Devialet - Gemini II

Their mic are meh, especially the sennies, they're not great at all.  Great for sound, but the mtw4 isn't a huge upgrade to the 3. It's what the 3 should have been (ie no battery issues).  Sennies claiming they're future proof when they didn't really do much with auracast (ala jbl tp3). Or not even adding jabra's transmitter case.  The devialet looks and feels nice, premium too. They're definitely up there. But again for the price you're paying, and what you're getting (yes amazing sound, top notch anc, excellent build, but not much other features), some people may argue they're not the best valued. The jbl tp3 seems like a nice overall package. So are the jabra elite 8/10 gen 2. They're great across the board, except for maybe build quality. Anc, sound, mic, ip protections, bluetooth transmitter, auracast are all above average. 

The jbl definitely hits hard ( tp2). Haven't tried the 3, but early reviews seems like they're great sounding. Jabra doesn't hit hard, but they're still have good sound that people would enjoy.  Xm5 has the extra bass boost. I'd also say the bose qce have hard hitting bass. These aren't exactly feature packed though, as they don't have auracast, nor Bluetooth transmitters. (Or even wireless charging for the bose lol) All of these have excellent wear sensors.  I think we both have different definition of'best', which is fine. I think gemini ii is great, but the sennies, meh. I reckon the buds fe is the best valued. Excellent anc, transparency, mic, fit. You can also use a3rd party equaliser and make them sound better out of the box (not saying they beat other tws in this regard, but considering sound is subjective, you can tweak them to what you'd like). And for what was on sale at 99aud, that's value. 

The best sounding earbuds are the Denon Perl Pros. I also own the Gemini 2, BW Pi8 and MTW 4. So far the best sounding has been the Denons the problem with them is there size and fit. Just below the Denons in sound quality are the Pi8 and Gemini 2. There are distinct differences you can hear in sound from each of these earbuds.

Yes the Denons have better sound quality. The Gemini has good sound quality but it is a more neutral sound with very accurate bass. You get that and more with the Denons.

Unfortunately, I haven't been able to find a fix for the size and fit. Denon would have to literally redesign the earbud to make it much smaller with the comfort level of the Gemini 2 or the Pi8.

I would go with the MTW 4 over the overpriced Gemini 2 in a heartbeat. I found that a lot of people in these reddit subs are over hyping the Gemini 2 to justify that high price tag they have to pay for them. Sennheiser has one of the best sound stages in the game and these so-called high end earbuds do not beat that just because they are priced at 500 plus dollars a pop.

I own a pair of XM5 and the sound quality is trash they don't even deserve to be mentioned in this conversation. I even had the XM4 because sony used to make decent sound for a low budget. Now they are just in the toilet when it comes to making quality sounding products. I have heard the Gemini the sound quality is good but they are just overhyped do the cost. Before the Gemini people in these subs were overhyping the Pi8 because they are another 500 plus pair of earbuds which are noticeably louder than the MTW 4s but still lacks in terms of sound stage compared to the MTW 4s.

Lol you can get that with the AZ80. Keep dreaming thinking the Gemini 2 are worth 500 plus. The MTW 4 are a much better buy and sound just as good and in SOME cases better.

I'm still waiting for you to find the Devialet Gemini sub. Let's see how great they are please drop the link

You can't even find a sub for them lol. Enough Said😂😂

My rankings based on what I own. My criteria are big soundstage, tight articulate bass, and comfort. 1. Noble FoKus Prestige 2. Master & Dynamic MW09 3. Devialet Gemini II 4. Noble Fokus Rex5 5. Denon Perl Pro 6. Technics AZ100 7. B&W Pi8

They are good but have been relegated to my “work” earbuds since all the others suck on phone calls. The Technics are small, lightweight, and easy to quickly connect for a conference call and don’t sound muffled like the Gemini II’s. For music, anything else is better. The Technics have a weird muddy flub to the bass I can’t put my finger on.

Devialet Gemini ii closely followed by Bowers and Wilkins Pi8. Denon PerL Pro are great too but I personally couldn’t live with the size of them, they are ridiculous

Thumbs up for a great analysis and to a Perl Pro fellow. I went from AirPods Pro 2 to MTW3, then Free Byrd, Status Between 3anc and Pro, Perl Pro, Svanar Wireless, Gemini 2. And had Jlab epic lab, Jabra 85t, 7 elite and 10 elite, MTW4, Sony XM5, Cambridge m100 briefly. Perl Pro is the most comprehensively all around with emphasis of sound quality and stage presence.

A vote for Pi8. I bought the Pi8 and was incredibly happy with its performance but kept reading that AZ100 and Gemini II had better bass response. This left me unsatisfied with my purchase so I ordered AZ100 and Gemini II while within my return window for Pi8. After in numerous AB tests between the three I have to say I am incredibly happy with the Pi8. The quality is on par with the other two, including in the bass response. When using the case as transmitter the quality surpasses the other two and any other. pi8 with the case transmitting sound, wipes the floor with the other two. The soundstage is insane. It’s like they are performing in front of you. Clarity and detail is crystal. Compared to the Pi8 the AZ100 sound a bit muffled and not the most clear in highs and mids. The low end is a bit muddy too. Similarly for Gemini II which are better in highs and mids but they are all over the place in lows. Still I wouldn’t recommend Pi8 or any other. What I realised is that one may fit for your ear better than the other. The Az100 is fat around the cushion and doesn’t fit into the ear canal. Pi8 is slim and slides right into my ear. It’s lightweight and hugs it snugly. No leaks. This was simply not the case with Az100 or Gemini. I strongly suggest buying atleast two, or even three and test it out yourself.

I’ve tried all but the Noble Rex5, and I really mean all the top ones for SQ, and Devialet Gemini 2 are a cut above the rest. The bass and detail on these is outstanding, they don’t feel like they’re wireless at all. Very little compromise. Not sure if the Rex5 beat them.

I’ve owned plenty but haven’t tried the rex5. Currently my fave are my Gemini 2s. What am I missing vs the rex5?

Skip the JBL Tour 3 Pro! AZ100 or Gemini 2? The Gemini 2 has only 5 hours of battery life and isn't the best for calls, but it's passable

Bro. Holy sht. Im a/b ing my tws collection today and realized im full of it. Listening to some Revocation album and the Liberty 3 pros destroys them all lol. Im returning my Denon Perl Pros tomorrow (lack separation compared to L3P, more muddy and has a weird timbre on the mids) It was a re purchase for 149. Still lost the 2nd time around. I thought the nothing ears were better too, but upon comparison the nothings are grainier and lacking resolution. The only one who can go toe to toe with them in my collection are the Status 3ancs, which has better treble reproduction (cymbals are more fleshed out, L3P sometimes have metallic treble). I just cant believe my ears. The L3Ps are still right there among the top (for metal). I just wished their midrange reproduction was better. For that i pull out my AZ80s. Now i am onto the Gemini 2s, If I dont find them SIGNIFICANTLY BETTER than the L3Ps I am gonna lose my mind lol.

