Going fully Wireless IEMs. Too soon? Or are we there yet?

[Sam L]

I'm an idiot... Yet another tws purchase and I don't even know why.

I’ve had my on these ever since they came out but never really pulled the trigger, and now that I finally did, I don't think they're worth keeping. I was more impressed with the az60. If I'm going for SQ only, what else is there? Pi7?

 

[voicemaster]

Still debating on which IEM/TWS to bring on my long flight (16 hours: SFO to Singapore). I am thinking:
1. UTWS5 + Kato/OH10
2. UTWS5 + Timeless
3. AZ09 pro + Midnight
4. AZ09 pro + Olina
For TWS, I am thinking:
1. Galaxy buds pro
2. Nuarl N6P
3. Monoprice M-TWE
4. Earfun free pro
I am leaning toward both UTWS5 and galaxy buds pro for now. Are there any TWS that has good ANC, good sound, has 7 hours battery life and comfortable that is available on Amazon?

 

[assassin10000]

Still debating on which IEM/TWS to bring on my long flight (16 hours: SFO to Singapore). I am thinking:
1. UTWS5 + Kato/OH10
2. UTWS5 + Timeless
3. AZ09 pro + Midnight
4. AZ09 pro + Olina
For TWS, I am thinking:
1. Galaxy buds pro
2. Nuarl N6P
3. Monoprice M-TWE
4. Earfun free pro
I am leaning toward both UTWS5 and galaxy buds pro for now. Are there any TWS that has good ANC, good sound, has 7 hours battery life and comfortable that is available on Amazon?

EQ'ed XM4's?

 

[Sam L]

Still debating on which IEM/TWS to bring on my long flight (16 hours: SFO to Singapore). I am thinking:
1. UTWS5 + Kato/OH10
2. UTWS5 + Timeless
3. AZ09 pro + Midnight
4. AZ09 pro + Olina
For TWS, I am thinking:
1. Galaxy buds pro
2. Nuarl N6P
3. Monoprice M-TWE
4. Earfun free pro
I am leaning toward both UTWS5 and galaxy buds pro for now. Are there any TWS that has good ANC, good sound, has 7 hours battery life and comfortable that is available on Amazon?

What you're really asking is for permission to bring them all. Bring them all.

 

[Devodonaldson]

I’ve had my on these ever since they came out but never really pulled the trigger, and now that I finally did, I don't think they're worth keeping. I was more impressed with the az60. If I'm going for SQ only, what else is there? Pi7?

Noble Fokus Pro

 

[dweaver]

Still debating on which IEM/TWS to bring on my long flight (16 hours: SFO to Singapore). I am thinking:
1. UTWS5 + Kato/OH10
2. UTWS5 + Timeless
3. AZ09 pro + Midnight
4. AZ09 pro + Olina
For TWS, I am thinking:
1. Galaxy buds pro
2. Nuarl N6P
3. Monoprice M-TWE
4. Earfun free pro
I am leaning toward both UTWS5 and galaxy buds pro for now. Are there any TWS that has good ANC, good sound, has 7 hours battery life and comfortable that is available on Amazon?

AZ60 has very good ANC so does the older AZ70. Both have around 6-7hours of of life per charge. AZ60 is the more complete IEM with more features. Sound size the 60 is warmer sounding with a bit bigger bass. The 70 is brighter sounding with good sub bass but neutral midbass. Both have better ANC than the Gbuds Pro which I also own.

 

[voicemaster]

AZ60 has very good ANC so does the older AZ70. Both have around 6-7hours of of life per charge. AZ60 is the more complete IEM with more features. Sound size the 60 is warmer sounding with a bit bigger bass. The 70 is brighter sounding with good sub bass but neutral midbass. Both have better ANC than the Gbuds Pro which I also own.

Going to bring both my UTWS5 with Kato and Timeless to use on the airplane. For TWS, I am going to bring my galaxy buds pro and live because I am bringing my galaxy S22 Ultra and tab S8. I love that all of them has wireless charging and I just bought a fast wireless charger dock combo (watch and buds) pad.
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B092D6ZYPP/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o06_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

 

[Luke Skywalker]

I finally caved and bought a good IEM Fiio FH5 and the UTWS5 and now rarely use my actual TWS anymore. The over ear design is pretty comfy and if you have comfy IEMs they become really hard to beat as a combo. If you have a favorite IEM already it also save you having to find its TWS comparable...

Hey where’d you end up ordering the UTSW5? It seems to be sold out everywhere in USA

Hmm… it sounds like there is more than one version. I want to get the Thieaudio Monarch MkII to use with them. I wonder which model I need?

I’m also kind of wondering if I can use the UTSW3 that I have as an admittedly inferior solution to tide me over until I can get the 5s somewhere

 

[dweaver]

I bought the MMCX model from Headphone Bar online in Canada. There is also Electronics for Less Canada that have it in stock in Canada.

 

[gwompki]

If this is real, I would be very tempted. The shell looks like the FD series, but the description sounds like the FH3.

My experience with the FH5 has been positive enough I would have to give this TWS serious consideration.

That is super exciting news. I bought the FH5 3 years ago and it stopped my search for a wired IEM. Have not bought another since, and that was after owning CA Andromeda.

Actually it is only somewhat exciting because it means I'm probably going to have to buy another set of TWS lol.

I actually came back to this thread to close the loop and to share how happy I have been with the AZ60 the past 45ish days. I posted a couple of months ago looking for recommendations on a new TWS due to the frustrations I was having with the Cambridge Melomania Touch.

