Which are the best bluetooth IEMs?

[Miguelón]

Hi everybody!

I’m looking for a good and comfortable pair of earbuds Bluetooth.

I know that is a very subjective decision and probably no measurements are made on this devices, but any opinion will be appreciated.

My budget can go to 300€, currently hesitating between Sennheiser Momentum true wireless 4 and Sony WF-1000MX5 (who choose that names?), both around 240€ on amazon. But still appreciate other suggestions.

No special need for noise cancellation or microphone performance so just the audio quality will be take into account. Also comfort and audio codec quality, I’m confused between Aptx Adaptive vs LDAC. Amir has tested LDAC but I found no information of Aptx Adaptive transparency

Thanks to all comments!

 

[Brian Hall]

Which phone? If Samsung, take a look at the new Galaxy Buds 3 pro. Reviews are starting to come out on them.

Otherwise Sennheiser Momentum tw4 or Apple's junk if you have an iphone.

 

[Miguelón]

Which phone? If Samsung, take a look at the new Galaxy Buds 3 pro. Reviews are starting to come out on them.

Otherwise Sennheiser Momentum tw4 or Apple's junk if you have an iphone.

iPhone, if going to Sennheiser I will use a Creative BT-W5 Bluetooth adapter: it take files from usb c output and emit BT aptx adaptive and works fine.

I’m considering to move to Samsung phones, was on Apple world many years by accessibility (visual) tools but today all smartphones are visually accessible.

I will take an eye over the Galaxy Buds, which codec they use? Perhaps is time to leave Apple precipitated by audio, it is like a little tyrannic kingdom of closed features and is getting worse and worse compared to Android devices

 

[Tell]

I got a pair of Sony WF-1000MX4 and I do like them quite a lot. With some EQ they sound really good, they have really good battery life and the ANC is excellent, it can even remove most of the wind noise while biking. I bet the MX5 is even better so I'd say go for it

 

[Brian Hall]

I will take an eye over the Galaxy Buds, which codec they use? Perhaps is time to leave Apple precipitated by audio, it is like a little tyrannic kingdom of closed features and is getting worse and worse compared to Android devices

Samsung’s Adaptive Codec is a proprietary technology designed to provide a stable Bluetooth connection, even in environments with ambient Wi-Fi interference. This codec analyzes the radio frequency environment and adjusts the bitrate dynamically to prevent audio chopping and ensure seamless music playback.

Key Features:

• Dynamic bitrate adjustment: The codec adjusts the bitrate from 88kbps to 512kbps depending on the strength of the Bluetooth connection, ensuring optimal quality and stability.
• Stability: The Adaptive Codec prioritizes stability by making constant adjustments to streaming rates, reducing the likelihood of connection stutters and drops.
• Wide range of bitrates: The codec supports a wide range of bitrates, from 88kpbs to 512kpbs, allowing it to adapt to various environments and devices.

Comparison to Other Codecs:

• Samsung Scalable Codec: The Adaptive Codec is similar to the Samsung Scalable Codec, which also adjusts bitrate to ensure optimal quality and stability. However, the Adaptive Codec is more dynamic and can adjust bitrate more frequently.
• aptX Adaptive: aptX Adaptive is another codec that adjusts bitrate based on the environment, but it is limited to a specific range of bitrates and may not be as effective in environments with strong Wi-Fi interference.

Supported Devices:

• Galaxy Buds: The Adaptive Codec is supported by Samsung’s Galaxy Buds, which were developed with AKG.
• Samsung Mobiles: The codec is also supported by Samsung mobile devices running Android 7.0 and above.

Conclusion:

Samsung’s Adaptive Codec is a proprietary technology designed to provide a stable Bluetooth connection and ensure seamless music playback in environments with ambient Wi-Fi interference. Its dynamic bitrate adjustment and wide range of supported bitrates make it a suitable choice for users who want to enjoy high-quality audio without interruptions.

 

[Brian Hall]

More: https://www.xda-developers.com/samsung-galaxy-buds-2-pro-audio-codec-support/

Samsung's Seamless codec supports up to 24-bit HiFi audio with a maximum bitrate of 512Kbps and a low of 88Kbps. In contrast, AAC broadcasts at up to 264Kbps, and SBC broadcasts at up to 328Kbps, though with a weaker compression algorithm resulting in worse audio quality.

