Sony Tournament
Disclaimer: They are all used units I bought myself, except the WF-1000XM3 and the XBA-N3AP which were new units I bought.
EX800ST (filterless) PEQ:
Low-shelf: 40hz, Q: 0.6, gain: 7db
Low-shelf: 80hz, Q: 0.6, gain: 5db
Low-shelf: 150hz, Q: 0.6, gain: 1db
Peak: 1800hz, Q: 2, gain: -1.5db
Peak: 4000hz, Q: 1, gain: 3db
Peak: 4500hz, Q: 1, gain: 5db
Peak: 5500hz, Q: 3, gain: -10db
High-shelf: 12 000hz, Q: 0.6, gain: 8db
Preamp: -13db
EX1000 PEQ:
Low-shelf: 50hz, Q:0.7, gain: 4.5db
Low-shelf: 100hz, Q: 0.7, gain: 6db
Peak: 290hz, Q: 1.04, gain: -2.1db
Peak: 2037hz, Q: 2,75, gain: -1.3db
Peak: 2826hz, Q: 5, gain: 2.4db
Peak: 3272hz, Q: 5, gain: 2.1db
Peak: 3632hz, Q:5, gain: 0.9db
Peak: 3706hz, Q:5, gain: 2.1db
Peak: 4576hz, Q: 4.98, gain: 1.8db
Peak: 5574hz, Q: 5, gain: -9.6db
Peak: 8000hz, Q: 5, gain: -2db
High-shelf: 10 000hz, Q: 0.7, gain: 8db
Preamp: -10db
Match 1: Sony MDR-EX800ST (filterless + PEQ) VS Sony MDR-EX1000 (PEQ)
| Sony MDR-EX800ST (filterless + PEQ) | Sony MDR-EX1000 (PEQ) |
| Sub-bass | = | = |
| Mid-bass | = | = |
| Lower-mids | = | = |
| Upper-mids | = | = |
| Treble | = | = |
| Upper-treble | + | - |
| Soundstage | + | - |
| Imaging | = | = |
| Separation | = | = |
| Macro-detail | = | = |
| Micro-detail | = | = |
| Timbre | = | = |
Overall: It is an extremely even fight between these 2, but the EX800ST Is just a bit better with the upper-treble air and the soundstage and ends in its win. (Although I suspect that the filterless EX1000 is better than the EX800ST.)
Winner: Sony MDR-EX800ST (Filterless + PEQ)
Match 2: Sony XBA-N3AP VS Sony WF-1000XM3
| Sony XBA-N3AP | Sony WF-1000XM3 |
| Sub-bass | + | - |
| Mid-bass | + | - |
| Lower-mids | = | = |
| Upper-mids | + | - |
| Treble | = | = |
| Upper-treble | = | = |
| Soundstage | + | - |
| Imaging | + | - |
| Separation | + | - |
| Macro-detail | + | - |
| Micro-detail | = | = |
| Timbre | = | = |
Overall: The XM3 is essentially a less bassy N3 with worse technicalities. Not bad, but there is a gap between them.
Winner: Sony XBA-N3AP
Match 3: Sony XBA-A2 VS Sony XBA-A3
| Sony XBA-A2 | Sony XBA-A3 |
| Sub-bass | + | - |
| Mid-bass | - | + |
| Lower-mids | - | + |
| Upper-mids | - | + |
| Treble | - | + |
| Upper-treble | - | + |
| Soundstage | - | + |
| Imaging | - | + |
| Separation | - | + |
| Macro-detail | - | + |
| Micro-detail | - | + |
| Timbre | - | + |
Overall: Despite their names, the A3 is quite different from the A2, which is more of a basshead iem and less neutral compared to the A3. The A3 is pretty much stomping the A2 in every single factor, except sub-bass where I do enjoy the more rumble from the A2.
Winner: XBA-A3
Match 4 (quarter-finals): Sony XBA-Z5 VS Sony MDR-EX800ST (filterless + PEQ)
| Sony XBA-Z5 | Sony MDR-EX800ST (filterless + PEQ) |
| Sub-bass | + | - |
| Mid-bass | - | + |
| Lower-mids | - | + |
| Upper-mids | - | + |
| Treble | = | = |
| Upper-treble | = | = |
| Soundstage | - | + |
| Imaging | - | + |
| Separation | - | + |
| Macro-detail | - | + |
| Micro-detail | = | = |
| Timbre | - | + |
Overall: Tonality, timbre and tech are pretty much all better on the 800ST. Although that’s also due to the difference in tonality, where the Z5 has a much more bloated bass that will mask a lot of the detail. The Z5 does have better sub-bass and stage depth though.
Winner: MDR-EX800ST
Match 5 (quarter-finals 2): Sony XBA-N3AP VS Sony XBA-A3
| Sony XBA-N3AP | Sony XBA-A3 |
| Sub-bass | + | - |
| Mid-bass | - | + |
| Lower-mids | = | = |
| Upper-mids | + | - |
| Treble | + | - |
| Upper-treble | = | = |
| Soundstage | - | + |
| Imaging | - | + |
| Separation | - | + |
| Macro-detail | = | = |
| Micro-detail | - | + |
| Timbre | + | - |
Overall: it’s a tough fight with pros/cons for both. But considering that the N3 pros are a bit bigger step over the pros for the A3, I have to give the win to the N3. Although the A3 is the more versatile one, with the much cleaner bass so it is an easier recommendation.
Winner: XBA-N3AP
Match 6 (FINALS): Sony MDR-EX800ST (filterless + PEQ) VS Sony MDR-N3AP
| Sony MDR-EX800ST (Filterless + PEQ) | Sony XBA-N3AP |
| Sub-bass | = | = |
| Mid-bass | + | - |
| Lower-mids | - | + |
| Upper-mids | = | = |
| Treble | - | + |
| Upper-treble | = | = |
| Soundstage | + | - |
| Imaging | + | - |
| Separation | + | - |
| Macro-detail | = | = |
| Micro-detail | = | = |
| Timbre | = | = |
Overall: It’s a very close fight and they are more complementary sets rather than rivals, but the EX800ST is the better one overall to me and fits my library more, with cleaner bass and a much bigger stage. The N3 does have some more “magic” to it, where its tonal balance is excellent despite the slower/looser and more bass quantity along with their awesome BAs that make you question if there is actually one inside it considering its timbre/coherency abilities.
Champion: Sony MDR-EX800ST
Match 7 (Bonus round): Sony XBA-A3 VS Sony MDR-N3AP
| Sony XBA-A3 | Sony XBA-N3AP |
| Sub-bass | - | + |
| Mid-bass | = | = |
| Lower-mids | = | = |
| Upper-mids | - | + |
| Treble | = | = |
| Upper-treble | - | + |
| Soundstage | = | = |
| Imaging | = | = |
| Separation | + | - |
| Macro-detail | + | - |
| Micro-detail | - | + |
| Timbre | - | + |
Overall: Since I have already mentioned me preferring the XBA-N3 (and ranking it higher) over the XBA-Z5, I had to include this comparison as these are the 2 best unmodded/stock Sony iems I got so far (and the A3 is an iem I bought a few weeks ago).
They both have a lot of things in common, particularly the mids/treble and timbre. Where they differ the most is the bass, the A3 has a much tighter and faster bass, making it the overall cleaner iem and the safer recommendation. But in the end, I do prefer the N3 slightly over it.
Winner: Sony XBA-N3AP
---
Sony XBA-A3 Rank: S
(also forgot to share the rank of the CCA CRA+, which is A-)
