Overall Score 6.2 Represents average audio ecosystem compatibility score.
Overall Score 5.1 Represents average audio ecosystem compatibility score.
Category | Features | Sony LinkBuds S | JBL Tour Pro 2 |
---|---|---|---|
DESIGN | ingress protection (ip) rating | IPX4 | ✗ |
weight | 9.6g | ✗ | |
has no wires or cables | ✓ | ✓ | |
sweat resistance | ✓ | ✓ | |
has stereo speakers | ✓ | ✓ | |
SOUND QUALITY | has active noise cancellation (noise control) | ✓ | ✓ |
has passive noise reduction | ✓ | ✓ | |
driver unit size | 5mm | 10mm | |
lowest frequency | 20Hz | 20Hz | |
highest frequency | 40000Hz | 20000Hz | |
has a neodymium magnet | ✓ | ✗ | |
POWER | battery life | 6hours | 10hours |
battery life of charging case | 14hours | 30hours | |
charge time | 2hours | ✗ | |
has a battery level indicator | ✓ | ✓ | |
CONNECTIVITY | has usb type-c | ✓ | ✓ |
bluetooth version | v5.2 | v5.3 | |
maximum bluetooth range | 10meters | 10meters | |
has aac | ✓ | ✓ | |
has ldac | ✓ | ✗ | |
MICROPHONE | number of microphones | 6only | 6only |
has a noise-canceling microphone | ✗ | ✓ | |
EXTRAS | has ambient sound mode | ✓ | ✓ |
has in/on-ear detection | ✓ | ✗ | |
has find earbuds feature | ✓ | ✓ | |
supports fast charging | ✓ | ✓ | |
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 is the level of protection given by a casing, against dust and liquids. The letters 'IP' are followed by two values The first value represents protection against solids such as dust, followed by the one that refers to protection against liquids (sweat).
Having a value of IPX4, the Sony LinkBuds S's rating is read as, the first number of X denotes 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.
The Sony LinkBuds S have a weight of 9.6g . We prefer a lower weight better because lighter devices are easier to carry.
True wireless devices have no cables linking any part of the device together, JBL Tour Pro 2 are true wireless for this case since they have no wires. This is a key distinction 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 2 earbuds .
JBL Tour Pro 2 have sweat resistance
Sony LinkBuds S's resistance to sweat makes both devices fit for use during long-distance running, marathons, cardio sweat workouts , etc
JBL Tour Pro 2 have stereo speakers, what this means is that JBL Tour Pro 2's speakers deliver sound from separate channels on both left and right sides, creating a richer sound and a better listening experience.
The Sony LinkBuds S also have stereo speakers
ANC utilises more advanced technology to reduce unwanted ambient sounds. ANC works when, it listens to the sound pattern outside and inside the earbud and generates a mirror signal to cancel it out. Simply put, it's like having +1 (noise) and producing -1 (counter sound by the device) giving zero resulting in a reduced level of noise.
The JBL Tour Pro 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 overcome background sounds.
Sony LinkBuds S too have Active Noise Cancellation which makes both earbuds ideal for flights and morning commutes. Each operate with different noise cancellation modes, pick the mode that you prefer for commute or that suites your relaxation time.
The JBL Tour Pro 2 sit tightly in place, this creates a sound covering that reduces your environment sounds and also prevents the earbuds music from leaking out .
Both of these devices have passive noise reduction this implies that they reduce ambient noise without using technology to cancel it out.
JBL Tour Pro 2 driver unit is 10mm in diameter, bigger drivers are more powerful, therefor producing better bass.
The driver unit is the component that makes sound in the earbuds, 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 JBL Tour Pro 2 by 5mm
, 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 it's true that, larger drivers are capable of generating louder sound, but this does not imply that they deliver better quality sound.
The JBL Tour Pro 2's lowest frequency is at 20Hz, low-frequency response measures if and how well a particular audio device generates low frequencies that can be heard, and if it makes any changes to the signal on its way through.
Sony LinkBuds S's lowest frequency is at 20Hz, this means that
both devices can produce equal bass
The JBL Tour Pro 2's highest frequency is at 20000Hz, high-frequency response measures if and how well a particular audio component produces high human frequencies and if it adjustments to the signal on its way through.
Sony LinkBuds S's highest frequency is at 40000Hz, this implies that
Sony LinkBuds S generate a clearer and crispier treble than the JBL Tour Pro 2
Sony LinkBuds S have neodymium magnets, when used in audio devices produce a higher sensitivity and substantial sound output while using less power. They can help produce music at quite a high sound pressure level, with the use of high magnetic flux.
