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What we think
The PerfectRec Earbuds or Headphones team Learn more
Updated January 10, 2024·
The Focal Bathys and Sony Linkbuds cater to different preferences and use cases. If you prioritize high sound quality, comfort for extended listening, and active noise cancelling for quieter environments, especially during air travel, the pricier Focal Bathys are superior. They also have a longer battery life and are suitable for wired listening, but they are bulkier and heavier. On the other hand, the Sony Linkbuds are more affordable, offer better portability, and are sweatproof, making them a better choice for exercise and outdoor activities, although they have lower sound quality and no noise cancelling. The Linkbuds are also optimized for both Android and Apple devices and have an open-ear design, which allows for ambient awareness, a consideration if safety in your environment is a concern. 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 Focal Bathys
- Very good for music
- Excellent for gaming
- Best in class for TV and video
- Very good for air travel
Advantages of the Sony Linkbuds
- Good for exercise
- Good for podcasts and audiobooks
Key differences
Music
8.0
6.6
The Focal Bathys is very good for music, while the Sony Linkbuds is only fair.
Gaming
9.3
5.5
The Focal Bathys is excellent 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 Focal Bathys is poor.
Podcasts and Audiobooks
6.2
7.8
The Sony Linkbuds is good for podcasts and audiobooks, while the Focal Bathys is only fair.
TV and Video
10.0
5.4
The Focal Bathys is best in class for TV and video, while the Sony Linkbuds is poor.
Noise Reduction
8.3
2.5
The Focal Bathys is very good for noise reduction, while the Sony Linkbuds is poor.
Battery
31.0 Hours
5.5 Hours
The Focal Bathys has 31 hours of battery life. The Sony Linkbuds has 5.5 hours of battery life.
Cost
$699
$178
$100
$150
$200
$250
$300
$350
$400
The Focal Bathys has a price of $699 and the Sony Linkbuds costs $178.
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Key similarities
Build Quality
9.0
9.3
The Sony Linkbuds and Focal Bathys both have excellent build quality.
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How the Focal Bathys and the Sony Linkbuds compare to other earbuds and headphones
Spec Comparison
 |  | |
| Focal Bathys | Sony Linkbuds |
GENERAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | |||
$699 | $178 | ||
Brand | |||
Brand | Focal | Sony | |
Release Date | |||
Release Date | October 1, 2022 | February 1, 2022 | |
Form Factor | |||
Form Factor | Headphones | Earbuds | |
Connectivity | |||
Connectivity | Wired + Wireless | 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 | 9.4/10 | 5.6/10 | |
TV and Video Score | |||
TV and Video Score | 10/10 | 5.4/10 | |
Exercise Score | |||
Exercise Score | 6.6/10 | 7/10 | |
PERFORMANCE | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Battery life | |||
Battery life | 31 Hours | 5.5 Hours | |
Wireless charging | |||
Wireless charging | No | No | |
Charging time | |||
Charging time | 1.5 Hours | 1.5 Hours | |
Bluetooth version | |||
Bluetooth version | 5.1 | 5.2 | |
Case Battery Life | |||
Case Battery Life | N/A | 17.5 | |
FEATURES | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Active Noise Cancelling | |||
Active Noise Cancelling | Yes | No | |
Noise Reduction Score | |||
Noise Reduction Score | 8.4/10 | 2.5/10 | |
Virtual Surround | |||
Virtual Surround | No | Yes | |
Android App | |||
Android App | Yes | Yes | |
iOS App | |||
iOS App | Yes | Yes | |
Mic Quality | |||
Mic Quality | 6.5/10 | 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 | N/A | Small | |
Weight (headset or single earbud) | |||
Weight (headset or single earbud) | 350 Grams | 4.5 Grams | |
Microphone style | |||
Microphone style | Integrated | Integrated | |
Shopping
Focal Bathys
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Dig into reviews and images
Soundguys
Christian Thomas | May 2023
"As much as I hesitate to recommend a headphone that sells for $800 USD, if you’re looking for the best sound quality you can find in the ANC space: it’s the Focal Bathys."
Sony Linkbuds
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Dig into reviews and images
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."
Get a great deal on the Focal Bathys or the Sony Linkbuds
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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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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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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