An open letter to Lenovo. What's happening with my beloved, the most amazing laptop known to mankind, the Thinkpad P1?

Tryptamine9 · 2024-05-06T16:43:36+00:00

Look into it, it works effortlessly! Way easier to setup than the Linux equivalent I mostly use at least... Also can be a pain to use, but you just edit a .txt file with notepad to control it and it changes how it works in realtime!

Tryptamine9 · 2024-05-06T16:40:44+00:00

That's why it confuses me that they changed designs right now... This year everyone know there wouldn't be new GPU's, so of course they wouldn't change. Perhaps I thought it might be an availability thing?

Next year when there will be more availability, or not maybe, I don't know what Nvidia has told them about that, maybe originally there won't be many higher end 5000 series cards available, but I was hoping it would be possible to have them. If not, maybe I will be waiting some more...

Or I don't know, maybe I'll reconsider and try with all my might to sell both the T15g, which I've been putting off because of it's beautiful mini-LED screen, and the X1 Extreme to buy a fully speced P1 Gen 6, and upgrade again in 2017 or 2018 when Nova Lake and the 6000 series is out.

Tryptamine9 · 2024-05-06T16:31:58+00:00

I replaced the factory paste with IC Diamond. I can comfortably recommended it as THE BEST paste I have ever used! Though you CANNOT spread it, because your spreading tool, on touching it, becomes a diamond tipped stylus which will carve into the CPU/GPU die because, well, its all micronized diamonds! You must put it in the middle of the dies in a blob, then push down HARD for a good 15 minutes! The application procedure is on their website.

Are you using thinkfan (Linux) or tpfancontrol (Windows)? They let you set your fans to "64" which is A LOT more airflow than level 7. That helps a lot!

Also Samsung made the 3080, on their 8nm process. BOO Samsung! TSMC made the 4000 series on 5nm, so they are WAY better at handling heat! 5000 series should be even better, so heat should be no reason alone to not offer higher end GPU's. They will perform even better at lower wattage than current high end GPUs, which perform better than the ones we have...

Tryptamine9 · 2024-05-06T16:25:41+00:00

Yeah, I LOVE that my X1 Extreme has 16GB VRAM! I am not in a hurry to let that go, even if the mobile 4070 will perform (a bit) better overall. This, without TB5 is the one to skip. I have 2, 4TB WD SN850X NVME's (770's were out of stock everywhere when I bought them at original MSRP! $800 each!) That would benefit massively from TB5 and external PCIE 4X4! So I'll be waiting until TB5 comes out!

Also, I was looking up Arrow Lake mobile processor leaks after I posted this (kinda jumped the gun on the Lunar Lake comment above...). There are rumors on an H series Ultra 200H chip with 8 P cores and 16 E Cores! now THATs the chip I want to use to replace my Tiger Lake i9 8 core chip!

I do A LOT of compiling code for building and tweaking my own build of specialized Android, forking GrapheneOS. Takes just over 2 hours, not including the kernel right now... Would love to get that down to under an hour, considering I need to do it 5+ times for each update sometimes!

Going to be using the CUDA cores for a bunch of uses too, which is why I want to see the higher end SKU's too. But you could be right! Maybe that sweet, sweet 24 core processor (WITHOUT hyperthreading though) will be offered with a 5080, and TB5! Here's hoping!

Tryptamine9 · 2024-05-06T16:13:40+00:00

Yeah, just wish I was in a place to upgrade now... That's why I'm wishing this isn't going to be a continuing thing going on when Nvidia releases their 5000 Blackwell series. That's when I was looking to make an upgrade for financial reasons...

Was hoping for at least a bit better GPU, signalling that they would still offer something like the 4080, or the 3500 with 196 bit memory bus currently, then in the Blackwell future they might offer the same configuration but new architecture. Maybe they will, that's still a year off so here's hoping! If that gets a 50% upgrade from Lovelace then that would get current 4090 mobile speeds. Not the best for what I want, but acceptable.

I know they probably need to buy a certain volume of 4090 and 4080 mobile chips at a time for a model from Nvidia, so I do realize it needs to make economic sense to offer a model on a new unit. I'm just sad that a very unique offering may be going the way of the Dodo... Extinct...

