CORRECTION: The Sony LinkBuds S DO allow you to use each earbud independently. We originally thought this was a bug with LDAC, but it appears to be a limitation of the "Auto Play (Beta)." 🖼 Skip the waitlist and invest in blue-chip art for the very first time by signing up for Masterworks: masterworks.art/thisistechtoday Purchase shares in great masterpieces from artists like Pablo Picasso, Banksy, Andy Warhol, and more (ad) ▶ Buy the Sony LinkBuds S: shop-links.co/chgLZ3ZTDeR ▶ Buy the Sony WF-1000XM4: shop-links.co/chcKWi6T45U ▶ Buy the Samsung Galaxy Buds Pro: shop-links.co/chcKSTlWU9n ▶ Buy the Apple AirPods Pro: geni.us/139wrtB -- WATCH MORE -- 🎧 Sony WH-1000XM5 Definitive and Immersive review and comparison: th-cam.com/video/6WTHBCZBt_E/w-d-xo.html ▶Sony Home Theater and 360 Spatial Sound Mapping Video: th-cam.com/video/UUuJEGWrY8s/w-d-xo.html ▶Comparing every Samsung Galaxy Bud: th-cam.com/video/xAnxYpyaQTE/w-d-xo.html ▶Google Nest Audio Review: th-cam.com/video/6ZRE8Pb81nM/w-d-xo.html ▶My Favorite Home Theater Audio System that is Lossless and Wireless: th-cam.com/video/CXWLIWFLNg0/w-d-xo.html ▶Two Audio engineers Try AirPods Pro for the First time: th-cam.com/video/aoSFrUhSgCI/w-d-xo.html BECOME A CHANNEL MEMBER FOR EXCLUSIVE CONTENT: th-cam.com/users/thisistechtodayjoin How Masterworks works: -Create your account with your traditional bank account -Pick major works of art to invest in or our new blue-chip diversified art portfolio -Identify the investment amount -Hold shares in works by Picasso or trade them in our secondary marketplace See important Masterworks disclosures: www.masterworks.io/about/disclaimer
I got a message when turning on Service Link saying that the R earbud need connection and so can’t use the L earbud alone. LDAC will be disable also. So I just turn the Service Link off.
This is undoubtedly THE ABSOLUTE BEST channel to go to if you want highly constructive comparisons between audio products. I am continually impressed by the sheer amount of efforts put into these videos, it definitely shows. Keep up the fantastic work, Brandon.
Lol. It's a win-win for all. I still gotta do an ad read, so instead of wasting people's time by throwing an extra 1-minute ad read in the video randomly, I get to fulfill what I need to pay the bills and provide the value that everyone wants from the video and it's how the mics sound, lol. We all win. I promise it wasn't evil. The video is already long and I didn't want it to be any longer. It was to save people's time, lol Also, holy cow! Thank you so much for the super thanks on top of that!!!
I just bought Linkbuds S. A few corrections/additions to your review:- 1. Multi point in new firmware 2. Single earpiece works 3. LDAC is NOT a wash for BT. There is a switch between audio quality & audio stability in Sony app. Chosing quality changes from SBC to LDAC, and that mode has a hugeeeeee difference. Not small, hugee. Up until then I was on the verge of killing myself closer and closer as I compared to my last wired piece. 4. Fellas, S is way wider than it sounds here, any more is way outside the original. So keep that in mind. 5. Case feels cheap though, the material feels cheap. I think it's made with recycled stuff I think that's why. 6. ANC and transparency is good, but the review is correct here, trebles/highs/chatter NC is not good on S. 7. Flat equ is not good. Bumb up the high, a tiny bumb on the mid and low. Then it is good. It's a tiny driver, so don't expect it to be booming like a 12mm though. 8. Try it out, always check with different tracks, if a earphone has too much wide effect & surround effect without fiddling with app, then don't buy one. It's hard to reduce salt, you can add salt as required later. Suggestion:- Try "If you were the rain" by Stephen Day
The case for the white linkbuds s doesn't feel as cheap as the black pair. I've had 4 different pairs of the linkbuds s i like them and for only 69.99 on Amazon you can't beat it. I've over 40 pairs of earbuds all over 75 and only like 10 under 100. My jabra 10 are my favorite. They surprised me a lot. I also have the jabra 8 which almost identical sound quality to the 10 only difference is the 10s angled ear tip makes them fit amazing . I love the 8 because most durable earbuds can wear in dust swimming anything.
Oh my Brandon, you have outdone yourself with this one! Great song choices too to hear all the frequencies! Makes me wanna rethink how I do my reviews! 👏
Wow, man... you just take earbud reviews to a whole new level!! That's so detailed and informative. The comparisons are super helpful for people like me deciding between similar product. Keep up the great work!!
This is really how a headphone review supposed to be. It’s so funny how tech channels sharing their experience and perspective over a audio product but as a customer we want to know how they really sounds like. Of course not everyone are audio engineers to buy these expensive gear for a youtube video. Thank you so much for making this review 🥹👍🏼
Totes agree. This is a great format for reviews for those of us who are a bit more technical or quantitative oriented in addition to ‘feeling’ oriented.
And that is because the sound you heard comes from your freking headphones. Unless you are listening through a couple of high-end monitors with a tunning as flat and borring as possible, this kind of tests is pointless
Songs 1:02 - Tides by Alexander Lewis 2:56 - Bloodstream by lolite 4:30 - My reason by Jamie 6:43 - Autumn’s Song by Stephen Day 9:14 - Get Away by Surfclub 12:04 - Photograph by Cody Fry 13:01 - Flight by Hannah Parrott 16:52 - Hey Marjorie by Jon Mero 18:15 - Overdrive by Will Champlain 19:41 - Earthquake by Ryan Taubert 21:53 - It would be You by Ben Rector
I've watched plenty of reviews about different products but this one is at ANOTHER LEVEL! Thank you so much for taking the time to do it. It's the first time I've had this kind of immersive experience to test earbuds without actually having them in my ear. I did hear the video with headphones and it makes a such a huge difference! Now I need to make a decision 😅 But just wanted to say THANK YOU! I've subscribed, liked the video and will purchase thorugh one of your links 😉
it'd be a crime not liking and subbing to this channel after all these meticoulous effort in helping us choose which wireless bud should we buy, man u rock!
This is where the TH-cam algorithm got it right. I stumbled on your channel a couple of nights ago. The ability to take such detailed information and with great equipment make it possible for the average listener to understand. I have a better understanding of the different soundstages of each device. I currently have the wf-1000xm4s as my favorite buds but i see how you would like the galaxy buds especially in that last example. I have the pixel buds a as well (I have too many options for sound. I recently bought the xm5s and the link buds s. The link buds are to use while working. Wanted something with some noise cancelling but with good transparency mode just to listen out for things like a baby crying. I was going to sell my pixel buds A which I use for sleeping but now not so sure that will be the cause (neither have been delivered). Not having the headphones operate independently is also a potential L for those. The xm5s were just an upgrade from the xm4s. Wondering if you have an eq for the WF Xm4s but i understand if you couldn’t find one you truly liked. Not to mention the xm4s work for me as I’m usually listening to hip hop or podcasts with them. None the less, this is some amazing work here and easily the comparison videos id recommend to anyone trying to make a decision.
Thank you so much! I do appreciate your kind words. Yes, please share it with others. It helps more than most people know! You also have quite the lineup! Just a heads up, the single earbud thing appears to be a bug with LDAC. We were able to get it to work after a factory reset and it works on iPhone and android but the moment we turn on LDAC it stops working. I’m going to talk to Sony and see what’s up.
@@ThisIsTechToday oh good to know! I wonder, were you using it with the Pixel 6? They have not had the best time with LDAC especially when set to the highest bitrate. It's about 90-95% fixed in the latest 12L beta. Regardless that is a relief.
I intentionally used the Galaxy S22 Ultra because it had the Galaxy Buds Pro benefit and because of what I've heard swirling around about Pixels. PS: thanks for being a channel member!
Hey, I was actually thinking about getting the XM4's since I have the headphones equivalent and I love them. But from this video the Galaxy Buds just sounds so much better, richer, and natural, so now idk. If you happen to pick up the Galaxy Buds, could you come back here and give your opinion on them?
@@alexliebach not sure if you meant for me but on my end it comes down to how much you need the ANC and what type of music you listen to. I love my xm4 buds especially when going to the grocery store. But I'm usually listening to hip hop and I use the ANC to shut everything out. I did like the buds pro as well but I ended up giving them to someone with a galaxy device just because it's slightly better suited for them.
This is one of the best reviews I've seen for audio qa in general and with every single use you could have. Bought my WF-1000XM4 and comparing it to other headphones in such detail I feel better for the $279 I spent. Thanks for such detail!
Testing the LinkBuds S with their default EQ does them a hell of a disservice. When set to the Treble Boost EQ preset in the Sony Headphones Connect mobile app (which gets saved to the LinkBuds S and applies across all devices), they sound extremely close to the Harman Target. Absolutely incredible mix of comfort, sound quality, ANC performance and price.
