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What we think
The PerfectRec Earbuds or Headphones team Learn more
Updated January 10, 2024·
If you prioritize sound quality along with versatility for activities like gaming and music listening, the Antlion Kimura Duo is the stronger option, especially if you need a wired connection and prefer a more isolating listening experience. However, they're not as suitable for active use during exercise due to their larger size and lower score in that area. On the other hand, the Sony Linkbuds offer wireless convenience, better optimization for mobile device use with features like ear/head detection, and a lighter, smaller design that scores higher for exercise. The Linkbuds' open design also allows for environmental awareness, which is important if you need to hear your surroundings, but they provide lower overall sound quality and less effective noise isolation. Choose the Kimura Duo for focused listening and gaming, or the Linkbuds for mobility, convenience, and situational awareness. Give Feedback
this description is based on the product variant with some specs and product variant with some specs. At the time of writing, the variant with some specs cost some dollars and the variant with some specs cost some dollars.
Advantages of the Antlion Kimura Duo
- Very good for music
- Very good for gaming
- Good for TV and video
Advantages of the Sony Linkbuds
- Good for exercise
- Good for podcasts and audiobooks
Key differences
Music
8.0
6.6
The Antlion Kimura Duo is very good for music, while the Sony Linkbuds is only fair.
Gaming
8.5
5.5
The Antlion Kimura Duo is very good for gaming, while the Sony Linkbuds is poor.
Phone Calls
5.2
6.8
The Sony Linkbuds is only fair for phone calls, while the Antlion Kimura Duo is poor.
Podcasts and Audiobooks
5.0
7.8
The Sony Linkbuds is good for podcasts and audiobooks, while the Antlion Kimura Duo is poor.
TV and Video
7.8
5.4
The Antlion Kimura Duo is good for TV and video, while the Sony Linkbuds is poor.
Noise Reduction
6.0
2.5
The Antlion Kimura Duo is only fair for noise reduction, while the Sony Linkbuds is poor.
Battery
N/A
5.5 Hours
The Antlion Kimura Duo does not have a battery. The Sony Linkbuds has 5.5 hours of battery life.
Cost
$150
$178
$50
$100
$150
$200
$250
The Antlion Kimura Duo has a price of $150 and the Sony Linkbuds costs $178.
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Key similarities
Build Quality
9.0
9.3
The Sony Linkbuds and Antlion Kimura Duo both have excellent build quality.
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How the Antlion Kimura Duo and the Sony Linkbuds compare to other earbuds and headphones
Spec Comparison
 |  | |
| Antlion Kimura Duo | Sony Linkbuds |
GENERAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | |||
$150 | $178 | ||
Brand | |||
Brand | Antlion | Sony | |
Release Date | |||
Release Date | June 1, 2022 | February 1, 2022 | |
Form Factor | |||
Form Factor | Earbuds | Earbuds | |
Connectivity | |||
Connectivity | Wired | Wireless | |
SOUND | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Music Score | |||
Music Score | 8.1/10 | 6.7/10 | |
Phone Calls Score | |||
Phone Calls Score | 5.3/10 | 6.9/10 | |
Gaming Score | |||
Gaming Score | 8.6/10 | 5.6/10 | |
TV and Video Score | |||
TV and Video Score | 7.8/10 | 5.4/10 | |
Exercise Score | |||
Exercise Score | 4.4/10 | 7/10 | |
PERFORMANCE | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Battery life | |||
Battery life | N/A | 5.5 Hours | |
Wireless charging | |||
Wireless charging | N/A | No | |
Charging time | |||
Charging time | N/A | 1.5 Hours | |
Bluetooth version | |||
Bluetooth version | N/A | 5.2 | |
Case Battery Life | |||
Case Battery Life | N/A | 17.5 | |
FEATURES | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Active Noise Cancelling | |||
Active Noise Cancelling | No | No | |
Noise Reduction Score | |||
Noise Reduction Score | 6/10 | 2.5/10 | |
Virtual Surround | |||
Virtual Surround | N/A | Yes | |
Android App | |||
Android App | N/A | Yes | |
iOS App | |||
iOS App | N/A | Yes | |
Mic Quality | |||
Mic Quality | 8/10 | 7/10 | |
BUILD AND DESIGN | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Build Quality | |||
Build Quality | 9/10 | 9.3/10 | |
Comfort score | |||
Comfort score | 8.4/10 | 7.6/10 | |
Size | |||
Size | Large | Small | |
Weight (headset or single earbud) | |||
Weight (headset or single earbud) | 21.5 Grams | 4.5 Grams | |
Microphone style | |||
Microphone style | Boom | Integrated | |
Shopping
Antlion Kimura Duo
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Dig into reviews and images
Headphones Addict
Peter Susic | February 2023
"Antlion Kimura Duo aren’t packed with features, but the ones they offer, work incredibly well. Especially the boom mic delivers very clean call quality with no distortion. If you explicitly look for gaming in-ear monitors with a reliable microphone, Antlion Kimura Duo are your best option."
Sony Linkbuds
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Sound Guys
Sam Moore | February 2022
"The Sony LinkBuds is definitely the most unique audio product to release so far in 2022, and it largely executes well on it's unoccluded design. However, it's hamstrung by all the same things as other unsealed earbuds."
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About Antlion
Antlion Audio is an American company based in Oregon. Founded in 2011 by Jimmy Console, an engineer and physician, in order to create and offer better solutions for voice communication, specifically a microphone which could be used with any set of headphones which materialized in the very popular ModMic. The company has since expanded to include a wide variety of wired and wireless products.
About Sony
Sony is a multinational corporation, based out of Japan, with over 75 years of experience in the consumer electronics industry. In the audio market, Sony has been a trendsetter several times throughout its history. In 1979 they released the first-ever portable music player, the Sony Walkman, followed by the Discman 20 years later. Today, Sony is one of the leaders in the wireless headphone and earbud market, especially in terms of Active Noise Cancellation technology.
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This information was produced and vetted by the PerfectRec earbuds & headphones team. We are a product research and recommendation organization that meticulously reviews and evaluates the latest earbuds or headphones information and makes it digestible for you.
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About the Earbuds or Headphones team
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Joe is an entrepreneur and lifelong electronics enthusiast with a Ph.D in Economics from the University of Michigan.
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