Ingress protection ratings refer to the rank of protection offered by an enclosure, against dust and water. The letters 'IP' are followed by two values The first value of the IP rating means protection against solids say dust, followed by the one that refers to resistance against liquids (sweat).
Having a value of IPX4, the JBL Tune Flex's rating is read as, the first value 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. Compared to the JBL Tune Flex, 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
JBL Tune Flex have a weight of 9.6g . We take in account a lower weight better for the reason that lighter devices are more comfortable to move with.
Sony LinkBuds S, at 9.6g
have the same weight as the JBL Tune Flex
For a device to be true wireless it should have no wires connecting any part of the device together, JBL Tune Flex are true wireless for this case since they have no cables. This is a key difference since wireless earbuds have cables connecting the pair of earbuds together. Sony LinkBuds S also is true wireless since it doesn't have cables linking the pair of earbuds .
JBL Tune Flex have sweat resistance
Sony LinkBuds S's resistance to sweat makes both devices fit for use during long-distance running, marathons, training in workout bodysuits, etc
JBL Tune Flex have stereo speakers, devices with stereo 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
Active noise cancellation uses advanced kind of tech to reduce unwanted ambient sounds. How it works, it detects and analyzes the sound pattern of incoming noise and after inverts the soundwaves to counter it. Simply put, it's like having +1 (noise) then adding -1 (inverted noise) giving zero hence "diluting" the noise.
JBL Tune Flex have ANC enabling you to listen at lower volume levels, good for your ears as you don't need to crank up the earbuds volume to outcompete background sounds. The Sony LinkBuds S too have Active Noise Cancellation which makes both devices ideal for plane rides and rush hour travels. The JBL Tune Flex and Sony LinkBuds S operate with different noise cancellation modes, pick the noise cancellation type that suits your travel or that suites your relaxation time.
The JBL Tune Flex sit well in place, creating an acoustic covering that tones down background noise while preventing the earbuds sound from leaking out .
Both Sony LinkBuds S, and JBL Tune Flex have passive noise reduction this means that they tone down ambient noise instead of actively using ANC to cancel it out. The JBL Tune Flex have a unit size of 12mm in diameter, bigger drivers are more powerful, therefor producing better bass. A driver unit is the component that makes sound in the device, the unit size dictates the sound made by the earbuds.
Sony LinkBuds S driver unit is 5mm in diameter,
which means that they have a smaller driver unit than that of JBL Tune Flex by 7mm
, many people have a misconception that driver units of a bigger size automatically produce better sound quality.
However, large drivers usually have difficulty producing high frequencies so yeah, larger drivers can generate louder sound, but this does not mean that they produce better quality sound. The JBL Tune Flex's lowest frequency is at 20Hz, low-frequency response inidcates how well a particular audio device produces low frequencies that can be heard, and if it alters the signal while at it.
Sony LinkBuds S's lowest frequency is at 20Hz, this means that
both devices make sound with equal bass
The JBL Tune Flex's highest frequency is at 20,000Hz, high-frequency response indicates how well a particular audio device produces high human frequencies and if it makes any changes to the signal on its way through. Sony LinkBuds S's highest frequency is at 40,000Hz, this means that
Sony LinkBuds S can produce a clearer and crispier treble than the JBL Tune Flex
The sound pressure level, is the level of pressure of sound, measured in decibels, dB, JBL Tune Flex's measurement is 108dB/mW. Devices with a higher sound pressure level are generally louder when supplied with any given audio source.
The JBL Tune Flex's battery life is 8 hours, these last longer than 5 hours of listening which is considered average for a single charge. A device's battery life is commonly 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 Tune Flex by 2 hours
. Every time you recharge your earbuds, they get a little less playing time.
