XBA-3 vs XBA-4 help!!

[Hope]

Hi all!!
 
On a recent trip to the states I was intending on purchasing a set of SE535/Westone 4R's
 
However Sony offered me a great deal on a set of XBA-4's which I subsequently purchased!
 
Now these so far sound quite good on my iPhone 4S, not so good on my Retina Macbook. 
 
I used to own the SE530 and compared to my memory of their sound I found the Sony has a more 'artificial' sound with exaggerated super-highs, less transparency in the mid-range and a slightly more bassy artificial thump. 
 
At home I use HD650 which are my reference!
 
Now I have read pretty much every shred of text on the XBA Sony's in the past few days and have seen great impressions of the XBA-3, so I ask would you recommend these over the XBA-4? Please comment if you have experience of both! 
 
The difference in price is minimal with the XBA-4 only costing me $30 more!
 
Thanks
 
PS My XBA-4 have less than an hour on the clock so far so still burning in!

 

[Hope]

Anyone?

 

[djvkool]

Should have bought the W4R mate 

 
A lot of people here like the XBA range, but I personally don't, I own the XBA-1 and that's just about the only one I like, auditioned XBA-3 before and I do agree with you, to my ear the sound is rather 'fake' with this annoying metallic treble that I just can't stand.

 

[Hope]

Quote:

Should have bought the W4R mate 

 
A lot of people here like the XBA range, but I personally don't, I own the XBA-1 and that's just about the only one I like, auditioned XBA-3 before and I do agree with you, to my ear the sound is rather 'fake' with this annoying metallic treble that I just can't stand.

 
I know what you mean, but the price difference is so hard to ignore! 
 
I know Sony have their own sound signature but didn't think they would apply it to a totr IEM

 

[ayaflo]

one of my friends, actually prefer the Sony MH1c to the XBA-3..