...Oh yeah. Can we just forget that the first generation XBA lineup ever existed? But anyway, that's an interesting comparison. Given how similar-ish they are in sound and that they cost the same, it'd come down to design somewhat and I'd drift toward the Z5s. They're like a hypercar of earphones.

  I've used the 7550s and they'd be exceptional for some professional work. But I'm looking for some enjoyment in my life. I'm a recovering treble-head.     I've been warming up to warmer signatures but also want to pick up the 7550s and proper RK-EX1000LP cable for my EX1000s. (US...

  I'm not budget strapped, I'd just have to move money from savings and I hate doing it. But then what's the point of saving if I never spend it? I can afford it.   From what I've read the A3 and Z5 are similar but the Z5 is more analytical, refined, and airy (which is something the A3s...

​ SQUEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE   If I wasn't serious about budgeting I'd be buying them at this moment.

So they're EX1000s with a high-end that isn't so darn strong and a low-end with a measurable amount of oomph?   Sounds bloody perfect to me. droooool

At that price I would buy two. Hell, three. One to use with the Bluetooth cable, one for at-home listening and one just for backup. Because I still fear that cable connection. And darn, I haven't even listened to them yet! Why am I going into this so blind? Why am I so excited? I'm not sure...

Funny, I've been checking the Groupon page daily and this morning noticed that the quantity of XBA-Z5s sold last time dropped from six to five.   If they're not back up on Groupon by the end of the week I'm buying a set from Amazon.

  Oh, I confused the Z5 for the H3 on the UK site.   Wow, the UK never even got them. I feel bad for complaining that we had them and lost them.   ​ Especially because they could have them available online-only and even ship them out straight from Japan to streamline locally stored product.

  Looking through the sites for other markets like the UK and Japan it appears they're still front-and-center everywhere else. It's just the US that has erased them completely.   The US in-ear selection is pretty bare now in comparison. (Though, it always was.)

  IIRC, Sony has previously made an NC IEMs, but it was with the first wave of XBA headphones and they were fairly disappointing and very overpriced.

I completely understand. Thank you! I've been burned chasing specs before. It's just when some fashion headphone manufacturers don't even post most specs, (regardless of how useful or not, honestly,) these fill me with a tiny glimmer of hope.   Even without that, Sony's budget headphones are a...

  I was just stating on paper it at least looks like they're trying. Nobody here has heard what they sound like yet, I'm only suggesting not to dismiss them entirely beforehand.   Even though I have my reservations towards the design and very likely won't be buying them based on that alone...

At least Sony is still pushing the MDR-Z7, it shows up first (!) on their new-ish electronics site under headphones.   However, it looks like the XBA-Z5s are dead; they're missing even when searched for. The cables for the Z7 were readily available last month, but the cables for the Z5s were...

  That's what I thought too, but looking at them, the over-ears are at least a sibling to the MDR-Z7s; The design is almost the same, albeit uglified with bright colors. The drivers seem to be using similar technologies just at a smaller 40mm compared to the Z7s at 70mm. And the in-ear...

In just over two hours (10:15 AM EDT) Sony will showcase new audio (and other stuff) at their IFA 2015 briefing.   There's a livestream here: https://community.sony.co.uk/t5/blog-news-from-sony/ifa-2015/ba-p/1999855   Anxiously awaiting news of new flagships and/or new plans for the US...