Bose QuietComfort Earbuds 2
See price on AmazonOverall Score 7.8 Represents average audio ecosystem compatibility score.
Sony LinkBuds S
See price on AmazonOverall Score 7 Represents average audio ecosystem compatibility score.
Category | Features | Bose QuietComfort Earbuds 2 | Sony LinkBuds S |
---|---|---|---|
DESIGN | ingress protection (ip) rating | IPX4 | IPX4 |
weight | 12.5g | 9.6g | |
has no wires or cables | ✓ | ✓ | |
wingtips included | ✓ | ✗ | |
sweat resistance | ✓ | ✓ | |
has stereo speakers | ✓ | ✓ | |
SOUND QUALITY | has active noise cancellation (noise control) | ✓ | ✓ |
has passive noise reduction | ✓ | ✓ | |
driver unit size | 9.3mm | 5mm | |
lowest frequency | 20Hz | 20Hz | |
highest frequency | 20,000Hz | 40,000Hz | |
POWER | battery life | 6hours | 6hours |
battery life of charging case | 18hours | 14hours | |
charge time | 2hours | 2hours | |
has a battery level indicator | ✓ | ✓ | |
CONNECTIVITY | has usb type-c | ✓ | ✓ |
bluetooth version | v5.3 | v5.2 | |
maximum bluetooth range | 10meters | 10meters | |
has aac | ✓ | ✓ | |
has ldac | ✗ | ✓ | |
has aptx adaptive | ✓ | ✗ | |
MICROPHONE | number of microphones | 8only | 6only |
has a noise-canceling microphone | ✓ | ✗ | |
EXTRAS | has ambient sound mode | ✓ | ✓ |
has in/on-ear detection | ✓ | ✓ | |
has find earbuds feature | ✓ | ✓ | |
supports fast charging | ✓ | ✓ | |
multipoint count | 2only | ✗ | |
has a mute function | ✓ | ✓ | |
control panel placed on a device | ✓ | ✓ | |
has voice prompts | ✓ | ✓ | |
travel bag is included | ✓ | ✓ | |
See price on Amazon | See price on Amazon |
Ingress protection ratings refer to the level of protection offered by a casing, against solids and water. In the format of IPXX, 'X' represents a number The first value of the IP rating means protection against solids say dust, while the second refers to resistance against liquids (sweat).
Scoring IPX4, the Bose QuietComfort Earbuds 2's rating for solids indicates that no data available to specify a protection rating, and of liquids that they can withstand low pressure spray similar to that of a shower head when tilted at 180° for 10 minutes.
Compared to the Bose QuietComfort Earbuds 2, Sony LinkBuds S have a rating of IPX4 meaning that
we are not yet certain of their rating with solids (dust)
and that of liquids is that,
they both have the same rating against liquids
The Bose QuietComfort Earbuds 2 have a weight of 12.5g . We consider a lower weight better because lighter devices are easier to transport.
Sony LinkBuds S, at 9.6g
weigh less than the Bose QuietComfort Earbuds 2 with a difference -2.9g
True wireless devices have no cables linking any part of the device together, Bose QuietComfort Earbuds 2 are true wireless for this matter since they don't have wires. This is a key difference as some wireless earbuds have wires linking the 2 earbuds together.
Sony LinkBuds S also is true wireless since it has no wires linking the two earbuds together.
Bose QuietComfort Earbuds 2 have wingtips, these are commonly used for workout earbuds and come as an optional add-on to each silicone ear tip for a more secure fit.
Bose QuietComfort Earbuds 2 have sweat resistance
Sony LinkBuds S's resistance to sweat makes both devices good for use while doing sports such as long-distance running, marathons, training in workout bodysuits, etc
Bose QuietComfort Earbuds 2 have stereo speakers, what this means is that Bose QuietComfort Earbuds 2's speakers deliver sound from separate channels on both left and right sides, this creates a richer sound and a better listening experience.
The Sony LinkBuds S also have stereo speakers
ANC uses advanced technology to reduce unwanted ambient sounds. ANC works when, it listens to the sound pattern outside and inside the earbud and after inverts the soundwaves to counter it. Simply put, it's like taking +1 (sound from your surrounding) and producing -1 (inverted noise) to make zero hence "diluting" the noise.