I have both the galaxy pros and the linkbuds s. I can't believe how well the soundstaging is in this comparison, I should check that. But the linkbuds are so comfortable, the galaxy buds have made my ears bleed literally
@@tanu5401 you can mess with the eq and some people have found decent eq settings. And by itself they sound fine with proper eq. But side by side I could easily tell that the galaxy buds pro just sound more lively. For music it's just more of a fun listening experience, for everything else I'm good with the linkbuds.
@@XepptizZ sounds good. What about the ANC on Linkbuds S? I heard some reviews there seems to be a wind like sound when ANC is on. Did you face anything like that?
@@tanu5401 i didn't find any significant difference with the anc on either earbuds. The tech just isn't quite there, it's noticeable when it's on, but plenty of the high and treble still get through. It's like, yeah, it works, but cupping my ears with my hands or a cheap pair of construction earprotectors blocks twice or thrice as much. Now that is a powercombo, construction earprotectors and the buds with anc, I have sat through my upstairs neighbour taking out a concrete wall with that.
As an AirPods Pro user, I was so surprised how much wider the sound got between the Sony buds and the Samsung and Apple buds. The Sony’s sound rich, but compared they sound very squeezed! Fascinating stuff!
I saw this video and 2 hours later I bought the Galaxy Buds Pro and already love them! I think this is the best choice I have done so far in terms of fitting since I have big ears and almost all other kept falling off easily. I have an S22 Ultra so I am getting all the features along with it which is cool, thank you!
This is the first audio equipment review I've watched on this channel and already maybe the best I've seen anywhere, period. Concise, informative, superbly organised and helped me make a purchasing decision. Thank you and just subscribed 👍
Great review as always! You did help me decide on which earbuds to buy when you did a review of Galaxy buds pro and Galaxy buds 2. I have the Buds Pro now and so far I have been enjoying using it. For my case, it fits perfectly on my ears. Sound Quality is superb as well. I chose to go with Samsung since it makes it easier for me to use it across the Samsung ecosystem
Really love the effort you put in your videos, the amount of tests, the lack of any bias. This is exactly how I would personally want to review products. Subscribing!
How this video doesn't have 10 million views, I don't understand. Stellar, stellar, STELLAR work! Also, that song by your friend Hannah Parrott is really beautiful.
6:20 Actually you can use them independently. You just have to turn off the Google assistant button functionality. You will still be able to use assistant, just that you won't have a dedicated tap pattern for it. Once you turn it off. You can use the left or right one as u please.
I really really want to buy the Sony Linkbuds S, but the Galaxy Buds Pro just sound so much better to me, they sound clear more armonic with every instrument and the bass complement just right. Meanwhile at least for me, can't tell the difference between Linkbuds S and the XM4 both sound more bass and you lose some clarity, maybe the XM4 sound a bit deeper darker but I think is because of the fomi plug. So I want to ask, if with the EQ you can make the Linkbuds S sound similar like the Galaxy Buds Pro or more clear, hell even with LDAC or DLSS Extreme can get something similar. I have a Poco F3 so is support LDAC. Also I really wanted them for the ANC. keep up the good work.
Greatest review possible. We actually get to hear what they sound like without having them, amazing! I would appreciate it if you could compare the latest airpods pro 2 and galaxy earpods 2 pro.
Galaxy Buds Pro are by far the best sounding out of box out of all 4. LinkBuds S & XM4 are dark & bassy (sucks that the former don't respond to EQ very well) and the AirPods Pro, much like their over-ear cousins, land a bit thin. Glad to hear the new rig being able to represent the sound for IEMs much better than the ears did; guess it helps that they don't interact with the outer ear.
Yeah, I feel like we’re on mostly similar pages. The lack of ear does add it’s own quirks and with more tech it will get more complicated, but I’ll figure something out eventually. Maybe make a fake head and earlobe with a wider canal lol
@@ThisIsTechToday well i had the original galaxy buds and they were considered comfy back in the day, i LOVED the sound its climatic, bright sounding hearing Michael Jackson beat it that full force voice was unique although for the price there was no resolution. Of course would of loved more bass but the next version like Pro had more bass.
What an amazing video! I was going back and forth between the wf1000xm4 and the galaxy buds pros, and you made an outstanding comparison of both of them. Hats off to the effort you put into making this video!!
Absolutely fantastic review! I hope that as more earbuds come out (cough...Pixel Buds Pro), you follow the same review framework and keep adding to this list ❤️
Listening to this video on flat IEMs, tells me that Galaxy Buds Pro are the best sounding. All the frequencies sound natural, nothing overpowering. The vocals sound forward and clear. The best outstanding feature out of all the earbuds, was the soundstage on Galaxy Buds Pro. Apple and Sony do not even come close in terms of Soundstage. Someone who cares about sound and sound only, should definitely get Galaxy Buds Pro.
After owning a few and then listening to samples on this video. Definitely the Samsung Pro it the reason why they are my daily drivers. Thankfully fit in my ear fine. The Sony WM4 tried and found lower treble lacking and makes electric guitars sound booming and etc a Yes did play with EQ and they sound better but still lacking and narrow sounding. Not sure why audiophiles phase and hype them up? The Samsung Buds pro's are definitely better sounding out of the bunch sometimes a little harsh but does overall well for most genres of music..
@@thetechgenie7374 i agree with you,i have both samsung pro n wf1000,sound quality buds pro more2 better than wf1000,already tuning eq sony but still cant beat sound quality buds pro.
and after update i just hope it Samsung buds not having issue, im using ex- Galayx Buds+ who Samsung claims can hold 11 hours battery ,first time i use not yet update still good ,battery can hold at least more than 7 hours ,but after update it coming new issue battery left 70% and right 95% unbalanced,too much difference, and only a week i never use battery dead, need to plug in & out everytime until the Buds battery boost up from 0%, im not sure does Samsung software make this issue or i get defect product. Due to that issue i move to Wf-1000xm4 ,till today no issued even after update still doing good, battery is beast when use SBC audio , 2 hours continuous playing music only decrease 5-10%.
This is such a good review. I think this is one of the best reviews I’ve stumbled here in YT. I’m not really familiar with the terms and just usually go with the brands I liked, but after watching this video, it clearly helped me to decide. Your review is very entertaining, easy to understand, the effort you exerted in creating this video. Thank you so much!!
This was fun Brandon! I'll be waiting to see how the new Pixel Buds Pro work out! Currently I'm still the Jabra 75Ts mostly for multipoint and heavy bass profile. I was also surprised how much I like the Pixel Buds A that came free with my Pixel 6 Pro!
Love the fact that you put a lot of effort to give us a first person experience on these devices. I do have a complaint tho. (Sorry) I believe the Sony's are the only buds that support LDAC. To get full advantage of the codec you must enable audio priority in the Sony app ( also can be done through android developer settings) at the cost of range and some EQ settings. I personally see a noticeable difference with LDAC 990kbps specially when playing hifi audio. It sounds great on Tidal. Also, I feel that this review may be somewhat limiting as it didn't mention which codec settings were selected in the Sony app when samples were recorded.
Have you ever tried creating a true flat EQ setting for each pair to get an even more accurate comparison. You could do a freq sweep and adjust each EQ to get as close to flat as possible. I realize the eq isn't exactly broad on these apps but it was just a thought. The ipods sound crisp and the Sonys a bit boomie. I can guarantee these are not flat. They are way too diffrent. I know the XM4s are extremely impressive for IEMs especially Bluetooth. I also know they sound better than AirPod Pros but you can't tell here. AirPods can't go as low or as smooth but are easier to wear. Just a thought. Again, the effort you've already done here is amazing!
I don‘t know how the rest compares but as an AirPod Pro owner I can say that the sound in your review is unfittingly flat and tinning - that does not fit the sound in your ear in the Slightest :) though I can confirm that they are not base heavy, but the vocals are crisp and unbelievably immersive! Great review and I appreciate all the hard work going into your videos! Loved your over ear comparison as well - cheers :)
I own basically every earbuds he tested and what I can say is Galaxy Buds Pro (ehem, even the plus) is the superior among all the test samples here. It is definitely a bang for the buck. The sound quality us great even with just the default EQ. Now, if you switch it to Dynamic is where it stomps all of the earbuds available in the market.
Really suprised that the Buds Pro came out on top. Good to know, I just ordered some for cheap :D Thanks for the detailed comparison, appreciate these kind of tests
All of the Sonys felt a bit heavier on the bass, the mid tones sounded a bit buried in the mix, the airpods have the trebble a bit too sharp for me. The ANC on the XM4s sound so good, but the Galaxy Buds Pro still are the better overall package for me. Thanks for the comparison!
@@hoangminhlongle I think that this dark of a presentation isn't possible to correct through EQ, minor errors in tuning can make an already decent piece sound better, in this case you would lose a lot of volume trying to bring the mids back, not sure if it is worth it. But if you listen to a lot of bass heavy genres like hip hop or edm, the XM4s would be awesome since the sub bass on them seemed to be better.
