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Sony XBA-H1 and XBA-H3 Hybrid Dynamic and BA IEM
Aug 9, 2014 at 8:17 AM Post #2,476 of 3,257
mpawluk91 said:
your damn right! My xba3 sounds like TRASH on my walkman F887 and iPod video but excellent on my filo x3 and ibasso dx90
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They sound good on an iPod Touch 5G (less than 1 Ohm output impedance) and terrible on my Samsung GS3 (gone due to upgrade). I picked up a FiiO E12 portable amp for when on the road, which helped plenty. Then I got an E18 which has a far better DAC and amp than the phone which really did make the XBA-3 shine. Excluding the phone's DAC, the H3 did rather nicely.
 
Aug 9, 2014 at 8:22 AM Post #2,477 of 3,257
billsonchang007 said:
They scale relatively well with better amping and source as well. At least now I know I am not the only one who likes the XBA with better source
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I have briefly tested the XBA-3 and owns XBA-4. They are both really identical with good OI
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Yep, all I ever complained about with the XBA-3 was the touch of excess treble, which I would EQ away. Thankfully the H3 doesn't seem to have this problem. In any case the XBA-3 is rather good. I put Comply Tsx-200 tips on both Sonys, highly recommended. These tips are very comfortable and I need the large size to seal my oversized bass ports (ear canals).
 
Aug 9, 2014 at 9:35 AM Post #2,478 of 3,257
stand said:
Yep, all I ever complained about with the XBA-3 was the touch of excess treble, which I would EQ away. Thankfully the H3 doesn't seem to have this problem. In any case the XBA-3 is rather good. I put Comply Tsx-200 tips on both Sonys, highly recommended. These tips are very comfortable and I need the large size to seal my oversized bass ports (ear canals).
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IMO, the XBA with ComplyFoams is more than enough to brighten the treble. No need of anything extra EQ (can sound too sharp to me)
 
Aug 10, 2014 at 9:32 AM Post #2,479 of 3,257
billsonchang007 said:
IMO, the XBA with ComplyFoams is more than enough to brighten the treble. No need of anything extra EQ (can sound too sharp to me)
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No, I use EQ to tame what I feel is the excess treble of the XBA-3's. I found that the Comply foams gave me a more reliable seal to keep the bass solid and as a bonus is more comfortable.
 
Aug 10, 2014 at 8:34 PM Post #2,481 of 3,257
mpawluk91 said:
I hate comply tips, they only last for 15 uses before they start to degrade badly.

To damn expensive
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So far mine seem to be lasting and I've used them far more than 15 times. If they go kaput, I'll be quick to complain.
 
Aug 10, 2014 at 8:45 PM Post #2,483 of 3,257
h20fidelity said:
 

I agree, the most expensive / fastest degrading option one can use for an IEM. 
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Great, so is this what I have to look forward to? Good thing I kept the OEM parts handy. I hope you guys are wrong and my earwax is Comply friendly.
 
Aug 10, 2014 at 10:03 PM Post #2,485 of 3,257
I've been using some jvc spiral dot tips with my xba h3 and xba 3 I think they sound GREAT! the only complaints I have about them is that they don't isolate as well as my Sony hybrids, they also leak a little bit more. But the big bore definitely allows more Soundstage and the treble is much more refined

I was a little pissed off when I received my Se215ltd, I discovered that shure uses a smaller tip than the normal 5mm, but it's OK I ordered some westone tips for them
 
Aug 10, 2014 at 10:12 PM Post #2,486 of 3,257
For my two cents on comply tip alternatives: I've been using Monster Supertips on my XBA-H3 recently, medium size for relatively shallow insertion. They have an outer layer of high density foam, and what seems like regular silicon type material core. So far they seem to be holding up significantly better than any comply foam tips I've ever used have. The only comply tips I use now are the cheapest blue ones for a pair of Sony XBA-BT75 I use at the gym, basically to stop them from slowly falling out of my ear while exercising. I also use the small size Supertips on my TF-10, and that combo works very well. Comply tips do what they say on the packet though - greatly improved isolation. My experience has also been that they tend not to last very long though. Eventually all of my Comply tips so far have developed a tear in the foam, and become more spongey/less dense over time.
 
Aug 11, 2014 at 11:25 AM Post #2,490 of 3,257
I can use a pair of ComplyFoam for nicely 3 months more or less before they start breaking [for some reason, the left ones always start to degrade off first. I have no idea why]
 
I am now only left with one pair of ComplyFoams but silly me, don't wanna use it. Its good IMO. Isolates better, more comfortable [as mentioned] and boosted the necessary treble in my XBA with darker source but once I finished this last pair of CF I have, buying them here again is impossible already. 
 
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