I enjoyed the SE425 for rock music when I had it. It doesn't have a lot of sub bass but the mid bass has a nice kick to it which sounds great for kick drums. Overall the sound is much better than the 215, clarity is on a whole other level...

Sounds to me like you just described the Sony MH1C...

The Shures are comfortable and isolate very well when using with the olive tips. Having said that though the GR04 & GR07 are just as comfortable and can be worn while sleeping. And what does Vsonic's ( a Chinese company) website have to do with what will suit the O.P.'s need in an iem?

I have the Shure se215 and it is definitely a step back from your XBA-3's. I would personally suggest Vsonics GR04 Flagship Editions, they are very close to the GR07 in sound quality and go for only $55.

I can second that.

I found them to be overwhelming with sloppy bass when I first listened to them. It was around the 50-75hr mark that the bass really tightened up allowing the details to shine through. I was honestly dissapointed with them when I first got them but since burn-in I haven't had the desire to listen...

That is one of the things that make the 200 so special is that the bass seem to be seperate from the other frequencies. You can have that impactful bass without it encroaching on the mids and veiling details.

Did the FXZ's have any burn in time on them, because that is what it sounds like you were describing?

Didn't have to pay any fees on mine when they arrived! I bought mine off eBay, but they were shipped EMS as well so that shouldn't matter though...

I can't speak for the other two but I went from the se215 to the GR07. The GR07 was a huge revelation for me, details, clarity, and soundstage were much improved. Now when I go back and listen to the Shures they sound muddy and veiled. I have since bought 7 pairs of iems and the Vsonics have...

Oh ya, glad to hear that you like them.

Quote: The muffled sound you are talking about is the foam of the comply absorbing the mids and highs. You can cut the excess foam off the tip so that it is flush with the nozzle. This will allow you to keep the comfort and seal of the comply without comprimising the sound!

Quote: Hey Eric wondering if you got around to writing that review? I tried to find it but me and the search function on this forum are out of sync. Im mostly interested in the af56 and see that you have them rated higher then GR07 which is my current benchmark. Any insight would be...