[BobSmith8901]

The background noise kind of depends on what headphones/IEMs you're using. I don't have any that are sensitive enough to pick up any noise, you typically need some really sensitive ones like Andros.

The version of bluetooth probably has less impact than what codec it supports, although I can't say for sure about BT3 -- that's pretty old. From what I've read here, BT5 isn't superior for sound to BT4, it upgrades other aspects. But I'm not an expert on that.

The ES100 has support for a lot of codecs (LDAC, aptX-HD, AAC, aptX, SBC), and IMHO, AAC and SBC are pretty good. Your older equipment may or may not support LDAC or APT-X, but you may not even notice a difference. I know some people do, I can notice the difference between SBC and others, but it's not like you're listening with two cans and string. The only thing I'd watch out for is if you're using the ES100 for gaming or watching videos -- the older equipment is probably going to have some lag, more with the older gear. You could always get a USB BT adapter for the PCs -- that might make things better if there is lag or sound degradation. The DAP (which one do you have?) would probably be OK, but again it depends on the codecs it supports. I have some gear with BT4.x and the ES100 works fine with them.

Thanks very much for your advice and info. I have the FiiO X5III which has Bluetooth V4.0，aptX supported.

I'd never thought of getting an adapter for the PC with the latest Bluetooth and codecs and one would certainly be an improvement over the stock motherboard BT that's getting long in the tooth. Thanks again.

 

[BobSmith8901]

Hi hi, the whining sound comes from the Bluetooth chipset used in your headphones. It was prevalent in many headphones around the same age. Iirc it's because the BT channel stays open. One of my headphones had a firmware to fix it, so you see it's tied to the specific product.

For transmitting, ie PC, go for a cheap bt5 dongle upgrade, about $15? If you have already bt4, search for the Intel APTX drivers (dell and HP have one each iirc) to install => while the DRIVER is not compatible, the APTX add on is, and will work with your real BT driver (of cos Windows only).

(Sorry! es100 doesn't transmit, I keep forgetting)
If you crave Ldac to output to your headphones and have a compatible transmitter (eg Sony or Android 8 phone). I use es100 to output to my Bluedio Vinyl Plus, bypassing its own bt4.1. Sounds much better because es100 has a higher amp.

Great info and glad that the noise issue should be a thing of the past as far as the ES100 is concerned. Thanks!

 

[AJCxZ0]

Replying to Mouseman but responding to BobSmith8901. See Radson's papers, EarStudio: State-of-the-art Bluetooth Receiver and EarStudio: Performance Evaluation for lots of detail. Notwithstanding any of the details addresses in these...

The background noise kind of depends on what headphones/IEMs you're using.

Right. Hiss should not be feature of the noise floor from the BT version or codec unless you have low impedance and high sensitivity gear.

The version of Bluetooth supported by your device probably has less impact than what codec it supports, although I can't say for sure about BT3 -- that's pretty old. From what I've read here, BT5 isn't superior for sound to BT4, it upgrades other aspects. But I'm not an expert on that.

Right again. The A2DP profile SBC codec can sound great since you're getting (up to) 320 kbps 16 bit 48 kHz, i.e. better-than-CD and "HD Audio" sticker quality has been in the Bluetooth spec since 1.3. Similarly for the AAC codec with 264 kbps 16 bit 44.1 kHz. The significance of the BT version is principally the things it supports. For audio, the profile and codec tend to be the important details, though of course range can also matter. Right now my old BT 4.0 / SBC Nexus 5 is playing some quite dynamic music in my Thieaudio Phantom and it sounds great.

The ES100 has support for a lot of codecs (LDAC, aptX-HD, AAC, aptX, SBC), and IMHO, AAC and SBC are pretty good. Your older equipment may or may not support LDAC or APT-X, but you may not even notice a difference. I know some people do, I can notice the difference between SBC and others, but it's not like you're listening with two cans and string. The only thing I'd watch out for is if you're using the ES100 for gaming or watching videos -- the older equipment is probably going to have some lag, more with the older gear. You could always get a USB BT adapter for the PCs -- that might make things better if there is lag or sound degradation. The DAP (which one do you have?) would probably be OK, but again it depends on the codecs it supports. I have some gear with BT4.x and the ES100 works fine with them.

