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

[mainguy]

So if you're asking yourself, "I wonder if the pi8 lives up to the hype?" The answer is no. I need to do more testing, but I was more impressed by the nothing ear for $119 than the pi8 for $400.

And here is my issue with the hobby: well known companies churn out trash to rave reviews. You can get your torches and pitch forks out. I don't care. I'm not a yes, man or a lemmings. Pi8 is worth half it's retail value at most. Ill do a fuller review later, but I'm disappointed so far.

Honestly, no tws I've tried is worth anywhere near $400 unless you have vast reserves of expendable income which make $400 a daily expense.

I would agree, i didn't own them side by side, but over a span of a week apart, I'd say the Nothing Ear deliver a cleaner sound, especially after EQ, and are about as detailed. They may stage a bit smaller is all.

But again I'd say Nothing Ear seems better than MW08 and Momentum 2, which both launched for triple/double the price.

TWS are very pricey, but maybe we're all getting fleeced a little...Hmm.

I actually get solid noise cancellation with nothing ear, but i use my own tips and get a very good seal. ANC works to almost completely kill my air filter and other ambient sounds. It isn't APP2 level, more like APP1.

 

[heliosphann]

Just trying to connect the reference

https://nobleaudio.com/products/fokus-h-anc

 

[JoshG1217]

Honestly, no tws I've tried is worth anywhere near $400 unless you have vast reserves of expendable income which make $400 a daily expense.

I would agree, i didn't own them side by side, but over a span of a week apart, I'd say the Nothing Ear deliver a cleaner sound, especially after EQ, and are about as detailed. They may stage a bit smaller is all.

But again I'd say Nothing Ear seems better than MW08 and Momentum 2, which both launched for triple/double the price.

TWS are very pricey, but maybe we're all getting fleeced a little...Hmm.

I actually get solid noise cancellation with nothing ear, but i use my own tips and get a very good seal. ANC works to almost completely kill my air filter and other ambient sounds. It isn't APP2 level, more like APP1.

I like the nothing ear. Just did a side by side, and they sound better than the Pi8. And I don't mean subjective preference. I mean they have better clarity and tonality than the PI8. The good news is that this just saved me $400. Hopefully, my experience can help save a few other people from wasting money. FYI, i'm using the Azla Crystals with the nothing ear. But I agree with your assessment: good app, cool case, good codecs. These are a good set, even for $100 more.

 

[erockg]

Just trying to connect the reference

Fokus H-ANC that came out I believe in 2022. Few other clones use the same shell/driver setup (the Mackie MP-20TWS).

 

[darveniza]

Honestly, no tws I've tried is worth anywhere near $400 unless you have vast reserves of expendable income which make $400 a daily expense.

I would agree, i didn't own them side by side, but over a span of a week apart, I'd say the Nothing Ear deliver a cleaner sound, especially after EQ, and are about as detailed. They may stage a bit smaller is all.

But again I'd say Nothing Ear seems better than MW08 and Momentum 2, which both launched for triple/double the price.

TWS are very pricey, but maybe we're all getting fleeced a little...Hmm.

I actually get solid noise cancellation with nothing ear, but i use my own tips and get a very good seal. ANC works to almost completely kill my air filter and other ambient sounds. It isn't APP2 level, more like APP1.

Sadly, the same as with IEM's I tend to overspend.

The Pi8 sits well in my ears and I do get good passive and active ANC. They connect quickly with my Honor V3. The whole master /slave approach creates some issues at times. The Nothing Ear works well but I prefer the One Plus Buds 3 Pro.

Agree that some of the pricing is a bit high, but they are charging for their brand and tuning, so its a choice.

If I am traveling or going to gym still taking the Technics AZ80, Samsung Bud 3 Pro or Bose QC Ultra. At office I use the Huawei Freebuds 5 due to comfort and great mics

Noble TWS , my son use them most of the time and are just not my cup of tea.

These are just random thoughts

 

[mainguy]

I like the nothing ear. Just did a side by side, and they sound better than the Pi8. And I don't mean subjective preference. I mean they have better clarity and tonality than the PI8. The good news is that this just saved me $400. Hopefully, my experience can help save a few other people from wasting money. FYI, i'm using the Azla Crystals with the nothing ear. But I agree with your assessment: good app, cool case, good codecs. These are a good set, even for $100 more.

