[helmutcheese]

The MTW3 suit smaller ears, it is an issue for us with bigger ears/canals.

 

[dweaver]

Hey everyone! I would like to draw on the collective brain for a recommendation; I typically have been paying attention to the XM5, AZ80 3ANC etc and have not paid as much attention to some of the other cheaper options. My girlfriend is in need of some TWS that meet these requirements:

Comfortable (tiny ears)
More of a shallow fit but ideally also stable (she loves the old Bose Stayhear tips)
Good ANC
and ideally solid sound with good bass for EDM

She has the Bose QCII but they're giving her a ton of connection issues (both blips in audio playback but also refusing to connect to her iPhone in crowded places) so she's thinking to make a return.


I'm tempted to suggest the MTW3 but I worry it won't be a good fit for her - so I'm wondering if anyone can point me to what they think might be a good middle-price option that meets the above, particularly a comfortable not completely IEM fit.

Thank you!

@helmutcheese mentioned the MTW3 which are not to big so might be a good choice. They certainly will sound good!

Another good choice would the Linkbuds S which are fairly shallow and also small. They also use the hybrid silicone tips which are super comfy. But the MTW3 will sound better in my opinion. But the the Linkbuds S will have a bit better ANC and ambient modes and are arguably better for phones calls.

The MTW3 have a but better battery life especially if you turn on all Sony features and use LDAC.

 

[SynaestheticA]

Some more Prestige porn

 

[highlightshadow]

Hey everyone! I would like to draw on the collective brain for a recommendation; I typically have been paying attention to the XM5, AZ80 3ANC etc and have not paid as much attention to some of the other cheaper options. My girlfriend is in need of some TWS that meet these requirements:

Comfortable (tiny ears)
More of a shallow fit but ideally also stable (she loves the old Bose Stayhear tips)
Good ANC
and ideally solid sound with good bass for EDM

She has the Bose QCII but they're giving her a ton of connection issues (both blips in audio playback but also refusing to connect to her iPhone in crowded places) so she's thinking to make a return.


I'm tempted to suggest the MTW3 but I worry it won't be a good fit for her - so I'm wondering if anyone can point me to what they think might be a good middle-price option that meets the above, particularly a comfortable not completely IEM fit.

Thank you!

I always struggle with IEM's and TWS fits cos nothing sits in my ears. I have really small ears for a bloke and the MTW3 are by a country mile the most comfortable TWS i've ever experienced. The wings mean zero faffing around with fit - they just stay secure.
Given the low prices available for MTW3's it's becomming a better proposition all the time. for EDM / bass these smash it completely.
Also -- something often overlooked is the touch-controls -- sennheiser nailed it on the control front. The touch pads are sensitive but seem to register accurately. Given you have to do things like 1, 2 or 3 taps for functions, they also play a gentle little beep when it registers a touch and each subsequent touch is slightly higher in pitch so you can just know you've done the right action. First time i've ever enjoyed touch controls on a set of earbuds.

 

[Andrew_WOT]

What would be the top TWS with SQ approaching traditional $500-1000 IEMs? If such thing even exists.

 

[SynaestheticA]

What would be the top TWS with IQ approaching traditional $500-1000 IEMs? If such thing even exists.

What do you mean by IQ exactly? EQ?

Most people on the site will probably tell you that there is nothing. I'd disagree

The Hifiman Svanar tws is probably the closest to an audiophile sound of wired (no EQ tho)

The Noble Fokus series (prestige on the way) is going to be up there no doubt.

But in my personal opinion, the Denon PerL Pro is going to be the only set of iems/tws that give you a sound presentation that no other item on the market has replicated so far.

Every other item I've listed and every item any one else lists is going to be a slightly better or worse version of a familiar in ear monitor sound.

The DPP is the most unique of the options and would be my recommendation as it's going to offer you something even a $1000-$2000 iem won't. I don't mean to say it's better than a $2000 iem, but I do think it is more unique then them

 

[Not so fat head]

99% of folks outside your home will think you’re deaf, and that they’re medical devices or maybe you’re just a little weird….
On the bright side, you’ll probably get the bus seat all to yourself….

I didn’t mean to step on anyone’s toes here, I just can’t see myself leaving the house with these type devices hanging off the back of my ears…
My AKG N5005’s come with these Bluetooth devices in the box and just can’t be bothered to use them.. The AKG’s were $199, an astonishing value BTW; and they maybe a cheap way to see if they’re for you..

 

[Andrew_WOT]

LOL, too much Image Quality things in my head, meant SQ. Sorry.

