What If I want clarity and great isolation?

The XBA-4 so 'dai lup'

I can't recall one at that price from my experience. The volume I use when testing them were my ideal volume, which is pretty low. I don't like using the volume of music as a primary way of getting isolation. The environment at the time was pretty noisy too. You can look for it at your local Sony centre and see if they have audition units up on display, so you can have a go yourself.

BTW, JonSpark, nice shot of those IEMs. Too bad they didn't have the XBA-4 for me to try out. All three XBAs were very very light and comfortable. They're actually really pretty in real life.

This post has been edited by tunertoobe: Jul 21 2012, 07:04 PM

I see alright will try it out when I visit a Sony Centre.

Isolation is decent, but not great. I don't remember Sony even makes an IEM with great isolation. If isolation must be great and clarity is a must, I'll advise Westone 2 instead. Etymotic isn't a bad choice either but Westone 2 has slightly better bass response. Though Westone is more expensive than Sony.

XBA-4 might look big, but actually it is surprising comfortable

-

This post has been edited by ertai: Apr 9 2013, 12:06 AM

Still working. Too much stuff to do, too little time.

So how much is Westone 2 ?

Jaben is selling them for about RM1k.
It's between the price of an XBA-3 and 4. The Westones however have passive (electronic) crossovers (vs mechanical ones for XBAs IINM), different design, high quality parts and workmanship, which explains the price.

This post has been edited by tunertoobe: Jul 22 2012, 10:17 AM

Whoa 1K that's a lot for me

Anything around 500 or so?

I really won't say Westone has higher quality parts or workmanship (happen to know which company is OEM for Westone). They are high quality, but ain't the much higher than Sony.

It is interesting for Sony to go crossover-less though, as that is actually harder to do than passive and requires careful implementation to get it right. Most companies doesn't do mechanical crossover not because it is inferior, but because it will take too much effort. Passive crossover, like any crossover design, has its own issues. But it is easier (and thus cheaper) to implement and thus it becomes the popular choice. For case and example, Sony needs to custom build (or order) those BA so they know they will all work together well. But if you use passive crossover, then it becomes easier as the crossover circuit will help you mediate two / three drivers than are less than compatible to each other because the crossover, in a way, separate them electronically (frequency wise). But one the other hand, passive crossover also introduces more noise, phase issue and more noticeably, a wonky impedance curve that often places higher demand on the source.

went to japan recently, yodobashi camera in akihabara was selling xba-4 for 18800 yen (do the calculation yourself ) almost got it if it's not because of the size -.-

@ClieOS

This is what I got from my listening of the XBA3 and the XBA4.

The XBA3 has better bass body and sounds more balanced. The XBA 4 has a super woofer but bass is non existent and sounds very thin but very very transparent. Transparency on the XBA 4 is very good. But the XBA 3 is more balanced and sounds better then the XBA4. If i has to choose between them both i would choose the XBA3

XBA4 is very picky on its source. I tried it on Xperia Arc, Ibasso D12 and Fostex HP-A3.

Like you said it sounds thin and no bass when plug into HP-A3. However when plug into D12 you get full body of bass and it does not sound thin anymore. The result of Arc is between those two dacs.

The measured FR curve between XBA-3 and XBA-4 doesn't show a big different in bass, actually (mostly within 2dB, lesser in XBA-4). On the other hand, XBA-4 is a harder to drive IEM and I wonder if your source plays a part on why you hear what you hear. If your source doesn't drive XBA-4 well enough, I would expect the kind of result as you did. But on the other hand, XBA-3 does have a more 'balanced' FR curve (more V-shaped), so to speak, as it has higher spike on treble.

As far as I know, HP-A3 uses TPA6120 as its headphone amp and one of the requirement of TPA6120 is an >=10ohm output impedance. That means HP-A3 will drive any headphone less than 80ohm poorly, not to mention the 8ohm XBA-4. D12 on the other hand probably has less than 1 ohm of output impedance (like most iBasso) and thus making it an ideal source for XBA-4.

tried these baby at Harvey Norman~

As far as I concern the treble part is kinda weird~ I like the XBA3 most from the rest, but its treble a bit digital/harsh/not smooth.The XBA2 and XBA1 mid, bass and treble is all over the place :swt: While the XBA4 sounds not as neutral and even it hv a sub woofer driver the bass is not as expected~

Have you got the fit right on the XBA-4s???

I've owned the XBA-4 for about 5 weeks. They sounded alright down low, very full, deep and full of power. Extension is great.. Side by side, the TF10's bass hits harder and faster, but the XBA exhibits a more cultured bass response. I got the J cord one however, and couldn't live with that. The treble of the XBA-4s are the only thing I didn't like. Too metallic tinged.

Maybe Harvey Norman is not a good place for auditioning these babies~
I visited harvey norman 2 week ago and i was attracted by them so i ask them whether i can use my own ear foams anot and they say "yes"~
When i pull the stock tips on the XBA-3~ jesus! i can see dust stuck between the "steel net thingy" and some green -yellowish substance on it
not much but its was obvious enough to caught my attention and when i take a close look on the body (housing) of the earphone~
theres some dent, scratches and even small cracks at where the housing connect to the wire part~
maybe some how it will affect the sound? Just my humble opinion
but i din even dare to try anyway~
the green thingy scare me off @@

haha just remember when u wanna try them u shd clean them at least with a tissue~ for my case i clean it with wet tissue~

Haha~ i wanted too~ but too dirty bro~
My GF also have limited patient waiting for me to audition headphone~
thats why i always have a short time to "date" those babies
cant really tell how good they are~