[Eirwyn]

Gonna try them with my computer now and F886 when it arrives.

Update on this. They're horrible with my computer!? I mean the treble is too much it actually hurts my ears. I plug them to my Walkman, perfection. Computer, hell in my ears. Any idea why? None of my other IEMs ever did this before.

 

[vwinter]

Update on this. They're horrible with my computer!? I mean the treble is too much it actually hurts my ears. I plug them to my Walkman, perfection. Computer, hell in my ears. Any idea why? None of my other IEMs ever did this before.

Probably a wild impedance swing interaction issue due to the nature of the design. Unfortunately.

 

[Eirwyn]

Probably a wild impedance swing interaction issue due to the nature of the design. Unfortunately.

Well I hope they won't react the same with F886

 

[vwinter]

Well I hope they won't react the same with F886 :eek:

You're most likely safe

 

[feverfive]

Huh, I placed a pre-order for the XBA-H3's @ B&H Photo earlier today.  Haven't been around head-fi much the past 6 months or so, came here, saw this thread & have spent the past several hours reading comments (in between doing other things).  I was disappointed to read James' impressions (I've never interacted w/ him, but have come to really respect his posts during my time here).  I'll still give these a go as the price was much lower than I expected for a supposed TOTL, and in fact they're $150USD less than what I paid for my Earsonics SM64, oh, I think 9 months ago now.  I have no idea when mine will ship.  I ordered from B&H only because I've bought so many things from them w/ no issue in the past.

 

[dw357]

Hi guys, it is my first post here as I usually only read and learn lol, but since I have had XBA-H3 for awhile as my daily IEM and read some polarizing reviews so I thought it might be good to share my opinion as well. So before I bought XBA-H3 I previously listen from a Denon D2k, and before that I had a pair of grado SR-60 (with GS-1000's pad). My experience with IEM start with XBA-1. I also listen from my room mate's K701 frequently. My source is Fiio E07K. 
 
I like the mid of H3. I prefer it to Denon D2k and K701 as I think it retains great amount of detail at the same time sounds warm with musicality. I can almost feel the vibration and air from the belly of a string instrument.  Vocal was very involving as well. Overall I think it is the best phone I have heard so far. 
 
Regarding the bass H3 is definitely bass heavy - even more than D2k. Initially I got some 'booming' bass from H3 which sounds like a broken drum when using the default silicon earbud. But the bass becomes much more controlled after switching to the foamed silicon earbud - probably an alternative solution to partially sealing the vent. Also the amount of bass totally depends on how deep I insert the IEM into my ear canal. I usually do not push it in too hard so I get good clear and well controlled bass. Which I prefer it much over D2k as it extends much deeper and provide a solid sound image on drums and double bass etc. The most appealing thing about H3's bass is that I actually feel it, rather than hear it
 
As I am using E07k, setting the bass to -2 or -4 gives me the perfect sound I want, but now I actually listen with bass set to 0 and it still feels great. 
 
Somehow I have the impression that H3 sounds more like a speaker than a earphone. 
 
Also the source is very important - listening from some poor low bit-rate mp3 sounds like broken drums again, but I haven't had the issue with the collection of CDs and lossless music I have. 
 
Hope people fine it useful. 

 

[TealRice]

this or any other iems around 400$$? What im looking for is wide soundstage, good female vocals, good bass, good durability, and comfort

 

[pietcux]

Got the XBA-H3 yesterday. They are fantastic. More later.

 

[getclikinagas]

Quote from the 2013 Head-Fi Winter Gift Guide (In-Ear Headphones)
 
 

Written by Jude Mansilla

 

Last month we had a chance to stop by the headphone labs at Sony in Japan, where the head of their headphone engineering--Naotaka Tsunoda--gave us a tour of the place, and then let us play with some of their newest models. Of the many new products were new in-ear monitors of hybrid design, using both dynamic drivers and balanced armature drivers, and I'm really enthusiastic about them, especially the Sony XBA-H1 and XBA-H3. (I also really like the new "Foamed Silicone" eartips that they come with.)

 

The Sony XBA-H3 is the flagship of the new Sony hybrid IEMs, and has one 16mm dynamic bass driver, and two balanced armature drivers (one of the BA drivers is full-range, the other is what Sony calls an HD super tweeter).

 

With a 16mm dynamic driver, the XBA-H3 has very large earpieces for an IEM. Not surprisingly, given its large size, the XBA-H3 is designed to be worn inverted (cable pointing up, with an over-ear loop). When worn, the XBA-H3 juts out further from my ears than any IEM I have here, reminding me a bit of the old Ultimate Ears Triple.Fi 10 Pro in this way. Given the peculiarities of its design, some may find the XBA-H3 a bit more challenging than a standard IEM to put on.

 

Fortunately, the Sony XBA-H3 sounds fantastic. Sony has done a better job integrating the dynamic driver with the balanced armature drivers than I've heard from this type of headphone before--I do not feel any sense of disjointedness in the melding of the two different types of drivers.

 

Not surprisingly with a huge 16mm driver, the XBA-H3 has very deep, very solid hitting bass--boosted, but well-controlled and tuneful, too. The XBA-H3's midrange is clear and precise--more neutral than the bass--and transitions beautifully to the the tweeter's soaring, shimmering treble. You know what it sounds like? Like a Sony flagship IEM.

 

Despite how much I love the XBA-H3's sound, it's the Sony XBA-H1 that I find to be the biggest gem of Sony's hybrid IEM line, for its combination of sound quality, design, and affordable price.

 

Because the XBA-H1's driver compliment--one 9mm dynamic driver and one full-range BA driver--is so much smaller than the XBA-H3's, it can use a far more compact housing, and a more traditional form factor. The XBA-H1 is worn cable down, and has a relatively straight body design, so putting its earpiece in your ears couldn't be easier.

 

In terms of sound, the XBA-H1 has a more neutral tonal balance than the XBA-H3, and the integration of the two drivers sounds seamless to me. Though the bass doesn't hit as hard as the XBA-H3's, it still has good punch, and, again, is more neutral. I find the XBA-H1's midrange to be almost as revealing as the XBA-H3's, and very competitive with other good IEMs in this price range. Its treble is also well extended, but not as much as the XBA-H3's, and is less shimmery. Still, though, I love the even-handed presentation of the XBA-H1, and find it a fantastic value at the price, even if its not as revealing overall as its much larger sibling.

 

The Sony XBA-H1 and XBA-H3 are two fantastic IEMs. Kudos to Sony for being able to integrate two completely different types of drivers (dynamic and balanced armature) so seamlessly in these two new models.

 

[Soundsgoodtome]

" (h1) The bass doesn't hit as hard as the h3..." I bet the bass boost in the h3 has more sub-bass than the mid-bassy h1s as well

 

[pietcux]

It has a good bass for sure. But it (XBA-H3) is more south of neutral in the bass region, which is what I prefer. This could be an interesting candidate for the basshead club. It complements nicely witn my Signature DJ.

 

[Kaician]

:etysmile:
:basshead:

 

[howihearit]

Best amp for the H3 : under $300 ??

Anyone tryed it with jds labs C5 ?

.......... Just curious how much it would cost all up ( amp ) to make these things stand up and preform at there best for music on the move

James444 , m8 does the gs voyager make these sound Awsome by it self without that dap combo ??

Just want a amp for iphone combo

 

[getclikinagas]

Lol. A mega sub-bass bump? There's a nice way to shake out your teeth

 

[howihearit]

Got the XBA-H3 yesterday. They are fantastic. More later.

Cool man I'm looking forward to to it
Fiio E12 and iPod impressions when you do please