News is slow, but we have another new wireless headset code from Sony, the YY2986. A new model just appeared on an Indonesian certification site. Unlike the previous new model, YY2984, we have some additional information with this certification. We know the headset will feature noise cancellation and that is made in Vietnam.
Just my luck, as I was writing up a post that Android 14 update would most likely drop very soon, the update drops. Ah great timing.
For anyone following recent news events in the US, you will undoubtedly know that tariffs and price increases are coming in 2025. The new incoming administration wants to add 60% tariffs on all goods coming from China and 10% from other countries. This is a pretty drastic hike and could increase the price of Sony's upcoming products in 2025.
User TheMorbidToaster from reddit was bored and work and decided to X-ray their WH-1000XM5 headset. You can find the original photo in this post. The original had one side extended out so I modified the photo so that both sides are the same length.
I was not expecting to be creating a firmware update post for the WH-1000XM4 or WF-1000XM4, but here we are. Both models have the same update:
We finally have a new wireless Sony headset code, the YY2984. I have very little information, so this could be anything at this point, like the new WH-1000XM6, WF-1000XM6, or even a low end model.
Sony's updated LinkBuds line has been revealed, it includes the LinkBuds Open, LinkBuds Fit, and the LinkBuds Speaker. Both earbud models will be priced at $199 USD/€199/£179/$299 CAD, with the wireless speaker coming in at $179 USD/€159/£139. I am surprised Sony has priced both earbud models the same, considering they are not equal in terms of specs and features. Availability will be from early to late October depending on your region. It seems that the LinkBuds Speaker will not be available in all regions, like Canada or Australia for example. Would love to see how Sony came to this decision. So time to dive in and examine this new LinkBuds line.
Just like the WH-1000XM5, the WF-1000XM5 has also received a firmware update. The update brings similar benefits, but lacks the security features of the system software. So I guess that was not related to Google's Find My Device.
Sony has released a new firmware update for the WH-1000XM5. The update adds support for a new feature found in the new Sony Sound Connect app, Auto Switch. You should be seeing a firmware update pop up after you install new Sound Connect app.
Sony has put up a teaser for their new upcoming LinkBuds models, the Open and Fit. The reveal is on October 1st at 09:00 PST. We can see from the teaser that both models will debut, the Open (top left) and the Fit (bottom right). I am embedding the stream below.
If you frequently browse the Sony headphones subreddit, you will have seen at least 1 or 2 posts per week with photos of broken WH-1000XM5 hinges/swivels. I have set up a post on the subreddit asking users to post their stories but did not get many replies, so making a post here as well. Feel free to share the subreddit post or this blog post in other forums where users have posted such breaks.
If you have recently opened your Headphones Connect app, you probably have seen the new popup indicating the app will be changing this October. The app will self update once it will be released, so nothing new needs to be installed.
I saw this earlier on Twitter and thought it was just a special edition with some artist, so I thought nothing of it. But it is a new colour and quite late in the life cycle. Obviously the new colour is to spur sales, but a small price drop to the regular retail price would also be very beneficial in my opinion.
A good source has just provided me with some information regarding the upcoming LinkBuds line. The upcoming 2 new models, the YY2964 and YY2975 will be known as the LinkBuds Open and LinkBuds Fit respectively.
If you own a non-Android Walkman which supports drag and drop, my old tutorial will probably not work on Windows 11. So here are 2 options, the first using Media Player and the second using Winamp. This tutorial is directed at the Sony OS players, rather than the Android models and the newer NW-A30/40/50. I do not own any new players, so I cannot make a tutorial for those for the time being, maybe in the future if I collect enough donations from BuyMeaCoffee.
The Sony WF-C510 has been announced. The new model will be available in early September, and will be priced at $59 USD / $99 CAD / €59 / £55. I was initially going to post this earlier but decided to wait for the official announcement. I want to pre-order but I am seeing a variety of different shipping dates on various websites, so I will wait a few more days before ordering one. So until then, so let us see how the new model compares to the WF-C500 and WF-C700N.
One thing Sony could do to differentiate their products is to include a travel/carry case with their mid-range headsets, like they do with their high end models. My old MDR-10RBT came with a soft cover, which I still use for my WH-CH720N. While the soft case is adequate, it was made for a smaller headset, so I am in the market for a new larger hard case. This is not a sponsored post, but I would earn a small commission from any orders from my affiliate links. Here are 3 promising candidates.
Sony's upcoming budget earbuds have leaked a few days ago. The leak reveals the model name, WF-C510, which is not a surprise. The leak is thanks to Twitter user MysteryLupin.
Sony has released a new firmware update for the WF-1000XM5 earbuds. Recall back in early June, the earbuds passed through Bluetooth SIG but the software version was 4.0, so we might still see a future update later on.
