Still rocking my N3's with the PHA-2A. It deserves no less, on hi gain. Wasted on a smartphone etc.

Sony and mids, at two desert islands opposite the globe from each other for so very long, finally met.

Blessings in all you do King Tyll.

Small world,I'm doing the 1A dance too.

Having languished in my bedroom cabinet these many months, and with memories of grain and sibilance to the fore, I decided to give 'em another go. Goodness me what a sound stage! And with music that requires few instruments, they sound clear as a bell. Commuting with joy is now the standard, and...

They don't expect gold from Sony, they don't trust gold from Sony, they don't trust unbeatable value from Sony. They don't trust Sony, period.

By which you mean the Sony hybrid. It comes after two, and before 4...that's it! the N3. And it goes very nicely. Can't comment on the AK, only briefly heard their Dap's which were very impressive with my H3, and cured a lot of the sibilance that in ear was prone to.

Focal Utopia Audeze el 8 Audeze Sine Sony mdr-1A Good enough for the mo. My excuse for the paltry list? I used to work in the music biz and have heard about 500 bands live. Got an opportunity to hear some current hotties in my local shop so this list could change sharply and soon.

They have outperformed their price rivals with Mp3 players over the last decade, and I have a 7-8 yr model which still rocks, their N3 in ear is right on point with the i.e 800, and I'm very happy with the current crop. But I have to add the H1 in ear,nothing but treble.

I think my 1A's have plenty of life in 'em yet. They were deeply impressive last night with some Miles. Plus the portable Sony amp of course.

Nice to see Senn upgrading the 800, it was taking some heat from the Sony N3AP so it was a smart move.

That makes a lot of sense, you will see a significant upgrade and five years is a good period to do this.

Let's hope they have gone up a few octaves in SQ. They should do, your right, but I'm thinking of going up to planar's for my next upgrade. I should get a chance to hear 'em if my not so near Sony shop stocks them and is still open.

Was v impressed with the Sine's. No other h/phone i've seriously tried ( didn't spoil my ears too long with the top Focal and the el-8 though sounding better had perceived fragility issues) can bring the terribly recorded Motorhead greatest hits to life. Yes their uncomfortable for big 'eads...

They did. I would have been happy with the slippers in front of the fire 1R but the 1A came ahead on all counts. I spent 30 mins in direct comparison's. More mid range esp sealed the deal.

Seem's a sideways step. I'll stick to my 1a's.

I've got both, my H3 is gathering dust. It has far too much sibilance, the N3 scores ahead on everything save a slightly narrower sound stage.

535 likes, or even 846 likes, it's sounding very sweet indeed with some Sunday morning gentle jazz. I ain't looking elsewhere.

Sorry chaps, erroneous post, I was using the mdr-1A. The 1R was a tad flabby in the shop comparison.

That just got 535 likes!

I'm running then through my Sony a15 dap and pha-1aeu h/phone amp and their sounding mighty fine.

One day I'll hear the zedders. My local shop won't touch 'em sadly, but I'm still enjoying the baby Sony h/phones.

N3 is great across all genres.

Be a long day before i upgrade. N3's are fab. All the goodies and lovely cohesion. The greatest ever at it's price? No doubt. Even the SS has widened, 6 months in.

My N3's just keep getting better and better. My old and fairly basic Sony dap has burst back in to life, more than enough for casual/on the move listening. I'd def buy 'em again. Easily as good as the Senn ie 800's.