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

[Thesonofkrypton]

My commute box for a twice 26 hours oversea trip between centre of France to South West Japan. Just missing on the picture the Bose Ultra Open Earbuds mainly used inside airports for walking to next planes or waiting zones to keep contact with others (family and announcements).
I am still wondering what will be the end winner... assuming nothing can really top for SQ my reference portable combo IER-Z1R / WM1ZM2 though Aviot TE-ZX1 PNK can be really convincing too, with some interesting ANC future.




After the first 28 hours (2 hours more than initially expected), it's still tricky to decide what is the most versatile TWS combo and still able to approach my portable SQ reference.
1) The Jabra Elite 8 active gen 2 are the most comfortable for side sleepers, but ANC is not really that impressive during flights. ANC is too far from Headphones like Technics EAH-A800, and SQ is often really behind IEM like IE600 or IER_Z1R.

2) the Sennheiser IE600, is still convincing for sound quality even behind some chinese BT Receiver (LDAC or LC3) with a 20hours or more playing time in one charge. Though Oval Comply Foam are the most comfortable for me (with most IEMs) => noise cancelling is not really sufficient in planes when flying.. not really bad, but not enough too.

3) the Aviot TE-ZX1 PNK still impress me a lot regarding sound quality (by a significant margin over all TWS I used).. this 3 ways hybrid with 5 drivers is definitely impressive ...ANC is as good if not better than any other TWS I own (more than 10 recent version)
Unfortunately those large nozzle are a bit uncomfortable and can even hurt my ear canals after a pair of hours.. they are too large for any of my comply foam tips.. but WM1ZM2 in LDAC mode with the TE-ZX1 PNK is the best combo I good get till now from any TWS in my life.

4) WM1ZM2+IER_Z1R+Comply Foam is by a big margin the most comfortable and best sound quality combo I can use everywhere else than inside the plane when flying (unfortunately).. the WM1A was more or less at the same level for years for me.

Actually .. I need for such trip :
1) Bose Ultra Open (mostly when I am in familiy or friends) to keep contact)...
2) WM1ZM2 + IER-Z1R for any time I just want to be isloted enough and enjoy music at best sound quality level available on the way (Qobuz & Personnal files)
3) Aviot TE-ZX1 PNK during the flight acceptable ANC and impressive sound quality.
4) Jabra Elite 8 Ultra for trying to sleep more or less in a bit quite environement during the flight.

After 45 years of regular flights between Japan and France since my first Sony's blue Walkman, I would still need a more comfortable Aviot TWS maybe with just less large nozzles, and if possible, with some better ANC too (to reach BT headphones efficiency)...
Life is still not perfect end of 2024 !!!!

So I guess you're not a member of the pack light crew? lol

Seems like overkill but great collection. I owned the WM1ZM2 at one point and miss it ;( Hoping that Sony have something upon their sleeves in 2025 as far as a DAPs go.

The IER-Z1R must be a dream combo with the player. Sadly I bought the earphones after I let WM1ZM2 go.

 

[aweBit]

So I purchased the Denon Perl Pro for $85 from the amazon deal - while they have excellent bass, and decent airiness, I am having a hard time justifying keeping them since the H-ANC are a better package at $129. The H-ANC are cleaner sounding, have better balance all around, and are just more engaging. They also fit better than the Perl Pro.

Interesting. This, upon many other varied opinions in the last 200+ pages, tells me everybody's ears are different.

 

[ZMan2k2]

Interesting. This, upon many other varied opinions in the last 200+ pages, tells me everybody's ears are different.

Very true. I have the DPP, and find them to be more than what I WANT in a TWS. I love the bass, the soundstage, and the versatility. If I grow tired of the sound, I rerun the Masimo sound EQ, and there’s slightly different sound, darker or lighter. I can save 3 presets and adjust the bass for more or less presence with a slider. Fit for me is great with the stock tips and wings and ANC is adequate for me (going to try them on a plane soon).

I don’t jump on someone’s negative report on the DPP because everyone hears differently, that’s the beauty of this hobby. Just use the varied reports to piece together some info, and plunk down your hard earned cash on something that you think YOU will like.

Unless your @erockg , then buy it all, price be damned!