 

[Miguelón]

Samsung’s Adaptive Codec is a proprietary technology designed to provide a stable Bluetooth connection, even in environments with ambient Wi-Fi interference. This codec analyzes the radio frequency environment and adjusts the bitrate dynamically to prevent audio chopping and ensure seamless music playback.

Key Features:

• Dynamic bitrate adjustment: The codec adjusts the bitrate from 88kbps to 512kbps depending on the strength of the Bluetooth connection, ensuring optimal quality and stability.
• Stability: The Adaptive Codec prioritizes stability by making constant adjustments to streaming rates, reducing the likelihood of connection stutters and drops.
• Wide range of bitrates: The codec supports a wide range of bitrates, from 88kpbs to 512kpbs, allowing it to adapt to various environments and devices.

Comparison to Other Codecs:

• Samsung Scalable Codec: The Adaptive Codec is similar to the Samsung Scalable Codec, which also adjusts bitrate to ensure optimal quality and stability. However, the Adaptive Codec is more dynamic and can adjust bitrate more frequently.
• aptX Adaptive: aptX Adaptive is another codec that adjusts bitrate based on the environment, but it is limited to a specific range of bitrates and may not be as effective in environments with strong Wi-Fi interference.

Supported Devices:

• Galaxy Buds: The Adaptive Codec is supported by Samsung’s Galaxy Buds, which were developed with AKG.
• Samsung Mobiles: The codec is also supported by Samsung mobile devices running Android 7.0 and above.

Conclusion:

Samsung’s Adaptive Codec is a proprietary technology designed to provide a stable Bluetooth connection and ensure seamless music playback in environments with ambient Wi-Fi interference. Its dynamic bitrate adjustment and wide range of supported bitrates make it a suitable choice for users who want to enjoy high-quality audio without interruptions.

It will be nice to measure the codecs transparency, in today’s audiophile world BT is more and more present.

 

[Miguelón]

I got a pair of Sony WF-1000MX4 and I do like them quite a lot. With some EQ they sound really good, they have really good battery life and the ANC is excellent, it can even remove most of the wind noise while biking. I bet the MX5 is even better so I'd say go for it

Thanks for the info! Here Amir reviewed LDAC and found it almost or totally transparent in CD quality, is their best characteristic in my a priori choice.

The problem is impossibility to use LDAC on iphone, it’s why I’m considering moving to Samsungs.

Or maybe the Sony app allows to encode LDAC? I red it is not attached to any particular chip

 

[Yasuo]

As you said, very subjective. For me the comfort is no1 priority. Battery life is next. Other features are negligible. Sound quality doesn't matter as you can use EQ (I'm assuming iPhone is at the stage where EQ can be used system wide). Codecs? Don't consider it. Do you think you'll be able to hear any difference? BT IEMs are for mobility, so aiming at the highest sound quality doesn't make sense. It's often better to go with cheap(er) BT IEM and have 2-3 of them rather than putting all your money in one expensive pair (for me the sweet spot for BT IEMs is at about 50-100 Euros, I know is a wide range). Sorry if my answer is not something you want to "hear".

 

[MayaTlab]

iPhone,

May I suggest, unless it's already been done, and if your move to Android only is a consideration at this stage and not set in stone, to start with the APP2 and see if you like them ?

The benefits are just too great if you stick with Apple's ecosystem.

But if you're already seriously considering moving to Android or make extensive use of other non-Apple sources, but aren't yet sure to get rid of your iPhone, I'd suggest looking into an IEM that's somewhat platform agnostic (ex app works with both iOS and Android).

I will take an eye over the Galaxy Buds, which codec they use?

audio codec quality, I’m confused between Aptx Adaptive vs LDAC.

Focus less on codec per se but rather on the actual implementation of a given codec for each particular source. These two blog posts are pretty good :

Part I: Comparison of Bluetooth Fidelity - SBC, aptX, AAC, LDAC (Android 10 source)

A blog for audiophiles about more objective topics. Measurements of audio gear. Reasonable, realistic, no snakeoil assessment of sound, and equipment.

archimago.blogspot.com

Part II: Comparison of Bluetooth Fidelity - AAC encoder quality (Android 10 & 13, Windows 11, Apple iPhones & Mac)

A blog for audiophiles about more objective topics. Measurements of audio gear. Reasonable, realistic, no snakeoil assessment of sound, and equipment.

archimago.blogspot.com

Basically, AAC will be mostly fine from your iPhone and comparable to LDAC (but with better stability).

