Well, my N1 arrived yesterday morning and i tried them during that day. Unfortunately, i didn't like them so much, so i returned them
Anyway, i'm gonna give you my impressions with some pics
Opening the box. It's a premium box, beautiful that opens like a book
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The box, beautiful simple design |
I open, and the first thing to see is the earphones themselves. They're shiny silver. It looks like metal but in fact it is plastic. A high quality plastic I must say. I grab them and they're also super light.
Removing the lid that brings the earphones we find their case, various pairs of tips (silicone and triple comfort), a cable clip and a cable roller (sort of), and finally the manual.
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The set of accessories, including the triple comfort tips |
Let's start with the tips. The silicones are pretty standard, comfortable as always, too thin for my taste but still pretty good. The good stuff is the Triple Comfort Earbuds. These are, and i mean this literally, a hybrid material between silicone and foam. They're not like sony isolation tips that have sponge inside and silicone on the outside. It's a stiffer foam that doesn't eat treble and is comfortable like the silicone.
I took some photos to compare, i have the Trinity Audio Delta V-II, so i included those tips in order to introduce an outsider brand.
From left to right: 1- Deltas' silicone, 2- Sony Isolation, | 3- Sony standard silicone, 4- Sony Triple Comfort, 5- Comply | Isolation Plus |
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Top outter view | Side view | Top inner view |
Notice that the triple comfort is a little thicker than a normal silicone but thinner than a foam. They're really comfortable. A little bit harder than a normal silicone and Sony Isolation ones. Still, they're really really comfortable and soft. Their isolation is amazing. I couldn't understand anything my roommate was saying to me while these were on, without music. Amazing work there.
Moving on to the cable. I read before the cable is cheap. I don't think so. It's pretty similar to the one present in the XB90EX. It's not the prettiest cable but it's sturdier and dented (to prevent tangles). The serrated cable is nice for everyday use imo.
Cable | Comparison |
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| Sony XBA-N1AP | Trinity Audio Delta V-II |
Nothing spectacular, it has a mic and it is connected using an MMCX connector, not the best connector in the market but this one is sturdy
Before moving on to sound, a little comparison in size:
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| From top to bottom: 1- Sony XBA-N1AP, 2- Trinity Audio Delta, 3- Sony MDR-XB90EX |
Finally... the sound. Well let's get the bad stuff first. They are not worth this amount of money. For this amount you can get something more refined at ease. They also not tolerant to bad quality tracks, you will know they're bad because you can feel their grain (which is not really a bad thing).
Overall, the signature is dark. It's veiled and opaque compared to some hybrids i've experienced. It's not necessarily a bad thing if balanced well. Somehow, i wasn't expecting a signature that dark.
Now the bass... this one has plenty of it. According to my standards, this is, without any single doubt, a basshead earphone. The bass is focused on the mid bass and it has a fair amount of sub bass but not much. Compared to the XB90EX, i think the XB90 has much more sub bass and it's clearly tighter.
The N1 has a lot of texture, i'll give you that, but it doesn't hit hard. In terms of depth, the XB90 is a winner for me.
The mid range is recessed. Not fully recessed but most of it. I'm thinking it's not their intention to recess the treble but the bass takes the spotlight and the mids are just there to fulfill the void. I have to turn up the volume a little to hear some power on the female vocals. However, thanks to the dynamic driver, these sound thicker and natural. They're more organic and richer. It's another experience, something i'm used to. I have moments where i prefer this kind of vocals/mids and other moments i prefer a clear and transparent BA. Nevertheless, they're detailed and some details in the mids are also captured (which is a surprise for this amount of bass). The XB90 retains more clarity thanks to its controlled bass. This may be a hit or a miss depending on preferences but i think the XB90 is more balanced and, for that reason, i think it would appeal a bigger audience.
Lastly, the treble. It is rolled off, and yet a little sparkly. You can feel the BA on cymbals and synthesized clicks, it does a really good job because it makes it not bright and not aggressive at all, in fact dark and smooth but you can still appreciate the sparkle that some instruments do. Here i can say it's different from the XB90. The XB90 has a thicker treble, which is expected. The N1's treble is thinner, but also pleasant, it's simply different. Some will like this the best, some won't. Personally i prefer the N1's treble. The non-aggressive BA makes it suitable for everyday listening and you can still get a great quantity of detail. Nevertheless, thread careful in this matter because if you want well extended treble, look elsewhere. I'm treble sensitive, so these are fine to me, but i know most people would like something more.
So, to conclude, i don't think the N1 is worth for its price. I paid 166 euros for it. For this price i expected a lot better. The bass is too focused on the mid bass and mid range is nothing special either. Treble is good, but, as i stated before, many people will want a little more.
Of course these are just preferences so don't take me wrong here, YMMV.
The reason i didn't compare it to the Trinity Audio Delta V-II is because their difference is day and night.
Please take my opinion lightly, i didn't spend that much time with them but my reaction wasn't a "Wow, these are great!", they didn't impress me. Still, they're worth to try if you like dark signatures and you're willing to pay the price
EDIT: One more thing. These earphones require energy. I noticed because i had to crank up the volume in my FiiO X1. The X1 has enough power. But i noticed a lack of bass and treble in my FiiO K1, so these are likely to benefit from an amp. I don't have one so this is mere speculation. I look forward to some impressions with an amp too