The Bose QuietComfort Earbuds 2 have Active Noise Cancellation allowing you to listen at lower volume levels, good for your ears since you don't need to crank up the device volume to outcompete background noise.
The Sony LinkBuds S too have Active Noise Cancellation which makes both earbuds ideal for flights and rush hour travels. Each work with different noise cancellation settings, pick the noise cancellation type that you prefer for travel or that enhances your chill time.
The Bose QuietComfort Earbuds 2 stay tightly in place, this creates an acoustic seal that tones down background sounds well as preventing the earbuds voice audio from leaking out .
Both Sony LinkBuds S, and Bose QuietComfort Earbuds 2 have passive noise reduction which implies that both reduce ambient noise instead of actively using ANC to cancel it out.
Bose QuietComfort Earbuds 2 driver unit is 9.3mm in diameter, bigger drivers are more powerful, therefor producing better bass.
A driver unit is basically a mini speaker that produces sound in the device, its size corellates with the loudness of the earbuds.
Sony LinkBuds S driver unit is 5mm in diameter,
which implies that they have a smaller driver unit than that of Bose QuietComfort Earbuds 2 by 4.3mm
, as many tend to believe that driver units of a bigger size automatically produce better sound quality.
However, large drivers find it difficult to produce high frequencies so yeah, larger drivers can generate louder sound, but this does not indicate that they deliver better quality sound.
Bose QuietComfort Earbuds 2's lowest frequency is at 20Hz, low-frequency response inidcates how well a particular audio device generates low frequencies that can be heard, and if it makes any changes to the signal while at it.
Sony LinkBuds S's lowest frequency is at 20Hz, this implies that
both devices produce equal bass
Bose QuietComfort Earbuds 2's highest frequency is at 20,000Hz, high-frequency response indicates how well a particular audio component makes high recognizable frequencies and if it makes any adjustments to the signal while at it.
Sony LinkBuds S's highest frequency is at 40,000Hz, this means that
Sony LinkBuds S can generate a clearer and crispier treble than the Bose QuietComfort Earbuds 2
Bose QuietComfort Earbuds 2's battery life is 6 hours, these last longer than 5 hours of listening which is considered average before recharge. A device's battery life is commonly given by the manufacturer, and with more battery hours, you get to use it for longer and have to charge the device less often.
Sony LinkBuds S's battery life is
equal to that of the Bose QuietComfort Earbuds 2
. Every time you recharge your device, they get a little less playing time. The effect is not noticeable at first, but over a few years, your wireless earbuds will no longer play for long like they used to.
The battery life of the charging case is given by the vendor, and Bose QuietComfort Earbuds 2's case is said to have a charge of 18 hours. A charging case with more battery hours enables you to recharge your earbuds on the go many times before recharging the case itself.
Sony LinkBuds S's charging case has a battery life of 14 hours,
less than that of Bose QuietComfort Earbuds 2 by 4 hours
It takes 2 hours to fully charge the Bose QuietComfort Earbuds 2's battery. It is recommended to fully charge the battery before using the earbuds when they have been in storage for extended periods.
Sony LinkBuds S takes 2 hours to fully charge the battery,
equal to that of the Bose QuietComfort Earbuds 2
The Bose QuietComfort Earbuds 2 have a battery level indicator, an indicator notifies you when the earbuds has a low battery. The battery indicator lights display the charging state of your earbuds and charging case.
Sony LinkBuds S too have a battery level indicator, charging indicators enable you determine the charging state of your earbuds, if charged fully, or the battery is running low.
The Bose QuietComfort Earbuds 2 support USB TYPE-C, a standard connector for transmitting both data and power in a single cable.
Sony LinkBuds S too support USB TYPE-C. This USB-C plug is part and parcel of most current laptops, phones, and tablets.
The Bose QuietComfort Earbuds 2 have Bluetooth version of 5.3, Bluetooth is a wireless technology standard that allows data movement between devices placed in range, using short-wavelength, ultra-high frequency radio waves.
Sony LinkBuds S has a Bluetooth version of 5.2,
older than that of Bose QuietComfort Earbuds 2
. Newer versions provide faster data transfers.
