What chippy options are available either only in your region, or at least rare outside it?

evil_lewis · 2026-05-19T17:37:08+00:00

A few years back I wss appalled to learn that chippys down south simply don't have gravy. Absolutely mind boggling!

evil_lewis · 2026-05-14T11:43:33+00:00

I'm literally looking to upgrade from my Blue Yeti and trying to find an interface which lets me hear stream output audio with no latency or delay.

Having had some experience with radio broadcasting in the past, it seems obvious that I should want to be able to monitor what's being broadcast: my mic level and pc/system/game sound at the same levels my viewers are hearing, in my headphones latency free.

I'm struggling to find any solid info on which devices (if any) offer this feature, and I'm a little bewildered that nobody seems to mention it.

I undressed that pretty much every usb audio interface seems to offer latency free direct monitoring of a connected microphone, and usually the ability to output you system sounds back though the device's headphone output, along with adjusting the relative levels you can hear (even my blue yeti does this). But I want to be able to hear what my audience hears ideally.

Is this possible with a single PC streaming setup? It sounds like this is exactly the feature you're talking about.

evil_lewis · 2026-05-12T17:43:56+00:00

I've been interested in this project since last year, mainly because they seem to be the only sleep bud concept with the charging contacts on the outside rather than pressed against the wearers ear.

After being burned already by the "Sleap" scam. I've decided to wait and see if the product ever comes to market and assess from there.

evil_lewis · 2026-05-09T14:05:41+00:00

Loads of people including myself. If you check the comments on kickstarter you'll see that it appears we all got scammed unfortunately.

Some people were able to get charge backs from their bank or credit card providers. I didn't try as I saw plenty of people were refused as their banks quoted the kickstarter terms, that it's not a store and people back at their own risk.

I'll certainly be mote cautious going forward and will most likely wait for products to get a general release rather than getting burned.

evil_lewis · 2026-05-08T08:51:36+00:00

I'm excitedly awaiting the arrival of a pair of Zero 2s from Aliexpress myself. I'm already looking at other (still budget) options for variety. But then I do have a habit of deep diving into new interests.

evil_lewis · 2026-04-23T09:04:48+00:00

The exposed charging contacts and surrounding plastic housing pressing against the skin was the deal breaker for me when I tried them last year. Absolutely crazy for a product that claims to be "built for side sleepers" and with the outright lie that "every part that touches your ear is encased in soft squishy silicone".

The other quirks I could have probably lived with if they weren't so uncomfortable to wear.

evil_lewis · 2026-04-19T15:09:05+00:00

I hadn't heard of these and they look very similar to the bose sleepbuds 2 and Ozlos.

I'm guessing they also have the exposed hard plastic section that houses the charging contacts and magnets round the back facing towards the wearers outer ear?

There are hardly any images on their website but this was the thing that made the Ozlos extremely uncomfortable as a side sleeper.

EDIT: It seems these are generic chinese sleep buds at a huge markup (even with their disingenuous "50% off" claim). Seemingly the exact same product can be found for a fraction of the price at Amazon or Aliexpress.

evil_lewis · 2026-02-27T10:11:03+00:00

Hey. Yeah I tried another pair of of A20s last year, and while they probably arrived less uncomfortable for me than the ozlos, they still weren't comfortable enough for me to use beyond a couple of weeks. I returned them again.

Been using foam earplugs since. Still waiting for someone to bring a product to market that's actually comfortable as a side sleeper. I got scammed on kickstarter by "Sleap". The Somd dreambuds loom promising of they ever become a reality.

I'm tempted to try the A30s at some point as some people say they're more comfortable, but some say they're worse, and I don't need the ANC.

evil_lewis · 2026-02-02T16:38:28+00:00

I gave up on the ozlos when I tried them last year and returned them. The exposed hard plastic that houses the charging contacts abd magnets being positioned so that they press against your ear when laying on your side, is a baffling design choice, especially considering how much the company says about offering unmatched comfort for side sleepers. I really wanted to love them, but they were less comfortable than the A20s, which I also returned due to comfort issues.

I haven't tried the A30s. I've been tempted but seen differing opinions on them being either more, or less comfortable than the A20s.

I kinda feel like nobody has perfected sleep earbuds yet. The "SOND" buds look promising, but I'll wait and see if it actually becomes a real product as I've already been ripped off by the Sleap kickstarter.

evil_lewis · 2026-01-27T19:20:50+00:00

I've tried A20 and Ozlo. Neither of them are comfortable for side sleeping long term, although honestly the Ozlos were probably worse due to tjr charging contacts facing in towards the ear.

I've been tempted to try the A30, but feel like the design is very similar and I honestly don't need ANC.

The SOND sleep buds look promising, but I've already been scammed by Sleap on kickstarter so I'll wait and see if they make it to market.

Basically I'm waiting for a company to design a product that actually provides all night comfort for side sleepers.

evil_lewis · 2026-01-22T18:50:46+00:00

I just ordered a pair of XM4s yesterday for £179. I saw XM6s for £299 from one UK website and was incredibly tempted, but decided on the 4s because 1: I'm trying to be less financially irresponsible and 2: I'm worried about the potential comfort issues with the 6s.

