list. These excel at what they were designed to do: provide a secure, comfortable fit without sacrificing too much in terms of sound quality or features. Their muscular sound signature, wealth of features, and genuinely comfortable design make them an excellent choice for general use. However, if you're looking for the most effective noise cancellation or the most audiophile-friendly sound signature, you might want to look elsewhere. The LinkBuds Fit doesn't excel in those areas, but then again, it doesn't need to. It's designed for people who want earbuds that stay comfortable throughout the day while delivering good sound across various environments. For that specific purpose, they fit just right. Our rating: 3.5/5 AI Masterclass for Students. Upskill Young Ones Today!– Join Now
Forbes
28-04-2025
- Forbes
Sony LinkBuds Fit: 7 Things You Should Know
Sony LinkBuds Fit Prakhar Khanna The Sony LinkBuds series was first introduced with an open-ear design, appealing to runners and people who don't want to be cut off from their surroundings. While that open-ear option still exists in the LinkBuds lineup, the Sony LinkBuds Fit are geared towards those who want a comfortable pair of earbuds that won't fall out, even while jogging or exercising. The LinkBuds Fit are meant for listeners who want fine-tuned music in their ears without ear fatigue. Sony fitted them with the same Integrated Processor V2 as their flagship WF-1000XM5. But does that mean they deliver the same sound quality and ANC performance? Here are seven things you should know about the Sony LinkBuds Fit. These earbuds are small, light, and designed for a secure and comfortable fit, even during exercise. For context, the latest Apple AirPods 4 earbuds weigh 4.3 grams each, while Sony's no-stem design weighs 4.9 grams per earbud, which is light enough that you might forget you're wearing them. The Sony LinkBuds Fit use newly developed 'Air Fitting Supporters' and soft ear tips to sit snugly in your ears. These supporters are essentially hooks, but instead of going around your ears, they sit inside them. They aren't large or rigid enough to cause discomfort; you'll hardly notice them. The new LinkBuds also offer IPX4 sweat resistance, so you don't need to worry about gym sweat spoiling them. The LinkBuds Fit have an unusual case, which looks better than most but is bigger than many competitors'. It is shaped like a squircle with two different finishes on the top (glossy) and bottom (matte). It seems like two cases sandwiched together, which makes it seem bigger than its footprint suggests. While it is on the larger side, Sony's design, especially on the white color variant, looks classy. While the original LinkBuds offered a more balanced sound signature, the Sony LinkBuds Fit lean towards a bass-forward profile, making them good for hip-hop and rock music. In terms of clarity, they aren't as polished as the XM5s, but for their price, the performance is pretty good. You can always adjust the equalizer to your liking. However, vocals don't sound as immersive as you might expect from Sony. The Sony LinkBuds Fit are powered by the Integrated Processor V2, which is claimed to optimize "noise canceling in real time according to the user's environment for optimal audio performance." It's the same chip as the one found in the Sony XM5 headphones, though the flagship model also includes an HD Noise Canceling Processor QN2e for better ANC and sound performance. The LinkBuds Fit can block out loud noises such as vehicle engines and general ambient public noise – just don't expect XM5-level performance. As for Ambient mode, it works well and doesn't make people sound robotic during conversations. The LinkBuds Fit also deliver clear call quality with minimal background noise. Sony LinkBuds Fit case open Prakhar Khanna The Sony LinkBuds Fit have a Wide Tap Area, meaning you can control music playback without tapping directly on the earbuds. Instead, you tap around the temple area in front of your ears. It takes a bit of getting used to, but it works about eight times out of ten. If your earbuds don't detect your temple taps, you can adjust the sensitivity to High within the app. These earbuds also recognize head gestures, allowing you to answer or decline calls, or control music by nodding or shaking your head. The Sony LinkBuds Fit are rated to deliver 5.5 hours of battery life on a single charge, with up to 21 hours total battery backup with the case. Plus, a 5-minute quick charge can provide up to 60 minutes of playback time, which is handy for when you're in a rush. The LinkBuds Fit offer a wide range of features you'd expect from Sony. These include Speak-to-Chat (music pauses when you speak), Multipoint connectivity (connect two devices simultaneously), wear detection (auto-pause when you remove the earbuds), and more. Plus, the Sony Headphones Connect app lets you personalize your sound and adjust tap controls to suit your preferences. The Sony LinkBuds Fit are priced at INR 18,990 in India. They launched for $200 in the U.S. but are currently selling for around $170 on Amazon. They're available across major online and offline retailers.
