Don’t know yet. I am Hoping I like the centrance hifi-m8 v2 if I need power. Xduoo xd05 balanced is another possibility. For the easy to drive ones the qudelix can probably do it.
What is enough power for noire? I can’t imagine they need more than the centrance can produce on its xlr output.
Hey @bluenite , welcome to the forum. I have very little experience with Bluetooth audio and zero with actual bt headphones. If buds are an option , I can recommend the Samsung galaxy buds+. I use them pretty much every day at work. I wouldn’t say they are “audiophile” level sound but they’re the best wireless I have had and functionally I haven’t had any issues at all. (iPhone user) Battery life is awesome as well. I hear the Pro is even better audio wise but doesn’t have as good battery life if I recall correctly. I’m sure someone here will have some suggestions for BT headphones.
Portability of the headphone is unimportant. I need a portable amp because I don’t sit still while working and I can’t be wired to a desk.
I tried the idsd signature for a month. I couldn’t use it portably, I just left the setup on my desk. Which meant I had about 50% less listening time. I don’t mind having a bigger thing for the evenings when sitting on a couch, but during the day I need bluetooth much of the time.
You are describing the audeze mobius for $400 (not sure this is in budget). I own them and like them. I have a review on here and I think one of the pro reviewers does too.
Since I don’t know Centrance I tell you that if micro iDSD is enough.
They demand quite a lot to give back a lot.
The manufacturer claims 1.6 watts into 75 ohms. The only thing I have experienced that might not work well with that is the he6se v2. And, it might work fine.
What is “affordable”? Is it $50, $100, $300, $500?
Your criteria – such as Bluetooth, mic, and closed, around ear – limit your choices to mainstream consumer models. These have quality limitations relative to open-backed and wired headphones.
Sony, Bose, Beats, and Apple are popular picks. The models vary in price, so it’s hard to recommend further. None of them are going to deliver the best sound quality, and generally underperform the open-backed, wired Sennheiser HD6XX ($220) on a dedicated amp.
You had me until it said closed, around ears. Then it got worse with price for performance. I generally find that I don’t care for the integrated microphone, but mics that might be on a wire connecting some BT IEMs or a good gaming headset can be fine. My favorite at the moment is the Audeze LCDi3, but that’s very open and not what you’re looking for.
I have heard several other Audeze products, and with the exception of the LCD-2 closed, I liked them. While I have not heard their gaming headphones and multi-media headphones, I would suspect that they may fill your bill. Audeze has very good EQ available, so you can usually tune your sound preference. Those I know who have gone for some of their gaming headphones say they are excellent.
You might want to check these. I’m posting because someone else was looking for Low-Latency, and one of the headphones has both low-latency wireless and Bluetooth 5.
Again, I have NOT heard these exact phones, but others from the company, and would expect the usual high quality.
The centrance is gonna be plenty of power. My iFi Hip DAC only sounds a little less lively and full than my desktop amp (SMSL SP200)
If it can drive the he6se v2 it can drive the Noire too.
I can run the Noire with my DAPs. Noire is a little hungry, but not like the HE6se.
As long as you’re not trying to shake your brains loose, 1.5 watts should be plenty. I can run the Noire effectively on my AK DAPs, and I’m listening to them at the moment on my ampsandsounds Kenzie HA. I do have the beefier 12B4A output tubes in play, but the amp is not working hard. That is rated at about 1.5watts.
My friend just posted his comment re a loaner ESX900 (heavily modded Fostex TX900) on SABF. As I suspect, his view of this headphone was uniformly positive.
I’ve never been interested in the TH900 based on the awful comments I’ve read about its bright treble & recessed mids. Apparently the extensive mods took care of those issues rather nicely:
I could use some IEM tips help. I have had to reduce my Dunu Zen time because I can’t get a good fit or the tips become exceedingly irritating.
My right ear struggles with a good seal. Initially I found large tips that sit more toward the outside of my ear to be best. But the ones that worked best previously have loosened and push down past the second ridge on the zen nozzle. This either breaks the seal or causes an irritation. The blue tips that came with the Zen and the xelastec tips both struggle with this now.
I have all sizes of a few of my tips, and deeper insertions definitely seal better. Final e on the smaller size can work but irritate. The spinfit cp240 in any size seem to seal well but make my ears feel like they are on fire. Comply tips even irritate.
Is anyone aware of a supremely soft deep insertion tip (a much softer/more comfortable cp240)?
The cp240 always sounded really good to me.
And, yes, custom iems may be on the table at some point. But not right now. I am also concerned ciem material would be just as irritating.
You could use a kind of spacer to stop the tips sliding down the nozzle. There are a couple of options for doing this.
One of them is to buy a set of tips that come with spacers, like these Final E tips. The other option is to sacrifice a pair of your current tips and to cut off the stems and use those as DIY spacers.
I own the five size version of the final set, as well as the large set.
I didn’t think I could get that little red thing around the zen’s nozzle. But I could try.
Apparently there are companies that make custom ear tips the same way you do for ciems. So I am looking at that as well.
I have several of many of my tips. Sacrificing a set for a permanent spacer seems like a great idea!
Thanks again for your input. I’ve gone with the Sescom switch box - I agree it makes sense to keep things simple to begin with (particularly in view of my potentially hazardous lack of technical understanding).
After seeing that , wow ! had to look up a few more countries
Gauges for tax deductions is insane. On top of that a lot of taxpayers in several different countries have no idea where there money is allocated (rich or poor.)
The middle class is gone here in Canada.