@@zehph so the XM4 still has a "dark" theme after EQing them? Not sure mate, ii want to use them for podcasts and sometimes gaming, and the lack of high-end may be a bit odd for me. And i don't even use them on my phone at all, i used them with PC, so LDAC didn't matter. And EQing them on PC is a horrible experience Have high hope for better ergonomic on XM4, get angry after 3 months of uses
@@hoangminhlongle you right,i have both sony and samsung buds pro,buds pro more better in term of sound quality,sony just better anc and battery only,i prefer buds pro for sound quality.
Been trying to find a pair of earbuds to upgrade and so far this been one of the best videos to discover the difference between different ear buds. Definitely Getting Sony WF thank u for making my decision much easier And Def getting my sub
Here's my pick Samsung bud pro, sound stage is cleanest, but I did notice little distortion when high volume. Sony xm4, bass and rich sound Apple, fits good Sony link, too much bass, sometimes higher bass will ruin the music, especially acoustic, jazz, and piano sounds. Thanks for the good reviews!!
WAOOO what a remarkable 👏 review of the best earbuds out there. Very professional and good and easy to understand. I think that all the cool equipment used is also a huge plus ➕️ it's different from other reviews and this review should be given a reward 😃
I'm struggling with finding the right words to describe this comparison/review. This is THE most thought out, thoroughly done comparison review I've seen on the internet period. This is only the second video I've seen from "This is Tech Today" and I'm already hitting that subscribe button.
Hi ! I have a pair of Apple AirPods Pro headphones. And I wore them in my ears on a torrential downpour. And I walked in the rain for 2 hours with my headphones in my ears and rode my bike. And the headphones were wet and worked and still work very well today. It doesn't sound perfect like other headphones but with very good quality and durability.
Seems like the Sony buds are both very warm, a little muddy/muffled, and intimate. The airpods are on the other end sounding a little thin, but open and airy. The samsung buds sound like a happy middle ground with a full rich sound
Would love to hear the Sennheiser Momentus TWS 3 in your recording rig. Great way of reviewing earbuds, provided you already have a neutral, high quality pair to hear them with.
Thanks for the super detailed review! Just a quick note: I got the linkbuds s and I can use the earbuds individually... getting a good EQ setting definitely took a bit of time but for a non-audiophile like me, I managed to get a sound profile that I really like :)
@@ThisIsTechToday I think it might be a result of having Google assistant on. The same happens with the XM4 if you have Google assistant activated. Turn that off and you should be able to use either independently. I say I think so because I have the xm4 but not yet have the linkbuds S, but if they're anything like the xm4 that is probably it
@swayz I agree with Brandon here. I can use the right side by itself, but not the left. As soon as the right one goes into the charge case the bluetooth connection is cut. I would also love an explanation as to how you are able to use them both.
@@ELJefeReviews I must have some magic earbuds or something xD I just tried it again. Opened the case, took the left earbud out and put it in my ear, closed the case again with the other earbud inside the case. played a song on my iphone and could listen without problems. Repeated the same process with the right earbud and same result. If I have both earbuds in my ear and I take one out while listening to something, the playback stops due to out-of-ear detection but as soon as I place that earbud in the case and close it, I can continue to listen on the earbud that is still in my ear and stayed connected. So I really have no clue why it doesn't work for you🤔 There's nothing I did with the settings except for the usual stuff like touch controls and EQ. btw, also love your reviews El Jefe! :)
i see two problems that i would be very thankful if you can clarify them to me 1:the way most of these headphones anc works is by having multiple mics and msot if not all have mics that when you wear them would be situated inside the ear canal or the concha if im correct but the way you tested them does not simulate that 2.i dont think the tubes used simulate the geometry of an ear canal and again correct me if im wrong . anyhow this is one of the best reviews i've seen so far keep it up
Listening to this on the Galaxy buds pro. It's kinda interesting how the audio tests for them sound the same as the "default" song preview before you do the comparison, those are some top notch mics! But also, I feel like Sony's earbuds had the best audio in my opinion, seemed like they had more range, especially in the low end. The galaxy buds are honestly pretty uncomfortable, so I'm going to try out those linkbuds s!
Great comparison! In my opinion my pick for best sound quality to least is 1st is Sony xm4, 2nd is Sony linkbud s, 3rd is the Samsung Galaxy buds, last is apple airpod pro. xm4 was the nearest sound quality to the tracks played. I'm using planar head phone with dac listening to this. I never thought that xm4 sounds so good. I tested them on Sony store but didn't like the sound, maybe the stock eartip was not good, idk, I might go back to test it with different ear tip. 🤔
Galaxy buds pro has been always my favorite due to have 11mm woofers and 6.5mm tweeters and it whats make them a better sounding bcuz of seperate frequency that each of them dont suffocate each other when each speaker develops there own sound seperatly...they sound awsome in each of there own sound chambers and when it unites the highs are crisp and the lows are clean.😁😁👍
I never thought I would ever say that a Sony audio product had great audio calls....but I stand corrected. Linkbuds S definitely seem to highlight the bass a bit judging from the audio sample. Is the one earbud issue due to the Google assistant integration? I know from previous models turning off Google assistant allows for single bud use
Amazing review! I was so excited about these earbuds but no independent connection is a deal breaker for me! Thank you for saving me from buying then finding that out 🙌
Correction to review stating not @6:10. The options allow Right side standalone if you turn off Service link in the app. I read in Sony online Help Guide that if you leave the Right in the case, the Left bud will work by itself. Haven’t yet tried that and don’t know if Service Link will interfere. Too bad the The Linkbuds WF-L900 charge isn’t lasting more than 5 hours. You will get an audio message announcing low battery. I’m wearing both right now. Message came 1st on right. I did notice a few minutes ago, audio mostly in left ear. Still listening to music as I write this.
The LinkBuds S are something that I am definitely keeping in mind. Currently I have to wear earbuds that are the shape of the airpods as my ears (as opposed to my ear canals) are too small for the Sennheiser momentum true wireless earbuds that I currently have to wear them comfortably.
Its incredible that the Airpods Pro has an incredibly good transperency and ANC modes almost 2 years after it came out I liked my Galayx Buds Pro but the Transperency is really terrible, any loud noises causes pops
Trully ahead of their time! Apple does this time to time, then they get stagnant for a couple of years. Been rocking AirPods Pro since release date, and tried a plethora of different earbuds (I'm on the Samsung ecosystem), but the practically perfect transparency Mode and solid ANC on the airpods don't let me replace them! Man, hope the Buds 2 Pro crown themselves over the Airpods Pro 2 since using Airpods with my samsung it's not recommended at all (poor AAC connection only).
Brandon, I really appreciate your time and effort to make this video - I'll definitely be checking out more of your channel. I've got the WF-1000XM4 recently and found for music they suit my preferences really well (especially Ultra and spatial audio), however for voice audio such as phone calls, podcast and audio books where there a higher pitch, I experience a tinny "ting" - almost like a ricochet (don't know how else to describe it) - I was wondering if you've experienced the same w/ the 1000XM4?
really glad i stumbled across this video and your channel. THE ABSOLUTE BEST audio review / comparison i've ever watch on the internet. thanks for the effort man!
Listening back on my Etymotic ER2 my preference between these buds in descending order in terms of sound quality would be XM4 ≥ Buds Pro > APP > LBS. The XM4s are a bit dark, and have some excess warmth, but it maintains a punchy low end without being too overbearing. They don't sound the closest to the original recording, but in isolation they still sound quite natural, just lacking some air and bite. I personally find its sound signature the most pleasant out of the bunch. The Buds Pro sounded the most neutral of the roundup which makes sense since they're tuned somewhat to the Harman target, but I heard a bit of treble weirdness at times that threw the timbre off which I found distracting. Otherwise they're pretty dang good, and beat out the rest of the buds if you want a "correct" sounding pair of tws earbuds. The Airpods seemed to be going for a leaner, more referencey diffuse field type signature, reminiscent of my Etymotic ER2SE, but again, some weirdness going on in the treble, and they could stand to have a bit more bass. (Went and referenced some FR graphs, and on firmware 3A283 they do graph quite similarly to my Etys, just with some low/mid treble emphasis) The Linkbuds S sounded like a worse XM4 to me. Less clarity, less punchy, less everything. Also I peeped you wearing Blessing 2s in this video. Any plans on reviewing/comparing wired IEMs, or is it too niche of a product type for it to be worth it for the channel?
yeah I tested all 4 of them and I prefer the sony WF, they just have the best sound quality, even if in this test the galaxy earbuds pro seem sometimes to be more engaging
It sounds pretty good ngl. But i much prefer the xm4. Even using the xm4 now to watch and listen to this comparison video. All of them are really great except the airpods imo cause it lacks a lot of wht i like.
After listening several times the song samples I have to say that in your review both Sonys sound mono and only the original, Apple and Samsung stereo. But that's not because the Sonys are not capable, it seems to be either a bug or a feature. My first test of my Linkbuds S gave me stereo, then I put them in and out serveral times and messed around with the app settings and suddenly sound was mono. After some more tests they were again stereo. Sonys helpguide says "When you play music or other stereo audio while wearing only one unit, you will hear monaural sound with the left and right channels mixed." So during your tests the Linkbuds sensors did not recognize that both have been in the ears and so played everything in mono. So all the examples here do not reflect reality.