I concur with all this (though I can't vouch for Mouseman's hearing claims).

For the ES100 another BT detail to consider is the Bluetooth Basic Rate/Enhanced Data Rate (BR/EDR) or Low Energy (LE) needed to manage the ES100 with the app.

 

[Mouseman]

His hearing is pretty good, although not as great as it was when I was a teenager.

 

[chinmie]

is it just me, but i feel for AAC and SBC, there's a difference in sound between connecting to BT 5.0 and BT 4.0 android devices. it sounds with BT 4.0 devices the sound is a bit more compressed.

no difference when using APTX though

 

[rkw]

is it just me, but i feel for AAC and SBC, there's a difference in sound between connecting to BT 5.0 and BT 4.0 android devices.

Nothing changed in the Bluetooth standard between 4 and 5 that affects audio streaming. However, the devices would be using different Bluetooth chipsets (and other hardware changes) that could account for some differences.

 

[redrol]

A little ES100 Porn. I am absolutely psyched for the successor.

 

[Chupi383]

A quick question for Radsone: Is a parametric EQ still in the works? Or is this something for a successor product? I recall some talk about it, but now it's been since January since the last firmware.

Also, even on USB, audio doesn't seem to sync quite perfectly with videos. I'm guessing this is some unavoidable USB or DSP delay?

---
Apart from that, the ES100 is pretty much perfect in my book. I bought it without realizing just how great a little device it was. I wanted a basic Bluetooth receiver for on-the-go use and decided to buy a nice one after a far cheaper one had proven very disappointing. I didn't really look into what all it could do until after I upgraded my IEMs to Shure SE846s and noticed that they sounded better on the ES100 than anything else I tried connecting them to. I've been through the various settings that make a subtle difference and got them set how I want them. Now I mostly use the app to mess with the EQ, switch outputs, or check in on the battery.

 

[lgcubana]

Radsone, Amazon (U.S.) just dropped the price to $79.20
https://www.amazon.com/EarStudio-ES...Unbalanced/dp/B078H4YD2L?ref_=ast_sto_dp&th=1

 

[Shakey27]

Radsone, Amazon (U.S.) just dropped the price to $79.20
https://www.amazon.com/EarStudio-ES...Unbalanced/dp/B078H4YD2L?ref_=ast_sto_dp&th=1

Was JUST about to share this after pulling the trigger. Worth a shot with such a price drop. Getting mine tomorrow so one day shipping to boot!!

 

[jsmiller58]

I have seen a few mentions of a next gen ES100... is there anything to that rumor? If yes, where are there details?

 

[Outrager]

Was JUST about to share this after pulling the trigger. Worth a shot with such a price drop. Getting mine tomorrow so one day shipping to boot!!

I ordered it last night and had a delivery date of Thursday. Cancelled it this morning and ordered it again with free same day shipping and got it today. Amazon makes no sense.

 

[timechaser]

Using the 2x current - question.

So currently I am running my Oppo PM3 with the ES100 via the balanced connection. It gives an option of using 2x current but warns that this might damage headphones with less than 300ohm impedance. What's this jazz? Apologies for my lack of knowledge.

Any clarification would be much much appreciated.

 

[Shakey27]

I ordered it last night and had a delivery date of Thursday. Cancelled it this morning and ordered it again with free same day shipping and got it today. Amazon makes no sense.

Apparently mine might be delayed due to shipment being sent to incorrect UPS carrier facility, so yeah, not always a slam dunk on that front. No fault of Amazon, though. Price still at $79.20 as of this morning.

 

[maniac2003]

I have seen a few mentions of a next gen ES100... is there anything to that rumor? If yes, where are there details?

No, just speculation and wishes.