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

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I keep coming back around to the MTW4's --- they're just perfect for me acoustically and i whenever i put them i just remember why i loved their sound signature.
I would still struggle to recommend the price because for me it took 4 warranty replacements to get this set finally which seems perfect.
The others would have issues within 1-3 weeks -- this set i've had now for 4 or 5 months without issue although the antenna in these is still very weak and can downgrade sound quality a lot. Ironically the set i have now means i essentially got them for free cos the final warranty replacement was done via Amazon rather than direct with Senn --- Amazon after around 6 weeks of them being away declared them lost and refunded me the purchase but randomly they turned up a few days later.

Nothing Ear 2024 are nice but the noise introduced with using LHDC v5 + personalised audio is a problem once you know it's there. There's been no firmware update since i've had them to try and fix and contacting support was a fruitless exercise -- they replaced the buds once on warranty but it had the same problem (as encountered by someone else on this page). I cannot seem to reproduce the sound sig i get from that function with manual EQ options.

Fiio UTWS5 (2023 version) are nice but the EQ issue with using the app was never fixed and seems they're never gonna bother, so means you have to mess about each time you use them.

 

[resis]

Nothing Ear 2024 are nice but the noise introduced with using LHDC v5 + personalised audio is a problem once you know it's there.

Can you specify the noise you having? What is the "5v + personalized"?

 

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Can you specify the noise you having? What is the "5v + personalized"?

If you're using lhdc codec and set a personalized profile you can hear a really crunchy top end. Like cymbals hear really compressed like low bit artifacts

 

[JoshG1217]

Double Blind test of of Sony XM5 with Android LDAC and iphone AAC would be interesting. Or that ridiculously expensive and maybe Luxurious Gemini 2 can be tested too


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Ideas for you Youtubers out there.

Feel free to buy my gemini ii for $275.

I have the xm5 as well. It definitely sounds better than the xm5 from android source, but I prefer my te zx1, personally

 

[Not so fat head]

Feel free to buy my gemini ii for $275.

I have the xm5 as well. It definitely sounds better than the xm5 from android source, but I prefer my te zx1, personally

That’s interesting as I’ve been listening to Dian’s Krall, Cat Steven’s and highres online using XM5 on an iPhone.. It sounds fantastic, maybe it’s true, Google has crippled AAC on Android….

 

[Not so fat head]

It’s not unprecedented, when Sony first came out with Super Audio CD, some friends and I were convinced Sony dummied down redbook CD on the combination players. Pre SACD players sounded excellent with well recorded and transferred bit perfect RedBook CDs…

 

[absolutnie]

If you're using lhdc codec and set a personalized profile you can hear a really crunchy top end. Like cymbals hear really compressed like low bit artifacts

Personalised profile does so much audio processing rendering itself useless. It's quite bad to my ears. I'd recommend using EQ (if you have time to play with it)

 

[ZMan2k2]

No Windows in this house. Some of my buds, the Fokus Triumph & PI8 automatically connect via aptX Lossless. Maybe that's not correct, but the yellow light is there.

Don’t know. For me, I had to load the app on Windows to get Lossless. Otherwise, all I got was purple, for Adaptive.

 

[JoshG1217]

That’s interesting as I’ve been listening to Dian’s Krall, Cat Steven’s and highres online using XM5 on an iPhone.. It sounds fantastic, maybe it’s true, Google has crippled AAC on Android….

Don't get me wrong, I think the xm5 is a great set, but for me, it's the minimum acceptable standard. The xm5 gets crapped on for some reason, but it's good. I think the Triumph, the Zx1, Noble H anc, and gemini ii are better though. The list of ones that are worse is far far longer. I'd still rec it.

 

[dasadab]

Tough question to answer. Really up to you. No, with some buds, it's not a HUGE difference because I do feel AAC holds its own, again, depending on the buds. For instance, my Prestige sound stellar on AAC, but the PI8 kick up a notch using the W6 and aptX Lossless. It's a toy, gadget to have fun with. I wouldn't go walking around the city with it attached. But it's fun at home. Hey now.

Thanks. I appreciate the response.

 

[Not so fat head]

Looks like add Noble to the list of companies that do a great job with AAC.

 

[Kataphraktos]

Don't get me wrong, I think the xm5 is a great set, bur fir me, it's the minimum standard. The xm5 gets wrapped on for some reason, but it's good. I think the Triumph, the Zx1, Noble H anc, and gemini ii are better though. The list of ones that are worse is far longer.

Would you say the amp in the Triumphs is stronger than the XM5's? I have some old mp3 files (Brazilian music ripped from century-old LPs by an ex-girlfriend) that needs a bit more volume than the XM5s can deliver.

 

[JoshG1217]

Would you say the amp in the Triumphs is stronger than the XM5's? I have some old mp3 files (Brazilian music ripped from century-old LPs by an ex-girlfriend) that needs a bit more volume than the XM5s can deliver.

Triumph is known for being pretty quiet.

Gemini are pretty loud, as is the noble H anc.

 

[dweaver]

@erockg , how small are the JBL Live Buds 3 compared to the older buds model or the Sony WF-1000XM5? You mentioned side sleeping. Are they not as deep so they sit more flush in the ear?

Thinking they might be a good choice for sleeping. Plus decent sounding with the new LDAC.

 

[erockg]

@erockg , how small are the JBL Live Buds 3 compared to the older buds model or the Sony WF-1000XM5? You mentioned side sleeping. Are they not as deep so they sit more flush in the ear?

Thinking they might be a good choice for sleeping. Plus decent sounding with the new LDAC.

They're a little bigger than the Sony. But something about the way they sit in my ears. Very similar if not identical to the AKG NG tws I had a while back. That said, I do think they're overpriced. The lcd case is overkill imo.