Al Bawaba
27-02-2025
- Business
- Al Bawaba
Sony Middle East and Africa Launches the LinkBuds Series at CAMP
Sony Middle East and Africa launches the LinkBuds series through a dedicated launch event at CAMP, Downtown Dubai. Designed for all-day comfort and an active lifestyle, the latest series combines innovative audio technology with a secure, firm fit for best-in-class invite-only event, hosted in collaboration with CAMP and its high-energy cycling session, welcomed Brain and Performance Dubai. Sony brought together over 30 leading fitness content creators, offering them an exclusive test drive of its latest audio innovation. Guests engaged in dynamic fitness sessions and interactive tests, experiencing firsthand the enhanced sound quality, adjustable fit, and ergonomic design of LinkBuds Innovation Meets Active Lifestyles LinkBuds Fit feature the Integrated Processor V2, the same chip powering the award-winning WF-1000XM5, optimizing noise cancellation in real time based on your environment. Build for comfortable all-day use, they stay securely in place, even during intense movement—ensuring uninterrupted focus. With Sony's advanced audio technologies, including DSEE (Digital Sound Enhancement Engine) and 360 Reality Audio, they deliver an immersive and authentic listening on the launch, Jobin Joejoe, Managing Director of Sony Middle East and Africa, said, "The launch of LinkBuds series is another milestone of Sony's innovation momentum. These earbuds are created especially for today's active consumer who needs superior sound quality as well as all-day comfort. With CAMP, we're excited to deliver a unique experience that highlights the potential of LinkBuds Fit in an immersive fitness setting. At Sony, we are always striving to give the best experience to all our discerning consumers." Lauren Brush, Founding Coach & Head of PR & Partnerships in CAMP, said, "Working with Sony on the release of LinkBuds Fit aligns with our goal of providing cutting-edge fitness experience. The superior sound quality of LinkBuds Fit and fit during exercise improve each workout, making them an ideal companion for our high-intensity training at CAMP." Dr. Craig Cook, Chief Executive Officer of The Brain & Performance Centre, A DP World Company commented, "Our partnership with Sony MEA for the launch of LinkBuds Fit reflects our commitment to innovation that enhances both mental and physical well-being. At the Brain & Performance Centre, we recognise the role of cutting-edge technology in optimising human potential, and this collaboration underscores the importance of integrating holistic fitness into everyday life."CAMP, a state-of-the-art fitness facility in the heart of Dubai, UAE, was the perfect partner for this launch, as its focus on innovative training programs and community-driven wellness aligns seamlessly with the LinkBuds Fit's capabilities. Designed for active lifestyles, the earbuds deliver superior sound and a secure fit, making them ideal for high-energy fitness environments like those at CAMP. Brain and Performance, Dubai made use of their expertise at the event with experiences that emphasized the connection between brain and physical performance, enhanced by Sony's latest audio The Sony LinkBuds series is available for purchase on SonyWorld and select retailers across the UAE.
Yahoo
07-02-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
This weekend's best wireless earbuds deal? Save on these AirPods alternatives from Sony
When you buy through links on our articles, Future and its syndication partners may earn a commission. The Sony LinkBuds Open have only just launched – but boy, do we have a deal for you. For just £149 at Amazon, you can save £30 on this clever wireless pair. Or, if you want to save another £6, you can grab the white model for £143. It's a super attractive price when you take a look at Sony's direct competitors; the Apple AirPods 4 with ANC, Bose Ultra Open Earbuds, or the Huawei FreeClip – all currently pricier options. In fact, there are three LinkBuds models on offer right now, with the Sony LinkBuds Fit down to just £114 at Amazon. Plus, the Open's predecessor, the Sony LinkBuds are now just £87 at Amazon. Considering they used to be £150, and Sony still price them at £119, it's a hell of a deal. Sony LinkBuds Open: £179 £149 at Amazon (save £30)The Sony LinkBuds Open are the brand's open-style twist on the earbuds market. This open design lets in external sounds for greater awareness, but without skimping on comfort or style. Packed out with features, which we'll get into below, they're a solid alternative to traditional wireless earbuds – now with £30 off. View Deal Sony's LinkBuds Open are the brand's latest offering to the competitive open earbud market. In our full review, we gave them four stars and praised the set for being "cleverly designed, extremely comfortable and well-stocked with features". So, to see them enjoying a £30 discount already, despite only really just hitting the market, we couldn't help but share. With an impressive line-up preceding this newest entry, the LinkBuds Open needed to prove their worth on release, and while we noted that "their overall musical performance doesn't quite match similarly priced rivals", this discount price ensures they're a competitive offering. We praised the Sony LinkBuds Open for their design – which is both comfortable and secure – as well as the balanced midrange reproduction, healthy stack of features, and some much appreciated adjustments to the 'doughnut' ring driver configuration of the very first LinkBuds (which we've mentioned are also on sale for just £87 at Amazon). Feature-wise, there might not be any noise cancelling here, but there's certainly a decent amount of battery life, with eight hours on a single charge, or 22 with the case, impressive handling of voice calls, Bluetooth Multipoint, head gesture controls, Sony 360 Reality Audio and auto play/pause. It's surprising to see a discount given that these only just hit the market, but we shan't complain and instead, we'll tell you again, they're just £149 at Amazon right now. MORE: Check out our list of the best wireless earbuds around As well as the best wireless earbuds deals And our list of the best wireless headphones
