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

[Sam L]

Oppo Enco Air 2 sound pretty amazing, except for a 8kHz spike that needs EQ. Good detail resolution, tight bass. Better than Fiil CC imo.
Also, these sound very good for the asking price: https://www.amazon.co.jp/gp/product/B09M3MK1QG/?th=1 and don't need EQ. Easily the best semi in-ears in terms of sound quality for money that I've tried. Connection stability outside the house is a tad wonky though, due to short stems.

Just an FYI, in case others stumble on this post. The link is not for the oppo air 2. It pairs as "pro18" and does not connect to the oppo Heymelody app. If you translate the first review, the user verifies non Oppo tws.

Still sounds pretty good, though.

 

[erockg]

Did you set for sound quality or connect stability.

Stability.

 

[Caipirina]

Has anyone tried the ATH-CKS50TW? I know they have good battery life but how are they in the sound department and over all functionality?

They seem reasonably priced.

I have them and they are 'fine' ... I did not find the bass as impressive as some of the reviews / marketing made it seem .. and I got them around the same time as some more 'dynamic' buds, namely the Soundcore Liberty 3 ...
The fit of the ATH is good when sitting .. but when walking it feels like they are coming loose ...
Have to admit that I don't reach for them that often .. I think that crazy battery life is the strongest selling point.

That being said, they do not sound bad at all ... just not memorable

 

[FYLegend]

I just got the Jabra Elite 3 and am quite happy with the overall package (good fit, USB-C + ambient mode for under 100$) but unfortunately there is a high noise floor as many reviewers have noted (I believe the problem is in all units, just some people are noticing it more than others). It's not to the point it is a dealbreaker for me and is barely noticeable for louder music, but if you're just listening to podcasts and are sensitive to the higher frequences you'll be very disappointed.

Tuning is a broad V shape with hefty mid-bass and sparkly treble which is recessed in the lower highs to upper mids, the opposite of something like the Galaxy Buds+ which have been my daily driver lately. I will have to see how these impressions stay in the long term.

Transparency mode is good overall but I do hear a slightly delay which is a bit underwhelming considering Jabra was one of the early pioneers for it on the 65t. I also wish there was more controls for the volume and it doesn't remember your transparency setting the next time you reset the earbuds.

On the other hand discontinuing the 75t is a real shame, since it would be a great bang-for-buck now with a dropped price, but I'm guessing the chip shortage and prioritizing of newer products took a toll.

 

[The1Signature]

Interesting. My original Linkbuds have been rock solid in terms of connection quality. It is one of the things that I really like about them (aside from being aware of everything around me). Rarely notice any dropouts while walking around the city (NYC), except for one block around Penn Station where I seem to lose audio in one ear everytime I walk by (happens with every TWS for some reason). I usually use them with my Pixel 6, which is often in my back pocket when I'm walking around.

same here, the original linkbuds have a very stable bt connection with my samsung s22 ultra. especially after the last updates.

I think Sony has the Linkbuds S artificially priced high to force them to be between the Linkbuds and the WF-1000XM4 and then by having the XM4 going on sale at almost the same price causing them to sell because people will want the "best" model since they are the same price. If the sale of the Linkbuds start to drop then that price will drop and the S model will likely follow.

I also think as long as the XM4 go on sale it will hurt sales of the new model causing Sony to change their strategy.

But for now I bet it just helps them sell more XM4's.

i see it like you. i have the original linkbuds + xm4.

the linkbuds s haven't a good anc as the xm4 and doesn't give you the "feel free all day long" vibes from the original linkbuds. it is something in between for those who do not care about "high-end anc" but need it a little at least.

 

[james444]

Just an FYI, in case others stumble on this post. The link is not for the oppo air 2. It pairs as "pro18" and does not connect to the oppo Heymelody app. If you translate the first review, the user verifies non Oppo tws.

Still sounds pretty good, though.

Sorry for the confusion, I was actually talking about two different TWS. Everything starting with the word "Also" was meant to describe the Pro18.

It never occured to me that this might be misunderstood, since I said the Oppos need EQ while the others don't need it.

 

[FYLegend]

1More EVO looks nice but I've been told they do not remember your ANC setting which is a real oversight at this price point! It's one of those "I don't have to include it if Apple doesn't" like how some brands exclude volume controls

 

[Bhelpoori]

1More EVO looks nice but I've been told they do not remember your ANC setting which is a real oversight at this price point! It's one of those "I don't have to include it if Apple doesn't" like how some brands exclude volume controls

Correct, they don’t remember the ANC setting. It is one of the many quirks.

However, don’t worry, the ANC isn’t that good anyways so having it on may not make much difference anyways.

 

[helmutcheese]

So, one more 1More BS claims then, the PistonBuds PRO's 38dB ANC was meh so as the original "1MORE True Wireless ANC"?

Control on above is the same on the EVO so lacking.

 

[Sam L]

Sorry for the confusion, I was actually talking about two different TWS. Everything starting with the word "Also" was meant to describe the Pro18.

It never occured to me that this might be misunderstood, since I said the Oppos need EQ while the others don't need it.

my bad, wasn't reading too carefully. While the pro18's sound great stock, I wish there was an app to adjust touch settings. there's never a perfect solution in this sickness.

 

[Sam L]

I have the fp9, no issues. Love the transmitter feature. With online seminars getting more common nowadays, I can plug the case into my bluetooth-less computer for wireless audio.

