[RobinFood]

Can someone please recommend earphone with tangle free cable and microphone?

Sabbat x12 if you want truly tangle free.

Headroom MS16 has a hard to tangle cable. You might still want to lightly loop it like this if you don't use a case...

 

[RobinFood]

Sorry about the picture, I dressed my buds...

 

[baskingshark]

Just to check with the rest of you friends, do u guys and gals prefer earbud cables with an inbuilt mic (if you have a choice from the seller)?

I don't have measuring gear, but I've seen some of my friends reproduce some increased resistance in the side of the IEM/earbud cables with a mic. And it may be a potential source of failure in the signal chain down the line, plus some sellers charge a dollar or two more for buds with mics. Though I know some of us need the mic for work and chat purposes, and to make the bud more multipurpose as such.

 

[Alex.Grimm]

Just to check with the rest of you friends, do u guys and gals prefer earbud cables with an inbuilt mic (if you have a choice from the seller)?

I recabled several earbuds as a headset for my LG smartphone with a DAC. Used these cables. If you want a microphone closer to the chin, you can shorten the wire a little.

Spoiler

https://www.aliexpress.com/item/32816172137.html
https://www.aliexpress.com/item/32825140120.html
https://www.aliexpress.com/item/32976692253.html
https://www.aliexpress.com/item/32978985854.html

 

[groucho69]

I gotta agree MMCX tend to have shorter lifespan than 2 pin connectors. Best to just leave a cable on an MMCX type bud/IEM and don't do frequent cable rolling if possible.

But then 2 pin connectors have their own issues such as recessed/elevated housing, QDC/TFZ variants, 0.75 and 0.78 mm variants, angled and non angled variants. And some audio companies have semi proprietary 2 pin types even.

Although we are venting a lot on non detachable cables in TOTL/midfi buds/IEMs, actually looking at the bigger picture, the way CHIFI moves so fast with multiple hypetrains coming out on a monthly (sometimes weekly) basis, in all likelihood we would have bought a new hypetrain by the time the cable of the existing one dies haha.

MMCX are not meant to experience multiple insertions. There is a tool that is used for disconnection but that is really meant for repairs, again, not for multiple insertions. Using the tool will likely increase the lifespan of the connector.

 

[ClieOS]

MMCX is not meant for audio, period.

 

[RobinFood]

MMCX are not meant to experience multiple insertions. There is a tool that is used for disconnection but that is really meant for repairs, again, not for multiple insertions. Using the tool will likely increase the lifespan of the connector.

I'm not sure about that. There is also a problem with the free rotation of mmcx, and more of the metal is exposed for oxidation. Poor QC on cheap mmcx means they can actually just get pulled out from a tug, or the solder wires can come loose.

Overall when dealing with a product you know will have poor QC (like from Aliexpress), I feel wired is safer than mmcx.

 

[bhima]

I'm not sure about that. There is also a problem with the free rotation of mmcx, and more of the metal is exposed for oxidation. Poor QC on cheap mmcx means they can actually just get pulled out from a tug, or the solder wires can come loose.

Overall when dealing with a product you know will have poor QC (like from Aliexpress), I feel wired is safer than mmcx.

Thing is, in theory, a detachable cable housing molded directly to the shell has the potential to be much stronger than any fully wired set which will eventually just break down. I don't care about testing different wires, I just want to be able to replace one when it inevitably breaks like my BK wire broke (luckily I had an engineer friend on hand to fix it).

 

[Sam L]

Rambo II ordered and it comes free with an additional $50 cable (last day for cable promo - 1st May). Too good to pass.

Argh.... Missed it. It's May 1st still in the US, but not where Penon Audio is located.

 

[groucho69]

I'm not sure about that. There is also a problem with the free rotation of mmcx, and more of the metal is exposed for oxidation. Poor QC on cheap mmcx means they can actually just get pulled out from a tug, or the solder wires can come loose.

Overall when dealing with a product you know will have poor QC (like from Aliexpress), I feel wired is safer than mmcx.

Having sold this type, manufactured in China, I can tell you that QC can be non-existent. I have have had million $ returns, had them replace and still had to process another return. You tell the factory what is wrong with them and that it needs to be fixes fast and reshipped. The factory says "YES" and then ships product from the same batch with the same issues.

 

[groucho69]

MMCX is not meant for audio, period.

Agreed.

 

[KevDzn]

Argh.... Missed it. It's May 1st still in the US, but not where Penon Audio is located.

Maybe you can email them and politely ask them? I'm sure they will be okay with it. Like you said it's still 1st may in your location.

 

[Promenadeplatz]

I was asking for the EBX which are sold out there and got offered the ST-10s Black Gold for $99 at NiceCHK Shop yesterday, just in case it suits someone.

 

[Alex.Grimm]

I got offered the ST-10s Black Gold for $99 at NiceCHK Shop yesterday, just in case it suits someone.

sweet price, probably for the elite

 

[bhima]

Having sold this type, manufactured in China, I can tell you that QC can be non-existent. I have have had million $ returns, had them replace and still had to process another return. You tell the factory what is wrong with them and that it needs to be fixes fast and reshipped. The factory says "YES" and then ships product from the same batch with the same issues.

Maybe I'm thinking of the wrong type of connector, but when I see something like Campfire's connection to their IEM: https://campfireaudio.com/

I see a connector molded as one with the shell. The strain should all be in the actual cable itself unless you literally throw these things on the ground with hulk-like force.