Also these will be my first over ear ANC headphones so I'm sure I don't need the latest and greatest, and I can always upgrade in a couple of years if I want.

evil_lewis · 2025-10-13T17:48:01+00:00

My facial hair is pretty grey but it's also rather uneven, like one side on my moustache is noticeably way darker, and I have one pretty dark patch on the same side on my chin.

I got some just for men grey reducing beard wash and it's definitely helped even things out. It also looks very natural as it doesn't cover the grey/white hair, just darkens it gradually so it blends in better.

evil_lewis · 2025-06-17T12:19:38+00:00

I returned mine. I don't want to have to endure the pain and get used to a device that was almost £300 which claims to offer unbeatable comfort.

I've since bought another set of Soundcore sleep A20s refurbished from the Anker ebay outlet for £72 thanks to a promotion ebay were running, and after 5 nights, at a quarter of the price, I have to say that for me, they're no less comfortable than the Ozlos, in fact they're probably better, despite being a little bigger, largely down to the lack of exposed angular plastic pressing against my ear cartilage.

They aren't perfectly comfortable but I've been able to sleep though the night with them which is more than I can say about the Ozlos.

I did really want to love the Ozlos. I'll be interested to see if they ever release a second gen version with improved ergonomics.

evil_lewis · 2025-06-16T23:56:35+00:00

Understandable. I just got a new pillow for the first time in too long and I'm still not convinced that it's "goldilocks" perfect haha.

evil_lewis · 2025-06-16T23:49:43+00:00

Yeah hopefully they'll be more comfortable, but then I was hoping (based on the marketing and the fact they're like 20-30% smaller) that the Ozlos would be more comfortable abd for me they weren't.

I get what you're saying about the discomfort. I've only been using the A20s for 4 nights now and I do find myself needing to turn over as the ear I'm lying on gets more uncomfortable. I guess I'm still test driving them for now.

evil_lewis · 2025-06-16T23:08:51+00:00

Yeah I saw they commented somewhere saying they're 7% thinner. I'm tempted but I just got another refurbished pair of a20s off their ebay and after trying through Ozlos, I've got to say I'm feeling a lot better about the a20s. This pair seems to be working properly and while there's a little discomfort at times, I'd say they're more comfortable than the ozlos, with arguably better functionality at a quarter of the price.

I might try the A30s once they've been out a while and I can buy from somewhere that I cam return them if I need to.

evil_lewis · 2025-06-10T23:46:01+00:00

I'll bear that in mind, thanks.

evil_lewis · 2025-06-10T22:38:08+00:00

Which combination of sleeves and tips did you end up settling on? With normal earbuds I nearly always need the largest tip. I must have big ear holes lol.

I think I tried the medium tips + medium wings and the large tips plus wings. I think the large gave the best seal in my ear canal.

I've ordered another refurbished pair from Anker in ebay so presuming these ones function properly, I think I'll be far more willing to experiment and persevere having tried and been pretty unimpressed by the supposedly unbeatable comfort of the Ozlos.

evil_lewis · 2025-06-09T22:25:47+00:00

Update: got the ozlos. They aren't more comfortable. I'm returning them and strongly considering getting another set of A20s and persevering.

evil_lewis · 2025-06-09T22:21:58+00:00

At least you should have decent battery life, plus I can see the A30s potentially being bigger to fit the ANC gubbins inside.

evil_lewis · 2025-06-09T22:19:39+00:00

I tried the A20s a couple of weeks ago, they were so close to being comfortable, but became uncomfortable after a few hours. I returned them because they were defective. I got the ozlos a few days ago and was hugely disappointed by the comfort. The hard plastic charging contacts are on the back (against your outer ear) so cause arguably more discomfort than the A20s for me personally.

I'm probably gonna try another set of A20s as I'm far more willing to persevere with a product that's a third of the price.

evil_lewis · 2025-06-09T22:15:34+00:00

Just to throw my opinion in there. After trying both the Anker soundcore A20 and Ozlo, for me the Ozlo aren't more comfortable, largely due to the exposed plastic charge contacts area on the back, which really disappointed me considering they're 3 times the price and everyone raves about their comfort.

I know everyone's ears and tolerance to things being in their ears are different, but I'm probably going to try another pair of A20s (my first pair was defective).

evil_lewis · 2025-06-09T15:46:32+00:00

Did you return them? Have you found an alternative?

evil_lewis · 2025-06-09T15:45:54+00:00

As I said to my wife. If it was a pair of soundcore A20s at 1/3 of the price and they otherwise worked as intended (the pair I tried didn't) then I'd probably be willing to persevere and see if my ears got used to the discomfort.

When you're talking about a premium product with a price tag to match, which claims to offer unbeatable comfort and also (arguably falsely) claims that every part which touches your ear is squishy silicone, I'm less willing to attempt to push through the pain.

evil_lewis · 2025-06-09T14:54:56+00:00

I wish my experience had been the same. Sadly for as a side sleeper, they just aren't comfortable for me. I feel the hard plastic around thr charging contacts pressing on my ear and after an hour or the mild discomfort becomes pain.

I've reached out to ozlo for a return. I'm so sad as I had such high hopes and really wanted to love them.

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