Noise reduction
Equipped with very soft ear tips, LinkBuds Fit don’t fit too far into the ears. If this bias has the merit of improving feelings of comfort, then passive insulation is faced, and this has implications for their performance in terms of noise reduction. It’s also pointless to compare them to the Apple AirPods Pro 2, which are more efficient across the board despite their semi-intra format.
The LinkBuds Fit even manage to reduce treble and midrange compared to the midrange WF-C700N headphones. Surrounding conversations, even distant conversations, remain completely intelligible. Ditto for squealing train tracks, creaking doors, and other metallic sounds. Fortunately, these problems are usually less bothersome with noise reduction than with passive insulation.
Without achieving optimal performance, LinkBuds Fit lowers bass frequencies more. They are therefore relatively effective in reducing ventilation or vehicle engine noise. The vibration of a stationary bus is nevertheless felt directly in the ears, a drawback often noted in headphones with limited noise reduction.
Listen to the sounds around you.
Unsurprisingly, given their moderate natural insulation, the LinkBuds Fit’s transparency mode boosts treble to nearly natural levels. However, with the bass a bit too far back, human voices remain fairly thin.
Finally, a special mention of the adaptive functions offered by the V2 processor. Specifically, it allows the user to configure an automatic change in insulation level based on their activity and geographic location.