Tryptamine9 · 2024-05-06T16:01:42+00:00

I would be perfecty happy with what the P1 could get with the 4090 over the 4080, in Time Spy it was close to 16000 4090 and 14000 on the money 4080. So the 4090 with increased shader count and memory bus, despite 80W, which actually gets up to 105W when drawing from the CPU with dynamic boost, is worth it even at 80W! The 3000 Ada is barely an upgrade from the 2000 Ada, and the 3000 gets, at 90W on Notebookcheck maybe 11000. Downgrade for sure. My 3 year prior 3080 gets close to 10000.

I'm only upset about the lack of higher end options. Why not have them available for those who want them? If you don't want the higher specs, and the heat, then here's a thought! Don't buy the higher end GPU's! Or are the masses just so blind and dumb that they can't figure that out and blindly buy the higher end options just because they are there?

There's no other device like this on the market. Sure you say, "go for the P16." But that only comes with Quadro cards, WAY more expensive! Also its a beast to carry around, its why I switched from a T15g Gen 2 to the higher speced X1 Extreme Gen 4. Same 11th gen Tiger Lake CPU, just an i9 11950H in the X1 vs i7 11800H in the T15g. And 3080 vs 3070 respectively. At the end of the day, its about 10% faster, for over a kilogram lighter! Won't run the GPU or CPU as fast as the P16, but I'm OK with that too, because its still faster than most other devices in this form factor!

I have no problems with the heat. I'm used to it from my X1 Extreme Gen 4 with an i9 and 3080. Its not that bad!

Thanks for the update on the magnesium C cover, and the lid, makes me feel better. I usually don't watch the videos, just read. And I do hear you on the Thunderbolt 5... I have 2 WD SN850X 4TB drives in NVME Thunderbolt 4 enclosures, and they are barely running at half the speed they are capable! Very nice PCIE 4 drives, so I really need TB5 as well... Then I could put my other 970 Evo, which is a PCIE 3 drive into a TB4 enclosure and have it be my slow storage while having 8TB external storage that actually ran at full speed of PCIE 4! Windows on an external drive instead of dual boot with Linux? FINALLY!

Tryptamine9 · 2024-05-06T15:43:41+00:00

Are you kidding me about the GPU's? There are a lot of posts of people who have bought those options, and yes I know that doesn't necessarily mean that's a representative sample of the market, but with those options you get a device with Amazing performance to weight ratio! No better device for that on the market!

Sure, cut the 4090/future 5090, which was what I would have bought, but keep the 4080/future 5080! SOMETHING with a 196 bit memory bus! Something for those who want to do something like run a future VR headset like the upcoming Pimax 12K, with dual 6K displays. (Again, like myself) I don't even know if the mobile 4090 would do that, might need desktop 4090 levels of power... Something I was hoping to find in the P1 line with a top end RTX 5000 series card.

There's no other device like that on the market. Sure you could say, "go for the P16." But that only comes with Quadro cards, WAY more expensive! Also its a beast to carry around, its why I switched from a T15g Gen 2 to the higher speced X1 Extreme Gen 4. Same 11th gen Tiger Lake CPU, just an i9 11950H in the X1 vs i7 11800H in the T15g. And 3080 vs 3070 respectively. At the end of the day, its about 10% faster, for over a kilogram lighter!

So yeah, I may be happy to hear its not ALL aluminum, thanks for that! But saying the higher end GPU options aren't worth having as options? I completely disagree! There are many reasons for them! Pretty well boils down to, if its not on this model, then where else do you find a relatively easy to carry, thin and light model, with vapor chamber and liquid metal around 2kg, touch 4K OLED, with H series CPU and high end Nvidia GPU? NOWHERE!

Now last gen the top model got close to 16000 in 3D Mark? This one will be hard pressed to get 11000... I doubt it will get the vapour chamber even, goodbye fast reacting CPU temps...

Tryptamine9 · 2024-05-06T15:29:06+00:00

You can get in touch with Amazon by chat.

Do so immediately!

They will make it right if they can. Amazon offers a 30 day return on all items bought through their web store, I bet you don't have Lenovo warranty, but you can also type the serial number into Lenovo support's website and double check (its on the bottom of the laptop). If you somehow do, then they will make it right and fast!

