Instead, its a svelte house-trained pet that does its best work when you keep it domestic.
Thats most evident from the charging cradle, which was my favorite aspect of the entire speaker.
But theres more evidence as to the LinkBuds Speakers introverted state.
But its another illustration of how the Sony offers brains over the raw brawn of some of its rivals.
Hopefully a software update will change this.
As I’ll discuss in the Design section of this review, the speaker has a quick access button.
You just cant use the extra features.
Audiophiles will also be pleased to hear that theres an in-app equalizer.
In my experience I didnt find that the equalizer made much of a difference on the sound quality.
I was impressed by a few of the quality-of-life features Sound Connect offers.
They all just improve the way you use the speaker in small but meaningful ways.
A feature I got really close to liking is the ability to set hourly reminders.
However as soon as I opened the Sound Connect app, it immediately recognized and paired.
So if youve just bought this gadget and cant get it to connect, download the app now!
Sony LinkBuds Speaker review: Design
The Sony LinkBuds Speaker basically looks like a small furry squoval.
(It’s a real word!
A portmanteau of square and oval!)
Sometimes nondescript is good.
The fabric cover also gives it a premium look that many other rivals lack.
Super convenient, two thumbs up from me.
It offers a balanced audio mix, but lacks the ‘oomph’ that portable Bluetooth speakers generally need.
Unlike its rivals, Sony hasn’t turned any one element up to 11.
That will, of course, double the amount youre paying to listen.
But it makes a marked difference in the LinkBuds Speaker, and its doubly annoying for two reasons.
Should I buy the Sony LinkBuds Speaker?
Attributes
Notes
Rating
Features
A range of useful features sets the LinkBuds apart from rivals.
4/5
Design
It has an understated design with a few neat flourishes and touches.
Sound quality
While it doesn’t quite match competitors, the Sony still provides solid audio.
3.5/5
Value
It’s priced reasonably, if not quite competitively.
Battery life is importantNo-one likes that most gadgets take constant charging.
