[Longshot23]

Did I miss something, or do Earbuds lack the Sound Link option? Oversight or deliberate?

It seems a bit odd that glasses etc can have Image Link (like cybereyes) but earbuds etc don't get to have Sound Link like cyberears. Or is it implied/built in?

[Valashar]

I've always considered image/sound link to just be a default part of the tech, like it is in the appropriate implants. Just makes no sense that it would be optional for such a device to be able to display its own incoming data.

[Noble Drake]

Earbuds no longer require such a ridiculous "option" as a sound link because that is what earbuds do in the first place - they make sound happen in your ears.

[Longshot23]

That's not clear from the RAW description - I looked it up  in SR4A before opening the thread. The SR5 description is better for clarity, and I think there it can be assumed earbuds are (also) wireless.

[Noble Drake]

That's not clear from the RAW description

It falls into the realm of "I don't need a game's rules to spell out the size, shape, and how many milliliters a coffee mug can hold to know that my character can drink coffee from one."

Earbuds are a thing that exists in the real world, and thus the game only needs to define how that thing differs in-setting from that thing in the real world.

[Longshot23]

That's not clear from the RAW description

It falls into the realm of "I don't need a game's rules to spell out the size, shape, and how many milliliters a coffee mug can hold to know that my character can drink coffee from one."

I disagree.

[Reaver]

<sadly shakes his head while laying flowers on the grave of Common Sense>

[mjack]

Well, they could have mentioned this on p.445 without extending the introductory description for Audio Devices beyond the current line length... And we would have one less thread about those little things somehow missing. But actually, I think Audio Devices - especially Ear Buds and Headphones - are (still) missing an option for a Damper although both are (still) quite close to Ear Plugs or Defenders by design.

[All4BigGuns]

Well, they could have mentioned this on p.445 without extending the introductory description for Audio Devices beyond the current line length... And we would have one less thread about those little things somehow missing. But actually, I think Audio Devices - especially Ear Buds and Headphones - are (still) missing an option for a Damper although both are (still) quite close to Ear Plugs or Defenders by design.

No, they're not "missing an option" with the Damper. That the option isn't there to put the Damper in Ear Buds, Headphones or whatever is a reason to get Cyber Ears.

[FuelDrop]

That's not clear from the RAW description

It falls into the realm of "I don't need a game's rules to spell out the size, shape, and how many milliliters a coffee mug can hold to know that my character can drink coffee from one."

I disagree.

Ah, a Rolemaster fan

[Reaver]

Well, they could have mentioned this on p.445 without extending the introductory description for Audio Devices beyond the current line length... And we would have one less thread about those little things somehow missing. But actually, I think Audio Devices - especially Ear Buds and Headphones - are (still) missing an option for a Damper although both are (still) quite close to Ear Plugs or Defenders by design.

Considering you can buy Bluetooth ear buds now, what on Earth makes you think you couldn't in the 2070s??

[Longshot23]

That's not clear from the RAW description

It falls into the realm of "I don't need a game's rules to spell out the size, shape, and how many milliliters a coffee mug can hold to know that my character can drink coffee from one."

I disagree.

Ah, a Rolemaster fan

<jumps up and down> Absolutely NOT!!! 

Okay, okay, I get it - it's my problem with the wording of the items' description. Moving on now.

[FuelDrop]

That's not clear from the RAW description

It falls into the realm of "I don't need a game's rules to spell out the size, shape, and how many milliliters a coffee mug can hold to know that my character can drink coffee from one."

I disagree.

Ah, a Rolemaster fan

<jumps up and down> Absolutely NOT!!! 

Okay, okay, I get it - it's my problem with the wording of the items' description. Moving on now.

Sorry. It was really uncalled for, and normally I have better judgement.

Blame the flu medication. Or the flu. Either one works.

[Koshnek]

"...[Audio enhancements] will play audio input from AR or other sources."

To me, that means you have to pay at least 300¥ to hear AR via earbuds [rating 1, select sound filter(1)].

Or maybe I'm taking things too literally :p.

[Koshnek]

"...[Ear buds] are hard to spot and harder still to differentiate from the standard kind that comes with every music player and commlink.

Combined with:
 

"...[Audio enhancements] will play audio input from AR or other sources."

To me, that means you have to pay at least 300¥ to hear AR via earbuds [rating 1, select sound filter(1)].

Or maybe I'm taking things too literally :p.

I'd say you don't need any gear in addition to a commlink to listen to AR. However, you would need Audio Enhancement (1) Ear buds to hear extra-meta frequencies through AR for example.