Yeah, the Pi8, Gemini II, Bang Olufsen Ex are above the Az80 in term of sound. And they are louder :)

So, I just manage to get the first batche of the Gemini II, and it sound better than the Pi8, the Pi8 is really insane, but lack a bit of work in the treble

Hifiman Svanar TWS, Devialet Gemini 2, Aviot TE Zx1

Having B&O Pi8, divialet gemini II and just recently the noble fokus rex. Nobles are several steps above either, obviously subjective but to me its a clear winner overall.

Devialet Gemini 2

Devialet Gemini 2

Nobody knows what is good for you. You have to listen to them. Also it's useful to look into their measurements curve. I didn't listen to the Denon,Jabras and Nothing Ear. Sony are linear but will not amaze you with details and clarity. Same to Technics. Sennheisers sounds just wrong for me with no lows. Bose are ok but initial tuning is too bassy for me. It's like one just increased the bass with eq. I personally have Devialet Gemini 2. Very linear with slight increase of lows and trebles which is easily compensated. Amazing resolution, imaging, separations you name it. But again, just listen to them. I listened to Nobles, B&W, Bang and Olufsen and they did not suite my needs. But maybe they are for you.

Devialet Gemini II is just another level in my opinion. Just listen to them.

You need to listen to them all to decide. For me it's Devialet Gemini II. But I gave a listen to many models. Just go to the shop and try them/

Devialet Gemini II are the best in my opinion.

In my experience, best sounding can be very personal. If at all possible, I recommend doing what I did and find a store that lets you demo a bunch of earbuds that you are interested in. I A/B tested the Sony XM5, BW Pi8, Sennheiser MT4, Gemini II, Technics az80 and az100 - spent \~2x1 hour store visits switching earbuds with a range of my favorite tracks. End of the day, I liked the Pi8 and Gemini II the best (slight edge to the gemini), and the PI8 were on sale, so that's what I picked up. Basically I felt that out of the ones I had tested, these two gave the best clarity combined with strong but not overpowering bass. Also, they were the most comfortable in-ear, which is very important to me.

The beoplay ex's, Gemini 2, pi8s and denon pros imo have better sound quality than those 3.

Maybe just yours? Mine don't have any issues whatsoever, I do wish they added some more features like the ATW-9s but for me, sound quality is the most important thing.

Fair enough, I haven't experienced the loud noise thing yet

Ou and if you want the best of the best go for the Gemini 2 or pi8. But these are 350+

Yes Gemini II!

If you can, try the Devialet Gemini II. They're the best sounding by far. Strong ANC as well. Similar to them are the B&W Pi8. Next imo would be the Sennheiser MT4.

They are not as large as they seem. Though if you have concerns regarding this, I think it's best if you can find a store where you can test them. Fit is pretty good. My ears' canals are not identical, so I use S tip on the right and M on the left, but they stay there pretty solidly.

Compared to the other tws in your list, these have the deepest, cleanest and "tumpiest" bass out there. It also helps that the soundstage is wide and istrument separation is exceptionally good for a pair of tws. Battery life might be the worse out of the premium buds, but you can still get 3 hours of continuous listen. I usually listen for aboyt 1-2 hours per day and charge them weekly (wirelessly!). Oh, and the volume is extreme :D

Really good! They are warm and pretty even with the other sounds. Soundstage makes it really is for them to stand on their own and shine. Compared to my Hifiman Edition XS, I would say they sound better in terms of how the overall sounds works as a whole. (still thr Hifimans sound better instrumentally, as they should xD)

Hope you'll be impressed! AZ80s tuning is much more v-shaped, while the Gemini is more balanced overall, with great oomph in the bass.

If you can, try the Devialet Gemini II. They're the best sounding by far. Strong ANC as well. Similar to them are the B&W Pi8. Next imo would be the Sennheiser MT4.

If you can, try the Devialet Gemini II. They're the best sounding by far. Strong ANC as well. Similar to them are the B&W Pi8. Next imo would be the Sennheiser MT4.

From my personal experience: 1) Devialet Gemini II 2) Technics AZ80 3) Bowers and Wilkins Pi8 4) Sony XM5 The Gemini II are flat out best sounding buds period to me and I'm yet to find something that out ranks it in the sound department. I have to listen to my planar magnetic wired headphones to get better sound. Looking forward to a comparison between the Gemini II and the AZ100.

Audio technica ath-twx9 are a great pair of buds as well as the Devialet Gemini 2 both have great sounds but the anc is below that of the Sony and Bose. Also the beoplay ex are a great pair of buds with great sound as well and a ip57 rating

I just added the Devialet Gemini 2 so. Devialet Gemini 2 Beoplay ex Denon perl pro Nothing 2024 Jabra elite 10 Based on sound quality alone.

I just got the AZ100s and I've only had them for a few hours, but they're fantastic. I would say the Denon Perl Pro, Pi8, Devialet Gemini 2, and BeoPlay EX still have a slight edge in terms of sound quality, but the AZ100 sound pretty fantastic and aren't that far behind, at least in LDAC (which is all I've tested). The AZ100 are better all-arounders than any of those, although I have no real complaints about the Devialet and Denon. My initial impression is that they've dethroned my beloved Sennheiser MTW4 for best sound in the $300-ish range, but I need to spend some more time with them to know for sure. I preferred the MTW4 over the AZ80 but so far I think the AZ100 has them both beat.

I have all 3. Devialet and Pi8 still have better sound, but it's close. The differences are pretty marginal at this point but if you're an audiophile, those marginal differences may be important to you. The AZ100s are better all arounders and more feature-rich, especially than the Pi8.

The Technics have more features and a more fully-featured app, and LDAC, and I tend to find them a bit more user friendly, definitely more than the B&O and B&W. As far as the Denon and Devialet, they're actually pretty good all arounders too and I have no real complaints about them. The Technics have better battery life and I'm more comfortable wearing them out and about: I don't bring the Devialets with me everywhere because they're too expensive to risk loss/drop/weather/damage, and I don't bring the Denon with me everywhere because they're big and bulky (although I do find them comfortable and the size doesn't bother me much). The primary benefit of these buds is their amazing sound, and that doesn't really matter as much when I'm listening casually in public and not focused on sonic detail. I haven't had a lot of time to compare closely, but I think the Devialet ANC is still better than the Technics ANC, although the Technics is much improved from the AZ80. So in general I find the AZ100 to be a bit better all around, but really the Devialet or Denon are perfectly fine too.

