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

[fuhransahis]

Pi8s are on sale for 318 on Amazon. I bought mine at BB for full retail, so I went to BB today and they are going to refund the difference. Now I like them even more.
My only issue with the Pi8 so far is it keeps switching off of Truesound on its own. I prefer the TrueSound signature and wish it would stay. Anyone else have that issue?

Good tip on this sale, thx.

About to get a new all-rounder TWS set around $300 and am currently between:

- Pi8 (at $319, prob in white)
- MTW4 (at $242, copper)
- Geekfly GF3 ($299)

They are for communting and doing chores and calls and work while still holding SQ in high priority, but can't have a set that is buggy on the tech side (had some Noble Triumphs a few months ago and returned them twice cause of constant connection issues).

On the sound front would be sorta like an audiophile semi-basshead - natural/warm-ish leaning with great focal presence and unfatiguing highs. Most of my use will be for podcasts and occasional calls but I do want to be able to enjoy music well enough so that my audiophile side doesn't start nit-picking or get fatigued from sharp highs.

For more dedicated music listeng I'll use the Bathys or my desktop setup.

Denon Perl Pros crossed my mind but I am not a fan of their design. Same thing with the Aviot sets (I actually like the design but they look much too large). Az100 is kinda there too where they just look too plain... I do like a cool design that's understated yet still unique and classy. I'm not thaat obsessed with the design either but I just don't particularly like these specific ones.

Was willing to give Noble another shot with the Rex5 but they have no IP rating, and I need ones I can work out in if I want to, or be OK commuting if it starts raining.

Any general thoughts/recommendations on which one to choose as the winner are appreciated!

 

[galaxygrrl]

Good tip on this sale, thx.

About to get a new all-rounder TWS set around $300 and am currently between:

- Pi8 (at $319, prob in white)
- MTW4 (at $242, copper)
- Geekfly GF3 ($299)

They are for communting and doing chores and calls and work while still holding SQ in high priority, but can't have a set that is buggy on the tech side (had some Noble Triumphs a few months ago and returned them twice cause of constant connection issues).

On the sound front would be sorta like an audiophile semi-basshead - natural/warm-ish leaning with great focal presence and unfatiguing highs.

Denon Perl Pros crossed my mind but I am not a fan of their design. Same thing with the Aviot sets (I actually like the design but they look much too large). Az100 is kinda there too where they just look too plain... I do like a cool design that's understated yet still unique and classy.

Was willing to give Noble another shot with the Rex5 but they have no IP rating, and I need ones I can work out in if I want to, or be OK commuting if it starts raining.

Any general thoughts/recommendations on which one to choose as the winner are appreciated!

Beoplay EX. I have the Elevens and people say the SQ is pretty much the same. In that case, they should sound better than anything you listed. Pretty colors too.

 

[fuhransahis]

Beoplay EX. I have the Elevens and people say the SQ is pretty much the same. In that case, they should sound better than anything you listed. Pretty colors too.

Good call on those, had seem them recently and was curious, forgot to revisit them. Will take another look!

 

[galaxygrrl]

Good call on those, had seem them recently and was curious, forgot to revisit them. Will take another look!

Have you done a comparison on sound in Chat GPT on what you are looking at? Here is a basic one.

 

[pgravili]

Good tip on this sale, thx.

About to get a new all-rounder TWS set around $300 and am currently between:

- Pi8 (at $319, prob in white)
- MTW4 (at $242, copper)
- Geekfly GF3 ($299)

They are for communting and doing chores and calls and work while still holding SQ in high priority, but can't have a set that is buggy on the tech side (had some Noble Triumphs a few months ago and returned them twice cause of constant connection issues).

On the sound front would be sorta like an audiophile semi-basshead - natural/warm-ish leaning with great focal presence and unfatiguing highs. Most of my use will be for podcasts and occasional calls but I do want to be able to enjoy music well enough so that my audiophile side doesn't start nit-picking or get fatigued from sharp highs.

For more dedicated music listeng I'll use the Bathys or my desktop setup.

Denon Perl Pros crossed my mind but I am not a fan of their design. Same thing with the Aviot sets (I actually like the design but they look much too large). Az100 is kinda there too where they just look too plain... I do like a cool design that's understated yet still unique and classy. I'm not thaat obsessed with the design either but I just don't particularly like these specific ones.

Was willing to give Noble another shot with the Rex5 but they have no IP rating, and I need ones I can work out in if I want to, or be OK commuting if it starts raining.

Any general thoughts/recommendations on which one to choose as the winner are appreciated!

At this point I would wait for the launch of the XM6...it shouldn't be long now and they will have a not low level of water resistance...

 

[jant71]

Beoplay EX. I have the Elevens and people say the SQ is pretty much the same. In that case, they should sound better than anything you listed. Pretty colors too.