It's also not the most important factor to take into account, unless it's really bad (frequency response is, and with the IEMs discussed here there's a complication in terms of interpreting the measurements available and properly measuring them in the first place).

 

[Tell]

Thanks for the info! Here Amir reviewed LDAC and found it almost or totally transparent in CD quality, is their best characteristic in my a priori choice.

The problem is impossibility to use LDAC on iphone, it’s why I’m considering moving to Samsungs.

Or maybe the Sony app allows to encode LDAC? I red it is not attached to any particular chip

No you'll gonna need an Android to get LDAC working, you're limited to AAC on iPhone afaik. Though I personally don't use LDAC on mine since I had connection issues with it biking through the city center, so instead I'm using SBC and it's sounds just fine for me. Having the possibility on Android to use third party EQ (such as Wavelet or PowerAmp) on them is way more valuable than choosing codec imo

 

[MayaTlab]

I'm assuming iPhone is at the stage where EQ can be used system wide

I wish !

 

[Miguelón]

As you said, very subjective. For me the comfort is no1 priority. Battery life is next. Other features are negligible. Sound quality doesn't matter as you can use EQ (I'm assuming iPhone is at the stage where EQ can be used system wide). Codecs? Don't consider it. Do you think you'll be able to hear any difference? BT IEMs are for mobility, so aiming at the highest sound quality doesn't make sense. It's often better to go with cheap(er) BT IEM and have 2-3 of them rather than putting all your money in one expensive pair (for me the sweet spot for BT IEMs is at about 50-100 Euros, I know is a wide range). Sorry if my answer is not something you want to "hear".

I know differences between some codecs, I’m not presuming of golden ears but can easily differentiate mp3 320 kbps than CD in blind tests. I know very well the limitations of my iphone (first at all, I’m not using Apple Music but Qobuz and has no EQ), and AAC is a unorganized catastrophic codec.
I won’t try again any other SBC, aptx (basic), or AAC: I tried to adapt to its poor results before and on pop music can pass, but classical and acoustic they sound garbage.

Thanks for your opinion, but I had Bose and Air Pods Pro in the past and not satisfied with sound quality: I agree with you that more expensive don’t mean better but in the case of earbuds the flagships use to have more comfortable silicone taps, better battery life and in general better drivers.

I also know the price range below 100€, never had something that pleased me.

 

[Miguelón]

No you'll gonna need an Android to get LDAC working, you're limited to AAC on iPhone afaik. Though I personally don't use LDAC on mine since I had connection issues with it biking through the city center, so instead I'm using SBC and it's sounds just fine for me. Having the possibility on Android to use third party EQ (such as Wavelet or PowerAmp) on them is way more valuable than choosing codec imo

Well, on the street I don’t care about codecs because I generally don’t use it for critical listening. And when I want to enjoy music when a slow bucolic promenade close to the river I use my dongle DAC and a pair of iEMS cabled: no codec at all

I suppose therefore that LDAC works fine at home, Is correct?

Thanks for your info, once again Apple show a closed mind and short budget dedicated to audiophiles. Is bizarre how they publish Air Pods Pro and Max flagships and ruined with poor codecs

 

[Miguelón]

May I suggest, unless it's already been done, and if your move to Android only is a consideration at this stage and not set in stone, to start with the APP2 and see if you like them ?

The benefits are just too great if you stick with Apple's ecosystem.

But if you're already seriously considering moving to Android or make extensive use of other non-Apple sources, but aren't yet sure to get rid of your iPhone, I'd suggest looking into an IEM that's somewhat platform agnostic (ex app works with both iOS and Android).




Focus less on codec per se but rather on the actual implementation of a given codec for each particular source. These two blog posts are pretty good :

Part I: Comparison of Bluetooth Fidelity - SBC, aptX, AAC, LDAC (Android 10 source)

A blog for audiophiles about more objective topics. Measurements of audio gear. Reasonable, realistic, no snakeoil assessment of sound, and equipment.

archimago.blogspot.com

Part II: Comparison of Bluetooth Fidelity - AAC encoder quality (Android 10 & 13, Windows 11, Apple iPhones & Mac)

A blog for audiophiles about more objective topics. Measurements of audio gear. Reasonable, realistic, no snakeoil assessment of sound, and equipment.

archimago.blogspot.com

Basically, AAC will be mostly fine from your iPhone and comparable to LDAC (but with better stability).