I tested all my earbuds in a room full of about 30 musicians warming up and chatting, including a drummer. The Bose ANC is better, by a long shot, than anything else. Sony has very good passive noise cancelling due to the foam eartips sealing your ears like earplugs. In a noisy room, the XM5 resulted in a marginally quieter experience than the Jabra Elite 10 and the Sennheiser MTW4, but the Sony had an uncomfortable muffled, plugged-up sort of effect whereas the Jabra and Sennheiser had a more filtered effect. In terms of dB (SPL) reaching my eardrums, the Sony probably beat the other two slightly, but the other two have more effective technology and I personally prefer their ANC vs. Sony's largely-passive NC. Either way, the Bose blew all three away. Significantly quieter than anything else through the whole frequency spectrum. The only strike against Bose ANC is that occasionally a sudden loud transient will make it through briefly, albeit somewhat muffled. I didn't have my Devialet Gemini 2 or Bowers & Wilkins Pi8 at the time I did this comparison but so far they have both impressed me with their ANC as well. I think the Devialet may even be 2nd place after Bose, pushing Sony down into 3rd place, but I sold my Sony before buying the Devialet so I can no longer compare them side by side.

I think they're recommended less for the same reason fewer people recommend Ferraris than Hondas: because fewer people have them. Also, they're not as common to find in stores: you need to learn about them through word-of-mouth or research. I think in general these earbuds *do* sound "better" than flagship mainstream buds, but at this level "better" translates to maybe a 3-5% improvement. (Of course I'm being very subjective and unscientific here, and the numbers 3-5% don't correspond to any concrete measurement in my context, I'm just illustrating a point). For most people, your music listening experience isn't going to be drastically different listening on these vs. Sony/Technics/Jabra/Sennheiser/etc. Honestly, it won't even be *drastically* different than listening on cheap JLab earbuds. You'll still hear all the parts and you'll still enjoy your music. But stepping up from a cheap set to a more premium set tends to give you small improvements like (for example) more clarity, more punchy bass, a more balanced and/or pleasing frequency response, better separation between instruments, a faster transient response translating into slightly more detail (you'll hear breaths and fingers scratching along guitar strings and other subtle details that may add richness and life to the sound). It's a bit like putting on a set of glasses that make your vision slightly better: you could see fine before, but now everything's a bit sharper and richer, and you didn't realize how much subtle detail and clarity you were missing before. I think for most people, the improvement you get from upgrading to a premium mainstream set of earbuds like the Sennheiser/Technics/Jabra/Maybe-Sony is more than enough, and $250-300 USD seems to be about the highest the average customer is willing to fork over for the highest tier of "mainstream" buds. I think the next tier of $350-500 earbuds give you the same type of improvements, just a tiny bit more. They're for people who want (and can afford) to seek that extra 3-5% improvement. If you want the absolute best sound and can afford it, you may as well get them, although you may find that the extra 3-5% is very subjective and personal. From reviews I've read, most of these "extra-premium" earbuds have some deficiencies in features or controls or something else. Sometimes it's a genuine deficiency and sometimes it's a "for this price it should be better" kind of thing. I haven't heard many complaints about the Devialet Gemini 2s *except* for the price, and I get the impression that these would be a unanimous favorite if they were $300. I actually find my Denon Perl Pros to be pretty solid in terms of their controls and feature set, and their sound is incredibly good, although I'm not a huge fan of their huge size and shape. I do consider them to be noticeably better sounding than my Sennheiser/Jabra/Technics, but once again I'm talking about very small, incremental improvements: if my Denons were lost I'd miss them but I wouldn't feel like I could never enjoy music the same way again.

I have most of the best earbuds except the ones from Noble. Excluding the Noble, the best sounding are Devialet Gemini 2, B&W PI8, BeoPlay EX (and I'm assuming the new BeoPlay Eleven), and Denon Perl Pro. I'd consider the Devialet to be the overall winner for sound quality, but they're all pretty close. The Pi8 are the winners when you use the case transmitter function. AZ100 sound fantastic but they're not quite at the same level sonically as the others on this list.

Yes, I own the BeoPlay EX. I find them to be in the same league, sonically, as the Devialet, Pi8, and Denon, although I admit they're probably my least favorite of this bunch. I consider this league to be a bit better sounding than the next league down, which includes Technics and Sennheiser earbuds--also fantastic sounding earbuds. I do most of my mobile listening using high res streams through Tidal and the best-available codec, which for the BeoPlay is, I think, AptX adaptive. I have a custom EQ curve set just the way I like it, and I find the BeoPlay sounds best best on punchy, drum-heavy rock music, although it sounds quite good in other contexts too. It's been a while since I've listened to subtle, quiet, classical or cinematic music on the BeoPlays, so you may be right about its dynamic resolution. I find the Gemini and Denon really excel in terms of subtle dynamics (which is interesting because I think the Gemini don't even support 24-bit), and I tend to gravitate to the BeoPlay for crisp and aggressive music. I love the new AZ100 and think they may be one of the best overall earbuds on the planet at this point, and they're *almost* in the sonic league with the others I listed--close enough that it doesn't really make a difference unless I'm actively listening. The main thing holding them back, for me, is that they're a bit more reverberant than I like. I don't know if it's in the tuning/processing or if it's just the way they resonate in their own chamber/tips or in my ear canal, but it slightly washes out the sound and obscures the detail a tiny bit. The other buds, particularly the Devialet and the BeoPlay (and also the much cheaper Nothing Ear 2024) somehow manage to have a much more dry sound. The reverberant sound adds some fullness/lushness and excitement, but a drier sound brings out more detail and crispness, especially in transients. This is me being incredibly nitpicky: as I said, I think the AZ100 are still one of the best sounding earbuds, and they have no shortage of clarity and crispness, I just think the other earbuds do it a bit better. I'm a pro musician too, and part of my career involves recording and mixing, so I'm accustomed to pro gear and my ears are fairly well attuned to the details of musical timbre and production techniques. I'm not saying this to pull rank or suggest that my opinion is more valid, I just want to let you know I'm not a rube spouting hype I don't understand. From what I'm reading here, our difference in opinion is more a matter of differing personal preferences.

The best ANC, by far, is the Bose QC Ultra. Nothing else even comes close. Next best is Devialet Gemini 2, but these are expensive as hell. They are incredible sounding though. After that, the Jabra Elite 10 Gen 2, Jabra Elite 8 Gen 2, Sennheiser MTW4, and Sony XM5 have very good ANC. They all cancel noise slightly differently, but they are roughly tied.

I'm on vacation and don't have my Gemini 2 with me but I'm 99% certain you can turn ANC off. I'm a musician and part of my career involves recording and mixing, and I agree with you 100% on your assessment of the Denons. The only earbuds I've found to sound superior to the Denons are the Devialets, so I'd be curious to know your thoughts if you ever get around to checking them out. I'm about 60/40 on the Devialet vs. Denon. I find myself preferring the Denons in some situations, but the Devialets win out enough to be a clear overall winner. BeoPlay EX wins for Guns & Roses *Appetite for Destruction* for some reason :). Something about the way the drums are recorded and mixed just happens to make these things thump.

I've never really tested/timed the battery life but I've noticed I get low battery warnings earlier than I do for most of my other good earbuds.