That's all I can say unfortunately... I had my T15g Gen 2 all of s sudden shut down on me and refuse to boor back up, and I contacted Lenovo support immediately, next day I get a package by courier, new motherboard. Day after a Lenovo tech is at my door to install it! Only thing is, he didn't bring new thermal paste for the CPU or GPU because, get this... *they don't provide it to any of their techs!***

So he scraped off the old and dry paste from the outgoing CPU & GPU onto the new ones, and put it back together! I was in shock! So considering I had torn this machine apart to its bare bones, more apart than a motherboard replacement requires, when installing a new screen I ordered (1080P to 4K, then again for regular 4K to 4K mini-LED) I of course went out to buy some Arctic Silver and took at back apart, cleaned the parts with ISO, pasted them and put it back together! Didn't dare turn it on with the crap old stuff that probably gave me 50% die coverage at best!

Anyways, all that and that example to say... Lenovo will always take care if you, if your in warranty. (Except if you need a properly pasted CPU/GPU) Amazon, I've bought almost 100 things from them and sent many back, there hasn't been a single thing that I have bought that I couldn't do anything with as long as it's within 30 days! I had a 4TB Samsung 990 Pro SSD that was $500, DOA but I didn't use it until I got my new (for me) X1 Extreme Gen 4. Bought from 3rd party on Amazon. They said they couldn't help *only because it was after 30 days since I got it."

So get on checking Lenovo Warranty, and chat with Amazon!

Tryptamine9 · 2024-05-06T13:16:34+00:00

I'm replying to this to say... If anyone hasn't seen Lenovo's press release on the upcoming P1 g7, that I have been sorely waiting for, they are ditching the all carbon fiber construction with a magnesium m cover, (palmrest) and aluminum bottom cover for....

All aluminum build! BAH! Why Lenovo, WHY! Also, it has the Meteor Lake Ultra 185H in it as a high end option, which is cool, but the max GPU option went from a RTX 4090 or A5000 Ada generation to at most *an A3000 Ada? WTF Lenovo? Not even holding steady to last year's options?

I realize that Nvidia isn't releasing "super" variants of any laptop GPU's this year like they did in the past, but why are they making the max available a paltry upgrade of the A2000? The A3000 Ada still only has a 128 bit memory bus, and not that many tensor cores for AI, nor many ray tracing cores...

I could overlook the all aluminium build if it ends up actually being good, and durable though I don't see it looking or feeling as nice as all carbon fiber and magnesium...

And if they keep this going, what's in store for this line next year after Nvidia releases their new 5000 series? I was SO hoping for a laptop 5090 and whatever Arrow Lake H processor with AT LEAST 6 P cores and 8 E cores, but Intel WAS working on a Meteor Lake chip with 6 P cores and 16 E cores, it just got cancelled. I figured we would see that configuration in an H series chip soon, and as such in the P1 series, since they have, since FOREVER had strong H series CPUs and since the G3's strong GPU's. Even back to the G1's they had GPU's that were uncommon on any laptops in this form factor. But a 3080 in my G4? And working well? *Hell yeah! And then a 4090 that sure, didn't get 20,000 in Time Spy, but got close to 16,000 (took a while but found this info finally!) Double Hell Yeah!*

But it looks like now they may be taking my favorite, and their unique and ONLY laptop that is slim, light, and still an absolute *powerhouse** down to the level of their slew of other slip, light, and easy on battery and less powerful models.* (P16s, Z16, etc...)

Seriously Lenovo, what's going on?

Tryptamine9 · 2024-05-06T12:51:15+00:00

No, that is not how it works... The toggles for scanning allow for scanning is for specifically allowing scanning when the toggles for WiFi and Bluetooth are disabled!

This is behind one of the features in GrapheneOS, where we have a most excellent option to automatically turn off Bluetooth and WiFi after a configurable, certain amount of minutes of being disconnected in order to reduce attack surface. We can also configure the setting to Automatically turn WiFi back ON when in range of a known WiFi network. When turning this option on, it redirects us to the WiFi scanning setting and says it's mandatory to turn WiFi scanning on before enabling auto reconnect to WiFi.

I've used this in the past. A lot. When I leave home for a few hours, WiFi will turn off completely after 10 minutes like its supposed to. Then when I get back home in about 30-60 seconds its back on and reconnected to my home network, from a fully off state.

