Wireless headphones, Yay or Nay?

Headphones General Headphone Discussion
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Observe as I bring this thread back from the dead.

I’ve been driving the Galaxy Buds for a few months now since Crinacle’s praise of it, but I’m really getting curious about what’s on the horizon. I was a bit curious about the Noble Falcon TWS, but it ended up measuring a bit bright for me to take a chance on. I find it interesting how companies like Noble or AT who are 100% dedicated to audio struggle to reach the top of the ladder. Here’s hoping to an interesting 2020 for wireless!

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The problem with wireless, at least from the standpoint of @TylersEclectic, is how do you make it PURPLE?

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I still prefer to use the Earstudio ES 100 balanced for IEMs, wrapping the cable once around my neck and clip the ES 100 to the cable - so there is nothing disturbing flying around and I have physical buttons for all functions I need - even a microphone for calls or the ambient sound around me

the BT LDAC codec support beeing still lossy is good enough for commuting(not my style) or walks with the dog
this BT DAC/Amp is sure not the most powerful, fast and resolving - you take what you get
this little unit makes pure wireless obsolete(for me)

not a fan of ANC at all - I prefer passive isolation

the bad move by Bose to tame down (the already not best quality) QC35 via an app update… short time before the successor is released …
or
the Hifiman Ananda BT beeing usable in DSP mode only …
such storys make a investment highly unpredictable

the wireless market is huge … in counsumer products, though not existent in hi-fi yet

so Nay :frowning:

hope for a movement in the correct mid- or even hi-fi direction in 2020

for the wishlist:
higher bandwith BT codecs (at least LDAC, HWA, UAT or even something higher tier)
in a closed back or semi-open over ear
with the possibilty to choose between wired(without any dsp) and BT
with physical controls for volume, play/pause, next song, ambient sound in, taking calls/google assistent and if so anc on/off
a App to eq and adjust some things
a battery indication on the hf and via the mobile phone in the BT menue
easy to change pads

at least this Audeze Mobius gaming hs is a good one - from what I read and could surprise us in a version 2

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and now the Drop THX Panda is on the horizon

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I’m still curious about these and the wireless Porta Pro’s

Traditional Porta Pro with Mix Cable is my EDC, I’m willing to bet the wireless variant would be more or less the same experince for me and even more useful

However the upcoming Drop Wireless Collbad with a THX Internal Amp also seems like it might be prettty sweeeet

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I have headphones that can decode the aptXHD bluetooth from my Node 2i. They sound GREAT. Have you guys any opinions on these? Is wireless aptXHD that much poorer than wired?

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I’m mildly confused on what you are asking here… but I think wired is usually better quality… but it depends on a lot of things…

I use bluetooth or aptXHD depending on what I’m using and am fine with it… but if you are getting serious into audio quality than a proper DAC/amp to a decent headphone is the way to go.

Bluetooth I’m sure will one day rival wired connections…but today is not that day :wink:

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Thanks man! I was using the new Nuraloop wireless ear buds. I was listening to Tidal on my Bluesound node 2i which is a very good DAC which supports the aptXHD bluetooth which is getting really close to wired. I agree with you but it’s getting harder to tell.

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What do you do when one of your favorite IEM’s that you want to take to the gym has an annoying cable?

You Bluetooth them and when your IEM’s are KZ ZS10 Pro’s, you…
KZ BT 5.0 is there for you.

KZ Bluetooth 1
KZ Bluetooth 12184×1456 1.87 MB

Using My Huawei MateBook as a reference, I went between the stock cable and the BT.
First KZ is using a a Qualcomm csr8675 5.0 chip that has integrated AptX HD. I never had any issues with connectivity and the range is pretty good, at least 40ft in my estimation. 130mAh battery they claim has 8 hours of use and I would say that’s pretty true. I found that the 2 hours on a fast charge is also pretty accurate. IPX5 waterproof is on the description and to be honest, I can’t verify this. I’m not going to subject my hard earned money to be possibly ruined by a kitchen sink to see if this claim is true. Also a disclaimer, I didn’t use this to answer or make calls. I don’t know anyone who uses attachments like this to answer their phone. There might be those who do, but I don’t. If someone calls and I’m at the gym, they can leave a message. As for the features such as next track, last track, up and down volume, everything worked just fine. No issues at all. Now on to if these are worth the $43 I paid for them…
KZ Bluetooth 2
KZ Bluetooth 22184×1456 2.51 MB

I would say yes.
There is a definite sound and amplification difference between the MateBook and BT 5.0’s. For sound, The MateBook has a boldness and a bit more pronounced midrange where the BT 5.0’s have a little more relaxed midrange and best word I can think of is “clinical” sound. Let me explain. Let’s use the tube amp/Class A amp difference. The BT 5.0’s are free of the warm that the MateBook has and replaced it with a more accurate signature if that makes any sense. It might be my 52 year old ears messing with me, but that’s what I can hear after switched between the cables and BT 5.0’s several times. Regardless, sound quality is very good. With the KZ ZS10 Pro’s, this might welcomed by some. As for the amplification, the BT 5.0’s are around 60-70% of the output of the MateBook. They do get loud. No issues with the power output.
The cable is extremely light and unlike the stock cable, the cable is easy to manage and deal with.

If you have a 2 pin IEM and you need to be free of a clunky cable, these would be a very good alternative.

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Bluetooth audio has come a long way. The ZS10 Pro’s stock cable needs replacement regardless ( I replaced mine and it improved the sound, which I never believed a cable could do. ) because it is not very good at all.

BT 5.0 seems to get audio much closer to a wired experience, for flexibility while “walking around” it appears to be more than adequate.

Mark Gosdin

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