Budget IEM (Chit Chat)

[skyline72]

https://ifi-audio.com/products/zen-blue-3

That day I was looking at this model.. because this one if you connect to your PC... it will help stream at higher quality to your wireless headphones and TWS earbuds... most PC dun support high lossless codecs...

I think their products are value for money. I don't use TWS already.

Gave my Noble Fokus Amadeus to my gf.

 

[BlackWing1977]

Yea, I think that's the best way liao. A lot fake flac online lol.

But problem now a lot of those physical storefronts closed already if not I think got one point they all having big sales... can easily buy I think.. I recently rip to FLAC are all the old original CD I bought more than 20 years ago... I remember I bought majority from HMV, Tower Records and even Sembawang Music lol...

 

[skyline72]

But problem now a lot of those physical storefronts closed already if not I think got one point they all having big sales... can easily buy I think.. I recently rip to FLAC are all the old original CD I bought more than 20 years ago... I remember I bought majority from HMV, Tower Records and even Sembawang Music lol...

Can share share or not?

 

[BlackWing1977]

Can share share or not?

Size very big lar.

Wait people report me for infringing copyrights....

And most of them are anime related JPOP.... I think those are probably the most easiest accessible to find online.... so no point also... cantopop on the other hand very difficult to find I think.. unless you willing to accept mp3 level... then YouTube is your friend...

 

[BlackWing1977]

Can share share or not?

https://www.sidify.com/resources/flac-lossless-music-downloaders.html

Can look at these sites. To be honest... sometimes I find it hard to hear the difference between mp3 and FLAC...

The mp3 from YouTube video using some sites that can help you download the mp3... not a bad way to keep a copy of the song you like to listen at your own pace or rather on device that cannot access YouTube music.

 

[skyline72]

Size very big lar.

Wait people report me for infringing copyrights....

And most of them are anime related JPOP.... I think those are probably the most easiest accessible to find online.... so no point also... cantopop on the other hand very difficult to find I think.. unless you willing to accept mp3 level... then YouTube is your friend...

Oh, ya those are easier to find compare to Cantopop. Cannot la mp3

Source is the most important factor of the audio chain.

 

[BlackWing1977]

AI Overview


When transmitting FLAC audio through LDAC, there is a quality loss because LDAC is a lossy Bluetooth codec, even at its highest setting. The original FLAC file data is compressed to fit within the limits of Bluetooth bandwidth.

Why Quality is Lost

• FLAC is Lossless, LDAC is Lossy: FLAC (Free Lossless Audio Codec) is a digital file format that compresses audio without discarding any data, making the uncompressed audio a bit-perfect clone of the original source. LDAC is a high-resolution lossy compression codec designed for transmission over Bluetooth, which necessarily discards some data using psychoacoustic modeling to achieve smaller file sizes.
• Bitrate Disparity: LDAC's maximum bitrate is 990 kbps (kilobits per second). A standard, uncompressed CD-quality audio stream (16-bit/44.1 kHz) has a native bitrate of 1,411 kbps. A high-resolution FLAC file (e.g., 24-bit/96 kHz) has an uncompressed bitrate of 4,608 kbps. LDAC's maximum speed is not fast enough to transmit either of these without further compression and data loss.
• Perceptual vs. Technical Lossless: While not technically lossless, LDAC at 990 kbps is designed to be "perceptually lossless" for most listeners. This means that the discarded data is typically in frequency ranges that most human ears cannot hear, making the resulting audio sound extremely close to the original wired source.

Summary of Loss
The amount of quality loss is minimal and likely imperceptible to most people when using LDAC's highest quality 990 kbps mode in ideal conditions. However, the transmission is not bit-perfect, so a technical loss of data is occurring.
For the best possible experience, ensure:

• Your source device (e.g., Android phone) and receiving device (headphones/speaker) both support LDAC.
• You manually select the "Optimized for Audio Quality (990 kbps)" setting in your device's developer options (if applicable), as many devices default to lower, more stable bitrates like 660 kbps or 330 kbps. This mode can be fragile and prone to stuttering in areas with a lot of wireless interference.

---

I also dunno where to choose the bitrate in LDAC... dun see the option.

But I usually see my FLAC bitrate about double of the LDAC max rate.

 

[skyline72]

AI Overview


When transmitting FLAC audio through LDAC, there is a quality loss because LDAC is a lossy Bluetooth codec, even at its highest setting. The original FLAC file data is compressed to fit within the limits of Bluetooth bandwidth.

Why Quality is Lost

• FLAC is Lossless, LDAC is Lossy: FLAC (Free Lossless Audio Codec) is a digital file format that compresses audio without discarding any data, making the uncompressed audio a bit-perfect clone of the original source. LDAC is a high-resolution lossy compression codec designed for transmission over Bluetooth, which necessarily discards some data using psychoacoustic modeling to achieve smaller file sizes.
• Bitrate Disparity: LDAC's maximum bitrate is 990 kbps (kilobits per second). A standard, uncompressed CD-quality audio stream (16-bit/44.1 kHz) has a native bitrate of 1,411 kbps. A high-resolution FLAC file (e.g., 24-bit/96 kHz) has an uncompressed bitrate of 4,608 kbps. LDAC's maximum speed is not fast enough to transmit either of these without further compression and data loss.
• Perceptual vs. Technical Lossless: While not technically lossless, LDAC at 990 kbps is designed to be "perceptually lossless" for most listeners. This means that the discarded data is typically in frequency ranges that most human ears cannot hear, making the resulting audio sound extremely close to the original wired source.