 

[highlightshadow]

For Uk people: Creative - Aurvana Ace 2 True wireless in-ears, Black are now on sale for less than £50 when using the 50% off voucher.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Creative-Aurvana-wireless-ears-Black/dp/B0CTQNC9GV

Such a shame about the battery life ... 4 hours with ANC etc isn't great

 

[erockg]

Very true. I have the DPP, and find them to be more than what I WANT in a TWS. I love the bass, the soundstage, and the versatility. If I grow tired of the sound, I rerun the Masimo sound EQ, and there’s slightly different sound, darker or lighter. I can save 3 presets and adjust the bass for more or less presence with a slider. Fit for me is great with the stock tips and wings and ANC is adequate for me (going to try them on a plane soon).

I don’t jump on someone’s negative report on the DPP because everyone hears differently, that’s the beauty of this hobby. Just use the varied reports to piece together some info, and plunk down your hard earned cash on something that you think YOU will like.

Unless your @erockg , then buy it all, price be damned!

I do what I can.

 

[Jozurr]

Aviot -ZX1 are $271 today on amazon.

 

[fmkuz]

Would you recommend the JBL Tour 3 Pro???? Based on your experience with JBL

I had tried one week ago but I compared with the Pi8 and the difference in resolution was huge in favor of Pi8. EQ works well in Pi8 to adjust sound. JBL Tour 3 pro has many features, interesting ones, but I prefer sound over features.

My two cents

 

[Not so fat head]

Got’em…. Sweet.

 

[Not so fat head]

Technics 80’s under $200

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0C5N5Y1C...d2lkZ2V0TmFtZT1zcF9waG9uZV9kZXRhaWwp13NParams

 

[potix]

but I prefer sound over features.

I was thinking the same and I've been chasing for 4 years the perfect true wireless. But at present when I am at home I use a good wired iem with bluetooth earhooks when I go out or while working I prefer a full featured one: anc, ambient mode, clear phone calls, hands free features, speaking recognition, latency, battery life. Year after year I learned how to eq and I realized that it's all in the tuning and understanding your own ears. Resolution differences due to codecs and hardware are small (unless I buy some garbage), and listening to music through an in-ear it's not the best way. So I told myself: why missing all the comforts for something I can barely discern? In my (personal) point of view the last two iterations of sony earbuds have been the best choice, not they have a perfect tuning to my ears but their linearity allow me to tune them easily. Every other tws I tried had weird tonality, many peaks and deeps. And to me this is the main reason why "we are not there yet".

 

[HeadphoneAddict00]

I was thinking the same and I've been chasing for 4 years the perfect true wireless. But at present when I am at home I use a good wired iem with bluetooth earhooks when I go out or while working I prefer a full featured one: anc, ambient mode, clear phone calls, hands free features, speaking recognition, latency, battery life. Year after year I learned how to eq and I realized that it's all in the tuning and understanding your own ears. Resolution differences due to codecs and hardware are small (unless I buy some garbage), and listening to music through an in-ear it's not the best way. So I told myself: why missing all the comforts for something I can barely discern? In my (personal) point of view the last two iterations of sony earbuds have been the best choice, not they have a perfect tuning to my ears but their linearity allow me to tune them easily. Every other tws I tried had weird tonality, many peaks and deeps. And to me this is the main reason why "we are not there yet".

Should try the buds 2 pro, way more linear than sony. Most TWS are going to be more linear than a V shaped +15db bass earbud

 

[potix]

I did, at the time I preferred the sonys. Now that I have a samsung phone I'm trying to live with the buds3 pro, but I could "downgrade" to buds2 pro.

 

[HeadphoneAddict00]

I did, at the time I preferred the sonys. Now that I have a samsung phone I'm trying to live with the buds3 pro, but I could "downgrade" to buds2 pro.

To each their own, a lot is just preference. The sony's have a big advantage of sealing well with foams whereas I thought the buds 2 pro and buds 3 pro never sealed properly without aftermarket comply tips

 

[newworld666]

I've got Comply TW-400-C tips on my Zx1. They fit on them great

I own those also, and in my case, it becomes too thick to enter properly in my ear canals to seal perfectly and get those awesome deep low frequencies of the TE-ZX1 PNK..

 

[cresny]

Technics 80’s under $200

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0C5N5Y1C...d2lkZ2V0TmFtZT1zcF9waG9uZV9kZXRhaWwp13NParams

Tempting, but once upon a time I bought the az60 then barely used them. I almost want to buy them for their great fit and finish. Anyone know if they have great wind handling?