Home Wireless Earbuds Jbl Wave Buds Vs. Sony Linkbuds S

A Review By Comparison of the Jbl Wave Buds Vs. Sony Linkbuds S

Last updated on Apr 11, 2023   8 min read
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JBL Wave Buds

JBL Wave Buds

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Reasons why you might like the JBL Wave Buds

Overall Score 7.0 Represents average audio ecosystem compatibility score.

  • Ingress Protection (Ip) Rating of IP54
  • Has Active Noise Cancellation (Noise Control)
  • Battery Life of 8 hours
  • Has Usb Type-C
  • Number Of Microphones of 2 only
  • Has Ambient Sound Mode
VS
Sony LinkBuds S

Sony LinkBuds S

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Reasons why you might like the Sony LinkBuds S

Overall Score 6.2 Represents average audio ecosystem compatibility score.

  • Ingress Protection (Ip) Rating of IPX4
  • Has Active Noise Cancellation (Noise Control)
  • Battery Life of 6 hours
  • Has Usb Type-C
  • Number Of Microphones of 6 only
  • Has Ambient Sound Mode

A summary of the review by feature comparison

Category Features JBL Wave Buds Sony LinkBuds S
DESIGN ingress protection (ip) rating IP54 IPX4
weight 9g 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 8mm 5mm
lowest frequency 20Hz 20Hz
highest frequency 20000Hz 40000Hz
sound pressure level 100dB/mW
has a neodymium magnet
POWER battery life 8hours 6hours
battery life of charging case 24hours 14hours
charge time 2hours 2hours
battery power 47mAh
has a battery level indicator
CONNECTIVITY has usb type-c
bluetooth version v5.2 v5.2
maximum bluetooth range 10meters 10meters
has aac
has ldac
has aptx adaptive
MICROPHONE number of microphones 2only 6only
has a noise-canceling microphone
mic sensitivity -38dBV/Pa
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
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A breakdown of the review per specifications

Design

Ingress Protection (Ip) Rating

JBL Wave Buds IP54
Sony LinkBuds S IPX4

IP ratings refer to the rank of protection offered by a casing, against dust and liquids. In the format of IPXX, 'X' represents a number The first value of the IP rating refers to protection against solids such as dust, followed by the one that refers to protection against liquids (water).

Having a value of IP54, the JBL Wave Buds's rating for solids indicates that ingress of dust is not totally prevented but dust does not enter in harmful quantities to interfere with the correct operation or impair safety, and the second value of 4 means 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 Wave Buds, Sony LinkBuds S have a rating of IPX4 meaning that no data available to specify a protection rating and that of liquids is that, they both have the same rating against liquids

Weight

JBL Wave Buds 9g
Sony LinkBuds S 9.6g

The JBL Wave Buds have a weight of 9g . We consider a lower weight best because lighter devices are easier to carry.

The Sony LinkBuds S, at 9.6g are heavier than the JBL Wave Buds with a difference of 0.6g

Has No Wires Or Cables

JBL Wave Buds
Sony LinkBuds S

True wireless devices have no cables connecting any part of the device together, JBL Wave Buds are true wireless for this matter since they have no cables. This is a key difference as some wireless earbuds have wires connecting the 2 earbuds .

Sony LinkBuds S also is true wireless since it doesn't have wires linking the two earbuds .

Sweat Resistance

JBL Wave Buds
Sony LinkBuds S

JBL Wave Buds are resistant to sweat

Sony LinkBuds S's resistance to sweat makes both devices ideal for use while doing sports such as long-distance running, marathons, cardio sweat workouts , etc

Has Stereo Speakers

JBL Wave Buds
Sony LinkBuds S

JBL Wave Buds have stereo speakers, what this means is that JBL Wave Buds's speakers deliver sound from independent channels on both left and right sides, creating a richer sound and a better listening experience.

The Sony LinkBuds S also have stereo speakers

JBL Wave Buds
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Sound Quality

Has Active Noise Cancellation (Noise Control)

JBL Wave Buds
Sony LinkBuds S

Active noise cancellation utilises advanced technology to actively cancel noise. How it works, it listens to the sound pattern outside and inside the earbud and then generates a mirror signal to counter it. Simply put, it's like taking +1 (noise) then adding -1 (inverted noise) giving 0 resulting in a reduced level of noise.

JBL Wave Buds have Active Noise Cancellation allowing you to listen at lower levels of volume, good for your ears as you don't need to crank up the device volume to outcompete background sounds.

