So it took a while to figure out WTF Windows 11 is up to in terms of actually choosing bluetooth audio codecs. turns out it doesn't do anything and just selects the basleine AAC which maxes out at 16-bit 48KHz. My default output is 24-bit out of preference. but anyway the AAC codec has sibilance distortion on various songs that I knew wasn't right as on my phone the same songs sound perfect. This is on the Planars btw and on the Galaxy S24 it uses aptX-HD.
I found an Alternative A2DP BT driver for Windows, not free but $7 for a license, and allows you to manually select aptX-HD/LDAC etc and apply it to any connected bluetooth headphones. Much better:
So far not observed any speech latency watching videos, but there is noticeable latency in games. Music sounds superb, the bass of planars is something else, I read about it before but never could picture how they sound, it seems impossible to distort them yet they are so detailed with bass. The highs and vocals sound close to my HD650, just less airy due to being closed back. Seasick Steve tracks on these sound sublime, his voice takes centre stage in front of my head and the surrounding instruments are perfectly positioned, just more central than on the 650s. BB King's voice is equally impressive in the songs I have of his.
Meg Birch's Ain't no sunshine acoustic cover is a perfect track for both HD650 and these planars. Both give her voice a lot of power in a different way for each headphone. No sibilance at all from what I have heard so far.
Downside is that when using wired mode there is electrical interference I can hear when connected to the Topping MX3s. When the HD650s are connected there is no interference so it's some kind of earthing issue perhaps with the planars when using wired since they are digital powered headphones and don't function as passive headphones when plugged in via 3.5mm, you still have to turn them on.
I'm really impressed to the point I want open air planars now