I absolutely love the sound of the Galaxy Buds Pro, by far the best sound stage and just really true to life sounding of the 4. But I have narrow ear canals so that makes it hard! The WF1000XM4s (seriously Sony needs to find a new name for them) sounded good but we're a bit hollower and less true to real life. I love ANC so they'd likely take my money. The Linkbuds S were pretty hollow tbh honest although the base was nice and punchy. Great mics though. The Airpods were my least favourite - it really sounds like Apple has tuned them for voice and vocal ranges more than anything else as they were very vocal-forward but it absolutely blows out the mids and bass.
As having had the Samsung Buds Pro as well as the Sony WF-1000XM4 and Link Buds (not the "S" though), I found that the Buds Pro were my favorite until three months into a fantastic experience I developed a acrylates allergy and they would cause my ears to get really messy. After a few tries with the Jabra Elite 85t and a few others that caused the same experience, I was happy to find the Sony's both at a great discount as "open box returns". Both sony's are great at the respective strengths but I do find that needing both types of sony buds to fill the void of the just Buds Pro telling... If I didn't already have one or the other of the Sony's I would probably pick up the Link Buds "S" to try....
I just got the S today. Very impressed so far for the sale price of $149.99 at Best Buy. The noise canceling features that turn out off and pause music while you talk is fantastic. After 15s of you not talking the ANC comes back on and your video or music starts to play. Just one of MANY features my Samsungs did not offer. Phone calls are shockingly good at removing background noise as well.
@@fixitrod4969hey, I was thinking about buying the linkbuds s Can you tell me why the guy in the video says don’t buy them if you like wearing one earbud at a time?
@Akshit Sharma they've fixed that. I only wear one at a time and they do great. The phone noise-canceling for the caller works better when both are worn through.
As an owner of all of these except the new Linkbuds S, I have to say the Samsung are my favorite for sound as well. However, their fit is not very good for me and a lot of people that I almost never use them except when I'm at home, also their ANC is pretty bad compared to the others. I tend to use my XM4 most, because I love the ANC and battery life, and it has great sound as well with a lot of bass which I like. I haven't touched the Airpods Pro for a long time, and while they are convenient if you are an Apple user, I despise the sound and also the look. The galaxy buds with better ANC and fit would make for perfect earbuds IMO.
How do you use the Sony Wf? Their design hurt my Helix(outer ear) and it is getting worse prolong use. I just want to use more than 2 hours per day but it seem to be impossible
@@longlehoangminh8127 Yeah, I have heard very mixed reviews regarding the fit for the xm4. I'd recommend to get some nice silicone eartips firstly if you don't have that already (this will improve sound, and ANC maybe hopefully also fit), as the included foam eartips are just rubbish. Personally, I can use mine for a few hours without any real issues.
Wow, this was an incredibly informative video! I think the only thing you didn't cover is whether the headphones have Bluetooth multipoint connectivity or not. Anyway, I hope you do a similar one for the Pixel Buds Pro come out next month.
Actually, I feel like rhe Galaxy buds pros have better anc in most situations than the airpods pro. I totally agree that they sound better too and are very compact and portable. Great review, as always!
Listened to this on the AirPod Pros. I was amazed at how flat the APP sounded. To me the Galaxy Buds Pro sounded to have the most open sound stage and balance default eq. Sonys sounded like they forced bass to much. Love reviews like this!!!
Correct me if I'm wrong. But everytime I heard the Airpods Pro and Airpods Max, I felt that they sounded too flat, like they do not do justice to their price tag. Is that really true?
Hi Brandon. Amazing review. I have a thought that I think only your skills could help us with. Could you please do a LDAC manually set to 990Kbps (max audio quality) vs aac/sbc on the exact same earbuds or headphones. It would be really nice to see what is missing in the readings/charts/Harmon on the same track. Is LDAC at 990Kbps really that much closer to listening to the song on a wired headphone (90% of wired I hear). You might have to set the phone's overdrive mode to on to prevent stuttering
@@newkid7 for sure and I assume that if you did like your airpods pro/max and they supported LDAC or some equivalent 990Kbps tech one day that they would sound much more open and clear compared to AAC/SBC at 100kbps but perhaps not perceivable by some. I only play BT music with LDAC 990 turned on myself
Thank you for including the gaming/audio latency tests. It's really hard to find reviewers that actually test those. The linkbuds S will sopposedly have Bluetooth LE update coming later which sony claims to reduce audio latency as long as the device also supports Bluetoothe LE, so maybe you have an updated review once the update hits?
Thanks for sharing. I love your channel. About wireless earphone, the big problem is battery. Most of them with problem after 1-2 yrs. Then u gotta change the battery. Such as Sony will charge you a lot😅 u can buy the new one instead.
Excellent review! I just bought some Sony LinkBuds S on sale specifically for work (Zoom and calls). Appreciate the thoughtful work behind this review! Thanks!
Samsung's are also way cheaper than the xm4s. But i'll still take the xm4 because ANC is more important outside. If i want good qualtiy of sound i'll stick with wired iem.
sound quality & clarity is best on the galaxy buds...good bass, good vocals, good trebles....followed by airpods pro (lacking in richness and bass) . on other earbuds the bass is overpowering other frequencies. my opinion of course. what do you think?
I thought Sony as a whole blew away the competitors. I noticed and much richer sound with the lows and was impressed that the much deeper range didn't compromise the clarity in the highs. Considerable difference between Sony and the others. I honestly didn't pick up on much of a difference between the LinkBuds and the XM4. Perhaps it's just me, but I was able to pick up just the slightest increase in the full range of the XM4. Seemed to me that the lower decibels were the same but the XM4 I thought had a bit more of a reach in the highs. Just getting back to you with my thoughts... Great video, I appreciate the input.
The sound was awful. Its inaccurate, the mids and highs are muddy. The base is overblown. They are literally nearly identical to the original beats in their sound signature. Why do people like such objectively bad sounding headphones?
CORRECTION: The Sony LinkBuds S DO allow you to use each earbud independently. We originally thought this was a bug with LDAC, but it appears to be a limitation of the "Auto Play (Beta)."
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You should try the akg n400nc, IMO best sounding wireless earbuds and only $48
@@NotGoodAtTH-cam someone didn't watch all of the video 😝
@@ThisIsTechToday hehe true 6:17
How the im i suppose to test the fitness to my self. Im i suppose to buy them all and then pick 1?
I got a message when turning on Service Link saying that the R earbud need connection and so can’t use the L earbud alone. LDAC will be disable also. So I just turn the Service Link off.
This is undoubtedly THE ABSOLUTE BEST channel to go to if you want highly constructive comparisons between audio products. I am continually impressed by the sheer amount of efforts put into these videos, it definitely shows. Keep up the fantastic work, Brandon.
Thank you so much! It's A LOT of work......lol
^^^^
Brandon is one of the undisputed best Benji
Agreed!!!
TFW you remember Crinacle is on TH-cam
Doing the ad read like that was ingenious and evil. One of the few times I didn't fast forward through it on any channel. Amazing job
Lol. It's a win-win for all. I still gotta do an ad read, so instead of wasting people's time by throwing an extra 1-minute ad read in the video randomly, I get to fulfill what I need to pay the bills and provide the value that everyone wants from the video and it's how the mics sound, lol. We all win.
I promise it wasn't evil. The video is already long and I didn't want it to be any longer. It was to save people's time, lol
Also, holy cow! Thank you so much for the super thanks on top of that!!!
Yeah this was amazing, well done
I just bought Linkbuds S. A few corrections/additions to your review:-
1. Multi point in new firmware
2. Single earpiece works
3. LDAC is NOT a wash for BT. There is a switch between audio quality & audio stability in Sony app. Chosing quality changes from SBC to LDAC, and that mode has a hugeeeeee difference. Not small, hugee. Up until then I was on the verge of killing myself closer and closer as I compared to my last wired piece.
4. Fellas, S is way wider than it sounds here, any more is way outside the original. So keep that in mind.
5. Case feels cheap though, the material feels cheap. I think it's made with recycled stuff I think that's why.
6. ANC and transparency is good, but the review is correct here, trebles/highs/chatter NC is not good on S.
7. Flat equ is not good. Bumb up the high, a tiny bumb on the mid and low. Then it is good. It's a tiny driver, so don't expect it to be booming like a 12mm though.
8. Try it out, always check with different tracks, if a earphone has too much wide effect & surround effect without fiddling with app, then don't buy one.
It's hard to reduce salt, you can add salt as required later.
Suggestion:- Try "If you were the rain" by Stephen Day
Is this worth more than samsung bud pro 2s?
