Bluetooth Headphones

[Deckard]

Never had one before but wanted something classy to show off my Focal Bathys

[Deckard]

And fuck how good are they in DAC mode streaming Chicane from apple music at 24 bit 192kHZ ! Just one adaptor needed on my iPhone 13 but next year when I have a 15 I can just plug them straight in !!

[VNVObit]

Had a listen at my local high end hifi shop and certainly impressed by the sound. Noise cancelling on the other hand wasn’t noticeable but struggled with controls on noise cancelling and headset not on latest firmware. Use case is trains so ANC is important. How do you find it- just how different is silent from transparent (or Sony headphones you’ve had)?

[Deckard]

I have to say they knock out a lot of noise just from putting them on - In transparent mode I can hear myself talk and I cant in Soft or Silent - They are 10x better in silent than my brand new Xm5 in ears Sony, really they are - Just tried some YT audio with my headphones on and basically turned down the music on my iPhone to see if anything would bleed into from the YT audio (planes , trains , people talking etc) playing on my monitors and zip, like nothing even at a fairly decent volume.

I had the Sony XM4s over the ears a few years ago and these are much better than those.

I also find these seem to able to go super loud over BT too - My SR25 has not been past 90% since I have had these.

I mean all the specialist headphone reviewers said these weren't as good as the new over the ears Xm5s and apple pro's for noise cancelling but I think at this level we are talking like 1-3% better , like tiny increments whereas the sound (from a decent source ) pisses on those from a great height (as they should at this price)

Noise cancelling is the only button on the left cup so not really an issue to change although I note annoyingly on the latest Sonys and with these too they just beep to say its changed and not say what mode you're in - on my previous XM4s it stated what it was doing , not a beep !!

[VNVObit]

Thanks that’s helpful. Just checking you are you on latest firmware? It invited me to update but it was a demo one so not inclined to do so.
Will go back with my reference tracks and give it another listen

[Deckard]

Yeah latest firmware with the MIMI ear customisation

[WiteWulf]

Reposting from mastodon, hopefully someone here may be able to help:

My #cambridgeAudio #melomania earbuds have started to exhibit an annoying new behaviour, hopefully someone out there can help.

The right earbud no longer disconnects from my phone when I put it in the case. Consequently when I come to use them after some time the right earbud has emptied the battery. I'm guessing there must be an electrical connection made somewhere when it's in the case. There's that pin in the bottom, does that connect with the speaker grille? Same for the silver ring around the earbud?

*edit*

lol, looking back through this thread it seems I've had them nearly three years. Maybe time to treat myself to something newer

Any recommendations for something similar? I love the sound of the Melomanias, but Cambridge Audio don't make them anymore. Happy to spend around £100, not interested in AirPods, Pro or otherwise.

[Deckard]

Reposting from mastodon, hopefully someone here may be able to help:

My #cambridgeAudio #melomania earbuds have started to exhibit an annoying new behaviour, hopefully someone out there can help.

The right earbud no longer disconnects from my phone when I put it in the case. Consequently when I come to use them after some time the right earbud has emptied the battery. I'm guessing there must be an electrical connection made somewhere when it's in the case. There's that pin in the bottom, does that connect with the speaker grille? Same for the silver ring around the earbud?

*edit*

lol, looking back through this thread it seems I've had them nearly three years. Maybe time to treat myself to something newer

Any recommendations for something similar? I love the sound of the Melomanias, but Cambridge Audio don't make them anymore. Happy to spend around £100, not interested in AirPods, Pro or otherwise.

Spend more and get the WF5 Sonys in black friday sale for 215 - they are pretty incredible sound and noise cancelling wise or their budget line -

90 down to 44 at the mo and a great what hi fi review -

https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B09FKGJ1CB? ... slink=true

https://www.whathifi.com/reviews/sony-wf-c500

Yes I loved my Melomanias too especially with aptx support and well less than 100 - still a few new ones kicking around on the web...Ps Have you contacted them about their earbud as I have found their customer service team extremely helpful - they well might send you a new bud or pair...

[WiteWulf]

Well I’ve given the buds a good cleaning (destroying the comply tips in the process, they don't like isopropyl alcohol!), and the case. It seems the right receptacle in the case is the problem, as neither bud shuts off when you put it in there.

The C500s look interesting, and the newer C700Ns are £75 at the moment, too.

Neither AptX or LDAC, but these are primarily going to be used with my iPhone anyway, so not a big deal.

I'll wait until Friday and see what deals come up. If I see a pair of Sony WF5 or 4s for a decent amount I may bite, but I'm hoping not to go over £150 (I've been told this can be my Christmas present from my OH )

[Deckard]

https://www.whathifi.com/news/the-sony- ... rbuds-deal

So the C700 then ?

[WiteWulf]

Yeah, nothing interesting *and* discounted enough to be of interest turned up today, so I've ordered a pair of the 700s.

What HiFi, reading between the lines, struggled to justify the 3x cost of the XM4s against the 700s:
https://www.whathifi.com/features/sony- ... are-better

If Apple actually got their dick out of their arse and supported LDAC/AptX/AptXHD on iOS it would have been a tougher choice for me. But as most of my listening with the earbuds will be on iPhone (I always use the big wired cans with the NW-A45 for HD audio), there's no point.

Thanks for the help/advice as always, folks...

[Cloudane]

Soundcore A40

I replaced my Airpods Pros that developed a well known hissing fault with these, I grabbed a special deal for £42, they're absolutely fantastic. Just as good, fraction of the cost, work just as well with Android, bit smaller. Lovely case full of magnets and satisfying closing noises. Battery lasts forever. One of the best purchases I've made.

[VNVObit]

Reposting from mastodon, hopefully someone here may be able to help:

My #cambridgeAudio #melomania earbuds have started to exhibit an annoying new behaviour, hopefully someone out there can help.

The right earbud no longer disconnects from my phone when I put it in the case. Consequently when I come to use them after some time the right earbud has emptied the battery. I'm guessing there must be an electrical connection made somewhere when it's in the case. There's that pin in the bottom, does that connect with the speaker grille? Same for the silver ring around the earbud?

*edit*

lol, looking back through this thread it seems I've had them nearly three years. Maybe time to treat myself to something newer

Any recommendations for something similar? I love the sound of the Melomanias, but Cambridge Audio don't make them anymore. Happy to spend around £100, not interested in AirPods, Pro or otherwise.

Their unlikely to ever go done either route given the additional licensing and the fact they pass off AAC as lossless on some of their products (or at least obscure the fact it’s lossy)

Did go with AirPod pros principally as uses Apple products and switching between phone and Mac was seamless. Ok for music on commutes (tube is too noisy for detailed listening anyway)

Had xm4s (until washing machine accident) which do sound much better than my AirPods

For true music listening(around the house) I always prefer wired headphones/earphones

[Deckard]

Too Right !

If Apple actually got their dick out of their arse and supported LDAC/AptX/AptXHD on iOS

Miles behind Android on this one ....

[WiteWulf]

I mean, it's ridiculous that they not only offer lossless, but HD audio on Apple Music now, and don't actually sell equipment capable of playing it back (don't come at me with "But HomePods!").

And the mess that is HD playback over AirPlay is just comical