My original comment was based on your first list. I've owned most of the earbuds in your edited list, and I'd consider them *all* among the best sounding earbuds out there. I'd probably say the Gemini, Denon, B&W, and B&O are roughly tied for "best sounding," and the winner comes down to personal preference. But if I had to choose only one set, I'd still probably go with the Sennheiser MTW4 or Technics (AZ100, which I like better than the AZ80). The Gemini and others may have slightly better sound but the Sennheiser and Technics still sound fantastic: they're not far behind, and you wouldn't be missing out on some mindblowing sonic experience. But I consider these two to be better overall, in terms of functionality, app, features, etc.

I also reach for the Gemini 2 more often, mostly because they're smaller, have better ANC, and they have more customizable controls. The latter is more of a "me" issue though: I have a stupidly large number of earbuds, so I like to customize them all to have more or less the same controls. It's annoying when I have to learn a separate control scheme for one particular set. It's very annoying because some of the best sounding earbuds (Pi8, BeoPlay) are lacking in this area. It's also one of the only things keeping the JBL Tour Pro from being a favorite of mine, and one of the big things that turned me off of Sony earbuds early on. But for most normal people who only have a single set of earbuds, it's probably not a problem to simply learn the existing control scheme. (One area where it might still be a problem for normal users is that these limited-customization buds often have different controls on the left/right sides, so if you ever use only one bud at a time for casual listening, audiobooks, etc., you lose even more control). As far as sound, I consider the Gemini 2 to sound *slightly* better than the Pi8, but it's more of a personal preference, and the Pi8 sound has been growing on me lately. When using the Pi8's case transmitter, the sound is better (and probably the best of *any* earbuds I've experienced, although I haven't tried the renowned Rex5 yet).

>If you don't mind, could you share your ranking list for best overall and one for sound quality? Thank you in advance! Of the ones listed in your post, my personal rankings would be: BEST OVERALL: 1. Sennheiser, Technics 2. Denon, Devialet 3. Bose, Sony 4. Pi8, BeoPlay BEST SOUND: 1. Devialet, Pi8, Denon, BeoPlay (in roughly that order if I *had* to rank them, but I consider them more or less tied, and my preferences might change from day to day or song to song) 2. Sennheiser, Technics AZ100 3. AZ80 4. Sony, Bose I've never used the EQ or the Eleven.

Sony XM5 will never win a "most comfortable" contest. The most comfortable earbuds are the Jabra Elite 10, and they sound *good* but there are several earbuds with better sound and more hi-res codecs. If money is no object, the Devialet Gemini 2 are very lightweight and comfortable, and are widely considered the best sounding earbuds on the market today. The Bowers & Wilkins Pi8 are growing on me as well: they are comfortable and well made, and sound fantastic, and support some high res codecs like APTX lossless. I still think the Devialet sounds slightly better but my mind changes from track to track. Sennheiser MTW4 and Technics AZ80 are a bit more reasonably priced (though still on the high end of the consumer earbud market). Both are pretty comfortable and sound fantastic. To my ears, the Sennheiser sound a bit better and the Technics are a bit more comfortable. In the under-$200 range, the Nothing Ear (2024) and the OnePlus Buds *Pro* 3 are both very comfortable and sound fantastic. The Nothing supports more high resolution audio codecs but whether this matters depends a lot on what your phone supports.

Gemini far better i have got all these and trist me Kept gemini only cuz of amazing balanced tuned sound profile its King Of Tws

Tried everything & given I'm only buying wireless through necessity of being moisture proof for gym etc, I thought the absolute best were the Diavalet Gemini 2. Ainw of the he Noble Fokus series have better sound, but for wired you could have something waaaay better for that cash. Wireless are still crap compared to wired, the difference is absolutely enormous.

Hi. For the absolute best I 100% vouch for the devialet gemini 2. It’s the best in class period if you’re willing to pay the price.

Never tried noble audio. But as for pi8, I have to say, I was alot happier with the gemini for sound quality... and I heard pi8 have many bugs, gemini has no bug whatsoever.

I chose yo buy gemini because of pi8 lacking bass

I would still pick technics. I would recommend the gemini to nobody.

Convenience. Volume control doesn't work 50% of the time, you either have full ambient mode or full anc, it's comfortable but moves easily and that affects the noise canceling. And then you pay a fortune for it when you could have an az100 cheaper. Oh, and it also switches itself off completely when there is a sudden loud noise

These are not issues. It's the way earbuds are made. Lol. They are made without convenience in mind

If budget isn't an issue, then definitely look at the Noble Fokus Rex5 and the Gemini 2. I listen to edm all day long on both. Source dap: ibasso dx180 I also use wired iems, the Thieaudio Hype 4s sound ridiculously amazing for edm.

I totally second the Geminis. I listen to edm, trancy daily and out of your list, the Geminis would be the ideal choice followed by the AZ100. Both have excellent bass responses and lively mids, with good imaging and separation.

You should find a store to demo all the ones or buy and return the ones you don't like. I think the best way to choose a bud is to listen to it using your phone or music source to music you normally listen to. Depending on review don't always work because everyone uses different sources be it a dap, a dongle, naked phone etc and musical tastes vary. Some buds like the AZ100 sound great on edm and hiphop but may not live up to your expectations in jazz or classical. If budget isn't an issue, the Gemini 2 is your best choice as all types of music sounds good, its small and comfortable for all day wear especially if you add an aftermarket foam tip. Some features aren't as good as others but totally excels st sound quality. The Rex5 is good too but requires a lot of time to tweak the eq to fit your musical tastes.

Honestly $300 is average for high end buds nowadays. The better ones go up over 400 close to 5. The XM5s are kinda old now although they sound great compared to conventional buds, the tech is a little old. The XM6s are supposed to be coming out soon. The best for $300, would be the Technics AZ100 for bass heavy music with excellent sound quality but not great if you need excellent anc. If you want to talk about the best of the best, you can only look at the Devialet Gemini 2 and the B&W Pi8. I personally use the Geminis and its great for bass and exceptional clearity and staging. The Noble Rex5 mentioned are good but overrated at close to $500. I have these too and you need to have the patience to tweak the eq to make them sound good. Out of the box, they're just ok. Out of box using eq presets, you will have excellent results with both the AZ100 and the Geminis.

For me, its always and only about sound quality. All the other features, while good to have isn't what I look at as I hardly ever use them. I have a huge collection of tws and iems. I have the rex5, Gemini 2, and AZ100. If you can afford it, Id would wholeheartedly recommend the Geminis. The music quality and bass response is better than anything else in the collection and on par with several high priced iems. If I had to pick one set to listen to the rest of my life, that would be it. Added bonus is they are smaller than all the others and extremely comfortable for all day wear.