The effect is not noticeable at first, but over time, your wireless earbuds will have shorter listening time. This is given by the manufacturer, and JBL Tune Flex's case is said to have a charge of 24 hours. A charging case with more battery hours enables you to recharge your earbuds on the go many 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 Tune Flex by 10 hours
It takes 2 hours to fully charge the JBL Tune Flex's battery. It is highly adivsable to charge fully the battery before using the earbuds for the first time. Sony LinkBuds S takes 2 hours to fully charge the battery,
equal to that of the JBL Tune Flex
JBL Tune Flex have a battery level indicator, an indicator notifies you when the device has a low battery.
The battery indicator lights indicate the charging status of your device and case. Sony LinkBuds S too have a battery level indicator, these allow you to determine the charging state of your earbuds, if charged fully, or having a low battery. JBL Tune Flex have USB TYPE-C, an industry-standard connector for transmitting both data and power through a single cable.
Sony LinkBuds S too support USB TYPE-C. This USB-C plug is part and parcel of most current electronics. The JBL Tune Flex have Bluetooth version of 5.2, Bluetooth is a wireless technology standard that allows data movement between devices placed in close proximity, using short-wavelength, ultra-high frequency radio waves.
Sony LinkBuds S has a Bluetooth version of 5.2,
equal to that of the JBL Tune Flex
. Newer versions provide faster data transfers. JBL Tune Flex have a 10meters distance connecting via Bluetooth. Sony LinkBuds S have a maximum range of 10meters,
equal to that of the JBL Tune Flex
JBL Tune Flex support AAC, a codec used for Bluetooth audio.
It supports 24-bit audio at 250kbps. Since it uses psychoacoustic modeling, it can provide better results than other codecs at a similar bit rate.
Being the highest quality codec that any Bluetooth-supporting Apple product supports, the JBL Tune Flex will work fine with your MacBook.
If you are planning on using these with Android , 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.
JBL Tune Flex have 4 microphones. While the Sony LinkBuds S microphones are 6,
more than that of JBL Tune Flex by 2
. More microphones record better sound quality and help the device to filter out background sounds. The JBL Tune Flex have a noise-canceling microphone, these microphones are intended to reduce noise from the desired sound.
JBL Tune Flex microphone sensitivity is measured at -38dBV/Pa. The size of the analog or digital output signal from the microphone with its input stimulus is a measure of its sensitivity. It's the 'loudness' of the voice that the earbud microphone can recognize.
JBL Tune Flex support ambient sound mode, which uses microphones to channel ambient sound to still be heard even when wearing the earbuds
The Sony LinkBuds S support ambient sound mode as well, it’s useful when you want to listen to music but also be aware of your surrounding, say you’re having a jog but still want to hear traffic. If misplaced in a room, or can't easily find them in your bag, JBL Tune Flex have a find earbuds feature. The Sony LinkBuds S too have the find earbuds feature.
Use the device app on your smartphone to play a sound from your device to help you locate them. JBL Tune Flex support fast charging. Most often, technologies like MediaTek’s Pump Express, are used to lower the time it takes to charge the earbuds.
Sony LinkBuds S support fast charging. It's very similar to regular charging, just 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 Tune Flex support multipoint of 2 connections, this feature allows you to link to more than one Bluetooth device and switch between them. For example, you can easily switch calls from one device to another without manually disconnect and reconnect. JBL Tune Flex have a mute function, they support the feature to mute/unmute a conversation directly from the device.
The Sony LinkBuds S too have the mute function. It means that you can turn off the device's microphone, but you can still hear the other party talk. With the JBL Tune Flex, so you can easily access the volume control, pause, play, mute, etc whichever features are supported on the device.
The Sony LinkBuds S too have a control panel on them. JBL Tune Flex have voice prompts. Automatically receive information through audio messages, say if there is an issue with the connection.
Sony LinkBuds S too support voice prompts meaning the device will notify you if the battery is low, and it's time to recharge the earbuds. JBL Tune Flex come with their own special case. Carrying earphones without a case, or putting them in your pockets without a casing can easily damage them.
Sony LinkBuds S too have a travel bag included, which is useful for safe transportation.
