Earphones / Headphones: Where to try, what to buy?

those look pretty decent, ta.

Never really been tempted by wireless headphones until I saw these Focal Listen Wireless. Focal make phenomenal kit so I've no doubt they're superb. Has anyone tried them?

What HiFi said they were below par
https://www.whathifi.com/focal/listen-wireless/review

Oh that's a disappointment! A pal of mine has a set of their studio monitors and they're the best I've ever heard!

Yeah, the lower end Focal cans are a bit rubbish apparently. You need to go for their $$$$ models for their reputation to be upheld. I listened to some wireless M50x's the other day and they were very good too. Also, the new wireless Grado GW100 (I think) are worth a look if you can have open backed.

The dragonfly I mentioned before in this thread is fantastic, especially for its size.

Also at @dangeek

..did you guys have the red or black one?

Was looking at them repeatedly (did not have the opportunity to try them unfortunately), but small size and good reviews made me think..
In the end I went for something different as the Dragonfly's USB-in was just not usefol for me - I like to use the amp with both lightning and old-style iPhones as well as other peoples' phones / players that are 3.5mm jack so can't be arsed to get adapters for everything.
I guess the thing is I don't need the DAC part really as while I also listen to music from my laptop the built in soundcard seems to be pretty decent already.

If you mainly need amplification and like to have standard 3.5mm in/out then Dragonfly is not that well suited, and I think it's quite expensive as well. Can't imagine that thing being much of an amp in the first place, not having any battery itself?

I've got the old one (pre red & black)
I think it's basically the black one. It seems the red has higher output.

I was in a rush to replace my SoundMagic E10s a couple of months ago and ended up grabbing a pair of RHA MA650a in-ears, I have to say I'm damn impressed with them. £45, excellent sound, maybe a little heavier on the bass side, much like the Sennheiser sound I'm used to. Small amount of noise leakage, but blocks out external sounds pretty well. Chuffed, 8/10 so far for my needs.

I have the black. My work computer soundcard is horrid. Very, very noisy, full of static and a low noise buzz. I leave it permanently plugged into my computer now so I don't need one that small in all honesty - but when I bought it I had a laptop.

My Shure SE425's are difficult to drive. To have them at their best they need amplification. The DAC is nice due to how much noise there is coming from my computer. Just an added bonus really.

I don't use anyone else's devices to listen to music, only my own, so to have my devices them configured for use with the Dragonfly is no big deal. I don't use it with my phone either - I used to, but I normally only use my phone for an hour at a time max, so I don't care enough to carry the Dragonfly and a lightning>USB connector around with me. Oh - and to use my computer without the Dragonfly, my Windows volume level is set to 60/100. With the Dragonfly it's 4/100. It's a very powerful little thing...

Fiio do decent, little headphone amps, DACs, etc at the cheaper end. Although I probably stopped using mine when I stopped using an iPod.

Thanks for the feedback. Interesting.
Wondering if it's as powerful (amplification wise) when it's plugged into an iPhone via lightning-USB adapter as when it's drawing power straight from a computer / laptop.

@dangeek - I read in some HiFi forum that the old one is like the current black one with a slightly different tonal signature (old one being a bit more neutral / less subwoofer-y apparently)..

Yea, almost got one.. compared Fiio, M-Audio and Topping..
opted for the latter (their NX1s model) as what I read sounded good and it seems like good value for money and kind of a no-nonsense approach.
Still pretty happy so far.
Improves sound as well as volume of iphones significantly.
I also use it to amp the signal coming out of a 4-channel passive mixer. Would appreciate even more power there, but given the size and weight of the thing it's delivering quite a lot (did not directly compare to other headphone amps though).

No, it definitely wasn't. The difference was negligible, another reason why I stopped using it.

Again thanks for the feedback!
Pretty sure now that this thing just isn't for me.. it's basically a great device for computers with shit soundcards, isn't it.
: ]

What's the forum recommended Bluetooth earphone?

Needs to clip onto the ear somehow as my wife doesn't like the rubbery buds in her ear - they'll be used for running so need to be secure.

This is exactly what I would like to know.

Plus has anyone tried Aftershokz? Do they stay in place when running? Can you still hear music ok in the gym?

Obviously there’s no sound isolation, but the Trekz Air are amazing for sport. Comfy, decent sound (especially considering it’s bone conduction) and you maintain environmental awareness. Never had any fear of them flying off either - they stay very securely in place through running, yoga, circuits, whatever.

@Klar - you can hear your music in moderately noisy conditions with no issues, but if you’re in a gym where they blare out music over the tannoy system then you need isolating headphones, not bone conduction.

Anyone got any of these?

https://en-uk.sennheiser.com/truewireless-details

The idea of two in ear buds with no cable is mighty appealing.

Though not sure they are worth the price.

I have some John Lewis vouchers I’d like to put towards some new headphones, they must be Bluetooth and noise cancelling - so far I am looking at:

Bose QC35II
Sony 1000XM3
Beats Studio 3

I currently have Beats Studios from 2013(?) and have liked those, my main gripe is the wire

Opinions on those 3 options would be really useful

I bought a pair of the Boses and then subsequently exchanged them for the Sonys.

When I compared the technical specification between the Sonys and the Boses, it was clear that the Sonys were better. And the newer version is, I think, even better (i.e. I have the XM2). That said, I don't know whether my ears have really been able to detect any material difference... And the Boses are really comfortable, and they look great.

I also looked at the B&W PX headphones but I found them far too tight.

Got a set of bone conduction jobs for Christmas, trekz titanium ones (not the top model), and impressed with them. Obviously not compatible with proper listening headphones as part sits on your skull and higher frequency is just heard through the air, but for what I need then for at work, ideal. Very good Bluetooth range as well

I also looked at the B&W PX headphones but I found them far too tight.

I like my B&W PX but some people find the fit too tight or they're too heavy on their head.

I'm currently annoyed with them because they won't connect to my Chromebook Pixel via Bluetooth any more and now the connection via USB has gone flaky too. Although I think it was a Chromebook update that did it they won't connect to my Windows 10 now either. They're fine with Mac OS/Android but I'd quite like some headphones that work all the time please...

Only problem is when I listened to the Sony XM2's I didn't like them. Maybe the XM3's sound better?

Do they reliably connect to bluetooth?

Another option is the Sennheiser momentum. I'd say they sound better than the Bose but the noise cancelling isn't quite as good. Bluetooth has been rock solid over various devices.

Have got the Momentum wireless and Bose QC35s

Prefer the Bose as the Sennheisers seem to fuck with the sound on my iPhone. If I just switch off the headset then the phone disconnects but next phonecall randomly ends up muting my voice until I set the call to speaker and then back to normal. It's like the phone hasn't realised that the headset has gone and it's using the non existent microphone for voice. No such problems with the Bose - they disconnect cleanly every time.

Appreciate this is a weird and very specific problem, but it's enough to make the Sennheisers unusable as a headset to use with the phone.

Dunno if anyone still uses wired cans, butcurrently using a set of Hifiman HE 500s borrowed from a workmate.
They're wonderful, if a bit heavy. The only thing I can compare them to is Grado 325 and they are a significant step up.

Interested to hear how the bone conduction jobbies work while riding? Is wind noise a problem?