Summary of Loss
The amount of quality loss is minimal and likely imperceptible to most people when using LDAC's highest quality 990 kbps mode in ideal conditions. However, the transmission is not bit-perfect, so a technical loss of data is occurring.
For the best possible experience, ensure:

• Your source device (e.g., Android phone) and receiving device (headphones/speaker) both support LDAC.
• You manually select the "Optimized for Audio Quality (990 kbps)" setting in your device's developer options (if applicable), as many devices default to lower, more stable bitrates like 660 kbps or 330 kbps. This mode can be fragile and prone to stuttering in areas with a lot of wireless interference.

---

I also dunno where to choose the bitrate in LDAC... dun see the option.

But I usually see my FLAC bitrate about double of the LDAC max rate.

You need to 'unlock' the developer options by tapping the "Build Number" in the "About Phone" section seven times. Then scroll to Bluetooth to choose the bitrate. I did encounter stuttering while choosing the Audio Quality though.

 

[fat_boyz]

The 3.5mm headphone jack hasn't changed much, which makes me wonder if the issue might be related to my hearing.

Get your hearing checked out. I once had a ear infection that affected what I could hear. Also affected my balance, and easily nauseous in moving vehicle.
Got referred to ENT and audiologist for treatment before recovery.

 

[BlackWing1977]

You need to 'unlock' the developer options by tapping the "Build Number" in the "About Phone" section seven times. Then scroll to Bluetooth to choose the bitrate. I did encounter stuttering while choosing the Audio Quality though.

Thanks did not know about that.

---

AI Overview

To change the LDAC bitrate on your Poco F7 Pro, you need to access the hidden Developer options menu in your phone's settings.

Prerequisites

• Your Bluetooth audio device (headphones, earbuds, etc.) must support the LDAC codec.
• The device must be actively connected to your Poco F7 Pro.
• Some third-party apps for your audio device might have their own sound quality settings that override the system settings. If the developer options changes don't stick, check your device's specific app settings.

Step-by-Step Instructions

1. Enable Developer Options (if not already enabled):
   • Go to Settings > About phone.
   • Tap on the MIUI version (or Build number) repeatedly (about 7 times) until a message says "You are now a developer!".
2. Access Developer Options:
   • Go back to the main Settings menu.
   • Scroll down and select Additional settings.
   • Find and select Developer options.
3. Change the LDAC Bitrate:
   • Inside Developer options, scroll down to the "Networking" section.
   • Look for the option named "Bluetooth audio LDAC codec: Playback quality" or similar.
   • Tap on it and select your desired bitrate from the options (e.g., Optimized for Audio Quality - 990 kbps, Balanced - 660 kbps, Optimized for Connection Quality - 330 kbps).
   • You can also adjust other settings like Bluetooth Audio Sample Rate and Bits Per Sample here if available and supported by your connected device.

Troubleshooting Tip: Forcing the Change to Stick
Sometimes the phone reverts the setting back to "Best Effort" (adaptive) by default, or the change does not immediately take effect.

• After selecting your desired quality in Developer options, switch to another Bluetooth audio codec (like AAC or SBC) and then switch back to LDAC in the same menu. This should force the audio connection to reinitialize with the selected bitrate.
• If you experience audio interruptions or stuttering at higher bitrates (like 990 kbps), especially with Wi-Fi enabled, switch to a lower bitrate or ensure your phone is using a 5GHz Wi-Fi band to reduce interference with the 2.4GHz Bluetooth frequency.

 

[SkyScraper]

End up i hand itchy go order my “end game” yu9 que before this year end

 

[otakuflick]

I missed the days of listening to my Westone 3 on my Sansa clip

These days just using wireless Bluetooth earphones from my phone

Maybe time to get back to IEMs for the warm fuzzy feeling? Mostly nostalgia haha

+1 for sansa clip

Same boat but I think I'll buy a pair of headphones instead.... iem I think market is flooded too hard to pick

 

[skyline72]

Thanks did not know about that.

---

AI Overview

To change the LDAC bitrate on your Poco F7 Pro, you need to access the hidden Developer options menu in your phone's settings.

Prerequisites

• Your Bluetooth audio device (headphones, earbuds, etc.) must support the LDAC codec.
• The device must be actively connected to your Poco F7 Pro.
• Some third-party apps for your audio device might have their own sound quality settings that override the system settings. If the developer options changes don't stick, check your device's specific app settings.