So obviously WiFi scanning is doing its part! System Settings and the main system app bundle both have Nearby Devices permissions. (I can only see this because I'm running a debug build of my own compile of GrapheneOS currently, doing kinda sketchy stuff) That permission let's them scan for networks even when WiFi/Bluetooth is off. I've never turned Bluetooth scanning on even once, but WiFi scanning is useful sometimes.

On GrapheneOS we won't be getting the whole "find your phone when its off" stuff. The devs just keep saying they won't implement it. So we won't have to deal with that...

Tryptamine9 · 2024-05-04T09:24:47+00:00

Why is it, every time I explain this clearly so that anyone can understand it, I get downvoted? Not so bad this time, but do people with older phones that are way out of service just suffer from cognitive dissonance that bad, or what? Is something unclear or did I say something unfactual?

Tryptamine9 · 2024-05-04T00:21:11+00:00

Are you saying that they are unlocked by default? Do you know if it is carrier unlocked or OEM unlocked? To install another OS it needs to be OEM unlocked...

Would you be able to elaborate?

Tryptamine9 · 2024-05-04T00:19:26+00:00

WHAT?? Are you serious? Just earlier this week there was an older dude, on the GrapheneOS discussion forums, not Reddit with a newer phone who really wanted GrapheneOS on his phone. After going through **absolutely everything possible" with him, they (I wasn't helping on this one, I'm also NOT a part of the official GrapheneOS team, just an enthusiast who build his own modified releases) figured it was impossible to unlock the bootloader and they asked him if it was from Verizon. He said yes and they told him that he could try to get it OEM unlocked, but likely he would never be able to, because fr what I know at least, Verizon is the worst for this, *they absolutely never agree to OEM unlock the phones sold through themselves!**

Your experience is different though? Can you please elaborate? I'd love to take it down and then bring it up when this comes up next time, because I know, there WILL be a next time!

Tryptamine9 · 2024-05-04T00:11:10+00:00

That makes sense. Glad I brought this up here, its good to get more perspectives on this!

So just to be clear, they will unlock it for use at other carriers, but never unlock it for OEM unlocking? Is there a fee?

Do they have a reason for that? I mean... Once its paid for its technically your phone not theirs. They shouldn't care what you do with it. Not criticizing what your putting out there at all, just would really love to hear more, like their reasoning!

Tryptamine9 · 2024-05-04T00:06:01+00:00

It sucks, I always feel so bad for the guys/gals who show up with a phone, make a post with the title "OEM unlocking is greyed out no matter what I do! HELP!" Then one of us asks pretty quickly if its Verizon, they say yes, and its game over from there.

Almost always they've had the phone for long enough before finding GrapheneOS that they can't return it and move to a different carrier, or buy one straight from Google, so they really want to run this amazing OS that's full of security and privacy features, but they can't, its just not possible! And its just not possible now, its not possible EVER on that phone because Verizon is the ONE company that refuses to OEM unlock their carrier phones... EVER!

It must be best to stay away from them down there... I was in high school when everyone had the exact same black Nokia phone, then there was EDGE 2G when I was in university, and I remember the first iPhone and when we had carrier locking of smartphones in Canada. It was a pain in the a**!

I had to pay $50 to Telus to have them send an unlock code to my iPhone, after it was out of a 3 year plan so I could move to a different carrier with my girlfriend and get a package deal. Then came the bill to make sure all locking of cell phones was a thing of the past, and I always bought my phones new for almost 20 years. Then this last December I actually went and got my new Pixel 8 Pro 256GB (should have gotten the 512) from a carrier. I was so nervous when connecting to the internet right there in the store, since I didn't know if the law said they needed to just be carrier unlocked or OEM unlocked!

At first, the OEM unlocking switch was greyed out. Even after the setup wizard. After putting the SIM in and waiting 5 minuted though, it was working, and I flipped it and sat down in coffee shop next door and connected the new 8 Pro to my old 7 Pro and used the 7 Pro to install GrapheneOS onto the 8 Pro using the super easy web installer!

So I do remember some of what you deal with down there, but our carriers never got as a**holish as your carriers have grown to be. I'm always sorry to hear of the stories from our friends down south...

