Lol. TRN Golden IEMs have some competition now.
1 Like
Barusu! Welcome to HFGF! Great to see your name around here 
Enjoy!
1 Like
Thanks. Nice to meet you here nymz!
1 Like
Google’s 3.5mm headphone jack commercial: 
3 Likes
After the Pixel 2, 3, and 4 not having them (possibly the 5 too) they really don’t have a leg to stand on.
Samsung mocked the lack of boxed charger, then did the same in their next release and deleted the mockery afterward.
I wish they *really * believed in the headphone jack. Bet the 6 won’t have one.
1 Like
But the 3a, 4a, and now the 5a does. Honestly the a line has been the smarter choice during that time as well.
1 Like
Fully agreed. Case in point: the upcoming 5a over the expensive and discontinued 5.
I have had very satisfied experiences with the 3a XL and 4a.
I love my 4a. I’m glad they are keeping the headphone jack in case I want to upgrade some day
I also thought the jack of the Pixels would matter but no… It has horrible sound quality so? Only my FH3 plays loud enough and still quality lacks. BTR5 saves the show.
I’ve been using the 4a with no DAC or AMP for everything through multiple high end IEMs, I actually prefer it to the sound when I used a dongle with the CS43131 chip. Volume between 60 and 90% has always been plenty, I guess the sets I’ve used may be quite sensitive.
To go as far as “horrible” sound quality to my mind involves a placebo, but I’m talking specifically about the 4a, I can’t speak to the 3a series or OG Pixel. Sound through the Apple dongle on my XR is not any better or worse, but has frustratingly larger volume steps.
For IEMs, especially how sensitive most are now, my experience is that source makes very little difference.
2 Likes
I have no idea if they use a stronger amp in 4a or how loud anyone likes their music but for me it made no sense. I don’t have many headphones or iems but AQ Nighthawks, Koss Porta Pro, KSC75, Xiaomi Hybrid HDs, Sony MH1/750 don’t get nearly enough power from the 3a to enjoy music… Maybe for sleep time. And all these perform much better in louder volumes. I am sure the jack in Pixels was not was designed for audio-files though. My Xiaomi Mi A1? Yeah, that jack pumps music alright. And some LGs I have heard… 
For sure if any require more power, the 4a doesn’t have more than the average jack.
Agreed that there are some IEMs that require more power (Tin P1, Moondrop SSP, I found Clairovyance needed max or close to max volume)
Little surprised about the MH1/750 though. I think you must have a tolerance/need for much higher volume than me, in which case fair dos, I can imagine the volume being too limited if that’s so.
1 Like
Hehe, obviously listening levels vastly vary between people. I am listening to the MH1, which is currently my reference iem (far superior than the famed FH3 imho), on the BTR5 in High Gain at 40-50/60 usually and with some recordings BTR5 really needs to be pushed at full volume… Am I deaf? Not at all… I can’t bare the FH3 beyond 30-35 actually. And I have talked to people that listen to it at low gain at 20-30!!!
On the 3a I have to go full volume if I plug the FH3 straight to the jack. And sometimes it’s not enough.
And yes, the MH1 really shines with lots of power.
I really hesitate trying anything hyped after the fiasko that was the FH3 for me.
1 Like
The FH3 wasn’t at all to my taste either. I’ve tried it twice and it was an easy choice to resell both times.
I’ve tried the MH1C and can confirm it’s phenomenal what Sony can do with their microdriver. 
I should repeat that I can’t remember what output on the 3a in particular was like, that could explain everything anyway.
1 Like
I am only keeping that unnatural thing the FH3 is, just in case I run out of juice on the BTR5 and need to listen to something asap! 
It sounds like i dodge a bullet by not getting the FH3 after all
1 Like
You listen to the FH3 on high gain at 30? Are you sure you are okay? If I connect my btr5 to my windows pc and listen to Spotify (volume normalisation=off) with all the software stuff at 100% volume, I cannot go beyond like 22 on the btr5.
This and the fact that you don’t like the FH3 almost make me wonder whether there’s something wrong with your set…
1 Like
Maybe different age. You hearing get worse with time. Specially if you have been blasting you whole life.
30 on High gain on balanced BTR5 would bust my ears, tho
2 Likes
It depends tbh…
Some IEMs required abit more power even on balanced…
For example
Final E5000, and NAN NA
NAN NA 60 ohms
Using btr5 with them on High gain around 30 to 32 Tidal… Spotify, and YouTube music around 25 to 27
True, fully agree. But I own BTR5 and Fiio FH3 (both for sale by the way).
Was really commenting on this pair!
1 Like