Step-by-Step Instructions

1. Enable Developer Options(if not already enabled):
   • Go to Settings > About phone.
   • Tap on the MIUI version (or Build number) repeatedly (about 7 times) until a message says "You are now a developer!".
2. Access Developer Options:
   • Go back to the main Settings menu.
   • Scroll down and select Additional settings.
   • Find and select Developer options.
3. Change the LDAC Bitrate:
   • Inside Developer options, scroll down to the "Networking" section.
   • Look for the option named "Bluetooth audio LDAC codec: Playback quality" or similar.
   • Tap on it and select your desired bitrate from the options (e.g., Optimized for Audio Quality - 990 kbps, Balanced - 660 kbps, Optimized for Connection Quality - 330 kbps).
   • You can also adjust other settings like Bluetooth Audio Sample Rate and Bits Per Sample here if available and supported by your connected device.

Troubleshooting Tip: Forcing the Change to Stick
Sometimes the phone reverts the setting back to "Best Effort" (adaptive) by default, or the change does not immediately take effect.

• After selecting your desired quality in Developer options, switch to another Bluetooth audio codec (like AAC or SBC) and then switch back to LDAC in the same menu. This should force the audio connection to reinitialize with the selected bitrate.
• If you experience audio interruptions or stuttering at higher bitrates (like 990 kbps), especially with Wi-Fi enabled, switch to a lower bitrate or ensure your phone is using a 5GHz Wi-Fi band to reduce interference with the 2.4GHz Bluetooth frequency.

Yea, that's how you do it.

 

[skyline72]

End up i hand itchy go order my “end game” yu9 que before this year end

I think it got mentioned quite a bit at headfi.

 

[LoUsyGamER]

No issue converting flathead to iem (not in-ear earbuds)

Just don't like the feeling of kana poke by something, reverting soon.

 

[BlackWing1977]

Thanks did not know about that.

---

AI Overview

To change the LDAC bitrate on your Poco F7 Pro, you need to access the hidden Developer options menu in your phone's settings.

Prerequisites

• Your Bluetooth audio device (headphones, earbuds, etc.) must support the LDAC codec.
• The device must be actively connected to your Poco F7 Pro.
• Some third-party apps for your audio device might have their own sound quality settings that override the system settings. If the developer options changes don't stick, check your device's specific app settings.

Step-by-Step Instructions

1. Enable Developer Options(if not already enabled):
   • Go to Settings > About phone.
   • Tap on the MIUI version (or Build number) repeatedly (about 7 times) until a message says "You are now a developer!".
2. Access Developer Options:
   • Go back to the main Settings menu.
   • Scroll down and select Additional settings.
   • Find and select Developer options.
3. Change the LDAC Bitrate:
   • Inside Developer options, scroll down to the "Networking" section.
   • Look for the option named "Bluetooth audio LDAC codec: Playback quality" or similar.
   • Tap on it and select your desired bitrate from the options (e.g., Optimized for Audio Quality - 990 kbps, Balanced - 660 kbps, Optimized for Connection Quality - 330 kbps).
   • You can also adjust other settings like Bluetooth Audio Sample Rate and Bits Per Sample here if available and supported by your connected device.

Troubleshooting Tip: Forcing the Change to Stick
Sometimes the phone reverts the setting back to "Best Effort" (adaptive) by default, or the change does not immediately take effect.

• After selecting your desired quality in Developer options, switch to another Bluetooth audio codec (like AAC or SBC) and then switch back to LDAC in the same menu. This should force the audio connection to reinitialize with the selected bitrate.
• If you experience audio interruptions or stuttering at higher bitrates (like 990 kbps), especially with Wi-Fi enabled, switch to a lower bitrate or ensure your phone is using a 5GHz Wi-Fi band to reduce interference with the 2.4GHz Bluetooth frequency.

So far sounds okay... but not sure if I can hear the difference though...

 

[BlackWing1977]

End up i hand itchy go order my “end game” yu9 que before this year end

What is this?? I think the price of some high end IEM really gotten out of hand.. charging quite a few thousands for a pair is crazy...

 

[BlackWing1977]

+1 for sansa clip

Same boat but I think I'll buy a pair of headphones instead.... iem I think market is flooded too hard to pick

That is why I stick to just the budget KZ and CCA... and ignore all the kilobucks IEM.. and even those couple of hundreds upward... as I know in that price range, getting a pair of headphone would probably kick the crap out of similar pricing IEM... and way harder to go wrong, but for me full size headphone have way more size restrictions for me as I got big ears... about 70mm including earlobes... I can still wear the headphone if the space is at least 65mm... my earlobes have to be tuck in.. any smaller my earlobes would be on the earpads itself and this is bad... as ear wax will literally collect on the earpads... and it became crusty.. had that experience on my old OG purple color ATH-AD700 from back then... and due to the fixed cable design eventually the headphone have sound issues in one of the ear cups.. that is why nowadays my full size headphone buying criteria is, it must be big enough to cover my whole ear comfortably, and it must have detachable cables.

 

[skyline72]

What is this?? I think the price of some high end IEM really gotten out of hand.. charging quite a few thousands for a pair is crazy...

I am aiming for a pair.

Though my current pair not cheap also.

 

[tuckloong]

End up i hand itchy go order my “end game” yu9 que before this year end

me mid fi end game ish Hidiz Mk 12 nia