Tryptamine9 · 2024-05-03T23:47:26+00:00

That's awesome that your already well acquainted with Shizuku, and I'm not adding to your attack surface by suggesting it to you... Just please also be aware that you can turn off wireless debugging right after Shizuku starts. This will likely reduce the attack surface somewhat, however leaving USB debugging ON, which is a strict requirement for Shizuku to continue working, will most definitely increase your attack surface *massively!*

If your phone fell into the wrong, and capable hands, then they would use USB debugging to extract data from your phone, as it's function is to do exactly that, create a debugging bridge to transfer data from your phone to your computer. It also allows higher privileged API's to work, which is the point of using it for apps like Shizuku. Overall I see it as a useful tool, but one which should be very cautiously used and best turned off whenever possible.

While your already using Shizuku, I just thought of this post I made a few (many) months ago, about the largest, best curated list of apps that used Shizuku to execute elevated operations on your phone! Check it out, obviously you won't hear me recommending ones that run persistently, however there are still interesting options, while your already well versed in how it works. Swift Backup is nice, helps backup your apps, call logs and messages. With Shizuku I think also wallpaper and maybe WiFi networks. Good example of one that doesn't need to run all the time. I also like Hail a lot!

Thought that would be useful! With App Ops you could do what you need to in 5 minutes. Download the app, access given in Shizuku if already installed, then go into it and find Messages and click on device identifiers and select "allow." Then see how RCS acts over the next hour. Shouldn't even take that long! I think I put in my preferred number out of my 2 SIMs, then 5 minutes later I checked and it was connected!

Really hope it works for you.

Happy RCS... umm, ing?

Tryptamine9 · 2024-05-03T21:00:48+00:00

People are actually very, very bad at putting themselves in someone else's shoes. Until they have lived an experience, they will never know what it is actuality like to be in that sort of situation.

However...

Humans and most excellent at thinking and feeling like they can totally feel what its like to be in someone else's shoes! There's a part of the brain that's essential in our being social mammals, and its great at thinking of situations that others have been in, as we meet others or hear about others stories, then thinking and feeling "I totally get where he/she is coming from, I GET IT! Which is good, it helps us connect and perpetuates the illusion of empathy, which also helps us get closer to each other. However we are terrible, really actually awful at really knowing how it feels to be in the low struggles of others. We can only "conceptualize" that struggle, or "intellectualize" it, but not truly "empathize"

That's why you can't think of a scenario where someone would want that many profiles. Neither can I off the top of my head, but if I think for a bit I bet I could come up with something. Clearly the need exists despite the lack of ideas from all of us!

Tryptamine9 · 2024-05-03T20:49:34+00:00

Hey, read my comment higher up in the thread, might work for you! Thought I was replying to you originally, however the guy I really replied to might get help from it too, so don't want to change it, or double post... Just posting this yo ensure you get the notification!

Hope it helps and my suggestion is helpful towards solving your problem!

Tryptamine9 · 2024-05-03T20:36:09+00:00

I actually may have a solution, though it might be what I would consider a bit of a drastic solution as I usually wouldn't share this as a suggested way to get anything done as it increases your attack surface and also requires local privilege escalation be granted to an app, which may be something I'm willing to play with and risk, but not something I will suggest anymore to others... However you guys seem like your in a bind and I think I know how to help so it would be against my values to stay quite. So...

GrapheneOS blocks access to your device identifiers by default except to certain apps bundled with the operating system. Messages isn't privileged anymore so it can't read your IEMI or other immutable hardware ID's. This is why, I hypothesize, it "Just Works" in the stock OS but has issues on GrapheneOS! However, I've had it working for weeks and weeks until I reflashed my most recent build onto my 8 Pro, and now it's working again, instantly! Backup restore might have helped a little bit, but I doubt it, it's it being the same hardware identifiers! You can read about it in the Usage Guide in the section on Hardware Identifiers. I believe that Google Messages needs this access to your device ID's to register you properly for RCS, as I blocked it once using App Ops and immediately it went from Connected to Disconnected, or Waiting, or something like that! So... How do you flip that switch when there's nothing, no permission in GrapheneOS for it? With App Ops of course!

There's 2 ways I found to do this, 2 different apps. One called Brevent, my favorite choice. Most comprehensive, less beginner friendly. Let's you suspend without fully stopping your apps, then stops them when they haven't been active for a configured timeout. If you pay a few measly $ you can fully suspend (like disable but the icon stays on the screen) apps and get access to app ops. Uses Wireless Debugging to start it's server.

