Bluetooth/wireless options for Sennheiser IE80s
Sep 15, 2016 at 6:56 AM Thread Starter Post #1 of 7

webreaper

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So, with all the fuss about the iPhone 7 3.5mm jack, it's piqued my interest in Bluetooth/wireless. I have a Galaxy S7, so don't need to go wireless, but hey...
 
I have a pair of IE80s right now, with custom sleeves, so don't want to have to change them, so wondering what my options might be to go to wireless with the existing IEMs. After a bit of googling, these turned up on AliExpress:
 
https://www.aliexpress.com/store/product/New-Custom-Made-Wireless-Bluetooth-4-1-Headphones-Upgrade-Cable-Suitable-For-IE8-IE80-SE215-535/1825606_32518253149.html
 
But they look kinda cheap, with a short battery life and apparently terrible sound quality (although that's probably not bad, considering the price!).
 
Another alternative would be something like this:
 
https://www.westone.com/store/music/index.php/accessories/bluetooth-cable.html
 
But obviously that's a no-go with the IE80s, as they don't have an MMCX connection. So the question is, are there any other options? I guess it boils down to three possibilities:
 
1. Find some existing BT/wireless cables compatible with the IE80s - but my Google-Fu clearly isn't yielding results.
2. Find a Sennheiser IE80 => MMCX adapter, and then use the Wetstone bluetooth cable. 
3. Get the wetstone BT cable, and cut the ends off and have somebody who knows how to make cables fit some IE80-compatible connectors.
 
Any other thoughts or ideas? For #3 above, anyone know a company/supplier who could do this? :)
 
(posted in this forum, rather than the IEM one, because I'm a new member on Head-Fi - although I've been lurking for years)
 
Sep 15, 2016 at 9:37 AM Post #2 of 7
Trinity audio engineering offers a Bluetooth lanyard similar to the first (couldn't pull up the second) with aptX and such. Not sure if it would work for the ie80 but you can always ask them. AFAIK te trinity dongle uses a standard 2 pin connecter.
Link:
https://trinity-audio-engineering.myshopify.com/collections/parts-accessories/products/trinity-bluetooth-lanyard
 
Sep 15, 2016 at 10:32 AM Post #3 of 7
Thanks, looks good - I've sent them a message. I also saw in another thread about wireless IEMs that the Noble BTS might also do the trick, if I can find a short cable (even though it's not as elegant as the wetstone or trinity products).
 
http://www.head-fi.org/products/noble-audio-bts/reviews/13674
 
Sep 16, 2016 at 3:00 AM Post #5 of 7
That's true, but I guess it depends on what we mean by wireless. I'm not looking for something like AirPods, just something that separates the IEMs from the phone. So perhaps this'll be good enough, clipping the Noble to my shirt. Main thing is whether it's possible to get a suitably short IE80 cable to go with it...
 
I guess it's a waiting game though - in the next few months it wouldn't surprise me if more options similar to the Wetstone product come out for various headphone manufacturers, since there'll be a ton of people with quality wired IEMs (Shure, UE, Senn, etc) that want to switch to wireless with their iPhone 7, but don't want to throw away £100-200 of perfectly good, high-quality 'phones.
 
Nov 12, 2016 at 1:11 PM Post #6 of 7
  That's true, but I guess it depends on what we mean by wireless. I'm not looking for something like AirPods, just something that separates the IEMs from the phone. So perhaps this'll be good enough, clipping the Noble to my shirt. Main thing is whether it's possible to get a suitably short IE80 cable to go with it...
 
I guess it's a waiting game though - in the next few months it wouldn't surprise me if more options similar to the Wetstone product come out for various headphone manufacturers, since there'll be a ton of people with quality wired IEMs (Shure, UE, Senn, etc) that want to switch to wireless with their iPhone 7, but don't want to throw away £100-200 of perfectly good, high-quality 'phones.

you can try this one too: http://www.head-fi.org/t/813710/introducing-a-high-quality-bluetooth-wireless-cable-from-lear
 
Sep 13, 2017 at 9:42 AM Post #7 of 7
Hi,

I know this is an old thread, but I'm looking at getting bluetooth converters for my IE80s too. Curious to as what you went with in the end? Also, where did you get your custom tips from?

Thanks in advance!
 

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