The case for the white linkbuds s doesn't feel as cheap as the black pair. I've had 4 different pairs of the linkbuds s i like them and for only 69.99 on Amazon you can't beat it. I've over 40 pairs of earbuds all over 75 and only like 10 under 100. My jabra 10 are my favorite. They surprised me a lot. I also have the jabra 8 which almost identical sound quality to the 10 only difference is the 10s angled ear tip makes them fit amazing . I love the 8 because most durable earbuds can wear in dust swimming anything.
Oh my Brandon, you have outdone yourself with this one! Great song choices too to hear all the frequencies! Makes me wanna rethink how I do my reviews! 👏
haha, thank you so much for the kind words. It means a lot coming from you. Thanks for watching 😊
honestly what i got most from this video were the song recs 🙉 i had already bought the linkbud S so this video was a comforting one
Wow, man... you just take earbud reviews to a whole new level!! That's so detailed and informative. The comparisons are super helpful for people like me deciding between similar product. Keep up the great work!!
This is really how a headphone review supposed to be. It’s so funny how tech channels sharing their experience and perspective over a audio product but as a customer we want to know how they really sounds like. Of course not everyone are audio engineers to buy these expensive gear for a youtube video. Thank you so much for making this review 🥹👍🏼
Thank you so much! I'm so glad you appreciate it!
You can't hear how they actually sound only how they through whatever device you are using
@@AndrewB23 that's why I say"comparative differences"
Totes agree. This is a great format for reviews for those of us who are a bit more technical or quantitative oriented in addition to ‘feeling’ oriented.
And that is because the sound you heard comes from your freking headphones. Unless you are listening through a couple of high-end monitors with a tunning as flat and borring as possible, this kind of tests is pointless
That's a genius move to play the sponsor content while we are focused on how the mic quality is lol. Either way great video mate!
Lol, it's the way to make everything work and everyone wins without taking up more time 😅
Songs
1:02 - Tides by Alexander Lewis
2:56 - Bloodstream by lolite
4:30 - My reason by Jamie
6:43 - Autumn’s Song by Stephen Day
9:14 - Get Away by Surfclub
12:04 - Photograph by Cody Fry
13:01 - Flight by Hannah Parrott
16:52 - Hey Marjorie by Jon Mero
18:15 - Overdrive by Will Champlain
19:41 - Earthquake by Ryan Taubert
21:53 - It would be You by Ben Rector
THAAAAAANK YOU!
The playlist was excellent
Yeah
sank iu!!!
Thank you 🙏🏼
I've watched plenty of reviews about different products but this one is at ANOTHER LEVEL! Thank you so much for taking the time to do it. It's the first time I've had this kind of immersive experience to test earbuds without actually having them in my ear. I did hear the video with headphones and it makes a such a huge difference! Now I need to make a decision 😅 But just wanted to say THANK YOU! I've subscribed, liked the video and will purchase thorugh one of your links 😉
it'd be a crime not liking and subbing to this channel after all these meticoulous effort in helping us choose which wireless bud should we buy, man u rock!
This is where the TH-cam algorithm got it right. I stumbled on your channel a couple of nights ago. The ability to take such detailed information and with great equipment make it possible for the average listener to understand. I have a better understanding of the different soundstages of each device. I currently have the wf-1000xm4s as my favorite buds but i see how you would like the galaxy buds especially in that last example. I have the pixel buds a as well (I have too many options for sound. I recently bought the xm5s and the link buds s. The link buds are to use while working. Wanted something with some noise cancelling but with good transparency mode just to listen out for things like a baby crying. I was going to sell my pixel buds A which I use for sleeping but now not so sure that will be the cause (neither have been delivered). Not having the headphones operate independently is also a potential L for those. The xm5s were just an upgrade from the xm4s. Wondering if you have an eq for the WF Xm4s but i understand if you couldn’t find one you truly liked.
Not to mention the xm4s work for me as I’m usually listening to hip hop or podcasts with them.
None the less, this is some amazing work here and easily the comparison videos id recommend to anyone trying to make a decision.
Thank you so much! I do appreciate your kind words. Yes, please share it with others. It helps more than most people know! You also have quite the lineup!
Just a heads up, the single earbud thing appears to be a bug with LDAC. We were able to get it to work after a factory reset and it works on iPhone and android but the moment we turn on LDAC it stops working. I’m going to talk to Sony and see what’s up.
@@ThisIsTechToday oh good to know! I wonder, were you using it with the Pixel 6? They have not had the best time with LDAC especially when set to the highest bitrate. It's about 90-95% fixed in the latest 12L beta. Regardless that is a relief.
I intentionally used the Galaxy S22 Ultra because it had the Galaxy Buds Pro benefit and because of what I've heard swirling around about Pixels.
PS: thanks for being a channel member!
Hey, I was actually thinking about getting the XM4's since I have the headphones equivalent and I love them. But from this video the Galaxy Buds just sounds so much better, richer, and natural, so now idk. If you happen to pick up the Galaxy Buds, could you come back here and give your opinion on them?
@@alexliebach not sure if you meant for me but on my end it comes down to how much you need the ANC and what type of music you listen to. I love my xm4 buds especially when going to the grocery store. But I'm usually listening to hip hop and I use the ANC to shut everything out. I did like the buds pro as well but I ended up giving them to someone with a galaxy device just because it's slightly better suited for them.
This is one of the best reviews I've seen for audio qa in general and with every single use you could have. Bought my WF-1000XM4 and comparing it to other headphones in such detail I feel better for the $279 I spent. Thanks for such detail!
You’re most welcome!!
Hey I've had mines for about a year but just know they have a battery drainage issue currently.
So make sure you check your firmware for updates 😁
Mine got the battery screwed thanks to Sony's horrible 1.4.2 software update.
Testing the LinkBuds S with their default EQ does them a hell of a disservice. When set to the Treble Boost EQ preset in the Sony Headphones Connect mobile app (which gets saved to the LinkBuds S and applies across all devices), they sound extremely close to the Harman Target. Absolutely incredible mix of comfort, sound quality, ANC performance and price.
I have both the galaxy pros and the linkbuds s. I can't believe how well the soundstaging is in this comparison, I should check that.
But the linkbuds are so comfortable, the galaxy buds have made my ears bleed literally
@@XepptizZ have tried any other settings on Linkbuds. Did it make it any better ?
@@tanu5401 you can mess with the eq and some people have found decent eq settings. And by itself they sound fine with proper eq. But side by side I could easily tell that the galaxy buds pro just sound more lively. For music it's just more of a fun listening experience, for everything else I'm good with the linkbuds.
@@XepptizZ sounds good. What about the ANC on Linkbuds S? I heard some reviews there seems to be a wind like sound when ANC is on. Did you face anything like that?
@@tanu5401 i didn't find any significant difference with the anc on either earbuds. The tech just isn't quite there, it's noticeable when it's on, but plenty of the high and treble still get through.
It's like, yeah, it works, but cupping my ears with my hands or a cheap pair of construction earprotectors blocks twice or thrice as much. Now that is a powercombo, construction earprotectors and the buds with anc, I have sat through my upstairs neighbour taking out a concrete wall with that.
As an AirPods Pro user, I was so surprised how much wider the sound got between the Sony buds and the Samsung and Apple buds. The Sony’s sound rich, but compared they sound very squeezed! Fascinating stuff!
Yeah, it's really crazy. It all depends on if you want that focused warmer sound or the wide open and "polished" sound.
Airpods pro have never been the best sounding, as you can hear in this review
@@shaunbrady15 They aren’t the best sounding, but I have yet to find a wireless iem that is as convenient, portable, and easy to use as AirPods.
@@gibby3350 Galaxy Buds offer the same experience if you are a Samsung user
@@gibby3350 todos los auriculares inalambricos son portables 🙄🤦♂️
I saw this video and 2 hours later I bought the Galaxy Buds Pro and already love them! I think this is the best choice I have done so far in terms of fitting since I have big ears and almost all other kept falling off easily. I have an S22 Ultra so I am getting all the features along with it which is cool, thank you!
Glad I could help!
@thisistechtoday
Hi!
Would you recommend galaxy buds 2 pro over sony link buds s as I have iPhone?
@@ThisIsTechTodayWould you recommend galaxy buds 2 pro over sony linkbuds s to be used in iPhones?
This is the first audio equipment review I've watched on this channel and already maybe the best I've seen anywhere, period. Concise, informative, superbly organised and helped me make a purchasing decision. Thank you and just subscribed 👍
Same! The sound samples are great for me, nice and simple.
Great review as always! You did help me decide on which earbuds to buy when you did a review of Galaxy buds pro and Galaxy buds 2. I have the Buds Pro now and so far I have been enjoying using it. For my case, it fits perfectly on my ears. Sound Quality is superb as well. I chose to go with Samsung since it makes it easier for me to use it across the Samsung ecosystem
I found Sony xm4 1000 has most advanced tech and the sound quality was great
Sony WF-1000xm4 is a bad ass when it comes to the bass
Buds pro also joins the competition too
I'm proud to say this from a galaxy fan
Nice
Really love the effort you put in your videos, the amount of tests, the lack of any bias. This is exactly how I would personally want to review products. Subscribing!
