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

[clerkpalmer]

I think that’s what I miss the punchy sound.
I’m wondering if the Gemini 2 would fit the bill

They are definitely punchy.

 

[FullCircle]

I'm kinda meh on these. Same drivers? Same shape? A new codec most of us can't use? Looks like a big pile of nothing to me. Maybe I'm missing something. The active exercise versions look far more intriguing. We saw a bunch of manufactures do this last year. Incremental updates or same product in a shiny new form factor. @Noble, are they still on vacation over there? Or is that Triumph manufacturing line cranking those bad boys out?

China takes their holidays very serious. Even if they were 100% assembled and ready to ship, customs clearance/shipping & logistics is not running at the moment.

The best we can do is get team members to answer their personal cellphone calls. (And we are very grateful for that)

 

[kaeswiss]

Just sound quality. If possible more then 4 hours of battery on a charge.

If your only concern is sound quality and battery life and you do not need any other features, what you're looking for is not an TWS imho.

You're much better off with earhooks or an ""Wireless cable"" (or however these are called) or even an portable Bluetooth receiver.

Because sound quality is the only thing that TWS can do least good. They are made to have a lots of features to compensate for the lack of sound quality but if your most important thing is sound quality in a wireless fashion, an TWS is imho not what you're looking for.

Vamp makes a great point here if you're really just looking for the best sound quality in a wireless format and don't care for the additional tech that TWS provides.

You can pick up a wearable Bluetooth DAC/amp like the iFi GO pod or a FiiO UTWS5 along with any wired earphone of your choice. This opens up your earphone options exponentially so this could either be a good thing or a bad thing considering you're asking for recommendations here because the price range of good-sounding IEMs range from $20-$8500.

 

[clerkpalmer]

China takes their holidays very serious. Even if they were 100% assembled and ready to ship, customs clearance/shipping & logistics is not running at the moment.

The best we can do is get team members to answer their personal cellphone calls. (And we are very grateful for that)

we should do a better job of that in the US.

 

[clerkpalmer]

Vamp makes a great point here if you're really just looking for the best sound quality in a wireless format and don't care for the additional tech that TWS provides.

You can pick up a wearable Bluetooth DAC/amp like the iFi GO pod or a FiiO UTWS5 along with any wired earphone of your choice. This opens up your earphone options exponentially so this could either be a good thing or a bad thing considering you're asking for recommendations here because the price range of good-sounding IEMs range from $20-$8500.

Maybe, but there are pros and cons to everything and while I have not spent a lot of time with these bluetooth dongles, I personally have found them to be cumbersome to use versus a dedicated TWS which is why I haven't explored them further. Two things to carry. Fit and compatibility issues with multiple connectors. The OP didn't ask for a BT dongle, he/she asked for a TWS. As far as SQ, others can chime in. I hear a lot of stuff about how even the best TWS is only 20% as good as a wired IEM or that the best TWS can't beat a $50 chi fi IEM but I'm skeptical that the gap is that large at least among the top TWS (Noble, HFM, Denon). We have credible reviewers saying the Nobles, for example, hang with wired IEMS at twice the price. Who is right, IDK.

 

[kaeswiss]

Maybe, but there are pros and cons to everything and while I have not spent a lot of time with these bluetooth dongles, I personally have found them to be cumbersome to use versus a dedicated TWS which is why I haven't explored them further. Two things to charge, two things to carry. Fit and compatibility issues. The OP didn't ask for a BT dongle, he/she asked for a TWS. As far as SQ, others can chime in. I hear a lot of stuff about how even the best TWS is only 20% as good as a wired IEM or that the best TWS can't beat a $50 chi fi IEM but I'm skeptical that the gap is that large at least among the top TWS (Noble, HFM, Denon). We have credible reviewers saying the Nobles, for example, hang with wired IEMS at twice the price. Who is right, IDK.

Of course, I completely agree. TWS vs wearable BT DAC/amps vs wired IEMs have their own pros and cons. I'm just simply offering an option that may or may not be known to the OP. From personal experience, my wired IEMs have better sound quality to the one TWS I have (Sony WF-1000XM4), even at a lower price point. However, the convenience and tech of the XM4 far exceeds wired IEMs for my on-the-go preferences.

Also, with the wearable BT DAC/amps I previously mentioned, there's only one thing to charge which is the case. This would be the same for any TWS set - you only charge the case.