 

[Not so fat head]

I think the big trend in kilobuck IEM’s is multiple drivers, with DD/BA mix. We’re talking 10 + drivers in each ear piece..
Super high tech crossover networks to distribute the proper frequencies to each driver and obviously lots of power needed to drive it all…. Check out the water cooler thread here on HeadFi……
You really can’t expect TWS to compete here…. However, TWS has come an amazing way towards good SQ….
I don’t own the high end IEM, I just don’t like sticking stuff in my ears that much.

 

[Andrew_WOT]

What do you mean by IQ exactly? EQ?

Most people on the site will probably tell you that there is nothing. I'd disagree

The Hifiman Svanar tws is probably the closest to an audiophile sound of wired (no EQ tho)

The Noble Fokus series (prestige on the way) is going to be up there no doubt.

But in my personal opinion, the Denon PerL Pro is going to be the only set of iems/tws that give you a sound presentation that no other item on the market has replicated so far.

Every other item I've listed and every item any one else lists is going to be a slightly better or worse version of a familiar in ear monitor sound.

The DPP is the most unique of the options and would be my recommendation as it's going to offer you something even a $1000-$2000 iem won't. I don't mean to say it's better than a $2000 iem, but I do think it is more unique then them

So to sum up:
- Hifiman Svanar $499. Supports LDAC , how does it fare against Sony XM5 and Technics AZ80.
- Noble FoKus Mystique $359. No LDAC, is it really audiophile grade at the price of consumer grade offerings from Sony, Senns and Technics and no high res codec support.
- Denon PerL Pro $349, aka rebranded Nura, new aptX lossless support with some limited at the moment devices, is it the only thing that differentiate it from the rest

What is DPP?

 

[jasonb]

I think the big trend in kilobuck IEM’s is multiple drivers, with DD/BA mix. We’re talking 10 + drivers in each ear piece..
Super high tech crossover networks to distribute the proper frequencies to each driver and obviously lots of power needed to drive it all…. Check out the water cooler thread here on HeadFi……
You really can’t expect TWS to compete here…. However, TWS has come an amazing way towards good SQ….
I don’t own the high end IEM, I just don’t like sticking stuff in my ears that much.

The multi driver hybrids don’t always need tons of power. I have the 8 driver per side Aful Performer 8’s which are pretty sensitive and easy to power. A simple $9 Apple dongle will get them loud at 25% volume or less. My MacBook Air gets them plenty loud at under 10%.

Since getting my Etymotic ER4SR’s last September, and a few others since then I’ve been enjoying IEMs more than full size.

 

[jasonb]

So to sum up:
- Hifiman Svanar $499. Supports LDAC , how does it fare against Sony XM5 and Technics AZ80.
- Noble FoKus Mystique $359. No LDAC, is it really audiophile grade at the price of consumer grade offerings from Sony, Senns and Technics and no high res codec support.
- Denon PerL Pro $349, aka rebranded Nura, new aptX lossless support with some limited at the moment devices, is it the only thing that differentiate it from the rest

What is DPP?

DPP is the Denon Perl Pro

 

[Andrew_WOT]

I think the big trend in kilobuck IEM’s is multiple drivers, with DD/BA mix. We’re talking 10 + drivers in each ear piece..
Super high tech crossover networks to distribute the proper frequencies to each driver and obviously lots of power needed to drive it all…. Check out the water cooler thread here on HeadFi……
You really can’t expect TWS to compete here…. However, TWS has come an amazing way towards good SQ….
I don’t own the high end IEM, I just don’t like sticking stuff in my ears that much.

I do not think it's driver thing, we have perfectly capable single DD driver IEMs (e.g. Senns IE600) or earbuds like Yincrow RW-3000 that can outshine some multi driver IEMs.
Most likely limited by small enclosure inferior DACs is what drags performance down. But I am fully open to any other explanation.

 

[Not so fat head]

How sure are the folks here that Hifiman is sporting their own silicon chips in the Svanar? That would be super expensive to shrink to IEM proportions for the very small PCB.. I’d have to see it, to believe it.
There’s a reason most all use modified/customized off the shelf chips.
I work in the chip industry, so crazy expensive to start and qualify any new wafer…

 

[jasonb]

I do not think it's driver thing, we have perfectly capable single DD driver IEMs (e.g. Senns IE600) or earbuds like Yincrow RW-3000 that can outshine some multi driver IEMs.
Most likely limited by small enclosure inferior DACs is what drags performance down. But I am fully open to any other explanation.

We also have capable single BA’s like the legendary Etymotic ER4 series. Every time I use my ER4SR I wonder why multi driver stuff exists, but a big reason Etymotic IEM’s sound the way they do is the deep insertion and high isolation.

I’d really like an Etymotic TWS. It wouldn’t even need ANC, just a decent transparency mode.