[Dsnuts]

You know what is strange. But I have noticed one thing about Sony earphones as I am listening to my XBA-3s now.
 
I am using JVC tips on them. Much wider tips vs Sony hybrids. I use to swear by Sony hybrids but they actually restrict the sounds on their own earphones. Both the XB90 and now these XBA-3s sound even better with wider tips. You figure Sony engineers would figure this out. I suppose it would go against tradition or something to use wider tips but that is exactly what these earphones need. Weird.
 
By the way my impression of the XBA-3 was from using these JVC tips on them. Can't go back to using hybrids on their own earphones anymore.

 

[atomikn00b]

you were comparing the xba-3 to the xb90ex earlier.
about exactly how much subbass quantity do you sacrifice by picking the xba-3 over the xb90ex?
besides the bass sacrifice, would you say the xba-3 is superior to the xb90ex in all other aspects?

 

[nihontoman]

Quote:

you were comparing the xba-3 to the xb90ex earlier.
about exactly how much subbass quantity do you sacrifice by picking the xba-3 over the xb90ex?
besides the bass sacrifice, would you say the xba-3 is superior to the xb90ex in all other aspects?

good question. I'm also interested in that
 
 
as for the new iems from Audio technika, JVC and Hifiman, honestly, I lost all the interest with the new cks iems. jvc seeem much better piece of tech (though who knows, maybe ATs sound better...) also, I was always very intrigued by the hifiman products, and may actually have to choose between these JVC and them 

 only problem is the ****n money for all this unneeded **** XD

 

[doctorjazz]

So, got my FXD 80, burned them in about a day, listened this morning. These things do sound nice! The clarity and openness remind me of my old Shure PTH-E500 (this is from memory-I still have them, but the cable started to fray, and I just keep them in the case. I should find out about recabling/repairing these at some point, not sure how, did like them...). I listened to one of my favorite artists this morning, Aimee Mann (who writes great music and lyrics, and tends to layer production with much details, making it great for evaluating equipment), and I had the cliched "heard things I never heard before" moments, and the ability to really hear her voice and make out lyrics better than I usually can (still can't make them all out...tend to be densely packed). I'd say bass, while by no means anemic, still not up there with some of the others, like AT in ears, but was enough to suit the music. I plugged them back in to get more breakin, nonstop KeSha (my kids), which should loosten up a tank. Have the over the ear 500's on the way as well, very curious to hear them. Get back with more impressions at some point. Very please, though.

 

[Dsnuts]

Quote:

you were comparing the xba-3 to the xb90ex earlier.
about exactly how much subbass quantity do you sacrifice by picking the xba-3 over the xb90ex?
besides the bass sacrifice, would you say the xba-3 is superior to the xb90ex in all other aspects?

 
I would guess about at least 4-5db sub bass difference. Which is not a small amount. The XB90EX is like your friends nice car stereo with 2X15" subs in the trunk. This being said I was listening to A tribe called quest this morning. The XBA-3 sounds great with hiphop actually. Maybe something in between the sound level of the XB90 and the XBA-3 in bass and sound would be these FAD Adiago 3s. I got an email from accessoryjack. I should be getting my Adiago3s here by next week. Will report on them. I trust Eric n Danny both liking these Adiago 3s much. If you can wait I will do some comparisons when I get them.
 
The XBA-3 is like a high end set up you have in your living room. The MSRP difference is 3X the XB90. Do you get 3X the sound quality? Guys that demand high quality sound will think so but for bass fans.. No way.
 
Quote:

So, got my FXD 80, burned them in about a day, listened this morning. These things do sound nice! The clarity and openness remind me of my old Shure PTH-E500 (this is from memory-I still have them, but the cable started to fray, and I just keep them in the case. I should find out about recabling/repairing these at some point, not sure how, did like them...). I listened to one of my favorite artists this morning, Aimee Mann (who writes great music and lyrics, and tends to layer production with much details, making it great for evaluating equipment), and I had the cliched "heard things I never heard before" moments, and the ability to really hear her voice and make out lyrics better than I usually can (still can't make them all out...tend to be densely packed). I'd say bass, while by no means anemic, still not up there with some of the others, like AT in ears, but was enough to suit the music. I plugged them back in to get more breakin, nonstop KeSha (my kids), which should loosten up a tank. Have the over the ear 500's on the way as well, very curious to hear them. Get back with more impressions at some point. Very please, though.

The doctor gets the FXD80s. Nice. You are absolutely correct in breaking them in. CNT drivers are 20X stronger than steel. What you get later after break in will astound. But we are talking minimum 200 hours of aggressive volumes. Look forward to your take of them when they get proper.

 

[eke2k6]

Ok, my XBA-3 is impressing the hell out of me. 
 
Where do you rank these, Dsnuts?

 

[Dsnuts]

Pretty crazy aint it?. They actually sound better after using them for 3 days. I noticed in the highs especially need to have some break in period before they sound correct but man once they do. Lol!  I would say 9.3 at least. That's just a conservative guess too. They are crazy good. Can't stop listening to my pair..The synergy with my Sony Z1060 and the XBA-3s are off the planet good. I truly hope the new MDR-1R has this sound tuning. If so that is another must have on my list.
 
So I was listening to some Van Halen this morning. In particular how Alex Van Halen was playing drums. Unreal. I can make out everything and I mean everything he was doing with so much precision. His drum rolls was all over the place.. Knowing how these sound now. I would have no issue paying $200 for these at all.