I currently own over 10 sets of tws from budget to one of the most expensive. Hands down for sound quality alone, Gemini 2 are the best sounding and small form factor for comfort listening for long periods of time. Out of the box, without any eq would sound like $4-600 iems. Once you find a tune you like, it can sound even better. My current top 3: Gemini 2, Rex5, and AZ100. I've heard lots of good things about the Tour Pro 3 but it's never on sale in my country. Retails for around $350 for me. For just a tad more, I would just get another set of Geminis as backup.

I'd recommend some aftermarket foam replacement tips, probably cheaper than buying something new. Im currently consistently using 3 sets. The most comfortable for me are the Gemini 2s and the Raycon Fitness. I know, absolute two ends of the spectrum. But I use the Raycons when my AirPods are charging for calls and podcasts mostly. I usually leave them in because I forget they're even there. I go to put another set in to realize they're still in there. Most folks aren't going to spend on the Geminis but they are extremely comfortable among the higher end choices.

Gemini 2 has a small form and the way it sits inside the ear is extremely comfortable. Better than my other 4 pairs of buds. Plus they have exceptional sound quality and plenty of deep bass. Can't say about call quality though because Ive never used them on a call. I still only use my AirPods pro 2 for calls.

The ANC isn’t even close to my APP2. However, they’re very comfortable and the mic is good, so I’m happy with that trade off. Other than having a good mic, they’re not as good as the Pi8 or Gemini II that I returned for having bad call quality.

Earbuds frequency response measurements are less reliable than headphones. They vary a lot ear to ear based upon one’s ear structure, distance from the driver to one’s ear canal, quality of seal, etc. There’s multiple reviewers that have addressed this in their reviews. Being close to the Harman response doesn’t automatically make it better or worse, that’s a human created measurement based upon an average of what people generally like. I thought the Pi8 sounded as good or better than the Gemini II in back to back testing, but others hate the Pi8 for how it sounds in their ears.

I know you've the price limit of $350 but if you want the best sound quality that makes the music live and addictive then my 1st recommendation will be 1. Noble fokus rex5 (after some hrs. of customising the Equalizers - then it's the best in the market) 2. Devialet gemini II ( if you listen to it side by side with any other earbuds, except noble and somewhat denon, it just makes everything blunt and dull).

Well... I'm guilty for paying for the Gemeni 2s. Granted, I paid significantly less than msrp, however they were still significantly more expensive than others. I wanted reasonable ANC with the best possible sound quality. I have experienced nearly ever "top" True wireless ear bud less the Technics Z80 and I must say that the Devialet Gemini 2 buds do offer top tear sound reproduction. They are actually very close in flat sound signature to my stax spirit over the ear with planar drivers, however somehow the gemini 2s offer even more bass. The gemini 2s 5hz frequency response is incredible. Granted not audible, but you can feel it in certain music. You are paying a premium for a low production incredibly high audio fidelity product. For myself, I happily paid the premium for the ear candy. Back to back in my opinion they blow the airpods pro 2 out of the water in clarity, separation, and punch. I swapped out the tips for the heat sensing memory foam also. Granted there are cheaper options that still sound good, but if you want the best audio reproduction it doesn't and never has come cheap. My advice is to buy what sounds the best to you. What gives you the most satisfaction. Both budget and sound quality are very subjective metrics. Spend what you can afford and what sounds best to you. If your ears don't differentiate then buy the cheapest satisfactory option. I have no regrets spending nearly $400 for a set of TWS that do everything I want and give me the dopamine hit of audiophile euphoria when listening to any song I choose. The older I become, the more priority I put on experiences. I would rather pay more for quality and experience than have to pay less but more frequently for subpar experiences. Real value is what you are willing to pay. That definition is different for every individual. And it will always scale with age and experience. Luxury items will often cost 10-100x more for a 5-10% improvement. For some people that little improvement justifies the value for them as they are no longer satisfied to listening to 90% of what a song offers. For most, it doesn't justify the price. However sometime that 5-10% improvement is where the vast amount of money goes to deliver given constraints such as size. Buy what you enjoy amd can afford. Just because an item is more expensive and only x% better doesn't mean it's a bad buy for everyone. Value is always in the eye of the beholder.

Yes but unfortunately no one earbud set contains all of the good things. Best ANC = Bose QC Ultra Best sound = MTW4, Technics Az80/100, Pi8, Devialet Gemini 2 etc etc Best comfort = Bose QC Ultra or Samsung Galaxy Buds3 Pro imo Best mic and call quality = Galaxy Buds3 Pro imo. Some say Huawei pro 3 Best battery.. Most are 6hrs+ without anc and up to 6hrs with There are prob buds I've forgotten but I have tried a lot and my faves up to no have been the MTW4's. Not the best at everything but the best all round imo.

The Gemini II and Noble rex 5 are just at and slightly above your price range in my area, and both are incredible. The rex 5 are pretty big. But, they are the best wireless earbuds I have ever heard. The Gemini II are relatively small and run neck and neck with the pi8. I dare say you can't go wrong with either one. Not trying to make it harder for you 😉 I just have a passion for good...earbuds in general. Not sure why?

Devialet Gemini II, Rex5, jbl tour pro 3 This week.

Technics AZ100 is the best overall package. Sony's sound is super veiled in comparison to any of the heavy hitters. Strictly Sq: can't go wrong with the devialet Gemini 2 or even the bowers & wilkins pi8 (if you're not a basshead). Also heard the Rex 5 are like the pinnacle of tws for bass lovers, but I haven't heard them myself yet.

Devialet Gemini II for the sound. NC not as good as Bose.

Devialet Gemini 2 without a doubt beat anything out for sound alone. Second would be the new bowers and Wilkins pi8 earbuds, crazy good as well. Gotta pay to play. Well worth the investment.

And worth every penny, you can buy multiple random cheap pairs or go for the best. And these are easily the best.

Devialet Gemini 2 and the denon perl pro are the loudest I’ve come across.

I agree the AZ100’s are overrated if purely based on “best sounding”. Lots of people will jump from low tier earbuds to the AZ’s and crown them as the best without trying anything else. They do a lot of things well but are not the best. The question is what exactly are you looking for? What do you value more? What music do you like? Devialet Gemini II’s, Denon Perl Pro’s, Noble Fokus Rex5 are better in sound. And if sound is the most important, than none of these even come close to IEM’s. Sony and Bose are far superior in ANC. For bassheads lots of other options such as Nothing Ears, Noble Mystique.

My go to earbuds are the Devialet Gemini II and B&W Pi8's. I find that they are both very good but I reach for the Gemini II's more often.

I prefer the sound. That doesn’t mean they’re better but I like them better.

Pi7 don't, just don't. If you want B&W, go with pi8, one of the best sound, good anc, no bugs after firmware update, good fit. But price tag is higher. Devialet Gemini 2 are also good, technics az100 more budget friendly but not cheap.