Sony LinkBuds S too have ANC making either of the devices ideal for plane rides and rush hour commutes. The JBL Wave Buds and Sony LinkBuds S operate with different noise cancellation modes, pick the setting that suits your travel or that enhances your chill time.

Has Passive Noise Reduction

JBL Wave Buds
Sony LinkBuds S

The JBL Wave Buds sit tightly in place, this creates an acoustic covering that reduces background sounds while preventing the device music from leaking out at the same.

Both of these devices have passive noise reduction which means that both tone down ambient noise instead of actively using ANC to cancel it out.

Driver Unit Size

JBL Wave Buds 8mm
Sony LinkBuds S 5mm

The JBL Wave Buds driver unit is 8mm in diameter, the bigger the unit the more powerful, therefor producing better bass. A driver unit is basically a mini speaker that makes sound in the device, its size dictates the sound made by the device.

Sony LinkBuds S driver unit is 5mm in diameter, which implies that they have a smaller driver unit than that of JBL Wave Buds by 3mm , a common assumption 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 mean that they produce better quality sound.

Lowest Frequency

JBL Wave Buds 20Hz
Sony LinkBuds S 20Hz

The JBL Wave Buds's lowest frequency is at 20Hz, low-frequency response inidcates how well a particular audio device produces low audible frequencies and if it makes any changes to the signal while at it.

Sony LinkBuds S's lowest frequency is at 20Hz, this means that both devices can make sound with equal bass

Highest Frequency

JBL Wave Buds 20000Hz
Sony LinkBuds S 40000Hz

JBL Wave Buds's highest frequency is at 20000Hz, high-frequency response shows how well a particular audio device generates high audible frequencies and if it changes to the signal while at it.

Sony LinkBuds S's highest frequency is at 40000Hz, this means that Sony LinkBuds S generate a clearer and crispier treble than the JBL Wave Buds

Sound Pressure Level

JBL Wave Buds 100dB/mW
Sony LinkBuds S

SPL, is the pressure level of sound, in decibels, dB, JBL Wave Buds's measurement is 100dB/mW. Devices with a higher sound pressure level are generally louder when supplied with any given audio source.

Has A Neodymium Magnet

JBL Wave Buds
Sony LinkBuds S

The Sony LinkBuds S have neodymium magnets, when used in earbuds produce a higher sensitivity and substantial sound output using less power to do so. They can help generate music at quite a high sound pressure level, using high magnetic flux.

Power

Battery Life

JBL Wave Buds 8hours
Sony LinkBuds S 6hours

JBL Wave Buds's battery life is 8 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 longer battery life, you get to use it for longer and have to charge the device less often.

Sony LinkBuds S's battery life is less than that of JBL Wave Buds by 2 hours . Every time you recharge your earbuds, they get a little less listening time. The effect is barely noticeable at first, but over time, your wireless earbuds will no longer play for long like they used to.

Battery Life Of Charging Case

JBL Wave Buds 24hours
Sony LinkBuds S 14hours

The battery life of the charging case is given by the manufacturer, and the JBL Wave Buds's case is said to have a charge of 24 hours. A charging case with more battery hours allows you to recharge your earbuds on the go several times before recharging the case itself.

Sony LinkBuds S's charging case has a battery life of 14 hours, less than that of JBL Wave Buds by 10 hours

Charge Time

JBL Wave Buds 2hours
Sony LinkBuds S 2hours

It takes 2 hours to fully charge the JBL Wave Buds's battery. It is recommended 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 Wave Buds

Battery Power

JBL Wave Buds 47mAh
Sony LinkBuds S

JBL Wave Buds's battery power is 47mAh, battery power, represents the amount of electrical energy that a battery can keep.

Has A Battery Level Indicator

JBL Wave Buds
Sony LinkBuds S

JBL Wave Buds have a battery level indicator, an indicator notifies you when the earbuds has a low battery. The battery indicator lights display the charging status of your earbuds and charging case.

Sony LinkBuds S too have a battery level indicator, these allow you to tell the charging state of your device, if charged fully, or the battery is running low.

JBL Wave Buds
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Connectivity

Has Usb Type-C

JBL Wave Buds
Sony LinkBuds S

JBL Wave Buds 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 electronics.

Bluetooth Version

JBL Wave Buds v5.2
Sony LinkBuds S v5.2

JBL Wave Buds have Bluetooth version of 5.2, Bluetooth is a wireless technology standard that allows data transfers between devices placed in range, using short-wavelength, ultra-high frequency radio waves.

Sony LinkBuds S has a Bluetooth version of 5.2, equal to that of the JBL Wave Buds . Newer versions provide faster data transfers.

