I'm a big fan of the spinfit CP100+ and the Spinfit W1. I don't notice much difference e between them though. I was surprised to see the site linked here describe the feel differently as both are generally grippy, and that makes the biggest difference. These stay put so much better than about anything else I've tried.

I've never really seen anything other than USB, but I haven't used much in the way of desktops/towers in years, just laptops.

I also experience noise issues with USB fairly regularly....not sure exactly why. But static and such, especially it comes through when using the trackpad.

My solution, which definitely works but I'm not sure why, is to use a topping ds10. This is still USB input, but it has optical and spdif output in addition to analogue. So I have USB to the ds10 and use the digital output to my DAC and it's clean as a whistle.

So, I guess it's a combination of USB and OPT/SPDIF for me.

Hundreds of options if you are willing to go wired

I have the first version....the blue one. It's good for headphones, but I'm not thrilled with it for IEMs, the noise floor is just not quite low enough. Maybe the V2 is better in that regard.

The iFi nano is much better since it has a jack with iematch, but not as pocketable and no balanced jack. Still sounds great.

The underwater feeling is somewhat variable. There are completely sealed IEMs that do this, and there are vented IEMs and semi open IEMs that are not nearly as bad.

There are some fully open IEMs as well, but they are definitely less common. Audeze's IEMs would qualify.

Cable microphonic are helped a lot by things like running the wires over your ears and shirt clips. Basically things to absorb the vibration before it gets to the actual ear piece.

Probably not much help with chewing or breathing, but still less noticable with vent d or semi open IEMs.

I use IEMs somewhat regularly and am generally amazed at the sound they can produce. But also don't really enjoy shoving things in my ears, but sometimes it's worth it for portability and/or isolation.

I think you might be doing one or the other wrong.

I've used 2.5 mm with my BTR5 for years and never had an issue.

4.4 is definitely better and there's no need to have both, but I found 2.5 surprisingly resilient.

My favorite are the DT1990.

But if I had to keep only one I don't know what they would be. Something with isolation if I only had one. Probably an IEM, but I find them uncomfortable after relatively short periods of time.

I get not wanting to stick with Schiit, but it seems to me (both first hand experience, and anecdotal online) that their next level up gear is much more reliable. I have been using as Asgard 2 and Valhalla 2 for several years now, and really can't think of seeing any reports of them dying (not that I've gone looking for them). They also get a 5 year warranty at that level.

If you want to go a different route, the Fiio K5 And K7 are both well regarded, and I liked both quite a bit. JDS is very good and has excellent support, I've never had an Atom, but had a OG El Stack.

Topping seems to have as many issues reported as Schiit and I haven't heard much of their newer stuff, but I didn't think their older stuff (original d30 and a30 and an nx4) sounded all that good.

Same...and even then just my LCD-X. The LCD-2 are just great as is. The X is horrible without it and great with it.

What did it cost?

The market for out and about listening never really crossed over to full size open backs anyway.

The crossover between IEMs and wireless is real though.....IEMs still seem to be doing pretty well.

For ANC to be most effective the microphones should be at your ear. This makes more sense when everything else is at your ear too.

Also, the varying input power and other processing of audio in your source with an analogue output for IEMs (and if you have detachable cables, differences in frequency response and impedance in different IEMs) all would make the calculations of the inverse waveform much more difficult, if not impossible.

Within Bluetooth, everything is self-contained in the headphone or earbud. The processor knows exactly the impedance of the driver, the frequency response and volume. Any processing is passed to the headphone digitally so it can be accounted for in the digital to analogue conversion. And since everything is self contained the microphones can be placed as close to your ear as possible.

Depends on how they are made. Some are vented which relieves this. Others are totally sealed which causes this.

I don't mind it as it in improves isolation if I need it.

I have several MMCX and 2 pin IEMs. I've never had one fail on me. I've had one MMCX that cut out occasionally but I was able to replace the cable and that seemed to fix it

I think the biggest risk is connectors loosening over time, but if you don't disconnect them often I think they'll last a long time.

I really don't think it's going to matter that much.

I personally have done the same thing and most of mine are flacs converted to 320 kbps mp3. I've done some opus lately. I can't tell the difference.

I have a Samsung phone soni get a better codec, but it's fine.

I'd probably not go any lower than around 256 kbps personally. If you couldn't tell a difference with Spotify settings you probably won't here either.

Don't stress. Just enjoy. You can always change it later if you think you need to.

I've had several products with no issues. I still have a modi multibit, Asgard2, Valhalla 2 and a Lyr 3 that get regular use, all of that except the Lyr is at least 4 or 5 years old.

The Lyr 3 is one of those that is known to have killed headphones, I am careful with it to not have anything plugged in when turning it on or off.

One of the common issues with the modi (not sure if it affects the multibit or not) is the computer not recognizing it over USB. I have no idea if that's an issue on mine or not as I only use the coax input and leave it on all the time.

I think the mid range stuff that I have is the sweet spot for schiit. The smaller cheaper stuff has a shorter warranty and more reported problems. I wouldn't have much interest in buying a magni, but I'd replace the Asgard with a new one if/when I need to.

With that much time in between listening you probably won't even be able to tell a difference.

They are very close.

So hard to pick my favorites though.

Flair does have a lot of Bluetooth for this sub.

It's just a headphone jack for my phone that doesn't have one.

It's also a BTR7, but same idea applies.

Of.course they have bass...and it's fine for most tracks.

They roll off in the sub bass region and if you are looking for a lot of power in that region they can be disappointing.

95% of what I listen to the HD600 has plenty of bass.

Not even close.

I think this is it. Great sounding recordings sound great on everything.

I like having a bit of variety, and I haven't really spent more than $1000 on a pair of headphones (and that only a couple times). But I spend a lot more time with a few sets in the $300 to $500 range, the HD600 being one of them.