Sony Linkbuds Speaker Review

Introduction

Sony’s LinkBuds range has quietly grown from a pair of distinctive open-earbuds into a proper ecosystem. The LinkBuds Speaker is the latest addition, designed specifically to complement those earbuds with seamless audio handoff and smart integration features that prioritise convenience over raw sonic performance.

This compact cylinder isn’t trying to be a beach party boombox or outdoor warrior — that’s what Sony’s ULT range handles. Instead, it’s positioned as a home audio companion that happens to be portable, a desk speaker that can follow you from room to room without the faff of cables or manual Bluetooth switching.

At £139, it’s priced against established players like the JBL Flip 6 and Ultimate Ears Wonderboom, speakers that now routinely sell for less.

The promise is compelling, but does this vision of frictionless audio justify the premium price? And can the sound quality hold its own against cheaper, louder rivals? Time to find out if Sony’s ecosystem bet pays off.

Design

• Compact cylindrical form
• Fabric-wrapped housing
• Integrated carry strap

The LinkBuds Speaker is unapologetically utilitarian, sporting the sort of understated Scandinavian design that could sit comfortably in an IKEA showroom. At 110mm tall and 84mm wide, it’s roughly the dimensions of a chunky deodorant can, designed to occupy desk space without dominating it.

The fabric-wrapped housing comes in black or light grey, and whilst it looks smart initially, the textile covering attracts lint with alarming efficiency. The fabric does provide a soft-touch premium feel, but longevity concerns are inevitable — this material is unlikely to age gracefully.

At 520g, the LinkBuds Speaker is properly portable, light enough to carry one-handed without complaint. A small fabric loop protrudes from the rear, substantial enough to hang the speaker from a hook or carabiner clip, though you’d not want to dangle it from a rucksack for extended periods.

The top surface houses physical controls: power button, volume up/down, play/pause, and a Quick Access button you can programme via the app. The buttons are well-marked and responsive, though they’re flush-mounted rather than raised, making operation trickier than necessary.

Bottom-mounted controls are an odd choice, but flip the speaker over and you’ll find the Bluetooth pairing button and battery level check button. You’ll pair once and forget about it, but the placement remains perplexing. A 3.5mm aux jack would’ve been welcome here, but Sony’s omitted connectivity entirely.

The charging cradle deserves praise. It’s a simple plastic dish with pogo pin contacts that align with corresponding points on the speaker’s base. Drop the speaker onto the cradle and it charges automatically. The cradle lives permanently on your desk, ensuring the speaker’s always topped up when at home. It’s a thoughtful inclusion.

Water resistance is IPX4, meaning it’ll survive splashes and light rain but not submersion. You can use it in the kitchen without panicking about steam, but poolside use requires caution. For a speaker that costs similar money to properly waterproof JBL and Ultimate Ears models, this feels like a compromise.

The design is inoffensive but unexciting. It’ll blend into most home environments without complaint, but it won’t turn heads either. Sony’s clearly prioritised function over form here.

Features

• Auto Switch audio handoff
• Auto Play scheduling
• Solid Bluetooth connectivity

Unboxing and initial setup takes approximately five minutes. Bluetooth pairing is standard fare – hold the pairing button, select from your phone’s menu, done. Fast Pair on Android devices expedites the process further.

The LinkBuds Speaker’s headline feature is Auto Switch, Sony’s seamless audio handoff between compatible LinkBuds earbuds (LinkBuds, LinkBuds S, LinkBuds Fit, LinkBuds Open, or WF-1000XM5) and the speaker itself.

The concept is simple: start music on the speaker, pop in your LinkBuds, and audio automatically transfers. Remove the earbuds, and playback shifts back to the speaker.

Pairing both devices to the Sony Sound Connect app enables Auto Switch. For LinkBuds owners who move between rooms frequently, this is genuinely convenient.

The catch? It only works with specific Sony earbuds. If you’re using AirPods, Galaxy Buds, or even Sony’s own WF-C700N, you’re out of luck. This is an ecosystem lock-in play, pure and simple. For those within the ecosystem, it’s brilliant. For everyone else, it’s a feature you can’t use.

Auto Play (Scene-based Listening) lets you schedule music playback from streaming services at specific times on specific days. Scenes like Get Ready, Bedtime, and others can trigger appropriate playlists automatically.

In testing, it worked reliably and offers genuine convenience for daily routines. The Quick Access button can be programmed to trigger streaming services like Spotify Tap and it’s genuinely handy for one-touch music playback.