I just picked up an fp9 for the transmitter feature and the mic(?) I'm hoping that the mic quality for calls is good? There's not a lot of mentions in this thread of the fp9 (4 came up in a thread search). How effective is the anc? I'll be doing some long flights and can see myself using the transmitter but if the anc is lacking, I'll probably end up using a 3.5mm cord into the sony xm4 or bose 700's

 

[Fleeple]

I just picked up an fp9 for the transmitter feature and the mic(?) I'm hoping that the mic quality for calls is good? There's not a lot of mentions in this thread of the fp9 (4 came up in a thread search). How effective is the anc? I'll be doing some long flights and can see myself using the transmitter but if the anc is lacking, I'll probably end up using a 3.5mm cord into the sony xm4 or bose 700's

I was never able to assess all of the above, but I did have them briefly.....they might have some quality assurance issues. They were great and comfortable on the first night, but I couldn't test further by day two because one of the earbuds sounded like a seashell when I put it in my ear would see if forums indicate if this has changed or not, as I wasn't the only person on Amazon with issues at the time.

 

[Bhelpoori]

I just picked up an fp9 for the transmitter feature and the mic(?) I'm hoping that the mic quality for calls is good? There's not a lot of mentions in this thread of the fp9 (4 came up in a thread search). How effective is the anc? I'll be doing some long flights and can see myself using the transmitter but if the anc is lacking, I'll probably end up using a 3.5mm cord into the sony xm4 or bose 700's

I haven’t got the fp9 but I’ve tried many, many TWS on many, many plane rides and none get close to either my 700s or XM3 on the plane, except the Bose QC…. but the 700s have exceptional microphones, a cable and sufficient battery life which the QCs don’t.

 

[jant71]

I have them and they are 'fine' ... I did not find the bass as impressive as some of the reviews / marketing made it seem .. and I got them around the same time as some more 'dynamic' buds, namely the Soundcore Liberty 3 ...
The fit of the ATH is good when sitting .. but when walking it feels like they are coming loose ...
Have to admit that I don't reach for them that often .. I think that crazy battery life is the strongest selling point.

That being said, they do not sound bad at all ... just not memorable

Stock tips right? I see AT are coming with different length tips. Not great if they feel like they are gonna fall out. I used the AT for sports and everything with no issues just with regular size tips. They also lowered the quality of the bass. I did find I liked the AT tips on other TWS though but not optimal for CKS50TW though. JVC, Sony, and Final do okay for tips. Other japan brands like Nuarl, AT, and Yamaha shoot themselves in the foot as far as tips. Nuarl and Yamaha were worse. Boomy lower quality bass on the Nuarl worse than the AT so those had to be changed. Yamaha, like a page or two back, you can get the sterile tinny sound someone said they had "no soul" but they can. Actually got rid of the Nuarl due to them having quality and clarity once you get the right tips but they took the soul and personality out of them. I thought the TW-E5B has the soul and emotion the Nuarl lacked but not with the stock tips that are all wrong and usually kills the low end. Most TWS benefit but some are in dire need of aftermarket tips.

Anyone seen this posted by FiIO?

Kinda scares me. Don't know about anybody else? What drivers are they gonna put in there if it could be as low as $140. Put 4332's in there so you can't then go cheap on drivers. Put worthy drivers in there. Even GeekFly charges $299. I hope they don't let us down. Gotta be there with the best not MTW3 level with less features. Certainly fine but not enough for the recipe. HQ amping and multiple drivers should give us better than the A&K and perhaps the SQ crown for a while. Plus they have the adapters as competition so you can put some fine earphones on them. What is the point to make a TWS that isn't top notch when they make such an option. Hopefully it is priced more as a market disruptor and is actually top notch SQ.

 

[Fleeple]

Stock tips right? I see AT are coming with different length tips. Not great if they feel like they are gonna fall out. I used the AT for sports and everything with no issues just with regular size tips. They also lowered the quality of the bass. I did find I liked the AT tips on other TWS though but not optimal for CKS50TW though. JVC, Sony, and Final do okay for tips. Other japan brands like Nuarl, AT, and Yamaha shoot themselves in the foot as far as tips. Nuarl and Yamaha were worse. Boomy lower quality bass on the Nuarl worse than the AT so those had to be changed. Yamaha, like a page or two back, you can get the sterile tinny sound someone said they had "no soul" but they can. Actually got rid of the Nuarl due to them having quality and clarity once you get the right tips but they took the soul and personality out of them. I thought the TW-E5B has the soul and emotion the Nuarl lacked but not with the stock tips that are all wrong and usually kills the low end. Most TWS benefit but some are in dire need of aftermarket tips.

Anyone seen this posted by FiIO?

Kinda scares me. Don't know about anybody else? What drivers are they gonna put in there if it could be as low as $140. Put 4332's in there so you can't then go cheap on drivers. Put worthy drivers in there. Even GeekFly charges $299. I hope they don't let us down. Gotta be there with the best not MTW3 level with less features. Certainly fine but not enough for the recipe. HQ amping and multiple drivers should give us better than the A&K and perhaps the SQ crown for a while. Plus they have the adapters as competition so you can put some fine earphones on them. What is the point to make a TWS that isn't top notch when they make such an option. Hopefully it is priced more as a market disruptor and is actually top notch SQ.

Hello, I was the soulless comment what earbud tips do you use? I tried whizzer, azla crystal and xelastec, and noble.....i think, on the last one. Noble doesn't stay in my ear as well sadly. I really wanted to like them as I'd heard great things about them and their mic (I talk on the phone a lot).

Also thank you for posting about the fiio, that's one I haven't seen yet