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What we think
The PerfectRec Earbuds or Headphones team Learn more
Updated January 10, 2024·
If you prioritize sound quality, especially for music and gaming, and require features like a boom mic and active noise cancelling, the Audeze Maxwell would be the superior choice; they also offer a very long battery life which is great for extended sessions. However, they are bulky, not as portable, and significantly pricier. On the other hand, Sony Linkbuds are more affordable, lightweight, and optimized for both Android and Apple, making them ideal for casual listening, calls, and use during exercise. But they lack noise cancellation, have a shorter battery life, and their open design may not isolate sound as effectively as the Audeze Maxwell. 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 Audeze Maxwell
- Very good for music
- Very good for phone calls
- Excellent for gaming
- Very good for TV and video
- Very good for air travel
- Excellent for podcasts and audiobooks
Advantages of the Sony Linkbuds
- Good for exercise
Key differences
Music
8.4
6.6
The Audeze Maxwell is very good for music, while the Sony Linkbuds is only fair.
Gaming
9.0
5.5
The Audeze Maxwell is excellent for gaming, while the Sony Linkbuds is poor.
Phone Calls
8.7
6.8
The Audeze Maxwell is very good for phone calls, while the Sony Linkbuds is only fair.
Podcasts and Audiobooks
9.4
7.8
The Audeze Maxwell is excellent for podcasts and audiobooks, while the Sony Linkbuds is good.
TV and Video
8.9
5.4
The Audeze Maxwell is very good for TV and video, while the Sony Linkbuds is poor.
Noise Reduction
6.0
2.5
The Audeze Maxwell is only fair for noise reduction, while the Sony Linkbuds is poor.
Battery
78.0 Hours
5.5 Hours
The Audeze Maxwell has 78 hours of battery life. The Sony Linkbuds has 5.5 hours of battery life.
Cost
$299
$178
$100
$150
$200
$250
$300
$350
$400
The Audeze Maxwell has a price of $299 and the Sony Linkbuds costs $178.
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Key similarities
Build Quality
9.0
9.3
The Sony Linkbuds and Audeze Maxwell both have excellent build quality.
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How the Audeze Maxwell and the Sony Linkbuds compare to other earbuds and headphones
Spec Comparison
 |  | |
| Audeze Maxwell | Sony Linkbuds |
GENERAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | |||
$299 | $178 | ||
Brand | |||
Brand | Audeze | Sony | |
Release Date | |||
Release Date | January 1, 2023 | February 1, 2022 | |
Form Factor | |||
Form Factor | Headphones | Earbuds | |
Connectivity | |||
Connectivity | Wired + Wireless | Wireless | |
SOUND | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Music Score | |||
Music Score | 8.4/10 | 6.7/10 | |
Phone Calls Score | |||
Phone Calls Score | 8.7/10 | 6.9/10 | |
Gaming Score | |||
Gaming Score | 9.1/10 | 5.6/10 | |
TV and Video Score | |||
TV and Video Score | 8.9/10 | 5.4/10 | |
Exercise Score | |||
Exercise Score | 6.3/10 | 7/10 | |
PERFORMANCE | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Battery life | |||
Battery life | 78 Hours | 5.5 Hours | |
Wireless charging | |||
Wireless charging | No | No | |
Charging time | |||
Charging time | 2 Hours | 1.5 Hours | |
Bluetooth version | |||
Bluetooth version | 5.3 | 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 | Yes | Yes | |
iOS App | |||
iOS App | Yes | 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 | 8/10 | 7.6/10 | |
Size | |||
Size | N/A | Small | |
Weight (headset or single earbud) | |||
Weight (headset or single earbud) | 498.9 Grams | 4.5 Grams | |
Microphone style | |||
Microphone style | Boom | Integrated | |
Shopping
Audeze Maxwell
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Dig into reviews and images
Sound Guys
Christian Thomas | August 2023
"Despite a few caveats, the Audeze Maxwell is one of the best-performing gaming headsets on the market and should top the ranks for a few buyers — provided the budget (and neck strength) is there. Gaming headsets have their work cut out for them, and their audience is historically unkind to performance flaws. If you’re an older gamer with some cash to blow, you should be pleased with the Audeze Maxwell."
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 Audeze
Audeze is an, award-winning, American premium headphone manufacturer based in California. Founded in 2008, their products are developed around aerospace materials technology first used by NASA and are widely used by enthusiasts and professionals alike, not only in the fields of music and sound engineering but also in e-sports and the health industry.
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
Joe Golden, Ph.D
CEO and Earbuds and Headphones Editor
Joe is an entrepreneur and lifelong electronics enthusiast with a Ph.D in Economics from the University of Michigan.
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Chandradeep Chowdhury
Staff Expert & Software Engineer
Chandradeep is a staff expert and software engineer and expert in televisions and monitors. He’s been making monitor recommendations for ten years.
Luis Torres
Earbuds and Headphones Expert
Luis is a Mexico-based headphones expert. He’s been making headphone recommendations for five years and has close to 100 pairs in his personal collection.
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