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

[SynaestheticA]

If I remember right, Apple did a survey of their customers regarding AirPod features priorities.
1) was ANC, 2) was fit/size, 3) was call quality, 4) was battery life… Sound was quite a ways down the list, but was mentioned. I’m sure a multi driver TWS isn’t even being discussed…. They’ll keep trying to improve the single DD, and keep to $249 dollar introduction price for AirPods 3 pro. I could be wrong…

This focus leads to these rankings and is why sound quality innovation is a focus from such small share of the market.

We made the bed we lie in.

Even from posts here, people are much more forgiving on "acceptable" sound quality than they are on acceptable ANC.

 

[erockg]

Anyone have some good tip recommendations for the REX5? I usually find some good tips and then after a month or two they just do not work as good as they used to. They start to have the Noble slide out issue. I know a bunch of us on here have the same issue. Just when I thought they were working, the tips start to fail for me. Pretty much I’ve tried all the main line tips out there. I was using the Devialet Gemini tips for quite some time and they seem to have been losing their effectiveness..

 

[helmutcheese]

^^ Something from the AZLA range if not try these (if they fit the case).

https://penonaudio.com/Penon-Liqueur-Silicone-Eartips.html

https://www.head-fi.org/showcase/penon-liqueur-series-silicone-eartips.27051/reviews


(I got mine both styles in XL=15.5mm on AliExpress)

 

[galaxygrrl]

Anyone have some good tip recommendations for the REX5? I usually find some good tips and then after a month or two they just do not work as good as they used to. They start to have the Noble slide out issue. I know a bunch of us on here have the same issue. Just when I thought they were working, the tips start to fail for me. Pretty much I’ve tried all the main line tips out there. I was using the Devialet Gemini tips for quite some time and they seem to have been losing their effectiveness..

Rex5 is tricky, has a super wide nozzle, and is very short.

I did a comparison of 7.

The winner was Acoustune AEX70.

I asked Chat GPT what would work best. I posted that table here - https://www.head-fi.org/threads/noble-audio-the-wizard-returns.684787/post-18636141

Two worked very well and some bombed.

- Dunu S&S - Really liked these, but they stuck out a littiel
- Acoustune AEX70 - these are the ones I ended up using. They fit so well and sound so good.


The failures
- Divinus Velvet Wide - did not grip well
- MOONDROP Spring Tips - did not grip well.
- FiiO HS18 Silicon Eartips - They were just OK>
- AZLA Crystal - sound was not good.
- AZLA SednaEarfit XELASTEC 2 Really like these eartips, but they did not work with the case.

Let me show you the challenge.

 

[sofastreamer]

got the edifier s10 yesterday. better than many wired up to 1k specially when connected losless. using it with flat eq (custom). unbelievable soundquality, good anc, perfect comfort to my ears. sadly battery runtime with anc on and losless could be better. technicalities are better than any other planar iem i heard, but audeze lcdi3 is still much better in this regard, tho apples and oranges, bc its open back. getting around 4hrs after 2 charging cycles, might improve tho.
im done with iems for a while. my main headphone type are flatheads anyway

 

[clerkpalmer]

https://cmf.tech/en-no/pages/buds-pro-2

These look interesting for $59.

I hate to say it but anything that costs the equivalent of 4 lattes probably won't do it for me. I'm sure there is a place for these however. Just not my place.

got the edifier s10 yesterday. better than many wired up to 1k specially when connected losless. using it with flat eq (custom). unbelievable soundquality, good anc, perfect comfort to my ears. sadly battery runtime with anc on and losless could be better. technicalities are better than any other planar iem i heard, but audeze lcdi3 is still much better in this regard, tho apples and oranges, bc its open back. getting around 4hrs after 2 charging cycles, might improve tho.
im done with iems for a while. my main headphone type are flatheads anyway

Some pretty high praise. They sort of dropped off the radar after release. Are they really worth $300?

 

[BigZ12]

I hate to say it but anything that costs the equivalent of 4 lattes probably won't do it for me. I'm sure there is a place for these however. Just not my place.

That's too bad, I was just thinking 'bout you for this one...

 

[sofastreamer]

I hate to say it but anything that costs the equivalent of 4 lattes probably won't do it for me. I'm sure there is a place for these however. Just not my place.

