Wow, I am in procrastinating process of writing short review of Galaxy Buds3 Pro from Samsung for 4 weeks now. Long story short this is yet another nail into coffin to their TWS latest lineup and general approach towards quality…
Anyone know of 2-pin bt recievers like that MMCX Shure one that are any good? Been considering something behind the ear like the ifi gopods, but might actually prefer that other style. Qudelix with a custom cable is always an option, but something dedicated might be nice.
the Fiio BTR13 looks the most promising at a relatively cheap price, 4.4mm and 3.5mm and with PEQ.
Relatively low OI for a Fiio source (0.6 and 1.0ohm)
Thanks, for that form factor I’m very happy with the 5k. I was wondering about the style he mentions in the video though, like this:
That type is similar to the neckband BT adapters. Such as the TRN BT3XS. That type is certainly the least dangerous since the battery is much further away from your ears.
Exactly, something like that would be interesting! Would be nice with about 10x the power of the TRN though (13mW at ? ohms). Maybe with one of the Cirrus chips.
Based on what I’m seeing on AliE, gonna be hard to beat just using a Qudelix 5k with a custom short cable.
The only higher end neckband adapter I know is the MOONDROP LITTLEWHITE. It has a single CS43131, which would mean it is rated at 1.4vrms@32ohm (61,25mw@32ohm) (generally afaik)
Thanks, that’s pretty much on par with the 5k, so might be interesting!
It has all the power you need so that is what I would go for if you want neckband type.
Good Tuning ofc
Feels a bit gloomy as of now
The Ziigaat Estrella ($300) is a hybrid IEM with dual 10mm PET dynamic drivers and four BAs (two full-range, two super tweeters), with 108dB/mW sensitivity and 7Ω @ 1kHz impedance. Thanks to Jay and Linsoul for providing a free unit to the AudioGeek EU tour group!
I got to enjoy this IEM for about 3 weeks. One word to describe the sound signature is engaging. It’s got tight, impactful bass and forward but smooth treble. There’s good extension in the air frequencies without sounding unnatural. Vocals are nicely forward for both males and females, with excellent instrument separation throughout. Compared to my TSMR X, the Estrella has less mid-bass punch but offers tighter, snappier bass reproduction and is more balanced throughout the mids.
At first, extended listening to pop music (e.g., Beyoncé) could make the treble feel a bit hot expecially when turning up the volume (I usually listen at low volumes), this became more noticeable. However, I didn’t notice this happening by the 3rd week.
I found them comfortable for hours-long sessions. Moondrop Spring tips worked best for me as usual. The Estrella worked well with all my sources: iPod 5th gen, Qudelix 5k, Chord Mojo, and Venture Electronics RA2B-FE.
As intended by Jay, you can place a piece of tape over the vents on the shells to modify the tuning a bit. It’s easier than tip-rolling or flipping a microswitch. I found it brought the mids forward very nicely, taking a bit of emphasis from the bass while still keeping it satisfying. I generally still preferred it without the tape, but nice to have the more mid-forward option too.
Despite strong competition in this price range, I think the Estrella is good value. Its engaging tuning with tight, satisfying bass and good extension made it my go-to choice 9 times out of 10 over my pricier TSMR X ($400). This one’s easy to recommended if you’re looking for an engaging, bang-for-buck IEM with a fun yet detailed sound signature.
Rocking the old portable CD player
The clear iPod looks dope!
Thanks! I put a 256gb SD card in it, as well as an iphone 7 taptic engine to replace the clicker so it gives a very satisfying tap as you scroll around
I watched a review today and the reviewer had at the bottom of his notes “fu@! Sharur”(sp). I had nooo idea what it was. Now getting caught up on the forum and i see your post so now it all makes sense. Hehehe, thought the mystery was gonna last longer than it did.
Btw, how do your audio source setup look like?
This is how mine will look in a few weeks (waiting for fiio ja11 and speaker stands for the S400).
EDIT: More detailed:
Use this to draw yours: https://excalidraw.com/
Neat! Home Setup:
My office Setup isn’t worth mapping, it’s just my Hiby R6 III to a Topping A90D (and if i’m on the road, R6 III to Topping G5).
Is there any great option at 10-15$, or 20$ price IEMs now guys? Already have some 200+$ already, I just need some cheap, budget IEMs just to change taste sometimes lol.