Wireless bluetooth EAR BUDS recommendations

[Snoweagle]

Really miss those days of their Super-Fi 5 and Triple-Fi 10 Pro.

 

[peaceheart]

Really miss those days of their Super-Fi 5 and Triple-Fi 10 Pro.

Those were the days

 

[tohchr]

The main draw is the fit and UE itself only sells this through their online store instead of usual retailers; probably it is not as good as its competition.

Price is on the high side, no many will willing to fork out that amount.

 

[Alexz_Hong]

Really miss those days of their Super-Fi 5 and Triple-Fi 10 Pro.

very poor student back then, so only had their cheaper stuff like metrofi, UE200, UE600. Had fond memories of those, but don't really miss the price of IEMs back then though.

 

[peaceheart]

very poor student back then, so only had their cheaper stuff like metrofi, UE200, UE600. Had fond memories of those, but don't really miss the price of IEMs back then though.

Indeed. Barrier to entry was so high back then. With the rise of chifi, prices dropped drastically... Kids so fortunate now, at least in terms of audio stuff

 

[Kitaro9202]

Quite long use my tf10 liao leh dk still working not

 

[Snoweagle]

Those were the days

Really brings back memories...

Posted with Apple iPhone 12 Pro Max HardwareZone Forums app

 

[Snoweagle]

very poor student back then, so only had their cheaper stuff like metrofi, UE200, UE600. Had fond memories of those, but don't really miss the price of IEMs back then though.

The quality of the drivers was really good for UE then. I had a TF10 Pro with a broken connector, reshelled it to a UM CIEM and added a mid driver since the existing drivers on the TF10 Pro are still good.

Posted with Apple iPhone 12 Pro Max HardwareZone Forums app

 

[Alexz_Hong]

The quality of the drivers was really good for UE then. I had a TF10 Pro with a broken connector, reshelled it to a UM CIEM and added a mid driver since the existing drivers on the TF10 Pro are still good.

indeed. some of the UE i owned survived a trip or two through the washing machine. lol. One side of the UE600's BA driver took a little longer to totally dry out and recover, but after a long time eventually it started working. Continued using it for some time before it died.

Anyway recently also quite interesting in the realm of IEMs with new mid-fi single DD like FIIO FD5, Senn IE300. Then you have Etymotic working on a pair of multi driver IEMs. I wonder if Sony is working on anything new or not. the XBA-N3 series quite old liao. Wasn't a fan of how that sounded, but the IER-M9 is still top notch. If only they can bring some of that "goodness" down to something more affordable.

 

[peaceheart]

indeed. some of the UE i owned survived a trip or two through the washing machine. lol. One side of the UE600's BA driver took a little longer to totally dry out and recover, but after a long time eventually it started working. Continued using it for some time before it died.

Anyway recently also quite interesting in the realm of IEMs with new mid-fi single DD like FIIO FD5, Senn IE300. Then you have Etymotic working on a pair of multi driver IEMs. I wonder if Sony is working on anything new or not. the XBA-N3 series quite old liao. Wasn't a fan of how that sounded, but the IER-M9 is still top notch. If only they can bring some of that "goodness" down to something more affordable.

The multiple drivers race is still on? Rmb it was all the rage sometime back. Think current focus is on ANC?

Define affordable. Sennheiser recently released their cheaper tws right... Damn, $200+ is not affordable man. I like the old school ie8... Cost $500 back then. Din try it's successors thereafter.... Way out of my budget

Anyway, good job on your YouTube channel

 

[justln]

Anker got new ANC earbuds, dunno good or not.

 

[Alexz_Hong]

The multiple drivers race is still on? Rmb it was all the rage sometime back. Think current focus is on ANC?

