[jonathane40]

FYI. The Z5's included balance cable is not 4.4mm but of the older 2.5mm style. The Z5 does sound noticeably better than the N3 but does require a decent amount of power. What are you driving your N3 with. If you have a PHA-2A or ZX300, then you will seea noticeable improvement but you would have to buy a new set of balance cable for it.

Thanks! I will be using it with the ZX300 on high gain. How would you compare the sound signature of the Z5 with the N3?

 

[Wiz33]

Thanks! I will be using it with the ZX300 on high gain. How would you compare the sound signature of the Z5 with the N3?

You won't need high gain on the ZX300 for the Z5. To me. The Z5's bass goes deeper but not as quick as the N3, The mid have more details but vocal maybe a bit colder or recessed according to some and the high have more sparkles. The Z5 also have one of the widest sound stage I've heard on IEMs, very close to traditional cans. Which balance cable will you be using?

 

[jonathane40]

You won't need high gain on the ZX300 for the Z5. To me. The Z5's bass goes deeper but not as quick as the N3, The mid have more details but vocal maybe a bit colder or recessed according to some and the high have more sparkles. The Z5 also have one of the widest sound stage I've heard on IEMs, very close to traditional cans. Which balance cable will you be using?

I wasn’t aware that it came with a 2.5mm balanced plug instead of the 4.4mm. So in this case I would have to buy a cable. I haven’t researched balanced cables for the Z5. I’m assuming the balanced cable that came with the 3N won’t fit well given that they are straight and not angled?

 

[Wiz33]

I wasn’t aware that it came with a 2.5mm balanced plug instead of the 4.4mm. So in this case I would have to buy a cable. I haven’t researched balanced cables for the Z5. I’m assuming the balanced cable that came with the 3N won’t fit well given that they are straight and not angled?

The N3BP cable will work, I use the Sony Kimber cable which does not have the loop and it works fine. You can always invest in a premium cable later on since more and more aftermarket 4.4mm cables are available everyday.

 

[jonathane40]

How is the comfort of the Z5 with a cable that does not have the cable guides? Do you still wrap the cable around your ear?

 

[Wiz33]

How is the comfort of the Z5 with a cable that does not have the cable guides? Do you still wrap the cable around your ear?

I still wear them over the ear as it helps hold the Z5 in place. I was lucky to get the Kimber for $137 when a reseller posted their first shipment using the pricing for the MUC-M12NB1. I also have a Sony MUC-M20BL1 that I re-terminated into a 4.4 pentaconn that I use with my A3. It uses the same cable material as the NB1 and it works very well.

 

[audioaudioaudio]

Looking at this tweet, it seems like the price for the N3BP is dropping pretty rapidly at the moment in Japan (see attached)
[source: https://twitter.com/otikanomiya/status/1002818862998433792 ]

That's just over £150, I keep checking the price of the N3AP in the UK and it's been a steady £210 - £220, keep hoping we'll see a similar drop. Also keep hoping that Sony would decide to sell the N3BP here but that doesn't look like it'll happen.

 

[Lux_Nagano]

Just in case you didn't know. The tips matter a whole lot more than any EQ. I was downright dissapointed with the N3 for the money I paid. Until I tried a tip from another IEM, then it was beauty and worth every cent. Moral of the story, buy every model of tips you can find in aliexpress or something. Small changes in tip design, big change in sound. And it's worth it cause every IEM in combination with your ear requires a different tip shape. And if you like treble use silicone tips.

Which tips did you put on there? I've tried the included memory foam tips but the only ones that fit well for me are the medium silicone. My left ear canal is M but my right is between M and L, L being too big to fit, M needs to be put pretty far in to seal.

 

[FunkeXMix]

Which tips did you put on there? I've tried the included memory foam tips but the only ones that fit well for me are the medium silicone. My left ear canal is M but my right is between M and L, L being too big to fit, M needs to be put pretty far in to seal.

