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What we think
The PerfectRec Earbuds or Headphones team Learn more
Updated January 10, 2024·
If your main concern is a tighter budget, the JBL Live Free NC+ is considerably less expensive and offers good overall sound quality, comfort, and build quality; it's also great for activities like exercise, has active noise cancelling for travel, and a long battery life. The Sony Linkbuds, while pricier, provide a unique open design that lets in ambient sound for safety, a more open soundstage, a lighter build, and additional features such as virtual surround sound and ear/head detection, but they have lower noise isolation due to their design. If noise cancellation and cost are priorities, go for the JBL; if you value situational awareness and extra features, consider the Sony. 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 JBL Live Free NC+
- Good for phone calls
- Very good for air travel
- Very good for podcasts and audiobooks
Advantages of the Sony Linkbuds
- The Sony Linkbuds has no clear advantages over the JBL Live Free NC+.
Key differences
Music
5.8
6.6
The Sony Linkbuds is only fair for music, while the JBL Live Free NC+ is poor.
Gaming
5.0
5.5
The Sony Linkbuds and JBL Live Free NC+ are both poor for gaming, though the Sony Linkbuds is somewhat better.
Phone Calls
7.6
6.8
The JBL Live Free NC+ is good for phone calls, while the Sony Linkbuds is only fair.
Podcasts and Audiobooks
8.4
7.8
The JBL Live Free NC+ is very good for podcasts and audiobooks, while the Sony Linkbuds is good.
Noise Reduction
7.0
2.5
The JBL Live Free NC+ is good for noise reduction, while the Sony Linkbuds is poor.
Cost
$60
$178
$50
$100
$150
$200
$250
The JBL Live Free NC+ has a price of $60 and the Sony Linkbuds costs $178.
Build Quality
8.5
9.3
The Sony Linkbuds has excellent build quality, while the JBL Live Free NC+ has very good build quality.
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Key similarities
TV and Video
5.6
5.4
The JBL Live Free NC+ and Sony Linkbuds are both poor for TV and video.
Battery
5.0 Hours
5.5 Hours
The JBL Live Free NC+ has 5 hours of battery life. The Sony Linkbuds has 5.5 hours of battery life.
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How the JBL Live Free NC+ and the Sony Linkbuds compare to other earbuds and headphones
Spec Comparison
 |  | |
| JBL Live Free NC+ | Sony Linkbuds |
GENERAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | |||
$60 | $178 | ||
Brand | |||
Brand | JBL | Sony | |
Release Date | |||
Release Date | March 1, 2021 | February 1, 2022 | |
Form Factor | |||
Form Factor | Earbuds | Earbuds | |
Connectivity | |||
Connectivity | Wireless | Wireless | |
SOUND | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Music Score | |||
Music Score | 5.9/10 | 6.7/10 | |
Phone Calls Score | |||
Phone Calls Score | 7.6/10 | 6.9/10 | |
Gaming Score | |||
Gaming Score | 5/10 | 5.6/10 | |
TV and Video Score | |||
TV and Video Score | 5.6/10 | 5.4/10 | |
Exercise Score | |||
Exercise Score | 7.7/10 | 7/10 | |
PERFORMANCE | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Battery life | |||
Battery life | 5 Hours | 5.5 Hours | |
Wireless charging | |||
Wireless charging | Yes | No | |
Charging time | |||
Charging time | 1.3 Hours | 1.5 Hours | |
Bluetooth version | |||
Bluetooth version | 5.1 | 5.2 | |
Case Battery Life | |||
Case Battery Life | 18 | 17.5 | |
FEATURES | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Active Noise Cancelling | |||
Active Noise Cancelling | Yes | No | |
Noise Reduction Score | |||
Noise Reduction Score | 7/10 | 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 | 7/10 | 7/10 | |
BUILD AND DESIGN | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Build Quality | |||
Build Quality | 8.5/10 | 9.3/10 | |
Comfort score | |||
Comfort score | 7.6/10 | 7.6/10 | |
Size | |||
Size | Large | Small | |
Weight (headset or single earbud) | |||
Weight (headset or single earbud) | 7 Grams | 4.5 Grams | |
Microphone style | |||
Microphone style | Integrated | Integrated | |
Shopping
JBL Live Free NC+
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Dig into reviews and images
HeadphoneCheck
Maike Paeßens | 2020
"JBL has added great-sounding, rock-solid all-rounders with a pleasant, warm sound character to their range. They are equipped with a high level of functionality that can be customised via the app. Some compromises have to be made with the active noise cancellation, which has a discreet effect, while the ambient mode and the Talkthru function proved to be powerful despite a perceptible background noise."
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."
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About JBL
JBL is an American audio equipment manufacturer. Owned by Harman International which is, itself, owned by Samsung Electronics. JBL markets a wide array of monitoring speakers, professional headphones and consumer market headphones and earbuds. It was founded in 1946 by James Bullough Lansing (whose initials give the company its name) and has become one of the most prolific audio companies ever. Their products were responsible for audio during the 1969 Woodstock Festival.
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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Why trust us
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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Jason is a staff expert and software engineer that has been making laptop recommendations for 7 years and moderates one of the largest laptop subreddits.
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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.
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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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