[jincuteguy]

So I found Sony XBA z5 for $500? 
 
http://www.amazon.com/SONY-XBA-Z5-Balanced-Armature-Headphones/dp/B00PF89YXG/ref=sr_1_cc_1?s=aps&ie=UTF8&qid=1433988415&sr=1-1-catcorr&keywords=sony+xba+z5&pebp=1433988428727&perid=92570D0596CE480F8831
 
I thought it's always around $700, is this a good deal?

 

[johnwamp55]

   
So I guess you dont like any of the Aurisonics ASG iems? 

I have their custom IEM and their ASG2.0 but I had good and bad experience with these but the newer ASG2.5 is improved and it sounds much better. Better bass, better sound stage better fit and better Mids and treble.  I also have been using the Sony A3 a lot.

 

[nehcrow]

He's referring to the old Future Sonics M5 MG7. Good luck finding a pair. I have some in blue, but I'm not as easily impressed. The bass was there, but there was no "rumble" to them. Too much midbass. You can have my old set for $50 if you want, but they aren't much to write home about.

No rumble because subbass decay is quick
It has some of the deepest extending bass in a cheapish IEM, somewhere around the vicinity of 10hz with not much drop off at all. 
Long rumble is not my preference, I find long decay to be sloppy tuning. Like my bass tight, deeply extended and punchy

 

[johnwamp55]

  So I found Sony XBA z5 for $500? 
 
http://www.amazon.com/SONY-XBA-Z5-Balanced-Armature-Headphones/dp/B00PF89YXG/ref=sr_1_cc_1?s=aps&ie=UTF8&qid=1433988415&sr=1-1-catcorr&keywords=sony+xba+z5&pebp=1433988428727&perid=92570D0596CE480F8831
 
I thought it's always around $700, is this a good deal?

I think it can be had for less.

 

[jincuteguy]

 
I think it can be had for less.

 
Where? Isn't it Sony flagship? why is it so cheap now?

 

[johnwamp55]

   
Where? Isn't it Sony flagship? why is it so cheap now?

In time everything will go down a bit. I like it so much I might get a second pair of Z5.

 

[Bandooken]

  Hmm... I've had them for quite a few years now, never thought of it as super bassy but it is nice in quality - though i never tried EQ with them.
 
*edit* pulled them out, not used in a while. forgot how nice these are 

i think you're right about bass, it is pretty good, esp when i put bass boost on... too bad i lost the original tips, tough to find a good pair for them, treble can get kind of edgy with a bad match.

ya the bass was good. but you are right about the treble. i have the Denon AH- C400 too. decided to sell the c751 because the fit wasnt the best and it wasnt very high fidelity the C400 being a dual BA design was much better however it lacks bass!!!

 

[Bandooken]

what kind of music do you listen to? you think the z5 are good for rap and hip hop?

 

[johnwamp55]

  what kind of music do you listen to? you think the z5 are good for rap and hip hop?

I listen to all kinds of music. Lately Electronics, Metal and Nu Metal. I do listen to Rap, Bass music and Electro. I also like Indie, Classic Rock, Punk and Dj Music (Hard trance, House). The Z5 is perfect for Rap and music with Bass and it is perfect for all music with a good amp. The Z5 really wants power.

 

[Bandooken]

i have an iPhone 6+, do you think it is enough to drive them? or would i need a separate amp to power these, i would be using these on the go and dont want to carry around too much stuff!

 

[johnwamp55]

Yes but it wont get out its full potential.

 

[eke2k6]

i have an iPhone 6+, do you think it is enough to drive them? or would i need a separate amp to power these, i would be using these on the go and dont want to carry around too much stuff!

Your iP6+ is already a fantastic source. Most smartphones nowadays can effortlessly drive any iem to its full potential. I would personally recommend spending time getting better mastered files if you want the best from your earphones. My experience with daps/amps and iems is that they're far from a wise investment.

http://www.head-fi.org/t/709479/multi-review-hifiman-hm901-fiio-x5-sony-zx1-hisound-studio-3rd-anv-iphone-4

 

[johnwamp55]

In my experience with the Z5, A3 and H8P is the AK 120II, 240, DX90 X5, X3 could not drive it to there full potential.

 

[jincuteguy]

In my experience with the Z5, A3 and H8P is the AK 120II, 240, DX90 X5, X3 could not drive it to there full potential.

CAn you explain to me about these Hi Res player from Astell & Ke? Like the Ak 120 II, Ak240, like is it music player with a built in DAC and Amp ? or?
 
And do you have to find  hi - res music files and download to it and then play it? Or it comes with hi res music ?
 
Like why can't you just use regular music player and play hi-res music files? Or you can't?

 

[johnwamp55]

They all have a DAC and AMP. You get any kind of music in any format and it plays. Should sound better than any phone. Its internal amp will not be as good as an external amp.