 

[eke2k6]

Quote:

Pretty crazy aint it?. They actually sound better after using them for 3 days. I noticed in the highs especially need to have some break in period before they sound correct but man once they do. Lol!  I would say 9.3 at least. That's just a conservative guess too. They are crazy good. Can't stop listening to my pair..The synergy with my Sony Z1060 and the XBA-3s are off the planet good. I truly hope the new MDR-1R has this sound tuning. If so that is another must have on my list.
 
So I was listening to some Van Halen this morning. In particular how Alex Van Halen was playing drums. Unreal. I can make out everything and I mean everything he was doing with so much precision. His drum rolls was all over the place.. Knowing how these sound now. I would have no issue paying $200 for these at all.

 
I'm shocked right now. This is the second time I've heard a BA that doesn't sound like the stereotype. I'm starting to wonder why anoyne would get the TF10 when the XBA-3 exists...
 
My review of it and the Ety HF3 will be up in a few hours.

 

[anachronsimic]

I am literally 25 pages in and I can already tell this is going to end up being a large drain on my wallet.

 

[Dsnuts]

Quote:

I am literally 25 pages in and I can already tell this is going to end up being a large drain on my wallet.

Ya sorry about how disorganized the thread is. I will edit much once I get some time to do so. It was at first a thread for a few earphones that was great for the price and we kept on adding new earphones hence the newer title.  Discovery thread..
 
I have given some thought into what this thread should be about. If anybody that feels they have something to contribute to this thread as in. It is something new for you or the community I welcome any and every impression of anything that is new to you..If I feel it is something the community should take a good look at it will be posted on the front page and a change in the title with that particular product..I think this thread should be about encouraging something new for all of us to consider as well as letting the rest of us know how you feel about a product. Your impressions matter.
 
As there are so many products out there in headphone land that just goes unnoticed. I hope this thread will uncover some gems that should not be missed by this community. Everyone on this thread should feel at home and no one is going to judge you based on your experience with said new products. I welcome everyone's take on anything they feel is a discovery for them. Remember this is not just a discovery for the community but should be about a discovery for you. Thanks for reading and supporting the thread fellas.

 

[dweaver]

This is the first BA I have really liked for bass. It just sounds so darn good and it has sub-bass. I listened to a YouTube bass test and the bass spectrum was very linear and really does go down low, I could hear/feel down to 10hz and I suspect it went lower but I was unable to feel it.

I listened to a couple of songs with the XBA3 and HF3 a couple days ago while the HF3 is definitely brighter and mid/treble centric the XBA3 was no slouch and I found the HF3 almost to much at times and any songs that required anything with a bass line was just more satisfying with the XBA3. I also like the overall signature of the XBA3 enought it easily replaced my GR07 MK2.

 

[Dsnuts]

I look forward to your impressions of the MDR-1R dweaver. I am hoping it has similarities to the sound signature on the XBA-3. I am extremely happy with these XBA-3s. It has literally caught me off guard. I was thinking. Ya these will sound good was my thought but I had no idea..That is until I had some alone time at my house with them. Wow.
 
I don't remember the last time I was this impressed with an earphone. I was so blown away. I woke up the next morning looking forward to throw them back in my ears..I honestly think even at full retail price I think I still would be impressed. Great sound is great sound at any price. I have to admit though I did get lucky in getting a pair. $100 for this? Ridiculous.
 
Oh and by the way. I actually recommend you guys that own the XBA-3s or the XB90s. Look into some wider nozzle tips for both earphones. I am using my wider JVC silicone tips and the sound is freed up is the best way to describe it.

 

[ericp10]

Someone asked a few pages back about the FAD III's treble compared to the XB90. The III is better. More forward with greater sparkle and power behind. it. Some have better detail (although the details are quite nice here), but I can't of a more powerful sounding earphone than the III. Wow! Just a fuller (headphone-like) powerful sound with a huge soundstage. It really scales up with the Fiio E9/E10 combination too. My vote would be that the III is better sounding than the XB90, but that's not taking anything away from the Sony. I just think FAD integrated its powerful bass in the mix better with the rest of the sound spectrum. Deep rich and clear (what the DDM should have sounded like).
 
By the way, I did an A/B earlier today between the XBA-4, FXD80 and AF78. The JVC won in clear micro details to my ears (first for a dynamic driver). The XBA-4 was quite close, but vocals are push a bit back in the mix in the Sony as compared to the JVC. Great times for us in the hobby (with our wallets cursing our names every time we reach for it...lol)..

 

[dweaver]

Eric, if you haven't tried the XBA3, they might be worth a listen. From what I read they are a better balanced IEM than the XBA4 while still having good bass. While I can't comment directly on the XBA4 I can talk about the XBA3 and I do think they offer nice mids while offering a lot in the bass end. They easily have the best bass I have heard in a BA based headphone (TF10, SM3, HF3, PFE121, Rockit R50 etc.). I know there probably better BA IEM's than I have owned especially in the customs realm, but for a universal these do a very good job in my opinion.
 
DS, I am hoping the MDR-1R is a similar sounding headphone to the XBA3 but with a bigger sound and even a bit more midrange and treble detail along with a similar type of bass. If they are what I hoping for I am going to have to ban myself from Head-fi and just be happy with them LOL. I will certainly be posting my initial impressions and doing up a full review. I will also likely do a bit of a Shure 940, 1440, MDR-1R comparison and may include the XBA3 in that mix just so people can have a point of reference between the IEM from the headphone.

 

[Dsnuts]

Look forward to it.. I am debating between the new M100 and the MDR-1Rs. Both are on my radar for certain. Since JVC is coming out with the new FXZ earphones. Kinda messed up my plans for possibly getting both. I know I am not the only one that will be interested to know which one is gonna be the one to get.
 
There seems to be much fan fare for the new V moda M-100s and Sony is releasing what I hope will be their best effort to date. It is an exciting time for newness.