Seeing my end-of-year music wrap-up always reminds me how much of my waking hours are filled with some form of audio. Whether it’s my favourite artists, the soothing sounds of rain, or even a TV show, my ears are constantly engaged.
Consequently, I’m never without headphones – not even for a quick trip to the kitchen. Over the years, I’ve tried many brands, from Beats Solo 3 (which I found quite uncomfortable if used for more than half an hour) to Apple. But my top pick has to be the Sony Linkbuds S, which are always within arm’s reach.
They charge via USB-C, the same as my Kindle and laptop, so I always have the cable on hand when travelling. Plus, they rarely run out of juice when I’m out and about.
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Perhaps my favourite feature is the noise cancelling. It’s much easier to focus on tasks without background noise, so these are a lifesaver when I’m on the train, in the office, or navigating bustling shops, reports Bristol Live.
A simple tap on the left bud turns the noise cancelling on and off, while the right bud lets you pause and skip tracks. Plus, they’re small enough not to interfere with earrings or hairstyles, unlike some of my previous over-ear options.
It’s worth noting that they’re excellent at picking up sound, maybe even too much, so if I use these during meetings my colleagues often comment on how they pick up all the sound in the room I’m in – this can be particularly challenging in coffee shops. However, this doesn’t bother me as my priorities with headphones are sound quality for my music, touch control, comfort and effective background noise cancellation.
I’ve been using these daily for nearly two years now, they still function brilliantly although occasionally one bud won’t connect instantly when I put it in my ear. When this occurs, I simply place it back in the case for a moment and then it works again.
When I’m interrupted and remove my earbud to listen to someone, my music automatically pauses which is a convenient feature. These are undoubtedly my favourite headphones I’ve ever owned and they’re compact enough that I can even toss them into my smallest handbag without them occupying too much space.
They usually retail for £180 but are currently discounted to £119 on Amazon. This deal is also available at Currys. For alternatives, you might consider the Bose QuietComfort earbuds for £179.95. Despite their hefty price tag, they also have a 4.5 out of 19 reviews on their site. Alternatively, there are the BEATS Solo Buds Wireless Bluetooth Earbuds, priced at £79.99 from Currys.