It's also not the most important factor to take into account, unless it's really bad (frequency response is, and with the IEMs discussed here there's a complication in terms of interpreting the measurements available and properly measuring them in the first place).

Thanks for your opinions: I tried Air Pods Pro in the past (even the latest version) and don’t like them at all. To me codec matters, my girlfriend has a Huawei Mate 20 and her Sony sound perfect with her LDAC setting, and quite poor on my iPhone.

I’m not sure what means “implementation”, until now I always thought that what matters is the algorithm itself and bitrate.

Can you give me an example of agnostic platform IEMs? Maybe the Sennheisers one of them?

 

[Dunring]

I've had ear buds from all the major brands and the Momentum 3 I consider to be the best overall. I've had the Momentum 4 headphones and sure the 4th gen ear buds will be terrific too if the ting is the same.
The vocals and acoustic instruments were the standouts. Bass is detailed and no harsh treble.

 

[goat76]

A few years ago I bought the Sennheiser Momentum True Wireless 2 but could never get along with the soundd. The treble had strange artificial sound characteristics and sounded forced for the lack of a better description, and with high dynamic music I often had to max out the volume on my iPhone to reach the level I wanted. I also found the bass lacking, not in level but in “articulation” and detail.

The Apple AirPods Pro (second generation) is way better than the Sennheisers in my opinion. The tonality is well-balanced, they just sound right/correct in a way that makes me completely forget about analyzing the sound quality, they simply don’t have any strange sound characteristics that draw my attention away from the music. If anything, they may have a little rise of energy in the upper bass/low mid, but not in a very noticeable way.

 

[Miguelón]

A few years ago I bought the Sennheiser Momentum True Wireless 2 but could never get along with the soundd. The treble had strange artificial sound characteristics and sounded forced for the lack of a better description, and with high dynamic music I often had to max out the volume on my iPhone to reach the level I wanted. I also found the bass lacking, not in level but in “articulation” and detail.

The Apple AirPods Pro (second generation) is way better than the Sennheisers in my opinion. The tonality is well-balanced, they just sound right/correct in a way that makes me completely forget about analyzing the sound quality, they simply don’t have any strange sound characteristics that draw my attention away from the music. If anything, they may have a little rise of energy in the upper bass/low mid, but not in a very noticeable way.

I had the AAP 2 and returned because the so much bass present on them: in Spain we had a popular sentence “never rains to everybody’s taste!”

I was more satisfied with Air Pods 3 (without the “Pro”) but still found that the AAC codec is unacceptable to me.

Probably go to Momentum or to the Sony

 

[Miguelón]

I got a pair of Sony WF-1000MX4 and I do like them quite a lot. With some EQ they sound really good, they have really good battery life and the ANC is excellent, it can even remove most of the wind noise while biking. I bet the MX5 is even better so I'd say go for it

Sony’s app has an onboard PEQ? Thanks!

 

[goat76]

I had the AAP 2 and returned because the so much bass present on them: in Spain we had a popular sentence “never rains to everybody’s taste!”

I was more satisfied with Air Pods 3 (without the “Pro”) but still found that the AAC codec is unacceptable to me.

Probably go to Momentum or to the Sony

I'm all for higher resolution for music, but I don't find the AAC lacking when listening on earphones as I mostly use them on the go in environments where good noise cancellation makes a bigger difference than resolution.

According to measurements, the Sennheiser Momentum True Wireless 4 and Sony WF-1000MX5 are both more bass-heavy than the Apple AirPods Pro.

Below are the measurements of Apple AirPods 3 (cyan) vs. Apple AirPods 2 (yellow) vs. Apple AirPods Pro (white).

Maybe you just prefer the elevated high-frequency response of the Airpods 3 and how they dive under 50 Hz, nothing wrong with that. Another reason could be that the Airpods have more bass leakage as they probably don't seal as well as the soft tips of the others.

All the above measurements are borrowed from https://www.soundguys.com/


The Sony WF-1000MX5 has an equalizer with the adjustment values stuck to certain frequencies and there is just a slider for the bass adjustment. Maybe you can still use that to make them sound like you want them, but it would have been better if the user could set the values in frequency and Q.

Anyway, I hope you find some earphones that will satisfy your personal sound prefereces. The different between ear canals is more at play when it comes to listening to headphones than loudspeakers, so it's likely a larger span of what people prefer when it comes to frequency curves.