One of the best testing methods I've seen for these sort of things, well done man!
How this video doesn't have 10 million views, I don't understand. Stellar, stellar, STELLAR work! Also, that song by your friend Hannah Parrott is really beautiful.
6:20 Actually you can use them independently. You just have to turn off the Google assistant button functionality. You will still be able to use assistant, just that you won't have a dedicated tap pattern for it. Once you turn it off. You can use the left or right one as u please.
This is so far, the best ad placement ever on a TH-cam video, well done!
Haha. Thank you
I really really want to buy the Sony Linkbuds S, but the Galaxy Buds Pro just sound so much better to me, they sound clear more armonic with every instrument and the bass complement just right.
Meanwhile at least for me, can't tell the difference between Linkbuds S and the XM4 both sound more bass and you lose some clarity, maybe the XM4 sound a bit deeper darker but I think is because of the fomi plug.
So I want to ask, if with the EQ you can make the Linkbuds S sound similar like the Galaxy Buds Pro or more clear, hell even with LDAC or DLSS Extreme can get something similar.
I have a Poco F3 so is support LDAC.
Also I really wanted them for the ANC.
keep up the good work.
Greatest review possible. We actually get to hear what they sound like without having them, amazing! I would appreciate it if you could compare the latest airpods pro 2 and galaxy earpods 2 pro.
Having watched your comprehensive comparison, quite a relief for me to have GBP. Love them up to now. Great video as always. Cheers!
They're still great! Glad I could help. Thanks for watching.
Galaxy Buds Pro are by far the best sounding out of box out of all 4. LinkBuds S & XM4 are dark & bassy (sucks that the former don't respond to EQ very well) and the AirPods Pro, much like their over-ear cousins, land a bit thin. Glad to hear the new rig being able to represent the sound for IEMs much better than the ears did; guess it helps that they don't interact with the outer ear.
Yeah, I feel like we’re on mostly similar pages. The lack of ear does add it’s own quirks and with more tech it will get more complicated, but I’ll figure something out eventually. Maybe make a fake head and earlobe with a wider canal lol
Not even close with the galaxy buds it sounds like your in a hall, hands down xm4 best sound base without feeling bassy
Galaxy buds feels unbalanced to me like not enough bass, mids, and treble
... interesting takes here...
@@ThisIsTechToday well i had the original galaxy buds and they were considered comfy back in the day, i LOVED the sound its climatic, bright sounding hearing Michael Jackson beat it that full force voice was unique although for the price there was no
resolution. Of course would of loved more bass but the next version like Pro had more bass.
What an amazing video! I was going back and forth between the wf1000xm4 and the galaxy buds pros, and you made an outstanding comparison of both of them. Hats off to the effort you put into making this video!!
Hi, which one did you end up going for? 🙂
@@aulinjake Got the galaxy buds pro in a sweet deal of just $90
I just bought Sony Linkbuds S. The main reason that I care the most is they fit my ears and sound amazing. Love them so much ❤️ Thanks for the video 🙏
Absolutely fantastic review! I hope that as more earbuds come out (cough...Pixel Buds Pro), you follow the same review framework and keep adding to this list ❤️
The best earbud comparison i ever see. Nice and fair tool been used to get the best result, keep it coming bro.
Listening to this video on flat IEMs, tells me that Galaxy Buds Pro are the best sounding. All the frequencies sound natural, nothing overpowering. The vocals sound forward and clear. The best outstanding feature out of all the earbuds, was the soundstage on Galaxy Buds Pro. Apple and Sony do not even come close in terms of Soundstage. Someone who cares about sound and sound only, should definitely get Galaxy Buds Pro.
They do follow the Harmon curve a lot better, yeah.
After owning a few and then listening to samples on this video. Definitely the Samsung Pro it the reason why they are my daily drivers. Thankfully fit in my ear fine. The Sony WM4 tried and found lower treble lacking and makes electric guitars sound booming and etc a Yes did play with EQ and they sound better but still lacking and narrow sounding. Not sure why audiophiles phase and hype them up? The Samsung Buds pro's are definitely better sounding out of the bunch sometimes a little harsh but does overall well for most genres of music..
@@thetechgenie7374 i agree with you,i have both samsung pro n wf1000,sound quality buds pro more2 better than wf1000,already tuning eq sony but still cant beat sound quality buds pro.
and after update i just hope it Samsung buds not having issue, im using ex- Galayx Buds+ who Samsung claims can hold 11 hours battery ,first time i use not yet update still good ,battery can hold at least more than 7 hours ,but after update it coming new issue battery left 70% and right 95% unbalanced,too much difference, and only a week i never use battery dead, need to plug in & out everytime until the Buds battery boost up from 0%, im not sure does Samsung software make this issue or i get defect product. Due to that issue i move to Wf-1000xm4 ,till today no issued even after update still doing good, battery is beast when use SBC audio , 2 hours continuous playing music only decrease 5-10%.
I felt the same but in my case was listening to this in the Redmi bids 3 pro. I felt that the Galaxy buds pro were the best every time
This is such a good review. I think this is one of the best reviews I’ve stumbled here in YT. I’m not really familiar with the terms and just usually go with the brands I liked, but after watching this video, it clearly helped me to decide. Your review is very entertaining, easy to understand, the effort you exerted in creating this video. Thank you so much!!
This was fun Brandon! I'll be waiting to see how the new Pixel Buds Pro work out! Currently I'm still the Jabra 75Ts mostly for multipoint and heavy bass profile. I was also surprised how much I like the Pixel Buds A that came free with my Pixel 6 Pro!
I'm VERY excited about the Pixel Buds Pro. I hope they are good.
Love the fact that you put a lot of effort to give us a first person experience on these devices. I do have a complaint tho. (Sorry)
I believe the Sony's are the only buds that support LDAC. To get full advantage of the codec you must enable audio priority in the Sony app ( also can be done through android developer settings) at the cost of range and some EQ settings.
I personally see a noticeable difference with LDAC 990kbps specially when playing hifi audio. It sounds great on Tidal.
Also, I feel that this review may be somewhat limiting as it didn't mention which codec settings were selected in the Sony app when samples were recorded.
Have you ever tried creating a true flat EQ setting for each pair to get an even more accurate comparison. You could do a freq sweep and adjust each EQ to get as close to flat as possible. I realize the eq isn't exactly broad on these apps but it was just a thought. The ipods sound crisp and the Sonys a bit boomie. I can guarantee these are not flat. They are way too diffrent. I know the XM4s are extremely impressive for IEMs especially Bluetooth. I also know they sound better than AirPod Pros but you can't tell here. AirPods can't go as low or as smooth but are easier to wear. Just a thought. Again, the effort you've already done here is amazing!
I don‘t know how the rest compares but as an AirPod Pro owner I can say that the sound in your review is unfittingly flat and tinning - that does not fit the sound in your ear in the Slightest :) though I can confirm that they are not base heavy, but the vocals are crisp and unbelievably immersive!
Great review and I appreciate all the hard work going into your videos! Loved your over ear comparison as well - cheers :)
I own basically every earbuds he tested and what I can say is Galaxy Buds Pro (ehem, even the plus) is the superior among all the test samples here. It is definitely a bang for the buck. The sound quality us great even with just the default EQ. Now, if you switch it to Dynamic is where it stomps all of the earbuds available in the market.
Easily the best sounding.
but, you totally fucked them with the awful EQ. Don't use that.
@@Wylie288 Why? That's the EQ that i've been using and it sounds great
Really suprised that the Buds Pro came out on top. Good to know, I just ordered some for cheap :D
Thanks for the detailed comparison, appreciate these kind of tests
All of the Sonys felt a bit heavier on the bass, the mid tones sounded a bit buried in the mix, the airpods have the trebble a bit too sharp for me. The ANC on the XM4s sound so good, but the Galaxy Buds Pro still are the better overall package for me. Thanks for the comparison!
Honestly after Eq the Sony Wf i feel no different at all, and the soundstagr still very narrow
@@hoangminhlongle I think that this dark of a presentation isn't possible to correct through EQ, minor errors in tuning can make an already decent piece sound better, in this case you would lose a lot of volume trying to bring the mids back, not sure if it is worth it. But if you listen to a lot of bass heavy genres like hip hop or edm, the XM4s would be awesome since the sub bass on them seemed to be better.
@@zehph so the XM4 still has a "dark" theme after EQing them? Not sure mate, ii want to use them for podcasts and sometimes gaming, and the lack of high-end may be a bit odd for me. And i don't even use them on my phone at all, i used them with PC, so LDAC didn't matter. And EQing them on PC is a horrible experience
Have high hope for better ergonomic on XM4, get angry after 3 months of uses
@@hoangminhlongle actually it improved it a lot but that depends on your eq-settings of course
@@hoangminhlongle you right,i have both sony and samsung buds pro,buds pro more better in term of sound quality,sony just better anc and battery only,i prefer buds pro for sound quality.
Been trying to find a pair of earbuds to upgrade and so far this been one of the best videos to discover the difference between different ear buds.