Bose QuietComfort Earbuds 2 have a 10meters distance to connect via Bluetooth.
Sony LinkBuds S have a maximum range of 10meters,
equal to that of the Bose QuietComfort Earbuds 2
Bose QuietComfort Earbuds 2 support AAC, a codec used for Bluetooth audio. It supports 24-bit audio at 250kbps. Since it uses psychoacoustic modeling, it provides better results than other codecs at a similar bit rate.
Being the highest quality codec that any Bluetooth-supporting Apple product supports, the Bose QuietComfort Earbuds 2 will work fine with your iPad. If you are planning on using these with Android you need to pay even closer attention to codec support for if they only have AAC they won't provide the best audio quality possible, ensure that they also support aptX HD, LDAC, or LHDC as well.
The Sony LinkBuds S support AAC as well. Designed to be the successor of the MP3 format, AAC generally achieves higher sound quality than MP3 encoders at the same bit rate.
The Sony LinkBuds S support LDAC, a codec developed by Sony which allows streaming high-resolution audio over Bluetooth connections at up to 990 kbps at 32 bit/96 kHz. It is capable of a very high bitrate of 990kbps, providing high-resolution audio.
Bose QuietComfort Earbuds 2 support APTX Adaptive, an audio codec for Bluetooth devices that are developed by Qualcomm. It has a variable bit rate (between 279kbps and 420kbps).
Bose QuietComfort Earbuds 2 have 8 microphones.
While the Sony LinkBuds S microphones are 6,
less than that of Bose QuietComfort Earbuds 2 by 2
. More microphones record better sound quality and help the earbuds to filter out noise.
The Bose QuietComfort Earbuds 2 use a noise-canceling microphone, these microphones are made to filter out background sounds from the desired sound.
The Bose QuietComfort Earbuds 2 support ambient sound mode, which uses microphones to pass through ambient noises to still be heard even when wearing the earbuds
The Sony LinkBuds S support ambient sound mode as well, helpful when you want to listen to music but also be aware of what’s happening around you, for example when you’re having a jog but still want to be able to hear traffic.
The Bose QuietComfort Earbuds 2 have in/on-ear detection, the sensors in the device can detect when they are removed from your ears so that the music is paused.
Sony LinkBuds S support in/on-ear detection, automatically pauses your music, or audiobook when you remove earbuds from your ears improving your listening experience.
If misplaced in a room, or can't easily find them in your bag, Bose QuietComfort Earbuds 2 have a find earbuds feature.
Sony LinkBuds S too have the find earbuds feature. Simply use the device app on your smartphone to play an alarm from your earbuds to locate them.
Bose QuietComfort Earbuds 2 support fast charging. Commonly, technologies like MediaTek’s Pump Express, are used to lower the time it takes to fully charge a device.
Also the Sony LinkBuds S support fast charging. It's very similar to regular charging, just that the battery fills up much faster. Say, with Quick Charge 3.0, the battery is charged to 50% in 30 minutes.
Bose QuietComfort Earbuds 2 have a multipoint of 2 connections, this feature allows you connect to more than one Bluetooth device and switch between them. Say, you can easily switch calls from one device to another without having to manually disconnect and reconnect.
The Bose QuietComfort Earbuds 2 have a mute function, they have the option to mute/unmute a conversation directly from the earbuds.
The Sony LinkBuds S too support the mute function. The mute function means that you are in position turn off the device's microphone, but you can still hear the other party's voice.
With the Bose QuietComfort Earbuds 2, so you can access the volume control, pause, play, mute, etc whichever functions are supported on the device.
The Sony LinkBuds S too have a control panel on them.
The Bose QuietComfort Earbuds 2 have voice prompts. With voice prompts, you receive information via audio messages, say if there is a problem with the connection.
The Sony LinkBuds S also have voice prompts meaning the device notifies you when the battery is running low, and it's time to recharge the earbuds.
The Bose QuietComfort Earbuds 2 come with their own special case. Carrying earbuds without a case, or putting them in your pockets without a casing can easily put them at risk of getting damaged.
Sony LinkBuds S too have a case included, which offers safe transportation.