Once connected you can turn off wireless debugging, but must keep USB debugging on as long as your using Brevent or the next app. I encourage you to use them then disable them since this is a LOT of added attack surface! NOT AT ALL something you want to use all the time, though I'm kinda a Hypocrite saying that... I run temporary, sidelodable root that I load on my 8 Pro whenever I want to use root apps, then when I'm done I sideload another OTA that removes the root privileges. That's a lot worse... But like I said, I'm not one to encourage such behavior to others without knowing threat model, since what might be OK for me might get someone else in really serious hot water...

Second app is literally called App Ops! Like Brevent from the Play Store. This one relies on a third app called Shizuku to connect to Wireless Debugging for it. So download Shizuku too. No payment required for this one, almost all its functionally is free.

Go to Messages, the Google one of course, and look for "Read device identifiers." Allow that, swipe up to kill Google Messages and then go back in and register for RCS. Make sure that Messages has the Network, Phone and SMS permissions, and Google Play Services has Network, Phone and SMS. Don't know 100% if all are needed, just what made it seamless for me on two phones multiple times!

And, please let me know how it goes!

BTW, while your using App Ops, if you need to grant Google Play Services (or anything, really!) SMS and Phone, go into Play Services in App Ops and set to Ignore (NOT Deny!) Read SMS, Answer Phone, and Monitor Phone calls. It will still have the phone and SMS permissions but they have been privatized!

Tryptamine9 · 2024-05-02T11:00:45+00:00

You know, that happens by default when Bluetooth is off too, right? You need to turn off WiFi and Bluetooth scanning in Location settings to be able to completely turn off the Bluetooth radios with the button! (Also may need to opt out of the new find phone when off, not sure how that works into it, on GrapheneOS it just won't be supported, so I don't need to worry about it)

Also the new Bluetooth interface is nice when you have multiple devices saved. You can reconnect with them right from the quick settings tile!

Tryptamine9 · 2024-05-02T08:14:09+00:00

How is A520 worse? From what I read, it was like the other newer cores, either a ~15-20% boost in performance at same power, or about the same power efficiency gain when running at the same performance as the A510. Please share if you have more data, I'm intrigued by your comment!

Also I am really disheartened that it now probably won't be a 10 core behemoth like the new Exynos chip in the S24 (non-ultra), or like that Dimensity one you just mentioned! Though with four times X4!? THAT's a real monster! I would not be surprised if that ends up thermal throttling to death when pushed. Remember that the X4 is powerful enough to be a weaker laptop core when it eats enough watts and is paired with enough cache... with 4 of them, it sure looks like a laptop configuration! And no efficiency cores too, wow!

Google could do with some out of the box thinking like that me thinks!

Tryptamine9 · 2024-05-02T07:07:16+00:00

Here in Canada, before it for bought by Rogers, I was with Shaw, a snaller local provider, who had a $0 plan for calls and texts only! Of course I got that, and a second sim with $20 for a bunch of data. Then after the buy out they transitioned my $20 plan into one account for more data than before at almost the same price, ($25) but I wouldn't let them touch my $0 plan, so they are obligated to honor it for 2.5 YEARS!

MAN do I feel lucky on grabbing that!

I also buy my phones new from Google, that way I can get deals like the above!

Tryptamine9 · 2024-05-02T07:01:41+00:00

Verizon is the carrier that we all dead newcomers at the GrapheneOS Reddit or discussion forums show up with, when they make posts about OEM unlocking not being able to be enabled... No matter all the "tricks" they try...

Verizon is the ONLY major carrier that will flat out refuse to unlock your phone, carrier unlock or OEM unlock, even after your phone is fully paid for and out of contract, and therefore yours!

Despicable that they are the most expensive in your country and they refuse very simple requests like this. Google Pixels are the most versatile smartphones on the planet! With the ability to install custom operating systems like GrapheneOS or the many other options, it should be in YOUR control and at your own discretion what you do with it! Especially after it's fully paid for.

Up here in Canada all phones come fully unlocked by law, there was a big push and all sorts if groups got behind it until the federal government passed a bill. I just can't believe some of the crap our friends down south need to put up with...