Sony has released a firmware update for the A and ZX Walkmans. The update is not the Android 14 update, but rather a security update along with a fix for a playback bug, where music could not be played back from where it was stopped previously.
The Sony Walkman turns 45 today. It is a brand close to my heart and I have many fond memories of my Walkmans. I have owned a few in my time, and I hope to have a post up in the near future of my Walkman experience over the years. The Walkman brand may not be as big as it was in the past, but we still have 3 models, and the A and ZX could receive Android 14 later this year.
The YY2975 headset has appeared on the FCC, and we have a confirmation that this is a set of earbuds and not a over the ear headset. This seems to corroborate that this is the new LinkBuds S mark 2. We also know this headset will come with active noise cancellation, just like the LinkBuds S.
We have another new Sony headset, the YY2975. The headset is currently only on Apple's MFi certification site, so we have very little information. This might be the first time a new Sony headset was revealed by a MFi certification.
Sony has resubmitted the WF-1000XM5 (YY2963) to Bluetooth SIG this week (Thanks Ed). But why? The headset already has support for LE Audio and LC3, so what could this re-certification be adding?
With no news or leaks of a WH-1000XM6 model, the WH-1000XM5 remain Sony's flagship wireless headset. Which is good news, since they are not almost 20% off on Amazon.
Looks like we are beginning to see more and more Sony fakes. First it was the WH-1000XM5, next the WH-1000XM4, and now finally the WH-XB910N. I would not expect these fakes to be present at legitimate retail locations but I have seen these on Aliexpress and on Ebay. So here is what to look out for as not to get scammed.
The FCC internal documents for the PlayStation PULSE earbuds are finally available. Time to dive in and see what they reveal.
This is not a sponsored post. I have been looking for a proper pair of earbud tips to buy in case my XBA tips become damaged. I saw this post on Reddit which mentioned some new tips which I have not heard of before. Naturally I went to read up on them, and they seem like a close match to my XBA tips.
The internal documents for the WH-ULT900N are now available but a full teardown from 52Audio will provide more details, so I will have a future post once they post that up. The quality of the photos will be less than optimal, so prepare for potato quality.
Sony has revealed their new WH-ULT900N noise cancelling headphones, part of their new ULT Power Sound Brand. I will not be covering the new wireless speakers, but you can find the press release here. I do not have a review unit unlike most major tech sites, so this will not be a review, but more of a comparison and analysis. Time to dive in.
Sony has finally teased their upcoming WH-ULT900N wireless noise cancellation headset. The main clue is the ULTIMATE wording in the teaser. Likewise the video hashtags also indicate we are looking at an audio product, such as audio, music, sound, and bass. The video also has uses the ultimate hashtag further connecting the announcement to the new headset.
The Sony INZONE Buds (WF-G700N) have received a firmware update today and for users who dislike the INZONE hub, well there is some good news, the Sony Headphones Connect app is now supported, but it is only with LE Audio.
The Sony LinkBuds S have received a new firmware update, version 4.1.0. The change is similar to the WF-1000XM5 update which came out today.
Sony has released a new firmware update, version 3.2.1, for the WF-1000XM5 earbuds. Here is what is updated:
If you are waiting for the WH-1000XM6, well you are not alone. Apart from the posts on reddit asking about the new model, I have received plenty of messages and emails asking me when we can expect the new model.
Are you have problems logging into the Sony Headphones Connect app? Well you are not alone. Users on reddit and Sony's own support forums are reporting they are not able to connect to the app network.
The Sony WH-ULT900N has leaked thanks to an Italian retail listing. We have all 3 colours, black, white and Forest Gray. So how to people like the design? Btw, these will be foldable like the WH-1000XM4 and WH-XB910N.
A new Sony wireless headset has appeared on the FCC (thanks E_D___B_A_N_G_E_R). We are looking at a new pair of Sony wireless earbuds. Could this be an successor to the WF-700N? Possible, but there is no noise cancellation in the product description, just "Wireless Stereo Headset". So will this slot under the WF-C700N?
We know fake Sony WH-1000XM5 headsets exist, but there was no evidence any fake WH-1000XM4 headsets existing, until now. A reddit user posted a thread with some photos of the fakes from a foreign marketplace.
A while back I was told that the YY2981 would not use the XB model name. I was skeptical since the source did not provide any new model name. Well it turns out this is the correct. The new model will be called the WH-ULT900N.
A new set of Sony earbuds has leaked thanks to the Korean RRA. Thanks to user @rubik_ganse on Twitter for sending this in.
There have a few posts on Reddit asking how to pair a replacement WF-1000XM5 earbud the case. So here is a guide on how to do it.
I wrote about the YY2981 back in October 2023 when it appeared on the FCC. Now the headset has finally appeared on Bluetooth SIG, where it is described as "Wireless Stereo headset". We do know it will come with Noise Cancellation as this is how it was described in the FCC filing. so this is probably an error.