Best are Devialet Gemini 2 and Noble Audio FoKus Rex5 The pro-sumer tier are: Technics AZ80, Denon PerlPro's and B&W Pi8 I am impartial to my AZ80s

Best sound: Gemini 2, AZ80, BW PI8, Denon Perl pro Best ANC: Bose and Sony XM5

I second Gemini 2, I’ve tested so many and none came close to the sound these make

Devialet gemini II. Expensive, but imo the best on the market for audiophile level quality with extremely hard hitting bass. Low quality earbuds boost bass at the expense of sound quality in other areas. While that is okay for many people, I can’t bear to listen to something like that. I don’t think you’ll ever want another pair of earbuds after these. Honorable mention would be the Sennheiser momentum true wireless. They are excellent imo Edit: The devialet gemini II are single driver. I don’t know what kind of witchcraft they’re up to but they somehow made it work beautifully. They seem to have the hardest hitting bass on the market while retaining the quality and clarity in other ranges.

I don't know where people got the idea that the Devialet Gemini 2 were any good but they flat out suck. They should be $30. They aren't good.

These lists are kinda getting to be useless because it absolutely depends on how you plan on using the phones (gym, office, home, plane, street etc) and what’s important to you. I ONLY care about sound so Devialets win hands down. Now are those what I wear for the gym or to walk about…no I grab my B&Os for that. I’m learning that there are just too many factors to consider for lists like this. Then there’s personal preference…I love clarity and bass, comfort level etc. price point? I never thought I’d pay $500 for a set of in-ears but if sounds that important to me then I’ll do and did it. Some people care about battery life it’s just whatever. This is the best video I’ve seen for 2024…he takes EVERYTHING into consideration. I went straight to the sound section and he was spot on. So I presume everything else to be reliable to. https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=owNyKtbqvzI

Planned obsolescence and for me so far Devialet on both.

If you're only aiming for sound quality the best are Denon Perl Pro (best for bass) the pi8 (the best balance and mids) AZ100 (best for details) and the Gemini 2 (best overall but more expensive and subjectively the best because of their unique sound). If money is tight i'd go for the Denons, the difference in price with the others is way bigger than the difference in sound quality.

Depends on where I'm at. If I'm at home and depending on the game, I might just Bluetooth through my home theater receiver. Otherwise when I'm out and about, either my Bose QC35 II Gaming headphones with mic or my fancy schmancy Devialet Gemini II earbuds.

Best will depend on your preferences, and whether you value comfort, ANC, or sound quality. Here's my personal shortlist, having tested dozens of these sets in the past few years: **Sound quality:** Denon Perl Pro (with AAT), Technics AZ80, Sennheiser Momentum 4 (with Sound Personalization), AirPods Pro 2, Sony WF-1000XM5s (with personalized EQ, Clearbass set to off), Beats Studio Buds+/Beats Studio Buds, Beats Fit Pros, Bose QC Ultra **ANC:** Bose QC Ultra, AirPods Pro 2, Sony WF-1000XM5s, Sennheiser Momentum 4s, Technics AZ80, Denon Perl Pro, Beats Studio Buds+, Beats Fit Pro, Beats Studio Buds **Comfort:** Beats Studio Buds+/Beats Studio Buds, Sony WF-1000XM5s (with Dunu S&S tips), Denon Perl Pro, Bose QC Ultra, Sennheiser Momentum 4s (very dependent on concha; ranked higher if you have larger ears), Technics AZ80 (another one that depends more on outer ear physiology) Any buds with a "locking" mechanism, or small ear hook, is very dependent on your individual ears. The Momentum's take this a step further, actually locking in behind your antihelix, resting in your concha. If these fit you, they're one of the most secure and comfortable fits on the market. They rank higher for me because they fit well, but are lower on my list because I think this can vary dramatically by person. For sound quality, I've gone back and forth between the Perl Pros and AZ80s on which sounds best. I used to rank the AZ80s higher, but I have a second AAT profile for the Denons, with Immersion at a +2, that handily beats the AZ80s. This could be due to the initial AAT profile being poorly done -- and yet, still somehow performed better than most of my other sets. With that profile, the Denon's compete with some of my midfi IEMs. They are exceptionally good. The Devialet Gemini IIs are also excellent, but are well outside of your budget and, honestly, not worth the investment. Gemini IIIs may be, if they improve codecs, BT support, etc. Don't sleep on the Beats brand of earbuds; for the price, they are genuinely great sets. The Buds+ are very good performers and the most comfortable set I own. With the Spinfit Omnis, these disappear in my ears. ANC is solid, transparency is serviceable. Sound quality is very good. The Fits Pros are the best option if you're active; one of the best "secure" fits out of dozens of buds, second only to the Powerbeats Pros. The Beats brand gets a lot of eye rolls due to brand stigma, but I don't care about the label on the box. If something works well for its intended use, I'll buy it. In this case, depending on the sales, the Buds+ can be an exceptionally good value. I did not include the device manufacturer earbuds on my list, like the Galaxy and Pixel Buds Pros; these are honestly excellent sets in their own right, but I do not use the devices they're most integrated with and thus I cannot test them fully so it's hard to do a fair comparison. But if you use those devices, they are also great -- and cheap -- options. For my part, I ended up daily driving the Sennheiser Momentum TW 4s; although it's not at the top of any of my lists, it is the best all around performer, getting close to the sound quality of the Technics and Denons, ANC that's nearly as good as the Sony's, but with an app and features that are more robust (and with better UX) than the Technics and Denon apps. On the whole, it's my favorite set to use for work and travel, some light media consumption, and around the house use. However, if I don't want to pull out one of my wired IEM, but I want to listen to music or other media and have the best possible experience, it's the Denons or Technics.

My ranking (pictured [here](https://imgur.com/a/tws-ranking-left-to-right-MBqgKk5)) based on sound quality, battery life, app, and features: MTW4 (w/ Sound Personalization) > Technics AZ100/AZ80 > Denon Perl Pro (w/ AAT) > B&W Pi8 > Devialet Gemini II > Sony XM5 > APP2 > Bose QC Ultra Sound quality isn't an empirical measurement. It will be based on preference. Most TWS within a certain price range aren't going to suffer from "qualitative" issues and will all perform well, but will be tuned very differently from one another. Recency bias also plays a major role in recommendations within the community, so keep that in mind. MTW4 with SP was the best balance of tuning, battery life, features, and user experience for me, and is my typical go-to. I'm also a fan of rock/metal and hip hop, thus a set like the AZ100, which excels in many other areas -- including battery life and ANC -- and beats the MTW4 in some genres, gets ranked lower as the timbre and tonality in genres with high gain guitars is lacking. It's as if Technics applied a high shelf filter and rounded off the treble, which diminishes some of the dynamics and energy/attack of guitar-based tracks. AZ80 is better in this regard, but a downgrade in ANC and battery life. The Perl Pro sound stellar with AAT, but AAT can be hit or miss for some and is very tip dependent. AAT *should* be used in conjunction with EQ to get the most out of the Perl Pros -- something many users miss, as AAT is correction, not intended as a replacement EQ -- and I'd recommend looking at alternative tips like the Dunu S&S, Divinus Velvet, Spinfit Omni/Neo, etc. B&W Pi8 sounds very good, but is a bit too neutral for my tastes. It was also plagued with connectivity issues. I replaced my original unit, and had the same problems, so that set is rarely used. I know a lot of users that swear by this set, but it was not near the top of my list even without considering the connectivity issues. EQ could not fix my issues with the tuning; in some cases, it introduced sibilance. Outside of ANC, the Bose QC Ultra is at the bottom of my list. And to be fair, that list is much larger than what was pictured above as I have tested dozens of TWS sets. The tuning of the Bose is just not for me, but I know other hobbyists that swear by it. The ANC is world class, however. One of the few sets I quickly returned as I had no interest in keeping it around, even to collect dust. TLDR; this is very subjective, and I wouldn't recommend basing your buying decision on one user or reviewer's opinion unless you know your preferences align -- and even then, you may be disappointed with the results. If sound quality is your one and only goal, there are better options. Even the best TWS in my rotation will rarely beat out a dedicated IEM, running on something like the Q5k, iFi Go Pods, or the FiiO UTWS5 -- the former and the latter both have access to EQ. Unless I need ANC or TWS features, this is what I use the majority of the time.