You know that the EX sounds better than the GF3?

 

[galaxygrrl]

At this point I would wait for the launch of the XM6...it shouldn't be long now and they will have a not low level of water resistance...

I would do a bake-off between the new Sonys and Beoplays. I suspect they will have very different Sound signatures. Both will have a wide sound stage, but Beoplays will be warmer, while the Sonys will be more analytical. I had a lot of fun buying 6 TWS and doing a bake-off. Returned 4. It was really interesting and I learned so much and Iove what I ended up with.

Note: I tried to stay under $300, but inched up with the Pi8, then, I said well if I'm at $400 with the Pi8's I'll go up to $450 and ended up with two $450. I thought there was a huge jump between a $300 and $450 pair and the Pi8s do fall in the middle of both packs. The problem with the Pi8 is they are buggy and not a full package compared to the AZ 100s or Beoplays.

You know that the EX sounds better than the GF3?

I don't. It's the one on the list I have not tried. But having just done a bake-off, what it I learned is that sound is so subjective. I tried 6 tws and ended up with the Rex5 and Beoplay Elevens. Both are super high-end, Rex5 has what might be the best sound. But the Beoplays have a warmth to them that I really like. So, which has the best sound?

I asked Chat gpt about the GF3 and this is what it said. Beauty is in the eye of the beholder with TWS too. For the GF3 if you like bass, it's most likely not the right tws for you.

Type:
Triple Balanced Armature driver TWS (rare in the market—most TWS use dynamic or hybrid drivers).

Sound Profile:

• Treble-forward and bright: It delivers crisp, sparkly highs. Ideal for those who want to hear every cymbal hit, string pluck, or breath in a vocal.
• Mids are very articulate: Vocals and instruments like guitars and pianos sound highly detailed and lifelike.
• Bass is clean but not boomy: This isn't a basshead TWS. You’ll get tight, fast bass, but not the kind that rumbles.
• Detail Retrieval is the star: Because of the triple BA setup, it excels in micro-detail and layering. You’ll hear nuances others might miss.

​

• Acoustic, classical, jazz, and vocal-centric genres.
• Audiophiles who prioritize resolution and clarity over warmth and fun.
• Listeners who dislike overly boosted bass or muddy midrange.

What It’s Not​

• Not ideal for EDM, hip-hop, or bass-heavy music lovers.
• Not tuned for casual listening or those who prefer a warm, relaxed sound.
• It may come off as too analytical or bright for some.

Other Notes​

• Fit and comfort can vary depending on your ear shape—BA drivers usually need a snug seal for optimal performance.
• Build quality is considered solid, though not luxury-tier.
• No ANC or app support—this is a no-frills, sound-first TWS.
• Battery life is decent, around 6 hours on the buds with another 20-ish in the case.

 

[jant71]

I would do a bake-off between the new Sonys and Beoplays. I suspect they will have very different Sound signatures. Both will have a wide sound stage, but Beoplays will be warmer, while the Sonys will be more analytical. I had a lot of fun buying 6 TWS and doing a bake-off. Returned 4. It was really interesting and I learned so much and Iove what I ended up with.

Note: I tried to stay under $300, but inched up with the Pi8, then, I said well if I'm at $400 with the Pi8's I'll go up to $450 and ended up with two $450. I thought there was a huge jump between a $300 and $450 pair and the Pi8s do fall in the middle of both packs. The problem with the Pi8 is they are buggy and not a full package compared to the AZ 100s or Beoplays.


I don't. It's the one on the list I have not tried. But having just done a bake-off, what it I learned is that sound is so subjective. I tried 6 tws and ended up with the Rex5 and Beoplay Elevens. Both are super high-end, Rex5 has what might be the best sound. But the Beoplays have a warmth to them that I really like. So, which has the best sound?

I asked Chat gpt about the GF3 and this is what it said. Beauty is in the eye of the beholder with TWS too. For the GF3 if you like bass, it's most likely not the right tws for you.

Type:
Triple Balanced Armature driver TWS (rare in the market—most TWS use dynamic or hybrid drivers).

Sound Profile:

• Treble-forward and bright: It delivers crisp, sparkly highs. Ideal for those who want to hear every cymbal hit, string pluck, or breath in a vocal.
• Mids are very articulate: Vocals and instruments like guitars and pianos sound highly detailed and lifelike.
• Bass is clean but not boomy: This isn't a basshead TWS. You’ll get tight, fast bass, but not the kind that rumbles.
• Detail Retrieval is the star: Because of the triple BA setup, it excels in micro-detail and layering. You’ll hear nuances others might miss.

​

• Acoustic, classical, jazz, and vocal-centric genres.
• Audiophiles who prioritize resolution and clarity over warmth and fun.
• Listeners who dislike overly boosted bass or muddy midrange.