Multipoint Bluetooth allows connection to two devices simultaneously, handy for switching between phone and laptop. Whichever device starts playback takes control immediately.

Bluetooth range is solid, maintaining connection across approximately 10 metres. Codec support is limited to SBC and AAC – no aptX, LDAC, or other hi-res options. For a Sony speaker in 2025, the lack of LDAC is peculiar, especially given Sony’s own earbuds support it. It’s another sign this isn’t positioned as an audiophile product.

DSEE (Digital Sound Enhancement Engine) upscales compressed audio, theoretically improving quality from streaming services. It’s not the more powerful DSEE Extreme found in Sony’s flagship headphones, but it doesn’t hurt.

The Sound Connect app is well-executed and modern, offering EQ customisation, power settings, Scene modes for different times of day (getting ready, bedtime, working, etc.), and access to all the smart features. The interface is clean and intuitive, making setup straightforward and ongoing management minimal once you’ve configured your preferences.

The speaker can be positioned horizontally or vertically, and Sony’s Sound Diffusion Processor supposedly optimises audio for either orientation. In practice, horizontal positioning sounded marginally better to my ears, with slightly wider stereo imaging. Vertical positioning emphasised the speaker’s directional nature.

One notable absence: voice assistant support. There’s no built-in Alexa, Google Assistant, or Siri integration. You can trigger your phone’s assistant via Bluetooth, but the speaker itself is dumb.

Battery Life

Battery life is impressive. Sony claims 25 hours at mid-volume, and testing confirmed 24-26 hours depending on volume levels and feature usage. That’s comfortably enough for a full working week of moderate listening before requiring a recharge. At maximum volume, battery life drops to approximately six hours — still respectable.

Quick charging delivers 70 minutes of playback from a 10-minute charge, handy for topping up before heading out. Full charging from flat takes approximately five hours, which is leisurely but acceptable given you’ll likely charge overnight on the cradle.

The charging cradle connects via USB-A to a USB-C cable. Once positioned on your desk, the speaker simply drops onto the cradle for automatic charging. It’s the sort of convenience you don’t appreciate until you’ve experienced it.

Sound Quality

• Balanced and refined
• Limited bass
• Modest maxvolume
• Directional projection

The LinkBuds Speaker prioritises balance and clarity over impact and volume. This is a refined-sounding speaker that favours accuracy over excitement. Admirable from a quality perspective, less impressive if you’re expecting scale.

Bass extension is modest. The X-Balanced woofer (48mm x 56mm) does its best, but physical limitations are inevitable. There’s enough low-end weight for most listening, but tracks with substantial sub-bass content feel anaemic. Rich Boy’s bass-heavy production on Drop sounds polite rather than ribcage-rattling.

Mid-range is the speaker’s strength, and vocals come through with impressive clarity. Streaming Mazzy Star’s Fade Into You, Hope Sandoval’s voice is rendered with delicacy and detail.

Treble is crisp without tipping the scales too much. The 16mm tweeter handles high frequencies capably, delivering adequate sparkle. String instruments have proper texture, and acoustic guitar sounds authentic rather than synthetic. It’s all very… polite

Maximum volume is the Achilles heel. The LinkBuds Speaker simply can’t go loud enough for outdoor use or larger rooms. It’s fine for personal listening at a desk or ambient sound in a small bedroom, but attempt to soundtrack a dinner party and you’ll find it wanting.

Sound projection is notably directional. Position yourself off-axis, and the balance shifts, with treble decreasing noticeably. The speaker sounds best when you’re directly in front of it, which limits its usefulness as a background music source. Sony’s Sound Diffusion Processor aims to spread sound more evenly, but it can’t overcome the fundamental limitations of front-firing drivers.

This is a mono speaker despite its two-way driver configuration, which is fine for casual listening but disappointing for anyone hoping for a proper soundstage. Paired with a second LinkBuds Speaker in stereo mode might address this, but that’s doubling your investment. Dynamic range is respectable. The speaker handles quiet passages and louder sections competently without excessive compression.

Call quality is surprisingly good, thanks to a top-mounted microphone with acoustic isolation. Sony claims best-in-class call quality for their wireless speakers, and whilst I can’t verify that objectively, calls via the speaker were clear and intelligible. It’s genuinely usable for conference calls, though you’ll want to position it appropriately to avoid echo.

Should you buy it?

FAQs