JBL Tour Pro 2's battery life is 10 hours, these last longer than 5 hours of listening which is considered average before recharge. A device's battery life is given by the manufacturer, and with longer battery life, you get to use it for longer and requires fewer chargings.
Sony LinkBuds S's battery life is
less than that of JBL Tour Pro 2 by 4 hours
. Each time you recharge your earbuds, they get a little less listening time. The effect is barely noticeable at first, but over a few years, your wireless earbuds will no longer play for long like they used to.
This is given by the manufacturer, and the JBL Tour Pro 2's case is said to have a charge of 30 hours. A charging case with more battery hours allows you to recharge your earbuds on the go several times before having to recharge the case itself.
Sony LinkBuds S's charging case has a battery life of 14 hours,
less than that of JBL Tour Pro 2 by 16 hours
It requires 2 hours to fully charge the Sony LinkBuds S's battery. It is highly adivsable to fully charge the battery before using the earbuds when they have been in storage for extended periods.
JBL Tour Pro 2 have a battery level indicator, an indicator shows you when the earbuds has a low battery. Its lights indicate the charging status of your device and charging case.
Sony LinkBuds S too have a battery level indicator, charging indicators enable you to tell the charging state of your earbuds, if charged fully, or the battery is running low.
The JBL Tour Pro 2 use USB TYPE-C, an industry-standard connector for transmitting both data and power through a single cable.
Sony LinkBuds S too have USB TYPE-C. This USB-C plug is part and parcel of most current laptops, phones, and tablets.
JBL Tour Pro 2 have Bluetooth version of 5.3, Bluetooth is a wireless technology standard that enables data transfers between devices placed in close proximity, using short-wavelength, ultra-high frequency radio waves.
Sony LinkBuds S has a Bluetooth version of 5.2,
older than that of JBL Tour Pro 2
. Newer versions provide faster data transfers.
JBL Tour Pro 2 have a 10meters distance connecting via Bluetooth.
Sony LinkBuds S have a maximum range of 10meters,
equal to that of the JBL Tour Pro 2
JBL Tour Pro 2 support AAC, a codec used for Bluetooth audio. It supports 24-bit audio at 250kbps. Because it uses psychoacoustic modeling, it can provide better results than other codecs at a similar bit rate.
Since its the highest quality codec that any Bluetooth-supporting Apple product supports, the JBL Tour Pro 2 will work well with your iPhone. If you intend 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 can reach a high bitrate of 990kbps, which provides high-resolution audio.
JBL Tour Pro 2 have 6 microphones.
Sony LinkBuds S microphones are 6,
equal to that of the JBL Tour Pro 2
. More microphones result in better sound quality and help the device to filter out noise.
The JBL Tour Pro 2 use a noise-canceling microphone, these microphones are made to filter out noise from the desired sound.
JBL Tour Pro 2 support ambient sound mode, which uses microphones to pass through ambient sound to still be heard even while wearing them
The Sony LinkBuds S support ambient sound mode as well, it’s useful when you want to listen to music while being aware of your surrounding, say you’re having a run but still want to hear traffic.
The Sony LinkBuds S have in/on-ear detection, the sensors in the earbuds can detect when removed from your ears .
When lost in a room, or can't easily find them in your bag, the JBL Tour Pro 2 support the find earbuds feature.
Sony LinkBuds S too have the find earbuds feature. Simply use the device app on your phone to play an alarm from your earbuds to help you find them.
JBL Tour Pro 2 support fast charging. Most often, technologies like Qualcomm’s Quick Charge, are used to lower the time it takes to fully charge the earbuds.
Sony LinkBuds S support fast charging. This kind is similar to regular charging, only that the battery is filling up much faster. For example, with Quick Charge 3.0, the battery is charged to 50% in 30 minutes.
The JBL Tour Pro 2 have a mute function, they have the option to mute/unmute a conversation directly from the earbuds.
The Sony LinkBuds S also support the mute function. The mute function means that you are in position turn off the device's microphone, but still hear the other party's voice.
The JBL Tour Pro 2, so you can easily access the volume control, pause, play, mute, etc whichever features are supported on the device.
Sony LinkBuds S also have a control panel on them.
The JBL Tour Pro 2 have voice prompts. Automatically receive information through audio messages, say if there is an issue with the connection.
Sony LinkBuds S also support voice prompts .i.e the earbuds notifies you if the battery is low, and you need to recharge them.
JBL Tour Pro 2 come with a special pouch. Carrying earphones without a case, or putting them in your bag without a casing can easily damage them.
Sony LinkBuds S also have a travel bag included, which is useful for safe transportation.