Some pretty high praise. They sort of dropped off the radar after release. Are they really worth $300?

compared to any other tws i had in that price range id say yes. tho different ears, usecases etc might come to another conclusion

 

[clerkpalmer]

compared to any other tws i had in that price range id say yes. tho different ears, usecases etc might come to another conclusion

What have you had.

 

[GreatGeorge]

Rex5 is tricky, has a super wide nozzle, and is very short.

I did a comparison of 7.

The winner was Acoustune AEX70.

I asked Chat GPT what would work best. I posted that table here - https://www.head-fi.org/threads/noble-audio-the-wizard-returns.684787/post-18636141

Two worked very well and some bombed.

- Dunu S&S - Really liked these, but they stuck out a littiel
- Acoustune AEX70 - these are the ones I ended up using. They fit so well and sound so good.


The failures
- Divinus Velvet Wide - did not grip well
- MOONDROP Spring Tips - did not grip well.
- FiiO HS18 Silicon Eartips - They were just OK>
- AZLA Crystal - sound was not good.
- AZLA SednaEarfit XELASTEC 2 Really like these eartips, but they did not work with the case.

Let me show you the challenge.

Those are my favorite tips (aex70) I used them with rex 5 too. Does anybody has frequency response graph from Aviot zx1 and Rex 5? Senior Wizard can we look at that if you don't mind? I just don't get it why it's so hard to find

Update. Thanks chatgpt

Georgii, the reason why manufacturers often don’t publish frequency response graphs is usually not technical, but strategic. Here are the most likely reasons:


---

1. Frequency response reveals weaknesses

Many headphones have:

Rolled-off or overly boosted frequencies (especially highs or lows),

Peaks or resonances that affect sound perception.


A graph exposes flaws that might not be obvious when listening casually. Audiophiles who are used to Harman Target or IEF Neutral curves might be immediately turned off.


---

2. Marketing over honesty

It’s easier to say: “unique Japanese sound tuned for vocals and emotion,” than to show a dip at 4 kHz and a bump at 2 kHz on a graph. As long as there are no numbers, people believe the words. It’s a manipulation of perception.

 

[jant71]

BOSEcandy? Skull and BOSE?

 

[FullCircle]

Those are my favorite tips (aex70) I used them with rex 5 too. Does anybody has frequency response graph from Aviot zx1 and Rex 5? Senior Wizard can we look at that if you don't mind? I just don't get it why it's so hard to find

Update. Thanks chatgpt

Georgii, the reason why manufacturers often don’t publish frequency response graphs is usually not technical, but strategic. Here are the most likely reasons:


---

1. Frequency response reveals weaknesses

Many headphones have:

Rolled-off or overly boosted frequencies (especially highs or lows),

Peaks or resonances that affect sound perception.


A graph exposes flaws that might not be obvious when listening casually. Audiophiles who are used to Harman Target or IEF Neutral curves might be immediately turned off.


---

2. Marketing over honesty

It’s easier to say: “unique Japanese sound tuned for vocals and emotion,” than to show a dip at 4 kHz and a bump at 2 kHz on a graph. As long as there are no numbers, people believe the words. It’s a manipulation of perception.

#3 Let's say a company develops a product that becomes extremely popular, all a competitor has to do is claim they have the same graph and offer it at a fraction of the price... riding the originators "wave"


Just my opinion

 

[msooffutt]

Anyone have some good tip recommendations for the REX5? I usually find some good tips and then after a month or two they just do not work as good as they used to. They start to have the Noble slide out issue. I know a bunch of us on here have the same issue. Just when I thought they were working, the tips start to fail for me. Pretty much I’ve tried all the main line tips out there. I was using the Devialet Gemini tips for quite some time and they seem to have been losing their effectiveness..

If you have any jvc spiral dots laying around you could give those a try. I have an old pair I tried and they fit a little snugger than the stock tips. Fortunately for me, the stock tips were made for my ears and I prefer those. The dots are a good backup, but add a little too much pressure.

 

[mikp]

Apparently I bought the EarFun Air Pro 4. Anyone know the nozzle size? Have spare spinfits cp360,cp155,cp100 and cp145 among others. Not going down rabbit hole for these cheap ones.

 

[galaxygrrl]

Apparently I bought the EarFun Air Pro 4. Anyone know the nozzle size? Have spare spinfits cp360,cp155,cp100 and cp145 among others. Not going down rabbit hole for these cheap ones.

Ask Chat GPT and what ear tips it recommends. It worked for me.