[highskyman]

  Measurements. Looks pretty bad, sibilant, bass bloated, limited bandwidth and high distortion. Z7 measures a lot better, though it lacks some treble extension. Maybe it measures better with a more shallow fit and vent mod, but I don't see it dethroning the EX1000 as the best Sony IEM. Or maybe the real gems are the A3 and or the A2. 
 
 

Sibilant at 10 khz? OK, you took ref. plane measearuments? And do you realize you'll probably get quite a different picture given 6mm from ref. plane? Like, longer bandwidth, no 10 khz peak. And a listener will never ever be able to insert Z5 deep in his ear canal to the ref. plane without godlike surgery on his ears and skull.

 

[fnkcow]

  Currently auditioning the Final Audio Lab 1.  I don't know how to feel about the XBA-Z5 now....

 
My ears are so confused.

Care to elaborate? 

 

[Idsynchrono_24]

I'm guessing he means the Z5 sounds off or tonally colored coming from the Lab I if all the reports of heavy bass boost are accurate. Very curious what he's got to say myself

 

[fnkcow]

I'm guessing he means the Z5 sounds off or totally colored coming from the Lab I if all the reports of heavy bass boost are accurate. Very curious what he's got to say myself

Yes very curious indeed!

 

[Kunlun]

  Sibilant at 10 khz? OK, you took ref. plane measearuments? And do you realize you'll probably get quite a different picture given 6mm from ref. plane? Like, longer bandwidth, no 10 khz peak. And a listener will never ever be able to insert Z5 deep in his ear canal to the ref. plane without godlike surgery on his ears and skull.

Shh, you're not supposed to think about how the measurements were taken.

 

[tranhieu]

  Sibilant at 10 khz? OK, you took ref. plane measearuments? And do you realize you'll probably get quite a different picture given 6mm from ref. plane? Like, longer bandwidth, no 10 khz peak. And a listener will never ever be able to insert Z5 deep in his ear canal to the ref. plane without godlike surgery on his ears and skull.

Well the further from reference plane, the lower down the spectrum the resonance is i.e more sibilance, shorter bandwidth.
 
And no, the Z5 isn't sibilance at all with the default tips, though that might be due to the fact that I listen to Jpop most of the time. But that kind of treble isn't something you look for at this price range.

 

[Inks]

I can get the EX1000 to the reference place and likely these too. I did mention the possibly of shallow being better as well.

 

[highskyman]

  Well the further from reference plane, the lower down the spectrum the resonance is i.e more sibilance, shorter bandwidth.
 
And no, the Z5 isn't sibilance at all with the default tips, though that might be due to the fact that I listen to Jpop most of the time. But that kind of treble isn't something you look for at this price range.

I've no doubt Z5 is smooth n sib free, yo cheers
Just to make sure we're on the page. Ref plane - 10 khz resonance, the further from ref plane - the more 5-8 khz resonance. Not without exceptions, but that's the rule.
Look at Z5 graph. They're smart at Sony's. Warm mids and very smooth upper mids. Can't tell the treble, I dare to say good extension up to 18 khz and not much of a zigzag. Not necessarily shorter bandwidth.

 

[Inks]

Adding impedance seems to have potential, it will decrease bass and treble it seems...hmmm

 

[TheBoss]

Didn't you get the memo?
XBA series is NOT striving to measure like a ER4 on graphs&charts...

If anything... the XBA Z5 graphs looks like the UE Triple fi 10.

Now that you mentioned EX1000... Sony's GOAT IEM's
I own MDR 7550... said to be similar sounding to EX1000 in the bass regions.
7550 is basically bass-dissectors to my ears (still warm side of neutral) but it lacks the "punch" in the sub bass region needed for me to enjoy electronic & rap/hiphop.

Measurements. Looks pretty bad, sibilant, bass bloated, limited bandwidth and high distortion. Z7 measures a lot better, though it lacks some treble extension. Maybe it measures better with a more shallow fit and vent mod, but I don't see it dethroning the EX1000 as the best Sony IEM. Or maybe the real gems are the A3 and or the A2. 


 


 

 

 

[xXSjnHassanXx]

just doing ab with my xba h3 - track because we believe - Andrea Boracelli

i) vocal is more forward, Andrea voice' really sweet here.

ii) reveal more nuances in highs

iii) feel a tad airy compare to h3

iv) however when compare to A3, everything is just tad above.

v) love new cable design. more "serious" looks

 

[wateryakcat]

just doing ab with my xba h3 - track because we believe -

i) vocal is more forward, Andrea voice' really sweet here.

ii) reveal more nuances in highs

iii) feel a tad airy compare to h3

Is it worth 3x price compared to H3?

 

[xXSjnHassanXx]

for me. no. better get a3

 

[wateryakcat]

But A3 cost much more than H3. A3 is around $350, but H3 $175-240. So H3 must be best price/value.

 

[xXSjnHassanXx]

h3 mid is somewhat lacking after A/B with these earphones