First world problem alert so please look away now if you are not affected by issues raised by this blorum post.
I would like a pair of bluetooth headphones to go with my Fiio player when I’m out and about. The Fiio uses aptX bluetooth. Does this mean one only gets the best sound from a headphone that uses aptX too?
I am looking at Sony and Bose, but the former uses its proprietary LDAC codec and the latter uses AAC. Advice please 🙂
I know I can rely on the Massive hive mind. Thanks in advance.
To answer your question: Yes. BT aptX is required at both send and receive ends for CD-quality lossless. Buds capabale of better-than-aptX will “fall back” to aptX when connected to the Fiio.
As for recommendations, Mrs F has Cambridge Audio Melomania. She likes them, I’ve never tried them.
My fantastic Sony WH-1000XM3s support all these codecs. SBC, AAC, aptX, aptX HD, LDAC. They sound fantastic and have brilliant noise cancelling. And are about £100 less than I paid for them. They have been superseded but I love them.
We need an “Ask Steve” section I think.
I think I just need to get on with some work instead, and let someone else have a go.
I beg your pardon! Is that a Rose Garden over there?
Thanks all, useful as ever.
I use Bose noise cancelling QC 35 ‘s and I have just purchased the new Bose quiet comfort ear buds ( both without APTX Bluetooth). I use an apple iPhone so it wouldn’t work anyway.
However, I would be interested to know if APTX makes a significant difference to the sound quality.
aptX will only make a difference if you’re playing lossless material. You’re looking at the difference between 320k mp3 and flac.
aptX is the minimum required for lossless, but is now 5 years old and the more recent version of BT have even faster bandwidth.
I really should have specified that I need these need to be wireless and in-ear. I have not done any comparison testing 🙂 so I’ve no idea on whether the Bose’s would sound as good as a pair using aptX, but since I have a machine that uses aptX I should reallly follow suit with the buds.
You could always try the FiiO own brand wireless buds, which do sport aptX……
https://www.fiio.com/fw1
I have their wired earbuds (FH7) for use with my FiiO and they do sound excellent. I have no experience on their Bluetooth ones though.
But – can I get a better one which will use the top-class, premium brand, imported Bluetooth codec and just “drop back” to lousy old aptX on the Fiio? That, I feel, is the real question here.
Seriously though *eyeroll emoji* thank you, added to the list.
If it’s any help at all, MC … oh, wait a minute, it won’t be any help at all, and I’ve missed me edit/delete window … *blush*
Good chat, thanks
ip33 recommended them higher up the thread, and a mate has also been raving about these:
https://www.whathifi.com/reviews/sony-wf-1000xm3
Sadly, those don’t do aptX, and I mentioned (tardily, I admit) that they should be in-ear and wireless. At the moment it’s between the Cambridge Audio’s fentonsteve referred to and a pair Sennheiser Momentum
I have no idea how they compare, but Sennheiser have been in the headphone game a lot longer than Cambridge Audio.
At this point I should admit that Mrs F got hers free from work as they contain a Qualcomm chip. So VFM is 1000% but ultimate sound quality I have no idea.
Fiio make the similar FW1 but I can’t find any stock.
Hi. I was actually recommending the WH-1000XM3S which are over ear phones. But I have recently invested in the WF-1000XM3 which are the in-ear wireless phones. They too are great and pass the postman’s test, they worked perfectly over the course of a 5/6 hour round.
I bought a pair of the Cambridge Audio Melomania in December when they were down to £80 and have enjoyed them so far. Have used them with android phone and fire tablet streaming Amazon music and fiio x1. With a mix of mp3 and flac plus a load of podcasts. Apart for losing connection a couple of times in the early days I’ve had no problems.
When reading up before purchasing some people seemed to complain about fit but I haven’t found that to be a problem and you can change the buds / tips. Charging and battery life are good and I’m happy with the sound quality.
I read, yesterday, of Cyrus Audio soundBuds2. £79.99.
https://www.cyrusaudio.com/products/soundbuds2/
I didn’t know there was a soundBuds1, to be honest.
Cyrus used to be – might still be – part of Mission, who are now part of the IAG group (also including Quad, Wharfedale, Audiolab).