Would you consider buying the a3 ( I dont like the idea of z5 heavy amping and balanced ) as an upgrade to n3 considering my preferences above ? Im a basshead.
The short version: be happy with the N3 and look no further.
The long version: I'm an avid fan of the XBA-A3, as they precisely suit my aural preferences. But since I own the XBA-N3AP, my A3’s do collect dust. Here are some reasons why:
01—bass: In my book, the A3 are superior in their overall presentation with a substantial and "musical" bass, but the N3 come very close despite having much smaller drivers. Quite amazingly, the N3 reach occasionally even lower than the A3, presenting a surprising deep sub-bass rumble. The bass of the N3 depends heavily on proper fitting, so I'd recommend to take some time to experiment with different eartips.
02—upper mids and trebles: This is where the N3 clearly excel over the A3. The twin BA drivers of the A3 are, to my ears, really well tuned, showing very little BA sharpness or sibilance. But listen to the N3 an you'll instantly sense the progress: they sound by far more refined and natural, due to their dynamic drivers and marginal BA involvement in the upper trebles. Both deliver equally fast and precise trebles.
03—soundstage: The A3 do have the wider soundstage both in width and depth. In comparison, the soundstage of the N3 is narrower, but because the instruments seem being placed "artificially" wide, out towards the edges (for lack of a better description), they still sound quite open. Yet, the A3 appear more natural and sophisticated.
04—comfort: The A3 wear very comfortable, but the procedure to „mount“ them requires some patience and time, while the N3 are plugged in in an instant, and off you go. The N3 stay stable in your ears, and cable wind noise and microphonics are very low, which makes the advantages of the A3’s over-ear cable design negigible. Another point to consider: after usage the N3 disappear much faster back in their carrying pouch while I always struggle finding the right place for the unwieldy A3 cables despite a much bigger pouch.
This all might sound quite unfavorable to the A3, but make no mistake: the differences are quite marginal in real life and I'm polarizing a little here. Each IEM has its distinctive character: the A3 sound darker and thus rather bass heavy, while the N3 emphasize on smoother trebles and thus a more clear and "neutral" sound. Considering their price-tag I think it's not worth buying both. You'll be perfectly happy with either one, as both are top-notch HiFi IEMs. I'm leaning towards the N3 for their superior all-around usability. (Wow, I'd never thought I would write that.)
Hope that helps in your decision.