Sony and Bose are still the leads if ANC is your main priority. However, they are much further down the list if you're prioritizing sound quality/tuning. My current list consists of the Denon Perl Pros, Technics AZ100s/AZ80s, Sennheiser Momentum True Wireless 4, Bowers & Wilkins Pi8, and a few other budget options. The Devialet Gemini II and Noble Audio Rex5 are both pricier sets, but the Gemini II -- while it's an excellent sounding earbud -- had several issues that held it back for me. The deal breaker in my case was latency, which was quite high even for a TWS. The Rex5 is the best earbud Noble has put out thus far, but they need to make improvements to their app and overall user experience. My current rotation looks something like the AZ100s, MTW4 and Denon Perl Pro, as each provides a good overall balance of battery life, sound quality, and features. The AZ100s have excellent ANC, that gets close to competing with Sony and Bose, but is a slight downgrade in some areas of the frequency response compared to the AZ80s. The battery life is excellent, however, which makes them a contender as my main travel earbud. The Denon Perl Pros with AAT can be one of the best sounding buds on the market, but AAT can be hit or miss for some and is very tip dependent -- and I do suggest you change the tips, to something like the Dunu S&S. The Perl Pros also offer an EQ over the top of the AAT correction, which is a nice touch. I still reach for the MTW4 a lot of the time as well; with Sound Personalization it is still one of the best sounding earbuds on the market, with very solid ANC and transparency. I was not as sold on the Pi8, although I found the "case as transmitter" feature much more useful than I originally thought. I preferred the bass response of the Pi7 S2. In general the Pi8 feels a bit safer, and a bit more boring, for lack of a better word. It is still an excellent sounding earbud if you prefer a more balanced, more neutral tuning that prioritizes clarity and detail. I tend to lean towards warmth and energy, and so it didn't quite make the top of my list. TLDR; if money is no object, buy a BT dongle DAC/Amp or ifi Go Pods/FiiO BT ear hooks and a pair of dedicated IEMs. For now, this market is still juggling a "winner" and you'll be hard pressed to decide what is the best for the price -- no matter if it comes at a premium.

This is a repost, but is still relevant. Sony and Bose are still the leads if ANC is your main priority. However, they are much further down the list if you're prioritizing sound quality/tuning. My current rotation consists of the Denon Perl Pros, Technics AZ100s/AZ80s, Sennheiser Momentum True Wireless 4, Bowers & Wilkins Pi8, and a few other budget options (JLab Epic Lab, Beats Fit Pros, etc.). The Devialet Gemini II and Noble Audio Rex5 are both pricier sets, but the Gemini II -- while it's an excellent sounding earbud -- had several issues that held it back for me. The deal breaker in my case was latency, which was quite high even for a TWS. The Rex5 is the best earbud Noble has put out thus far, but they need to make improvements to their app and overall user experience. My current rotation looks something like the AZ100s, MTW4 and Denon Perl Pro, as each provides a good overall balance of battery life, sound quality, and features. The AZ100s have excellent ANC, that gets close to competing with Sony and Bose, but is a slight downgrade in some areas of the frequency response compared to the AZ80s. The battery life is excellent, however, which makes them a contender as my main travel earbud. The Denon Perl Pros with AAT can be one of the best sounding buds on the market, but AAT can be hit or miss for some and is very tip dependent -- and I do suggest you change the tips, to something like the Dunu S&S. The Perl Pros also offer an EQ over the top of the AAT correction, which is a nice touch. I still reach for the MTW4 a lot of the time as well; with Sound Personalization it is still one of the best sounding earbuds on the market, with very solid ANC and transparency. The new Smart Control Plus app finally allows you to disable ANC, which was the only real weak point of this set. I was not as sold on the Pi8, although I found the "case as transmitter" feature much more useful than I assumed it would be. I preferred the bass response of the Pi7 S2. In general the Pi8 feels a bit safer, and a bit more boring, for lack of a better word. It is still an excellent sounding earbud if you prefer a more balanced, more neutral tuning that prioritizes clarity and detail. I tend to lean towards warmth and energy, and so it didn't quite make the top of my list. If you’re a neutral plus bass boost lover, it doesn’t get much better than the Pi8 in this price range. TL;DR: For now, this market is still juggling a "winner" and you'll be hard pressed to decide what is the “best” for the price -- no matter if it comes at a premium. Of all the major brands, I lean heavily toward the MTW4, Denon Perl Pro, AZ100 (unless you enjoy metal/rock, then replace this with the AZ80), and the Pi8, in that specific order. If you want a more budget conscious set, you can often find the JLab Epic Lab for half the price of the aforementioned brands, and it’s a set that’s not recommended enough. Excellent sound quality and decent ANC for the price.

The best over 1k are the Geekfly L6, hands down best sound quality out of all the ones I've tested, Noble Rex5, Devailet Gemini ll's, PI8s, Denon Perl, Sony M5, MTW4, and supports all the hi resolution wireless codecs, if you own a late model flagship phone your already to go for best wireless audio sound. Warranty and build quality by Geekfly is top notch. There isn't any tws on the market compares to the L6s.

The bose are pretty punchy. The devialet Gemini IIs have better, deeper more rumbly bass than the bose.

Usually the JBL Tour Pro 3. Have the Gemini II and DPP for at home listening/house+yardwork

I tried them all except for Jabra's and the new JBL Tour (which I must try, I'm curious about them), and my pick is the Devialet Gemini II. With the right tips, these have better ANC and bass quantity and quality than the Technics. Don't bother with Sony or Sennheiser. edit: wife has Bose, excellent ANC but the sound is hit or miss.

