SoundChoice
100+ Head-Fier
Hi, I haven't posted in a while, but have kept up on reading. Thank you all for your many contributions, I enjoy reading you. I've been quietly content with my Jabra Elite 85t and Technics EAH-AZ60. I'm with @Canabuc (our tastes seem similar, brother, but never did pull the trigger on the Huawei) that the AZ60 ticks all the boxes. I didn't really need an upgrade for listening to ambient and rock while using for phone calls at the office, but... I read all the great feedback and bought the Beyerdynamic Free Byrd from Amazon. Many find them flawless, but I'm sorry that my experience with Free Byrd is mixed.
Free Byrd pros: solid case, feels like a tank but still pocketable; personalization of sound in the app; good battery life; huge touch area on the buds; ANC is pretty good (not Sony/Bose good, but still nice); big case can accommodate other tips; strong BT connection doesn't drop; you can hear your own voice a little bit on phone calls (somewhat like the Jabra), which is a major plus for my use; and of course, the sound is clear and detailed, can bring the bass without being boomy. For what it's worth, I'm ok with a V-signature, being, if I can confess this publicly, Hi, I'm a basshead, recommend me a good TWS pls lol
Free Byrd cons: limited EQ presets, and they warn of distortion if you add EQ after you personalize; you can't customize the touch patterns, and I probably stop play about 25% of the time I'm trying to adjust volume up/down; no multipoint but a feature that releases old device connection if you connect with new one, nice but still requires connecting if you, say, want to answer your phone while playing music from your PC;
The biggest FreeByrd con, though, to me and for my larger ears, is the fit. The issue is the pressure on my inner tragus after maybe 10 minutes. I always know I'm wearing them, the constant pressure turns to pain after about 30 minutes. I know others have said the fit has been easy with the 8 tips they provide (XL fits me, but L silicon and foams is too small) , and like you all, I have a plethora of tips from Spinfit to Auvia to NewBee to Comply to JVC, etc. If I go too big and get a seal, I'm aware of them and the pressure. If I go too small to ease the pressure, there's no bass. The Spinfit CP360 XL seals, but even that hurts after a while, the CP360 L doesn't seal. I think part of the issue is the shape of the TWS itself: it doesn't taper like say, the AZ60 but the Free Byrd is instead is more a stubby cylindrical half-cork and then a relatively short nozzle. No one else has written about this, so it's just my anatomy I guess (yay for me!), but I continue to tip-roll from my collection of hundreds to see if I can find the slipper which unlocks the Cinderella fit.
I suppose eventually I may have to try to return the FreeByrds and try to find out how stingy their return policy is. As much as I'd like these to work out. I'm open for suggestions on how to make these fit given my unique challenge. Also, if you're up to it given what you know about my use and tastes, please recommend me options for my next TWS purchase. On my radar screen is MTW3, B&O Beoplay EX, L3P, and Linkbuds S, but maybe there's something I missed.
Thanks for reading!
Free Byrd pros: solid case, feels like a tank but still pocketable; personalization of sound in the app; good battery life; huge touch area on the buds; ANC is pretty good (not Sony/Bose good, but still nice); big case can accommodate other tips; strong BT connection doesn't drop; you can hear your own voice a little bit on phone calls (somewhat like the Jabra), which is a major plus for my use; and of course, the sound is clear and detailed, can bring the bass without being boomy. For what it's worth, I'm ok with a V-signature, being, if I can confess this publicly, Hi, I'm a basshead, recommend me a good TWS pls lol
Free Byrd cons: limited EQ presets, and they warn of distortion if you add EQ after you personalize; you can't customize the touch patterns, and I probably stop play about 25% of the time I'm trying to adjust volume up/down; no multipoint but a feature that releases old device connection if you connect with new one, nice but still requires connecting if you, say, want to answer your phone while playing music from your PC;
The biggest FreeByrd con, though, to me and for my larger ears, is the fit. The issue is the pressure on my inner tragus after maybe 10 minutes. I always know I'm wearing them, the constant pressure turns to pain after about 30 minutes. I know others have said the fit has been easy with the 8 tips they provide (XL fits me, but L silicon and foams is too small) , and like you all, I have a plethora of tips from Spinfit to Auvia to NewBee to Comply to JVC, etc. If I go too big and get a seal, I'm aware of them and the pressure. If I go too small to ease the pressure, there's no bass. The Spinfit CP360 XL seals, but even that hurts after a while, the CP360 L doesn't seal. I think part of the issue is the shape of the TWS itself: it doesn't taper like say, the AZ60 but the Free Byrd is instead is more a stubby cylindrical half-cork and then a relatively short nozzle. No one else has written about this, so it's just my anatomy I guess (yay for me!), but I continue to tip-roll from my collection of hundreds to see if I can find the slipper which unlocks the Cinderella fit.
I suppose eventually I may have to try to return the FreeByrds and try to find out how stingy their return policy is. As much as I'd like these to work out. I'm open for suggestions on how to make these fit given my unique challenge. Also, if you're up to it given what you know about my use and tastes, please recommend me options for my next TWS purchase. On my radar screen is MTW3, B&O Beoplay EX, L3P, and Linkbuds S, but maybe there's something I missed.
Thanks for reading!