In-ear monitors are fantastic devices that are a level up from classic earbuds. A common complaint people have with them is their required wired connection, and the search for Bluetooth adapters is an ongoing battle. Strauss and Wagner has released some new Bluetooth cable adapters that are sure to impress and check a lot of boxes. The Ovar, Palma, and Sines Bluetooth cables are available for $149.95 each, and today we talk about the details and differences between them. 

Aesthetics

The look of the wires are all 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 casings that hold a multi-function remote on one side, and a microphone on the other. When wearing them with a pair of IEMs, the wires give plenty of slack. They may seem long just to hang around the neck, but it's necessary to have the wire around the ear. The casings fall right at the shoulder so they are easily accessible. They are comfortable to wear for long listening sessions, and the cable ensures that the around the neck feel is comfortable as well. 

Between the three devices, the only thing that really changes is the metal at the connection points and connections themselves. The connection casings 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 remote parts to tell users which side is which. 

Functionality

Each of the Bluetooth adapters had the same basic setup. Press the power button and hold, the LED light will flash blue and red, and they will appear on your device to pair. The remote had only three main buttons, so there was little room for error. I will admit: I was a bit confused when the bar had power on one side and volume up on the other. I would have thought they had the bar be volume up and down, and the singular button at the top a power button. Nevertheless, the guide on the Audio46 site with pairing instructions made setup more than simple and I was listening in no time. 

While I appreciate the consistency across the devices, I was not a fan of how they were all the same name when pairing. If I had all the variations of this cable, I would be very confused on which device I was pairing to. Renaming these on my device is an easy fix, though it is something to look out for if users get confused. 

Connectivity

Connection on each of the devices was strong and stable. They are equipped with Bluetooth 5.4, the latest and most up to date version of Bluetooth. It makes the Palma, Ovar, and Sines able to last a long time with stable connection the whole time. During my hours of testing, there was no dropping out or fuzzy-sounding distortion. 

Listening Review

When you change wires or add an adapter on a pair of IEMs or headphones, it depends on the listener’s own sound perception how much the sound changes. The sound change can either be a stark difference or hardly noticeable depending on how sensitive your ear is. For these Strauss and Wagner devices, it’s nice to have the natural sound of the IEMs be the main feature in the sound profile. The sound was not changed so much, but just made them slightly brighter thanks to the 4-core silver braided cable. I was happily appreciating all the unique sound signatures of different IEMs with the various cables. 

These cables are only adapters, and are not amplifiers like some other Bluetooth adapters are, such as the MoonDrop EVO or iFi GO Pods. These are simply for going from wired connection to Bluetooth, no amplifier. It’s an important distinction to make, that way users are not surprised when they don’t hear any additional power behind their sound. 

What are some differences between them? 

The main differences between all these Bluetooth cables are the connectors. Strauss and Wagner ensure that no matter the device you have, you will be able to enjoy them wirelessly. The Ovar has 2-pin 0.78mm connection points, making them adaptable to most IEMs. The Palma has MMCX connection points, so people who are a fan of Campfire Audio or Shure will likely want to use these. Sennheiser users will be happy to know there is a cable specially dedicated to the Sennheiser line of IEMS: the Sines. 

Is Sines really different from Palma?

Yes, these two cables are different, and you’ll notice it when trying to connect your IEMs. While the Palma says it has the connection for the Sennheiser IE series, I don’t suggest using it as such. The Sennheiser design is just slightly different than a classic MMCX connection, so it doesn’t lock in securely to this design. The connection port on the Sines is specially designed to fit the Sennheiser, so trying to use other MMCX IEMs will not work on that device. 

Summary

These adapters are a fantastic upgrade. People are at a crossroads between staying with a wired connection or going to Bluetooth, and this offers a stellar compromise. Strauss and Wagner are great for their upgrade cables, so it stands to reason that their Bluetooth adapter would be a great middle ground and starting point for people to step into the Bluetooth game. People can enjoy their high quality sound and take it on the go!

The Ovar, Palma, and Sines adapters are available at Audio46.