Definitely Getting Sony WF thank u for making my decision much easier
And Def getting my sub
Here's my pick
Samsung bud pro, sound stage is cleanest, but I did notice little distortion when high volume.
Sony xm4, bass and rich sound
Apple, fits good
Sony link, too much bass, sometimes higher bass will ruin the music, especially acoustic, jazz, and piano sounds.
Thanks for the good reviews!!
WAOOO what a remarkable 👏 review of the best earbuds out there. Very professional and good and easy to understand. I think that all the cool equipment used is also a huge plus ➕️ it's different from other reviews and this review should be given a reward 😃
I'm struggling with finding the right words to describe this comparison/review. This is THE most thought out, thoroughly done comparison review I've seen on the internet period.
This is only the second video I've seen from "This is Tech Today" and I'm already hitting that subscribe button.
Hi ! I have a pair of Apple AirPods Pro headphones. And I wore them in my ears on a torrential downpour. And I walked in the rain for 2 hours with my headphones in my ears and rode my bike. And the headphones were wet and worked and still work very well today. It doesn't sound perfect like other headphones but with very good quality and durability.
Seems like the Sony buds are both very warm, a little muddy/muffled, and intimate. The airpods are on the other end sounding a little thin, but open and airy. The samsung buds sound like a happy middle ground with a full rich sound
Would love to hear the Sennheiser Momentus TWS 3 in your recording rig. Great way of reviewing earbuds, provided you already have a neutral, high quality pair to hear them with.
Thanks for the super detailed review! Just a quick note: I got the linkbuds s and I can use the earbuds individually... getting a good EQ setting definitely took a bit of time but for a non-audiophile like me, I managed to get a sound profile that I really like :)
Wait, how were you able to get them to work independently? I can't for the life of me get them to do that 😭
@@ThisIsTechToday That's weird! I have them paired to an Iphone Mini 12 and the earbuds work independently without any problems 😅
@@ThisIsTechToday I think it might be a result of having Google assistant on. The same happens with the XM4 if you have Google assistant activated. Turn that off and you should be able to use either independently.
I say I think so because I have the xm4 but not yet have the linkbuds S, but if they're anything like the xm4 that is probably it
@swayz I agree with Brandon here. I can use the right side by itself, but not the left. As soon as the right one goes into the charge case the bluetooth connection is cut. I would also love an explanation as to how you are able to use them both.
@@ELJefeReviews I must have some magic earbuds or something xD I just tried it again. Opened the case, took the left earbud out and put it in my ear, closed the case again with the other earbud inside the case. played a song on my iphone and could listen without problems. Repeated the same process with the right earbud and same result. If I have both earbuds in my ear and I take one out while listening to something, the playback stops due to out-of-ear detection but as soon as I place that earbud in the case and close it, I can continue to listen on the earbud that is still in my ear and stayed connected. So I really have no clue why it doesn't work for you🤔 There's nothing I did with the settings except for the usual stuff like touch controls and EQ. btw, also love your reviews El Jefe! :)
i see two problems that i would be very thankful if you can clarify them to me
1:the way most of these headphones anc works is by having multiple mics and msot if not all have mics that when you wear them would be situated inside the ear canal or the concha if im correct but the way you tested them does not simulate that
2.i dont think the tubes used simulate the geometry of an ear canal and again correct me if im wrong .
anyhow this is one of the best reviews i've seen so far keep it up
Listening on my Buds Pro ☺️ love how bassy and crisp they are
Your review was AMAZING. Your input of the songs throughout the reviews was genius. You're awesome at this. Keep it up.
First time viewer and all I can say is thank you for the high value you provide, been able "to hear" each ear buds was mind blowing.
Listening to this on the Galaxy buds pro. It's kinda interesting how the audio tests for them sound the same as the "default" song preview before you do the comparison, those are some top notch mics! But also, I feel like Sony's earbuds had the best audio in my opinion, seemed like they had more range, especially in the low end. The galaxy buds are honestly pretty uncomfortable, so I'm going to try out those linkbuds s!
Did you get them? any good?
The galaxy buds pro and airpods pro are amazing 🤩.
Great comparison! In my opinion my pick for best sound quality to least is 1st is Sony xm4, 2nd is Sony linkbud s, 3rd is the Samsung Galaxy buds, last is apple airpod pro. xm4 was the nearest sound quality to the tracks played. I'm using planar head phone with dac listening to this. I never thought that xm4 sounds so good. I tested them on Sony store but didn't like the sound, maybe the stock eartip was not good, idk, I might go back to test it with different ear tip. 🤔
Your hard work does not go unnoticed. Great video!
Galaxy buds pro has been always my favorite due to have 11mm woofers and 6.5mm tweeters and it whats make them a better sounding bcuz of seperate frequency that each of them dont suffocate each other when each speaker develops there own sound seperatly...they sound awsome in each of there own sound chambers and when it unites the highs are crisp and the lows are clean.😁😁👍
Aha, this explains why I think the Samsungs sound so much better...!
Honestly, i was looking for good comparisons and found it, such amazing videos, well explained !
I never thought I would ever say that a Sony audio product had great audio calls....but I stand corrected. Linkbuds S definitely seem to highlight the bass a bit judging from the audio sample. Is the one earbud issue due to the Google assistant integration? I know from previous models turning off Google assistant allows for single bud use
They have INSANE mic quality! I'll have to double check, but I think I had the same issue on the iPhone.
@@ThisIsTechToday that's how it is with the xm4s when you have a voice assistant enabled. Keep us posted.
@@ThisIsTechToday hello. What is your equalizer settings for the WF 1000xm4 please?
it's because of auto play
Amazing review! I was so excited about these earbuds but no independent connection is a deal breaker for me! Thank you for saving me from buying then finding that out 🙌
Correction to review stating not @6:10. The options allow Right side standalone if you turn off Service link in the app.
I read in Sony online Help Guide that if you leave the Right in the case, the Left bud will work by itself. Haven’t yet tried that and don’t know if Service Link will interfere. Too bad the The Linkbuds WF-L900 charge isn’t lasting more than 5 hours. You will get an audio message announcing low battery. I’m wearing both right now. Message came 1st on right. I did notice a few minutes ago, audio mostly in left ear. Still listening to music as I write this.
Galaxy buds pro definitely hits right in the middle 👌
This should be the best headphones reviews channel. Please continue with your work!
The LinkBuds S are something that I am definitely keeping in mind. Currently I have to wear earbuds that are the shape of the airpods as my ears (as opposed to my ear canals) are too small for the Sennheiser momentum true wireless earbuds that I currently have to wear them comfortably.
Lovee watching this video with my Galaxy Buds Pro. They're just incredible and badass. Love the bass quality and how high they can reach.
Its incredible that the Airpods Pro has an incredibly good transperency and ANC modes almost 2 years after it came out
I liked my Galayx Buds Pro but the Transperency is really terrible, any loud noises causes pops
Trully ahead of their time! Apple does this time to time, then they get stagnant for a couple of years. Been rocking AirPods Pro since release date, and tried a plethora of different earbuds (I'm on the Samsung ecosystem), but the practically perfect transparency Mode and solid ANC on the airpods don't let me replace them! Man, hope the Buds 2 Pro crown themselves over the Airpods Pro 2 since using Airpods with my samsung it's not recommended at all (poor AAC connection only).
Transparency mode of airpods pro is unbeatable
this is, hands down, the best video I've ever seen reviewing any type of product or whatsoever.
Congratz bro
Brandon, I really appreciate your time and effort to make this video - I'll definitely be checking out more of your channel.
I've got the WF-1000XM4 recently and found for music they suit my preferences really well (especially Ultra and spatial audio), however for voice audio such as phone calls, podcast and audio books where there a higher pitch, I experience a tinny "ting" - almost like a ricochet (don't know how else to describe it) - I was wondering if you've experienced the same w/ the 1000XM4?
really glad i stumbled across this video and your channel. THE ABSOLUTE BEST audio review / comparison i've ever watch on the internet. thanks for the effort man!
Listening back on my Etymotic ER2 my preference between these buds in descending order in terms of sound quality would be XM4 ≥ Buds Pro > APP > LBS.
The XM4s are a bit dark, and have some excess warmth, but it maintains a punchy low end without being too overbearing. They don't sound the closest to the original recording, but in isolation they still sound quite natural, just lacking some air and bite. I personally find its sound signature the most pleasant out of the bunch.
The Buds Pro sounded the most neutral of the roundup which makes sense since they're tuned somewhat to the Harman target, but I heard a bit of treble weirdness at times that threw the timbre off which I found distracting. Otherwise they're pretty dang good, and beat out the rest of the buds if you want a "correct" sounding pair of tws earbuds.
The Airpods seemed to be going for a leaner, more referencey diffuse field type signature, reminiscent of my Etymotic ER2SE, but again, some weirdness going on in the treble, and they could stand to have a bit more bass. (Went and referenced some FR graphs, and on firmware 3A283 they do graph quite similarly to my Etys, just with some low/mid treble emphasis)
The Linkbuds S sounded like a worse XM4 to me. Less clarity, less punchy, less everything.
