Just about any SoC is going to be 'solid' by that definition, I do see for the Realtec integrated 5 band EQ?
think it is a non-sequitur to imply DAC or particular chip used is the major factor in SQ. In any playback system, the whole of the system determines SQ. 'more costly Qualcomm chipsets' to which I say, you are aware that the supposed qcc3026 in the $129 Mavin Air-X is an as Qualcomm puts it 'entry level' chipset, which costs exactly how much to buy? qcc5100 series is marketed by Qualcomm as their 'premium' SoC solution, with integrated hybrid ANC. One link showed iMore ENC earbuds which supposedly have the qcc5121 Soc, via indiego to ship June
Someone @Qualcomm needs to define/correct why they claim True Wireless Plus with the qcc3026, as their website charts show that chipset has
mono audio playback support, so it would make more sense that the qcc 3024 & 3034(which is also listed as the only 30xx series to support aptxHD) as listed for stereo playback, would have this wireless plus enabled.
https://www.qualcomm.com/products/qcc3026 "
General Audio
Audio Technology: Qualcomm® Broadcast Audio technology, Qualcomm TrueWireless™ Stereo technology, Qualcomm TrueWireless™ Stereo Plus technology, Qualcomm® aptX™ audio technology, Qualcomm® cVc™ audio technology
Qualcomm® aptX™ playback support: aptX Classic
Audio Playback Support:
Mono playback
Qualcomm® cVc™ audio technology: Up to 2-mic HS cVc
"
Given Apple's iPhone typically is est to cost ~$300 for Apple to produce, what would an SoC cost as far as low-volume earbuds, let us say a manufacturer just wants to buy 500+? For the premium market qcc5121...would $6 surprise? So how does price factor in SQ on these, given Qualcomm states for the qcc5100 series a 'high-quality DAC' ...hope that isn't the same 'solid' as the cheap wired Chi-Fi for $<50 that state "studio quality" < which means pretty much nothing. They all have a DAC, but what are the parameters that would define a quality/audiophile's dream DAC...same specs as a Mojo Cord?
no stock available, from a listing likely almost 9+mo old, so have to expect price is likely lower once production ramps up, though since the qcc5100 was announced earlier 2018, with expected ship date spring/summer 2018...well :
https://www.arrow.com/en/products/qcc-5121-0-81wlnsp-sr-00-0/qualcomm
All qcc5100 implementations support True Wireless Plus, it's Qualcomm's premium audio Soc, this is what most here on HF are waiting/wanting. @$6/ea for qcc5121, I dont' think the audio Soc is going to have a major cost factor in high-end/expensive TWE or less expensive 'Chi-Fi', unless you define Chi-Fi as alwasy <$100.