I suppose that could be a problem as different sizes produce different sound. Not that I have tried it myself to confirm, just sound logical.
Anyway, I recommend this tip pack.

https://www.aliexpress.com/item/10p...250.html?spm=a2g0s.9042311.0.0.3da24c4dv2PXjm

 

[Lux_Nagano]

There are so many cables out there and many recommendations here, can someone recommend a replacement cable just like on the XBA-N3AP? The original cable costs over 230€, i bought these IEMs for the same price and i find the cable extremely overpriced.

The cable should have straight MMCX plugs, no memory wire, be symmetrical, have a 90° jack and an in-line remote. And it should be durable, i don't want to change it every 1 to 3 months.

What MMCX bluetooth cables can any of you recommend? I'm looking for at least 4h (6 to 8h would be ideal) playback and aptx (it seems that no Bluetooth cable actually has aptx hd).

Thanks in advance for recommendations.

 

[Wiz33]

There are so many cables out there and many recommendations here, can someone recommend a replacement cable just like on the XBA-N3AP? The original cable costs over 230€, i bought these IEMs for the same price and i find the cable extremely overpriced.

The cable should have straight MMCX plugs, no memory wire, be symmetrical, have a 90° jack and an in-line remote. And it should be durable, i don't want to change it every 1 to 3 months.

What MMCX bluetooth cables can any of you recommend? I'm looking for at least 4h (6 to 8h would be ideal) playback and aptx (it seems that no Bluetooth cable actually has aptx hd).

Thanks in advance for recommendations.

Don't know what's available where you're but Amazon US have quite a few MMCX cables.

Bluetooth with AptX but some of them are looped, you can probably straighten it out with a hair dryer/

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07191Y4Y...aa&pd_rd_r=E218W4BTSX6TGSAS4QFS&pd_rd_w=uVygY

https://www.amazon.com/MAS-Bluetoot...-3-catcorr&keywords=bluetooth+MMCX+cable+aptX

https://www.amazon.com/MEE-audio-Bl...719&sr=1-3&keywords=bluetooth+MMCX+cable+aptX

Shure MMCX cable with control but straight plug

https://www.amazon.com/Shure-RMCE-E...qid=1528125270&sr=1-3&keywords=mmcx+cable+mic

 

[Jephre]

Anyone interested in purchasing the N3AP with both the original and upgrade cable?

 

[Rozhok Taxi]

Hi
I owned a pair of N3's. Loved them, except for one important thing, they fell out...
Suddenly I could not use them for walks, the gym or mostly anything.. So I bought a lot of other "cushions" that was suppose to fit, none did. I bought big ones, small ones, long ones, all kinds of shapes...
I sold them, I went looking for ultra portables instead. Bought Koss Portapro, Sennheiser Cx100 II and Jays C-Jays... They almost didn't fit in my pocket, sound was...not great. I wanted iems again! What about N1ap? They are lighter and a bit smaller than N3.
Bought them for 1300 nok. Great sound, but of course, same problem occured.
Trying to modify them to fit was out of the question. But when desperate, people do desparte things. I used a tape with glue on both sides. Cut out a small piece, and folded it. Then I put one on the inside of the "tube". It is like 10x5mm.
Now Im back walking, cycling and running! No problem! They are basically stuck in my ear. I change the tape once a week.

Regards Knut.
Oslo, Norway.

 

[Lux_Nagano]

Don't know what's available where you're but Amazon US have quite a few MMCX cables.

Bluetooth with AptX but some of them are looped, you can probably straighten it out with a hair dryer/

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07191Y4Y...aa&pd_rd_r=E218W4BTSX6TGSAS4QFS&pd_rd_w=uVygY

https://www.amazon.com/MAS-Bluetoot...-3-catcorr&keywords=bluetooth+MMCX+cable+aptX

https://www.amazon.com/MEE-audio-Bl...719&sr=1-3&keywords=bluetooth+MMCX+cable+aptX

Shure MMCX cable with control but straight plug

https://www.amazon.com/Shure-RMCE-E...qid=1528125270&sr=1-3&keywords=mmcx+cable+mic

Thanks, I actually forgot to mention, I live in Germany, so Amazon US is not an option here but I might find these on the German Amazon or somewhere else since I know what to search for.

 

[Thesonofkrypton]

Hi - does anyone have the N3ap with the NW-A45? Do they play nice together?