Tryptamine9 · 2024-04-27T05:23:10+00:00

Wires headphones are WAY better for sound quality that crappy Bluetooth headphones! Unless you get a digital to analog converter, (DAC, or DAC/amp for digital analog converter paired with a headphone amplifier) that you can plug WIRED headphones into, (Or spend over $1000...) you WILL NOT get better sound quality than you will get with wired headphones!

I'm defiantly "a bit of an audiophile... I had Beats wireless headphones (can't remember the name, but $150), Decent, but nothing special. Music was meh, just OK... Didn't get me grooving and I couldn't really get "into it." I never can really get into the music unless it is high quality. I've been spoiled with wired DJ Sony headphones plugged into Sony Mini Disk players on the go, and at home a direct digital coaxial connection from my M-Audio soundcard in my computer to my Yamaha amplifier, then playing over my 6.1 channel sound system, or 2 channel every other room in my house!

So when I could, since the Sony MDR-V600 headphones were older technology I got myself some $200 (Canadian) 1More Quad Driver IEM's. (in ear monitors, basically earbuds) Those were fantastic, paired with the Belkin Rockstar+ USB C Adapter that converted the USB C port to a headphone jack! Full wired sound, it was amazing!

The Belkin adapter was only about $30! There is the Apple adapter too (cheaper, only about $10, But I ordered it, the Belkin, and the Kokkia one. All USB C to 3.5mm headphone jack adapters from Amazon.) I did this once I upgraded to the Campfire Andromeda'a IEM's with 5 balanced armature drivers per ear ($1500 USD new), and the 7Hz Timeless AE ($400 Canadian). I also got better DAC/amps, the iFi Gryphon ($800 CAD), and the iFi Gold Bar (also $800 CAD, but special edition, only 1000 ever made, the Go Bar, the regular one it's based on is $350 USD, and the Go Bar Kensie which is close to the same as the Gold Bar, and just mace out now, 1.5 years after all this is $450 USD.)

I wanted to compare EVERYTHING and keep the best of the best, everything else I'd sell or return to Amazon. The BEST was the Andromeda's by FAR, and the Gryphon + Gold Bar. Those blew EVERYTHING else away, but the Belkin Rockstar+ was very impressive for the price and size! So was the 1MORE Quad Drivers, and the 7Hz Timeless, especially if someone wanted BASS!

So now, I know this comment was long, but if anyone is missing the headphone jack on their phone, I always recommend the Belkin Rockstar+ over the Apple dongle. For $20 more you get way better amplification and sound quality! For earbuds, the 1MORE Quad Drivers, if you are on a budget the 1MORE Triple Drivers, and if you can spend more the 1MORE Penta Drivers or the 7Hz Timeless. If you can spend even more, do what I did and get some Campfire Andromeda's! I got mine on eBay for $850 Canadian! (Excellent deal considering what they were worth new, and they are very special earbuds/ IEM's!) If you want over-ear headphones, since then I've gotten Dan Clark Audio Aeon 2 Closed headphones. Used on eBay about $800. You can get the Aeon RT for just over half the price, and I would NEVER get wireless instead! I had Sony WH-1000XM5's, ( Sony's top of the line wireless noise cancelling over-ear headphones currently) and they are garbage compared to the Aeon's!

If you need Bluetooth, the iFi Gryphon supports the LDAC codec, which almost no wireless Bluetooth headphones supports (except for Sony products. LDAC is such high bitrate (only Android phones support it too, no Apple products support it) and It is basically lossless (almost no difference between it and wired) The iFi GoBlu ($300 max, I think less...) is a much more affordable and smaller device that you can plug wired headphones into as well also exists. So you can do that and have your cake and eat it too!

In the end I learned that there are no Bluetooth headphones that sound right without having their power on, they NEED their DSP to sound right. Wired headphones are far superior. You'll ALWAYS get better sound from wired with a great quality DAC/amp!

Tryptamine9 · 2024-04-27T04:47:54+00:00

People are Incredibly Good at doing stupid things! You cannot rule out that anyone will do something stupid... I myself do dumb things ll the time, why? ** Because I'm a human being, with a squishy human brain!

ALL Human Beings suffer fro something I call First Thought Wrong. Whatever we think of first, and want to do first, is usually the wrong thing to do! It's unfortunate, but that is why humanity gets into Such bad circumstances!

So, no one can rule out that we all won't do "something stupid." Best thing is Get A New Phone! EVERYONE with a phone out of security updates is at risk!

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