Define affordable. Sennheiser recently released their cheaper tws right... Damn, $200+ is not affordable man. I like the old school ie8... Cost $500 back then. Din try it's successors thereafter.... Way out of my budget

Anyway, good job on your YouTube channel

well for Chi-Fi it is to some extent. hahaha. like cca ca16 with 7ba + 1dd on each side, kz asx with 10ba on each side. some are probably decent, and some probably tanked looking at reviews, but didn't really try them since the previous cheap chi-fi multi-driver stuff I tried in the past wasn't really super impressive.

but well, this is more on the wired audio gear side. well, "affordable" in brackets. more like what I can still justify paying for. probably like under 400? For TWS my "affordable" will probably be more like 100 since they have very limited lifespan compared to wired stuff thanks to the batteries inside them. for the majority of them, once the battery dies, the TWS earbuds are basically unusable.

unless you are willing to try to DIY a bit like i did for my KZ Z1, and convert it to wired.

Spoiler

ANC is getting more popular for sure but not really something I'm super interested in since my main use is for music while on the go, and normally good passive isolation would be enough already. maybe will be good for podcast/audiobook listeners while on buses and noisier places. For those that don't mind deeper inserting, something like the Etymotic ER2XR actually will provide better overall noise reduction. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

 

[wwh5210]

Anker got new ANC earbuds, dunno good or not.

Noticed a few downgrades from last gen LA2 after watching a few reviews on YouTube:

- IPx5 to IPx4
- 28 hours to 26hours
- QCC 3020 to non QCC chipset (missing AptX support)
- Call quality is just average (not much difference from the previous LA2)

 

[peaceheart]

well for Chi-Fi it is to some extent. hahaha. like cca ca16 with 7ba + 1dd on each side, kz asx with 10ba on each side. some are probably decent, and some probably tanked looking at reviews, but didn't really try them since the previous cheap chi-fi multi-driver stuff I tried in the past wasn't really super impressive.

but well, this is more on the wired audio gear side. well, "affordable" in brackets. more like what I can still justify paying for. probably like under 400? For TWS my "affordable" will probably be more like 100 since they have very limited lifespan compared to wired stuff thanks to the batteries inside them. for the majority of them, once the battery dies, the TWS earbuds are basically unusable.

unless you are willing to try to DIY a bit like i did for my KZ Z1, and convert it to wired.

Spoiler

ANC is getting more popular for sure but not really something I'm super interested in since my main use is for music while on the go, and normally good passive isolation would be enough already. maybe will be good for podcast/audiobook listeners while on buses and noisier places. For those that don't mind deeper inserting, something like the Etymotic ER2XR actually will provide better overall noise reduction. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

Totally agree. $100 is my max too for the reasons you mentioned. Limited liftspan and I dun need audiophile grade experience while on the go hence also dun need ANC as well.

 

[Alexz_Hong]

Totally agree. $100 is my max too for the reasons you mentioned. Limited liftspan and I dun need audiophile grade experience while on the go hence also dun need ANC as well.

yeah, and there are actually plenty of nice options already under $100. Most of the FIIL stuff are good enough on the go, the new TRN T300 actually sounds quite good, and some of the cheap QCY and Haylou sounds decent too. And there is the option of just getting TWS adapters too to use with existing IEMs if okay with earhooks. no need to worry too much about lifespan too since just need to get new adapters, and the earphones themselves are normally very durable.

 

[Henabi]

Noticed a few downgrades from last gen LA2 after watching a few reviews on YouTube:

- IPx5 to IPx4
- 28 hours to 26hours
- QCC 3020 to non QCC chipset (missing AptX support)
- Call quality is just average (not much difference from the previous LA2)

https://www.cnet.com/news/anker-lib...on-with-the-new-130-airpods-pro-alternatives/

This one right?

 

[Snoweagle]

indeed. some of the UE i owned survived a trip or two through the washing machine. lol. One side of the UE600's BA driver took a little longer to totally dry out and recover, but after a long time eventually it started working. Continued using it for some time before it died.

Anyway recently also quite interesting in the realm of IEMs with new mid-fi single DD like FIIO FD5, Senn IE300. Then you have Etymotic working on a pair of multi driver IEMs. I wonder if Sony is working on anything new or not. the XBA-N3 series quite old liao. Wasn't a fan of how that sounded, but the IER-M9 is still top notch. If only they can bring some of that "goodness" down to something more affordable.

Yes the old UEs (before bought over by Logitech) drivers are really built to last. Its drivers that are currently in my UM CIEM, even though now also in storage as I’ve moved on to TW, they’re still working after over 10 years! Can imagine I spent over $500 for the TF10 Pro from Jaben.