What It’s Not​

• Not ideal for EDM, hip-hop, or bass-heavy music lovers.
• Not tuned for casual listening or those who prefer a warm, relaxed sound.
• It may come off as too analytical or bright for some.

Other Notes​

• Fit and comfort can vary depending on your ear shape—BA drivers usually need a snug seal for optimal performance.
• Build quality is considered solid, though not luxury-tier.
• No ANC or app support—this is a no-frills, sound-first TWS.
• Battery life is decent, around 6 hours on the buds with another 20-ish in the case.

There is a review right here on Head-fi. Chat is telling you is has BA's when it has 2 planars and a dynamic and the review says the bass might be a bit much unless you like warmth but is is just short of basshead. It has LE audio, AptX lossless and pretty decent amplification.
https://www.head-fi.org/showcase/geekfly-gf3-true-wireless.28064/

 

[galaxygrrl]

There is a review right here on Head-fi. Chat is telling you is has BA's when it has 2 planars and a dynamic and the review says the bass might be a bit much unless you like warmth but is is just short of basshead. It has LE audio, AptX lossless and pretty decent amplification.

You know, when I was deep into my TWS bake-off, I read a lot of reviews. And what I realized is… they’re mostly one-off data points with very subjective opinions by people who like various types of sound. Helpful in isolation, sure — but it's nearly impossible to line them up and compare how each earbud relates to the others in sound signature. There’s just too much noise of individual opinions and the summary of crowd sourced reviews is pretty powerful.

I just posted a question over on the Noble forum, and shared something ChatGPT helped me write — and honestly, it was the most useful exercise I’ve done to figure out what really matters to me in sound.

Because once you've locked in your preferences around app UX, ANC, and water resistance… sound signature becomes the variable that counts. I don’t care if it’s planar, hybrid, or runs on fairy dust — I just want it to feel right.

(Given this is a lot of audiophiles, I'll be interested if people have different opinions.)

Model	Sound Signature	Bass	Midrange	Treble
Beoplay Eleven	Warm, rich, smooth, with a sweet and cozy character; lush and musical	Full, smooth, round	Lush, rounded, musical	Polished, soft sparkle
Noble FoKus Rex5	Energetic, detailed, slightly V-shaped with a touch of warmth	Punchy, tight, and fast	Forward, energetic	Crisp, detailed, energetic
Technics AZ100	Neutral with a hint of warmth; balanced and controlled	Tight and balanced	Natural and clear	Smooth and even
Bowers & Wilkins Pi8	Slightly warm and rich with elevated bass and laid-back mids	Deep, impactful	Relaxed and laid-back	Gentle and slightly rolled-off
Devialet Gemini 2	Bold bass-forward with relaxed mids and slightly soft treble	Thick, elevated	Recessed, not very engaging	Soft and slightly recessed
Sony WF-1000XM5	Smooth, relaxed tuning; slightly warm, designed for fatigue-free listening	Rounded and soft	Smooth and polite	Non-fatiguing and soft

 

[Not so fat head]

I would do a bake-off between the new Sonys and Beoplays. I suspect they will have very different Sound signatures. Both will have a wide sound stage, but Beoplays will be warmer, while the Sonys will be more analytical. I had a lot of fun buying 6 TWS and doing a bake-off. Returned 4. It was really interesting and I learned so much and Iove what I ended up with.

Note: I tried to stay under $300, but inched up with the Pi8, then, I said well if I'm at $400 with the Pi8's I'll go up to $450 and ended up with two $450. I thought there was a huge jump between a $300 and $450 pair and the Pi8s do fall in the middle of both packs. The problem with the Pi8 is they are buggy and not a full package compared to the AZ 100s or Beoplays.


I don't. It's the one on the list I have not tried. But having just done a bake-off, what it I learned is that sound is so subjective. I tried 6 tws and ended up with the Rex5 and Beoplay Elevens. Both are super high-end, Rex5 has what might be the best sound. But the Beoplays have a warmth to them that I really like. So, which has the best sound?

I asked Chat gpt about the GF3 and this is what it said. Beauty is in the eye of the beholder with TWS too. For the GF3 if you like bass, it's most likely not the right tws for you.

Type:
Triple Balanced Armature driver TWS (rare in the market—most TWS use dynamic or hybrid drivers).

Sound Profile:

• Treble-forward and bright: It delivers crisp, sparkly highs. Ideal for those who want to hear every cymbal hit, string pluck, or breath in a vocal.
• Mids are very articulate: Vocals and instruments like guitars and pianos sound highly detailed and lifelike.
• Bass is clean but not boomy: This isn't a basshead TWS. You’ll get tight, fast bass, but not the kind that rumbles.
• Detail Retrieval is the star: Because of the triple BA setup, it excels in micro-detail and layering. You’ll hear nuances others might miss.