For sure. PI8 is something you sell to wealthy businessmen who want something for inflight entertainment and that looks classy.

Nothing Ear is for audiophiles. It just sounds better imo and has higher technical performance overall.

The problem with audio as ever is the luxury niche muddys the waters. I like many hope for better sound with more money paid, but a lot of the time it's just not the case. I strongly suspect many of the tws (Momentum, mw09, PI8, Gemini II etc) barely sound better than an EQ'd Golden Ages which is $70, but Golden Ages. After trying Nekocake which cost me £36 and tons of these tws I have been disillusioned, and Nothing Ear have just hammered that point home. Companies charge what they can, not what is proportional to performance.

It feels misleading because $300 wired iems are just better than $100 wired iems (best in both categories). So I guess we assumed that of tws.

 

[Jozurr]

I would easily pay $300 for any TWS that have ANC/Mics as good as APP2 and have the sound at least as good as the Noble H-ANC. Seems like an impossible task to find, so I have to carry around two pairs of TWS earbuds. If anyone has recs Id gladly give them a shot.

 

[JoshG1217]

What is Noble H??. Have the Triumph, Mystique , Prestige TWS

Noble H- ANC https://www.amazon.com/Headphones-Wireless-Resolution-Earphones-Smartphones/dp/B0C84QBZFW

It's a good set with solid ANC. Sound is not as clean as the Triumph, but it is bit more alive. Probably the best ANC I have heard on a TWS.

 

[Jozurr]

Noble H- ANC https://www.amazon.com/Headphones-Wireless-Resolution-Earphones-Smartphones/dp/B0C84QBZFW

It's a good set with solid ANC. Sound is not as clean as the Triumph, but it is bit more alive. Probably the best ANC I have heard on a TWS.

I wish the ANC and MICs were as good as the APP2 and that would make them the perfect TWS buds for me. The muddy voice calls (Also the ANC is good but not as good as the APP2) are a downer.

 

[JoshG1217]

I wish the ANC and MICs were as good as the APP2 and that would make them the perfect TWS buds for me. The muddy voice calls (Also the ANC is good but not as good as the APP2) are a downer.

Try the awzla sedna shirt tips. The passive isolation alone is excellent

 

[JoshG1217]

I wish the ANC and MICs were as good as the APP2 and that would make them the perfect TWS buds for me. The muddy voice calls (Also the ANC is good but not as good as the APP2) are a downer.

Try the awzla sedna shirt tips. The passive isolation alone is excellent

 

[Jozurr]

Try the awzla sedna shirt tips. The passive isolation alone is excellent

the ANC is still ok for me (even if not as good as the APP2) but the muffled mic is a real problem. Also while trying to have a call while out on the street, I kept getting feedback that there was a lot of noise in the background, which is never the case with APP2.

 

[Sam L]

Any opinions on the "immersion" setting for the Bose Open Ultra? I typically don't listen to spatial features from any brand, but the setting on an open earbud has me intrigued. @erockg I know you have/had these tws buds, thoughts?

 

[erockg]

Any opinions on the "immersion" setting for the Bose Open Ultra? I typically don't listen to spatial features from any brand, but the setting on an open earbud has me intrigued. @erockg I know you have/had these tws buds, thoughts?

I didn't like the way it sounded. While I did enjoy the sound on the BUO, I stuck with the Huawei Freeclip buds. I thought that immersion mode on the Bose too out some bass for me. I like some thump.

 

[Sam L]

interesting, I havent used personal profile - they had it on Bathys too. imo normally PEQ >> automated EQ.

For those wondering, Nothing Ear is on squiglink

Pick Nothing Ear from the list, then any IEM you want to tune it to, e.g. Monarch MK III, download that EQ. Then click equaliser on the right, upload target (upload the graph of the iem you want) then auto EQ. It will give you the exact settings for PEQ in the nothing APP, enjoy the new profile.

I found Singularity a laugh.

IE900 is really nice with these imo. Solid clarity and resolution, just sounds 'right'.

yep, honestly, the PEQ implementation in the nothing ear app is perfect! I really appreciate the attention to detail and excellence Nothing exudes.