Recently, I was testing tws earbuds, and the best picks are (;tldr) Technics AZ80, Denon Perl Pro or Devialet Gemini II. More detailed read: (remember, with headphones everyting is individual and based only on my own impressions, YMMV) Sony WF-1000XM5 – comfortable, excellent ANC, but the sound is very weak, with huge bass bleed into the mids; everything is muffled, and nothing has changed at Sony. I honestly don't understand what people see in the XM line. Bang & Olufsen EX – ANC is poor, almost as if it weren't there, despite the positive reviews online. I'm disappointed with the sound. They probably would have been fine a few years ago, but now there are cheaper and better headphones on the market. The price includes the B&O tax. Nothing Ear (2) 2024 – Big surprise. Cheap price, sounds better than Sony or B&O, they doesn't resonate when walking, ANC is okay (70% of Sony's), comfortable, great app, good connectivity, looks great. The sound is slightly V-shaped, but it doesn't lack clarity, brilliance, and balance. Galaxy Buds Pro - Harman tuning, overall disappointed with them. I expected a lot more for the money with AKG and Samsung's background. ANC is okay, the sound is very dry and clear, but they are comfortable. They are the kind of AirPods for Samsung users who will be satisfied with a fairly boring sound, but otherwise not much. Perfect for audiobooks and podcasts. Sennheiser Momentum TWS4 – I had a lot of faith in them, but I'm disappointed. Weak ANC, not great tuning, but above all, they sit very strangely in the ear, and I've tried many aftermarket earpieces. The sound is nothing special; even "Nothing" is much better. Technics AZ80 - Fantastic!! I wouldn’t hesitate to call them “audiophile TWS headphones.” The ANC is decent; they are comfortable, don’t resonate when walking or running, the app is very detailed, and the sound is simply brilliant. They play the entire spectrum of details, and they are fun. A great buy with a mature sound, almost like wired headphones, and they have a great soundstage. Given the LDAC, these are the best. Denon Perl Pro - My favorites in the sound department, but they are far from "the best" in everything else. They look crazy, but in fact, they are comfortable; you just have these sorts of plates on your ears ("in front of your ears"). But the sound is uncompromisingly perfect. The whole spectrum of details; they are fun, musical, and they have excellent technology for custom tuning with regard to hearing defects and the shape of the ear. It is phenomenal and it really works. It's not that strict neutral hi-fi, but rather a fun hi-fi that gets you moving and has body. Buts? Cheap charging box, they don't suit everyone (short stems), ANC is weak, passthrough is bad, but you'll forgive them everything once you start listening to them. They have such an effect that when you start playing songs on shuffle from a selection of your 1000 favorite tracks, a song you've already heard a hundred times and you don't really enjoy it anymore, you'll let it play because it will simply be fun again through these. Devialet Gemini II—I'll refer to the Denon Perl Pro as they have a lot in common. It's actually really hard to choose between them. If the Denon Perl Pro are a 9.5/10 to me sonically, then these are a 9/10 (the 10/10 goes to Technics if you don't listen purely to EDM and want that juicy low end). They are actually great, dense, tunable, fun, with a lot of details. They are diminished a bit by codecs, and that's a shame, but in the end, it doesn't matter to a lot of people. The reason they are not 10 out of 10 is purely because the Perl Pro simply has a little extra "magic" and they lack the clarity of Technics. With Perl Pros, I don't know if it's the technology compensating for age, hearing quality, and ear shape, but Denon's have mojo; these are "just great." But I was just talking about sound for now. Where the Denon's ANC is 5/10, the Devialet's are, without exaggeration, at the level of the best on the market. Plus, they add technology to deal with impact sounds and wind, and both work perfectly. And without negative pressure or unpleasant feelings. For me, Devialet simply has the TOP ANC on the market at the level of Sony, Bose, or Apple. The same goes for passthrough; it's like you don't have headphones on, really cool. Furthermore, the build quality is great, they're "small," they're comfortable to wear, there are numerous settings in the app, and they're easy to control - Geminis can justify its high price. I would get Technics if you can and want to use the LDAC codec and play your music at high bitrates. Also, they are not that bass-heavy; they sound almost analytical but fun nonetheless with an excellent soundstage. The Perl Pros are just magical, but they have their quirks. The Devialets are the "whole frickin' package" minus the codecs, so they will be absolutely fine with Spotify but they lack the magic of the Perl Pros or the sound quality of Technics. Edit: grammar

I "main" gemini ii and have none of these problems 🤷‍♂️ also there is jbl tour 3, and some people say they prefer more natural airy sound of az80, me included. I'm glad that technics is doing fine, but this sub is clearly treating AZ100 like a second coming of jesus.

The Earphone game of subjective views always gets people going. Dude congrats, if this is the best of 2025 to your subjective view and ear ...nobody can say you shouldn't think this. I have the pi8 and Gemini 2 and feel they are the absolute best in sound quality (while not living up to anything much after that)and yet I would take the AZ100 out the door faster than I would them because Technics have been more reliable and offer better all-around experience while the others are overpriced and don't ever prove the price difference in sound over the az100. So yes, subjectively to me too, I feel they are the ones to beat this year and believe it will be a long year and it will be tough to do it. Congrats regardless ...and don't forget to enjoy music more than analyzing it.

For me, this is the big 5 in endgame audio TWS earbuds. 1. ($449) Noble FoKus Rex5 2. ($499) Devialet Gemini 2 3. ($399) Bowers & Wilkins Pi8 4. ($249) Hifiman Svanar Wireless 5. ($299) Technics AZ100

I own/have owned about a dozen mid to high end TWS buds over the last 4-5ish years. Here's my list: - Nothing Ear (2024) - OnePlus Buds Pro 3 - Denon PerL Pro - Devialet Gemini 2 - Sennheiser Momentum TW 4 - Soundcore Liberty 3 Pro (old but gold)

Do you actually own the BeoPlay EX? I've had them since launch and they are not close in terms of sound quality. They sound quite thin & have 0 bass or dynamics. I used to think they were great, but many others have impressed me much much more. Devialet Gemini 2, Technics AZ100, B&W Pi8 are all far superior in terms of dynamics, transients, texture, resolution, etc. Btw I come from 16 years of musical experience (played in Carnegie Hall), own many high end headphones & earbuds, and have a very keen ear.

Have tried a lot IMO DEFINITELY the best for budget are the Denon, those are unbeatable for the price. Went for the Gemini nonetheless as they sounded the best for me

Devialet Gemini II have 10/10 audio, nothing missing, excellent instrument separation and soundstage. IMO they are superior to the AZ100, the B&W Pi8 and everything below. Did not try the B&O or anything noble yet but they both look like good options. Also, you should just check the catalog, there is a guy that is buying all high end options and compares them (obviously subjective to his preferences aswell but still a good review.

Top SQ: 1. Devialet Gemini II. 2. Beoplay EX. 3. Denon PerL Pro. 4. MTW4. Choose what suits your budget.

happy with pi8 but if you like more v-shape sound go for gemini or rex5