​

• Acoustic, classical, jazz, and vocal-centric genres.
• Audiophiles who prioritize resolution and clarity over warmth and fun.
• Listeners who dislike overly boosted bass or muddy midrange.

What It’s Not​

• Not ideal for EDM, hip-hop, or bass-heavy music lovers.
• Not tuned for casual listening or those who prefer a warm, relaxed sound.
• It may come off as too analytical or bright for some.

Other Notes​

• Fit and comfort can vary depending on your ear shape—BA drivers usually need a snug seal for optimal performance.
• Build quality is considered solid, though not luxury-tier.
• No ANC or app support—this is a no-frills, sound-first TWS.
• Battery life is decent, around 6 hours on the buds with another 20-ish in the case.

Just curious, did you have to pay a restocking fee? I read that Amazon was adding a 15% fee, due to huge warehouses full of returned goods..

 

[jant71]

You know, when I was deep into my TWS bake-off, I read a lot of reviews. And what I realized is… they’re mostly one-off data points with very subjective opinions by people who like various types of sound. Helpful in isolation, sure — but it's nearly impossible to line them up and compare how each earbud relates to the others in sound signature. There’s just too much noise of individual opinions.

I just posted a question over on the Noble forum, and shared something ChatGPT helped me write — and honestly, it was the most useful exercise I’ve done to figure out what really matters to me in sound.

Because once you've locked in your preferences around app UX, ANC, and water resistance… sound signature becomes the variable that counts. I don’t care if it’s planar, hybrid, or runs on fairy dust — I just want it to feel right.

(Given this is a lot of audiophiles, I'll be interested if people have different opinions.)

Model	Sound Signature	Bass	Midrange	Treble
Beoplay Eleven	Warm, rich, smooth, with a sweet and cozy character; lush and musical	Full, smooth, round	Lush, rounded, musical	Polished, soft sparkle
Noble FoKus Rex5	Energetic, detailed, slightly V-shaped with a touch of warmth	Punchy, tight, and fast	Forward, energetic	Crisp, detailed, energetic
Technics AZ100	Neutral with a hint of warmth; balanced and controlled	Tight and balanced	Natural and clear	Smooth and even
Bowers & Wilkins Pi8	Slightly warm and rich with elevated bass and laid-back mids	Deep, impactful	Relaxed and laid-back	Gentle and slightly rolled-off
Devialet Gemini 2	Bold bass-forward with relaxed mids and slightly soft treble	Thick, elevated	Recessed, not very engaging	Soft and slightly recessed
Sony WF-1000XM5	Smooth, relaxed tuning; slightly warm, designed for fatigue-free listening	Rounded and soft	Smooth and polite	Non-fatiguing and soft

How are we supposed to take that seriously? I asked what you knew about the GF3 to say the EX should be better to someone looking for advice on how to spend their $$. You have not heard it, go by faulty Chat GPT info and then dismiss what I put forth talking about "one-off data points" and "very subjective". Okay you don't care planar or hybrid or fairy dust...it is how it sounds. That whole chat gpt info is just plain wrong both for the sound and the drivers, the battery life specs.

Just say you don't know about TWS "X" in this case the GF3 when recommending something over it to someone. What if the GF3 would be the one they are happiest with? One-off's subjective as they are can be right but bad data that wasn't double checked isn't really any help.

 

[howdy]

Have you done a comparison on sound in Chat GPT on what you are looking at? Here is a basic one.

You have a typo on the Pi8. The drivers on the Pi8 is a 12mm carbon cone driver. The Pi6 have a hybrid setup with a DD and BA.

 

[Saraugie]

Heard good things about these. I bought 3 from Aliexpress right before the tariffs hit.
I saved $$ but not sure how much, the prices keep changing.

The 2 in plastic are TR are PENON: PAC LSTIPES & BL LIQUEUR SILICONE

 

[galaxygrrl]

You have a typo on the Pi8. The drivers on the Pi8 is a 12mm carbon cone driver. The Pi6 have a hybrid setup with a DD and BA.

Oh that was Chat GPT It’s not perfect Thanks for the correction

Heard good things about these. I bought 3 from Aliexpress right before the tariffs hit.
I saved $$ but not sure how much, the prices keep changing.

The 2 in plastic are TR are PENON: PAC LSTIPES & BL LIQUEUR SILICONE

I tried about 10 eartips for my new rex5 and Beoplays The AEX70 won on both accounts Close second was Baroque Eletech and Dunu s&s All three sounded great and fit well The AEX70 just were a little more comfortable

Tried a ton of Spinfits and AZLAs and none fit well in my ear and most screwed up charging in the case

 

[Not so fat head]

Wow, in store clearance Wf-XM5’s for $113 at Walmart…. Apparently all 3 in Morgan Hill sold yesterday and today.. Have to hurry and be lucky.. Sony clearing them out, looks like they don’t want their own products competing with XM6’s..