Coming down to Sony, I’m not a fan of their XBA series and recently only purchased the WF-1000XM3 at a good price. I suppose the reduction of price might mean the M4 is coming soon. Their IER series is awesome but the price also will burn a big hole in the wallet. Their top-end IER-Z1R at $2499 is too much, might as well get a CIEM with this price. But think the IER-M7 is also good enough for most people already.

 

[Shdwfalcon]

well for Chi-Fi it is to some extent. hahaha. like cca ca16 with 7ba + 1dd on each side, kz asx with 10ba on each side. some are probably decent, and some probably tanked looking at reviews, but didn't really try them since the previous cheap chi-fi multi-driver stuff I tried in the past wasn't really super impressive.

but well, this is more on the wired audio gear side. well, "affordable" in brackets. more like what I can still justify paying for. probably like under 400? For TWS my "affordable" will probably be more like 100 since they have very limited lifespan compared to wired stuff thanks to the batteries inside them. for the majority of them, once the battery dies, the TWS earbuds are basically unusable.

unless you are willing to try to DIY a bit like i did for my KZ Z1, and convert it to wired.


ANC is getting more popular for sure but not really something I'm super interested in since my main use is for music while on the go, and normally good passive isolation would be enough already. maybe will be good for podcast/audiobook listeners while on buses and noisier places. For those that don't mind deeper inserting, something like the Etymotic ER2XR actually will provide better overall noise reduction. *********\_(ツ)_/*********

The more I use TWE, the more I find pointless in the long run. It occured to me that I am better off just getting the bluetooth wireless band or adapter to plug into my available IEMs. Future proof as I can just upgrade the bluetooth adapter rather than just get a whole new TWE set.

I already ordered a bluetooth neckwire with 0.78mm 2pin ends, next time just plug into the IEM of my choice and run it. Why 0.78mm? Coz my CIEM is using 0.78mm. So now looking for a mid-low end universal that is also using 0.78mm.

Not interested in ANC. For me, it's passive all the way.

 

[wwh5210]

https://www.cnet.com/news/anker-lib...on-with-the-new-130-airpods-pro-alternatives/

This one right?

Yup... Soundcore Liberty Air 2 Pro

 

[Alexz_Hong]

Yes the old UEs (before bought over by Logitech) drivers are really built to last. Its drivers that are currently in my UM CIEM, even though now also in storage as I’ve moved on to TW, they’re still working after over 10 years! Can imagine I spent over $500 for the TF10 Pro from Jaben.

Coming down to Sony, I’m not a fan of their XBA series and recently only purchased the WF-1000XM3 at a good price. I suppose the reduction of price might mean the M4 is coming soon. Their IER series is awesome but the price also will burn a big hole in the wallet. Their top-end IER-Z1R at $2499 is too much, might as well get a CIEM with this price. But think the IER-M7 is also good enough for most people already.

yeah. and it's a shame too logitech eventually reduced the mainstream UE brand to just speakers. :/ for IEMs they can easily last for many many years if well taken care of, unlike TWS. The M7/M9 from Sony are both still so good, and I like the fit better too. unfortunately both are still very expensive. which is why I was hoping they will have something that sounds similar to those but at a more "affordable" price. haha.

The more I use TWE, the more I find pointless in the long run. It occured to me that I am better off just getting the bluetooth wireless band or adapter to plug into my available IEMs. Future proof as I can just upgrade the bluetooth adapter rather than just get a whole new TWE set.

I already ordered a bluetooth neckwire with 0.78mm 2pin ends, next time just plug into the IEM of my choice and run it. Why 0.78mm? Coz my CIEM is using 0.78mm. So now looking for a mid-low end universal that is also using 0.78mm.

Not interested in ANC. For me, it's passive all the way.

haha. i think its still nice to have a cheap and decent pair for sports/jogging. for me that's my main usage of TWS nowadays. so at least won't feel heart pain when it breaks.

I know some CIEM uses recessed 2pin though, are there adapters that support that?Anyway, probably plenty of good options for low-mid tier IEMs with 2pin.