Link to original post:
https://www.head-fi.org/threads/goi...soon-or-are-we-there-yet.861024/post-16769093

I will just say I absolutely love the AZ60 and it cured my upgrade-itis(until I came back here ha!)

It is everything I was hoping for. The sound profile is amazing to my ears and I don't feel the need to mess with eq or do a bunch of tip rolling. I feel it is fairly balanced across the entire spectrum, but still very musical without being overly warm. Just stellar overall. I found the stock tips to be very comfortable and offer secure fit so I haven't tried anything else. Every type of music I have thrown at these sounds good. It is missing a little of the amazing sub bass slam from the Gemini but I don't miss it honestly. I took them on a flight recently and found the ANC to be pretty good. Not Sony good, but very passable. The app is very good. The battery life is perfectly adequate for me. I charge the case about once per week and that is with every day listening and use. I didn't buy this for calls but when I have used it on Teams calls I've gotten good feedback from people on the other end.

My only minor (very minor) criticisms are the following:

1)The case feels a little flimsy to me, especially the lid. I'm worried it's going to break eventually. Compared to APP it feels cheap.

2) I wish the case were a tiny bit smaller, comparing to APP here or pixel buds . I can keep these in my back pocket walking around without it looking too weird

3)I seem to have random disconnects about once a day. No rhyme or reason to this one, but have to manually reconnect them and then it's 100% solid for the rest of the day. That could be anything though, my phone, the environment, etc.

Overall super happy with the AZ60 and would whole heatedly recommend them to anyone who is in the market. For me, the AZ60 have the best features of all the other TWS I've tried so far wrapped into a single package.

 

[jant71]

I see the A&K pictures show the case is another chunky one. Not short or svelt.

More of the first gen problems, case too big, no IPX rating, bad mics/call quality. Also the hold for volume up and down is not the best choice. Pretty cool it has the ambient levels adjustment on the buds. Haven't read it yet but seems to be set up with controls where if you want to use the L alone you can't play pause sort of thing. Muting a call is device only.

Seems to sound good but no real comparisons that I have seen. Rivals MU3, Grado, Sony XM4, and MW08 is very vague. Think we hope for that or even better.

Think this one is not gonna do so well mostly because the FiiO with more drivers and the same 4332 is gonna steal it's thunder.

 

[dweaver]

That is super exciting news. I bought the FH5 3 years ago and it stopped my search for a wired IEM. Have not bought another since, and that was after owning CA Andromeda.

Actually it is only somewhat exciting because it means I'm probably going to have to buy another set of TWS lol.

I actually came back to this thread to close the loop and to share how happy I have been with the AZ60 the past 45ish days. I posted a couple of months ago looking for recommendations on a new TWS due to the frustrations I was having with the Cambridge Melomania Touch.

Link to original post:
https://www.head-fi.org/threads/goi...soon-or-are-we-there-yet.861024/post-16769093

I will just say I absolutely love the AZ60 and it cured my upgrade-itis(until I came back here ha!)

It is everything I was hoping for. The sound profile is amazing to my ears and I don't feel the need to mess with eq or do a bunch of tip rolling. I feel it is fairly balanced across the entire spectrum, but still very musical without being overly warm. Just stellar overall. I found the stock tips to be very comfortable and offer secure fit so I haven't tried anything else. Every type of music I have thrown at these sounds good. It is missing a little of the amazing sub bass slam from the Gemini but I don't miss it honestly. I took them on a flight recently and found the ANC to be pretty good. Not Sony good, but very passable. The app is very good. The battery life is perfectly adequate for me. I charge the case about once per week and that is with every day listening and use. I didn't buy this for calls but when I have used it on Teams calls I've gotten good feedback from people on the other end.

My only minor (very minor) criticisms are the following:

1)The case feels a little flimsy to me, especially the lid. I'm worried it's going to break eventually. Compared to APP it feels cheap.

2) I wish the case were a tiny bit smaller, comparing to APP here or pixel buds . I can keep these in my back pocket walking around without it looking too weird

3)I seem to have random disconnects about once a day. No rhyme or reason to this one, but have to manually reconnect them and then it's 100% solid for the rest of the day. That could be anything though, my phone, the environment, etc.

Overall super happy with the AZ60 and would whole heatedly recommend them to anyone who is in the market. For me, the AZ60 have the best features of all the other TWS I've tried so far wrapped into a single package.

If you love the FH5 an adapter like the UTWS5 or 3 can convert it into a TWS. I went this route and love the sound, simply amazing imaging and 3D qualities.

I hope this Fiio TWS is real though, I will buy it as well.

 

[Luke Skywalker]

If you love the FH5 an adapter like the UTWS5 or 3 can convert it into a TWS. I went this route and love the sound, simply amazing imaging and 3D qualities.

I hope this Fiio TWS is real though, I will but it as well.

So… I wonder how much of an improvement in sound quality I’d see going from the -3 to -5 with Monarch or my JH Lolas?

reason I ask so that I have the -3 and I’m not sure when I’ll be able to find the -5 to order

 

[dweaver]

I wish I could asnwer that, I think @Ceeluh7 has both so will be able to help. Not sure if either of the Canadian resellers ship to the US but both Headphone Bar and Canadian Electronics for Less have them in stock. I have used both companies and found them both to be easy to deal with.

 

[Luke Skywalker]

Thanks dweaver! I wish I’d joined head-fi like 20 years ago. I love how experts are so open to sharing knowledge