In-ear monitors are fantastic devices that are a step above traditional headphones. A common complaint people have about them is the wired connection they require, and finding Bluetooth adapters is a constant battle. Strauss and Wagner has launched some new Bluetooth cable adapters that are sure to impress and set many expectations. Ovar, Palmand Breasts The Bluetooth cables are available for $149.95 each, and today we're talking about the details and differences between them.
Aesthetics
The look of the cables is pretty similar. Equipped with a standard 4-core silver cable, each cable has the standard Strauss and Wagner look. On each side, there are two plastic housings that hold a multi-function remote on one side and a microphone on the other. When used with a pair of IEMs, the cables give quite a bit of slack. It may seem long just to hang around your neck, but having the cable around your ear is necessary. The housings fall right at shoulder height so they are easily accessible. They are comfortable to wear for long listening sessions, and the cable ensures that the feel around your neck is comfortable as well.
Between the three devices, the only thing that really changes is the metal on the connection points and the connections themselves. The connection housings look a bit different, with matte silver on the Ovar and Palma, and stainless steel on the Sines. There are indicators on those metal plates and on the black parts of the remote to tell users which side is which.
Ovar (2 pin 0.78mm connection)
Functionality
Each of the Bluetooth adapters had the same basic setup. Hold down the power button, the LED light would flash blue and red, and they would appear on your device for pairing. The remote only had three main buttons, so there was little room for error. I’ll admit: I was a little confused when the bar had power on one side and volume up on the other. I would have thought the bar had the volume up and down button, and the singular button on top a power button. However, the guide on Audio46’s site with pairing instructions made setup beyond simple, and I was listening in no time.
While I appreciate uniformity across devices, I didn't like that they all had the same name when pairing. If I had all the variants of this cable, I wouldn't know which device I was pairing it with. Renaming them on my device is an easy fix, though it's something to keep in mind if users get confused.
Connectivity
The connection on each of the devices was strong and stable. They are equipped with Bluetooth 5.4, the most recent and updated version of Bluetooth. This makes the Palma, Ovar, and Sines able to last a long time with a stable connection all the time. During the hours I was testing, there were no dropouts or fuzzy sound distortion.
Palma (MMCX connection)
Listening review
When you change cables or add an adapter to a pair of IEMs or earphones, it depends on the listener’s perception of sound how much the sound changes. The sound change can be a marked difference or barely noticeable depending on how sensitive your hearing is. For these Strauss and Wagner devices, it’s nice that the natural sound of the IEMs is the main feature in the sound profile. The sound didn’t change that much, but it did make them a bit brighter thanks to the 4-core silver braided cable. I happily appreciated all the unique sound signatures of the different IEMs with the various cables.
These cables are just adapters and not amplifiers like other Bluetooth adapters, such as the MoonDrop EVO or iFi GO Pods. These are simply for switching from a wired connection to Bluetooth, they are not amplifiers. It's an important distinction to make, that way users won't be surprised when they don't hear any extra power behind their sound.
What are some differences between them?
The main differences between all of these Bluetooth cables are the connectors. Strauss and Wagner assure that no matter what device you have, you’ll be able to enjoy them wirelessly. The Ovar has 0.78mm 2-pin connection points, making them adaptable to most IEMs. The Palma has MMCX connection points, so people who are fans of Campfire Audio or Shure will probably want to use those. Sennheiser users will be happy to know that there is a cable especially dedicated to Sennheiser’s line of IEMs: the Sines.
Is Sines really different from Palma?
Yes, these two cables are different and you will notice this when trying to connect your IEMs. While the Palma says it has the connection for Sennheiser’s IE series, I don’t recommend using it as such. Sennheiser’s design is slightly different than a classic MMCX connection, so it doesn’t fit securely into this design. The Sines’ connection port is specially designed to fit Sennheiser, so trying to use other MMCX IEMs won’t work on that device.
Sines (MMCX for Sennheiser IE series)
Summary
These adapters are a fantastic upgrade. People are at a crossroads between sticking with a wired connection or moving to Bluetooth, and this one offers a stellar compromise. Strauss and Wagner are great for their upgrade cables, so it makes sense that their Bluetooth adapter is a great middle ground and starting point for people to get into the Bluetooth game. People can enjoy their high-quality sound and take it everywhere!