Also I peeped you wearing Blessing 2s in this video. Any plans on reviewing/comparing wired IEMs, or is it too niche of a product type for it to be worth it for the channel?
this take is interesting at etymotics are one of my favorites :) but rn Im looking for a tws buds
AirPods Pro user here and I'm astonished about Sony WF sound quality!! Amazing!!
yeah I tested all 4 of them and I prefer the sony WF, they just have the best sound quality, even if in this test the galaxy earbuds pro seem sometimes to be more engaging
Man those Samsung galaxy buds pro sounds reallllyyyyyyy good
Yuuuup
Not to my ear. You can only hear the treble. Very fatiguing.
It sounds pretty good ngl. But i much prefer the xm4. Even using the xm4 now to watch and listen to this comparison video. All of them are really great except the airpods imo cause it lacks a lot of wht i like.
Truee its really good!! Love the buds pro🫶
Ehh they sound like they make the voice in the song’s louder witch make it sound off and scratchy
After listening several times the song samples I have to say that in your review both Sonys sound mono and only the original, Apple and Samsung stereo. But that's not because the Sonys are not capable, it seems to be either a bug or a feature. My first test of my Linkbuds S gave me stereo, then I put them in and out serveral times and messed around with the app settings and suddenly sound was mono. After some more tests they were again stereo. Sonys helpguide says "When you play music or other stereo audio while wearing only one unit, you will hear monaural sound with the left and right channels mixed." So during your tests the Linkbuds sensors did not recognize that both have been in the ears and so played everything in mono. So all the examples here do not reflect reality.
13:24 very surprised by how well presented this track is on galaxy buds pro
never stop make this kind of video... this is great review
I absolutely love the sound of the Galaxy Buds Pro, by far the best sound stage and just really true to life sounding of the 4. But I have narrow ear canals so that makes it hard!
The WF1000XM4s (seriously Sony needs to find a new name for them) sounded good but we're a bit hollower and less true to real life. I love ANC so they'd likely take my money.
The Linkbuds S were pretty hollow tbh honest although the base was nice and punchy. Great mics though.
The Airpods were my least favourite - it really sounds like Apple has tuned them for voice and vocal ranges more than anything else as they were very vocal-forward but it absolutely blows out the mids and bass.
This guy's videos are always top notch. Quality of content, thought and effort put into the video---its art.
As having had the Samsung Buds Pro as well as the Sony WF-1000XM4 and Link Buds (not the "S" though), I found that the Buds Pro were my favorite until three months into a fantastic experience I developed a acrylates allergy and they would cause my ears to get really messy. After a few tries with the Jabra Elite 85t and a few others that caused the same experience, I was happy to find the Sony's both at a great discount as "open box returns". Both sony's are great at the respective strengths but I do find that needing both types of sony buds to fill the void of the just Buds Pro telling... If I didn't already have one or the other of the Sony's I would probably pick up the Link Buds "S" to try....
I just got the S today. Very impressed so far for the sale price of $149.99 at Best Buy. The noise canceling features that turn out off and pause music while you talk is fantastic. After 15s of you not talking the ANC comes back on and your video or music starts to play. Just one of MANY features my Samsungs did not offer. Phone calls are shockingly good at removing background noise as well.
@@fixitrod4969hey, I was thinking about buying the linkbuds s
Can you tell me why the guy in the video says don’t buy them if you like wearing one earbud at a time?
@Akshit Sharma they've fixed that. I only wear one at a time and they do great. The phone noise-canceling for the caller works better when both are worn through.
@@fixitrod4969 thanks a lot man. Will definitely buy these.
Always looking for your headphones and Budd reviews!
As an owner of all of these except the new Linkbuds S, I have to say the Samsung are my favorite for sound as well. However, their fit is not very good for me and a lot of people that I almost never use them except when I'm at home, also their ANC is pretty bad compared to the others. I tend to use my XM4 most, because I love the ANC and battery life, and it has great sound as well with a lot of bass which I like. I haven't touched the Airpods Pro for a long time, and while they are convenient if you are an Apple user, I despise the sound and also the look. The galaxy buds with better ANC and fit would make for perfect earbuds IMO.
The galaxy buds 2 solve the fit issue but the pro do sound slightly better.
How do you use the Sony Wf? Their design hurt my Helix(outer ear) and it is getting worse prolong use. I just want to use more than 2 hours per day but it seem to be impossible
@@longlehoangminh8127 Yeah, I have heard very mixed reviews regarding the fit for the xm4. I'd recommend to get some nice silicone eartips firstly if you don't have that already (this will improve sound, and ANC maybe hopefully also fit), as the included foam eartips are just rubbish. Personally, I can use mine for a few hours without any real issues.
Just rewatching this review video again. I sure do hope you create this style of comparison with the Pixel Buds Pro soon! Kudos
Definitely. I’ll probably do a comparison with the older model first and then a big comparison once the galaxy buds2 pro come out.
Wow, this was an incredibly informative video! I think the only thing you didn't cover is whether the headphones have Bluetooth multipoint connectivity or not. Anyway, I hope you do a similar one for the Pixel Buds Pro come out next month.
This mans reviews are top notch. We audiophiles appreciate you bro!
Actually, I feel like rhe Galaxy buds pros have better anc in most situations than the airpods pro. I totally agree that they sound better too and are very compact and portable. Great review, as always!
Listened to this on the AirPod Pros. I was amazed at how flat the APP sounded. To me the Galaxy Buds Pro sounded to have the most open sound stage and balance default eq. Sonys sounded like they forced bass to much.
Love reviews like this!!!
I’ve been using WF1000XM4 for about 4 months now. I switched from airpod pro to this one. It’s simply a BEAST
Honestly by far the best review of any product I've ever seen.
Great review as always. I do love the polished and wider stereo sound of the Galaxy Buds Pro better though.
Correct me if I'm wrong. But everytime I heard the Airpods Pro and Airpods Max, I felt that they sounded too flat, like they do not do justice to their price tag. Is that really true?
Hi Brandon. Amazing review. I have a thought that I think only your skills could help us with. Could you please do a LDAC manually set to 990Kbps (max audio quality) vs aac/sbc on the exact same earbuds or headphones. It would be really nice to see what is missing in the readings/charts/Harmon on the same track. Is LDAC at 990Kbps really that much closer to listening to the song on a wired headphone (90% of wired I hear). You might have to set the phone's overdrive mode to on to prevent stuttering
LDAC only makes sense when you like your earbuds' sound signature. Even if AirPods Pro supports LDAC you still wouldn't like it.
@@newkid7 for sure and I assume that if you did like your airpods pro/max and they supported LDAC or some equivalent 990Kbps tech one day that they would sound much more open and clear compared to AAC/SBC at 100kbps but perhaps not perceivable by some. I only play BT music with LDAC 990 turned on myself
The airpod pros are a little too bright musically for my tastes but the Ambiant mode sounds absolutely the most natural.
If tinny and shallow sound means too bright, then that’s the word fitting, fitting my description.
Thank you for including the gaming/audio latency tests. It's really hard to find reviewers that actually test those. The linkbuds S will sopposedly have Bluetooth LE update coming later which sony claims to reduce audio latency as long as the device also supports Bluetoothe LE, so maybe you have an updated review once the update hits?
Thanks for sharing. I love your channel.
About wireless earphone, the big problem is battery.
Most of them with problem after 1-2 yrs. Then u gotta change the battery.
Such as Sony will charge you a lot😅 u can buy the new one instead.
The Galaxy buds pro sounded great to me tbh
Excellent review! I just bought some Sony LinkBuds S on sale specifically for work (Zoom and calls). Appreciate the thoughtful work behind this review! Thanks!
Glad it was helpful!
Samsung's are also way cheaper than the xm4s. But i'll still take the xm4 because ANC is more important outside. If i want good qualtiy of sound i'll stick with wired iem.
Makes sense!
Thank you for including the "pillow test." It makes all the difference for me.
Haha, a matter of natural personal experience. Your ears may be different though, so don’t discount it for that alone.
sound quality & clarity is best on the galaxy buds...good bass, good vocals, good trebles....followed by airpods pro (lacking in richness and bass) . on other earbuds the bass is overpowering other frequencies. my opinion of course. what do you think?
Amazing review! Really like how you measure with mic. By far best review on ear buds!
I thought Sony as a whole blew away the competitors. I noticed and much richer sound with the lows and was impressed that the much deeper range didn't compromise the clarity in the highs. Considerable difference between Sony and the others. I honestly didn't pick up on much of a difference between the LinkBuds and the XM4. Perhaps it's just me, but I was able to pick up just the slightest increase in the full range of the XM4. Seemed to me that the lower decibels were the same but the XM4 I thought had a bit more of a reach in the highs. Just getting back to you with my thoughts... Great video, I appreciate the input.
The sound was awful. Its inaccurate, the mids and highs are muddy. The base is overblown. They are literally nearly identical to the original beats in their sound signature. Why do people like such objectively bad sounding headphones?