I'm not sure what you mean by fit though since all TWS earphones are shaped differently and mostly larger than wired IEMs so some people may find better fit with one vs another. The same goes with any wired IEM.

As for compatibility, it's just Bluetooth. If your mobile device doesn't support a certain BT codec then it won't use that codec. The same with any TWS set.

The major differences between TWS vs the wearable BT DAC/amps would be the additional tech that TWS provides. ANC, ambient/transparency modes, mic for taking calls, etc. The major pro of a wearable BT DAC/amp would be that you can use any wired IEM that has a compatible connector, but you lose out on all of the tech previously mentioned.

Edit: The iFi GO pod and FiiO UTWS5 have built-in mics so you can actually take calls.

 

[helmutcheese]

The UTWS5 are a disaster (read the thread here) and now EOL.

 

[clerkpalmer]

Of course, I completely agree. TWS vs wearable BT DAC/amps vs wired IEMs have their own pros and cons. I'm just simply offering an option that may or may not be known to the OP. From personal experience, my wired IEMs have better sound quality to the one TWS I have (Sony WF-1000XM4), even at a lower price point. However, the convenience and tech of the XM4 far exceeds wired IEMs for my on-the-go preferences.

Also, with the wearable BT DAC/amps I previously mentioned, there's only one thing to charge which is the case. This would be the same for any TWS set - you only charge the case.

I'm not sure what you mean by fit though since all TWS earphones are shaped differently and mostly larger than wired IEMs so some people may find better fit with one vs another. The same goes with any wired IEM.

As for compatibility, it's just Bluetooth. If your mobile device doesn't support a certain BT codec then it won't use that codec. The same with any TWS set.

The major differences between TWS vs the wearable BT DAC/amps would be the additional tech that TWS provides. ANC, ambient/transparency modes, mic for taking calls, etc. The major pro of a wearable BT DAC/amp would be that you can use any wired IEM that has a compatible connector, but you lose out on all of the tech previously mentioned.

I corrected my 2 things to charge comment. For compatibility you have multiple connectors to deal with. For fit, my experience is the dongles are less comfortable and stable than a dedicated tws. YMMV.

 

[kaeswiss]

I corrected my 2 things to charge comment. For compatibility you have multiple connectors to deal with. For fit, my experience is the dongles are less comfortable and stable than a dedicated tws. YMMV.

Yup, YMMV. I only use TWS or wired IEMs.

When I need to go wireless, I need the added tech of TWS so I don't use the wearable BT DAC/amps.

 

[Saraugie]

Pulled the trigger, got AZ80. Really nice step up from AZ60, keeping somewhat similar tuning with better detail, soundstage and features (wireless charging, earpiece insertion detection). Metal music sound lovely!

Thank you for your comments about them. Please keep us updated.

Mine are coming on Monday & will compare them to the Bose Ultras. I have almost no experience with TWS. The Aviots are on the way and Thursday ordering the Senns M4s. This is all new and exciting!

I keep discovering new brands carrying TWS. Today I saw in productred's signature that even Monte Blanc has a model! I don't think it's an off-the-shelf with their name added. With e-mems, the market is going to explode more than ever. Is there an enthusiasts' website like head-fi, that concentrates on wireless tech?

 

[darveniza]

Ikko new TWS, arrived.

Interesting that you can use apps (music apps) directly without need of a phone.

It's a V shape tuning and ANC is quite good ,well against my expectations.

Pretty snappy interface and had an update out if the box.

 

[clerkpalmer]

Good deal here for someone:

https://www.ebay.com/itm/176184684575

Do people actually buy this stuff?

 

[o0genesis0o]

The UTWS5 are a disaster (read the thread here) and now EOL.

Is it software problem or corrosion of the pins? My unit finally has the problem of not disconnecting from the phone after closing the case. And sometimes it connects only one side. It’s a shame cause the sound is quite good. Easily on par with BTR7 even with the paltry AAC codec

 

[helmutcheese]

I did not buy them due to issues in the thread that was new at the time, I got the FW5's at launch but they have many similar issues also but more FW based.

 

[cresny]

Ikko new TWS, arrived.

Interesting that you can use apps (music apps) directly without need of a phone.

It's a V shape tuning and ANC is quite good ,well against my expectations.

Pretty snappy interface and had an update out if the box.

Does the case connects to the phone like a watch does? Could this be the way we'll finally get to use the Qualcomm chipset?