Maximum Bluetooth Range

JBL Wave Buds 10meters
Sony LinkBuds S 10meters

The JBL Wave Buds have a 10meters distance to connect via Bluetooth.

Sony LinkBuds S have a maximum range of 10meters, equal to that of the JBL Wave Buds

Has Aac

JBL Wave Buds
Sony LinkBuds S

JBL Wave Buds support AAC, a codec that is 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 the same bit rate.

Since its the highest quality codec that any Bluetooth-supporting Apple product supports, the JBL Wave Buds 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.

Has Ldac

JBL Wave Buds
Sony LinkBuds S

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, which provides high-resolution audio.

Has Aptx Adaptive

JBL Wave Buds
Sony LinkBuds S

JBL Wave Buds support APTX Adaptive, an audio codec for Bluetooth devices that are developed by Qualcomm. It has a variable bit rate (between 279kbps and 420kbps).

Microphone

Number Of Microphones

JBL Wave Buds 2only
Sony LinkBuds S 6only

JBL Wave Buds have 2 microphones.

Sony LinkBuds S microphones are 6, more than that of JBL Wave Buds by 4 . More microphones record better sound quality and enable the earbuds to filter out noise.

Has A Noise-Canceling Microphone

JBL Wave Buds
Sony LinkBuds S

The JBL Wave Buds use a noise-canceling type of microphone, these microphones are designed to filter out noise from the desired sound.

Mic Sensitivity

JBL Wave Buds -38dBV/Pa
Sony LinkBuds S

The JBL Wave Buds microphone sensitivity is measured at -38dBV/Pa. The amount of the analog or digital output signal from the microphone with its input stimulus is a calculation of its sensitivity. It's the 'loudness' of the voice that the earbud microphone can pick up.

JBL Wave Buds
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Extras

Has Ambient Sound Mode

JBL Wave Buds
Sony LinkBuds S

JBL Wave Buds support ambient sound mode, which uses microphones to channel ambient noises to still be heard even when wearing them

The Sony LinkBuds S support ambient sound mode as well, helpful when you want to listen to music while being aware of what’s happening around you, for example when you’re having a jog but would still want to be able to hear traffic.

Has In/On-Ear Detection

JBL Wave Buds
Sony LinkBuds S

JBL Wave Buds support in/on-ear detection, the sensors in the device can detect when removed from your ears .

The Sony LinkBuds S too support in/on-ear detection, automatically pauses your music, or audiobook when you remove earbuds from your ears improving your listening experience.

Has Find Earbuds Feature

JBL Wave Buds
Sony LinkBuds S

If misplaced in a room, or can't easily find them in your bag, the JBL Wave Buds support the find earbuds feature.

The Sony LinkBuds S also have the find earbuds feature. Use the earbuds app on your phone to play an alarm from your earbuds to find them.

Supports Fast Charging

JBL Wave Buds
Sony LinkBuds S

The JBL Wave Buds support fast charging. Commonly, technologies like MediaTek’s Pump Express, are used to reduce the amount of time it takes to fully charge the earbuds.

Sony LinkBuds S support fast charging. This kind is similar to regular charging, just that the battery is filling up much faster. Say, with Quick Charge 3.0, the battery can be charged to 50% in thirty minutes.

Multipoint Count

JBL Wave Buds 2only
Sony LinkBuds S

JBL Wave Buds support multipoint of 2 connections, the multipoint feature allows you to link to more than one Bluetooth device and switch between them. For example, you can seemlessly switch calls from one device to another without having to manually disconnect and reconnect.

Has A Mute Function

JBL Wave Buds
Sony LinkBuds S

The JBL Wave Buds have a mute function, they support the feature to mute/unmute a conversation directly from the earbuds.

The Sony LinkBuds S also have this function. The mute function means that you can turn off the earbuds' microphone, but still hear the other party talk.

Control Panel Placed On A Device

JBL Wave Buds
Sony LinkBuds S

With the JBL Wave Buds, so you can access the volume control, pause, play, mute, etc whichever features are supported on the device.

The Sony LinkBuds S also have a control panel on them.

Has Voice Prompts

JBL Wave Buds
Sony LinkBuds S

JBL Wave Buds support voice prompts. Automatically receive information via audio messages, like if there is an issue with the connection.

The Sony LinkBuds S also support voice prompts .i.e the device notifies you when the battery is running low, and you need to recharge them.

Travel Bag Is Included

JBL Wave Buds
Sony LinkBuds S

The JBL Wave Buds come with their own special case. Carrying earbuds openly, 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.

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