[eke2k6]

Quote:

Ordered both from amazon at full msrp, don't see how they could've been the wrong phones.

 
The way you described them (the XBA-3) simply doesn't match up to the sound sig. The XBA-3 is a full-sounding phone, and the last word I'd use for it is "thin."
 
 
I think you had fit issues.

 

[k1n0n3]

Using both ghe xba-3 and 4 for a week, I don't think there were fit issues. Maybe thin is describing it wrong, but they were distant and soft sounding in comparison to the eph-100, no impact, no "meat"

 

[k1n0n3]

Dble post

 

[eke2k6]

Quote:

Using both ghe xba-3 and 4 for a week, I don't think there were fit issues. Maybe thin is describing it wrong, but they were distant and soft sounding in comparison to the eph-100, no impact, no "meat"

 
So you're saying the EPH-100 had significantly more bass?

 

[k1n0n3]

And mids, overall presentation and layering of sounds.

 

[razor5cl]

I think that I'll spring for the Yamahas then, as the XBA 3 and 4 are more expensive as I live in the UK, and UK Amazon sells both of them for upwards of £100, whereas the Yamaha's are something like £99. I hope to order them sometime in the next few months, as I don't have all the money yet.

 

[7S Cameron]

I think that I'll spring for the Yamahas then, as the XBA 3 and 4 are more expensive as I live in the UK, and UK Amazon sells both of them for upwards of £100, whereas the Yamaha's are something like £99. I hope to order them sometime in the next few months, as I don't have all the money yet.

Check out the CKN70s, they sound amazing for the price.

 

[razor5cl]

I would, but from some quick googling it seems that they are a bit hard to get, especially where I am. I couldn't find them on UK Amazon, and I am reluctant to order from overseas Amazon, but if anyone knows of any other place to get them, I might go for them, and see if they really are as good as everyone says they are.

 

[daveyostrow]

Quote:

And mids, overall presentation and layering of sounds.

while i agree the ehp100 has punchier bass, layering is not a big diff. if anything xba3 steps ahead in the detailing/layering/stage.

 

[Lifted Andreas]

Quote:

Ordered both from amazon at full msrp, don't see how they could've been the wrong phones.

 
Im not really surprised at your findings considering the XBA phones are balanced armatures and the Yamahas are micro-dynamics.

 

[extrabigmehdi]

If I  trust joker reviews, the sony line is not so interesting:
 
sony xba-4
price 350$
sound 9/10
value 7/10

yam eph100
price 150$
sound 8.9/10
value 9.5/10
 
http://www.head-fi.org/t/478568/multi-iem-review-278-iems-compared-astrotec-am-800-dx-60-added-03-31-13-p-659

 

[MrGuzmanWhite]

Quote:

Can't agree with the above in any way. I've auditioned the xba-3 and 4 for about a week, both sounded very thin and distant with soft mushy bass, no impact.

Thanks for the feedback but I very much disagree. The XBA-3 doesn't sound thin in any way, it is a full sound, very musical, that in some ways resemble a dynamic driver with the clarity and precision of a triple BA. In all SQ areas it is superior to the Yamaha, better clarity, instrument separation, soundstage, dynamic range, bass, mids and highs. The only thing I liked more on the Yamaha EPH-100 was that it fits very well in my ear canals, and so it had great noise isolation, ... the XBA-3 is also good on that but the fit of the Yamaha is the only aspect I could prefer over the XBA-3.

 

[MrGuzmanWhite]

Quote:

If I  trust joker reviews, the sony line is not so interesting:
 
sony xba-4
price 350$
sound 9/10
value 7/10

yam eph100
price 150$
sound 8.9/10
value 9.5/10
 
http://www.head-fi.org/t/478568/multi-iem-review-278-iems-compared-astrotec-am-800-dx-60-added-03-31-13-p-659

Believe me, the XBA-3 is a clear step up from the Yamaha EPH-100. It is not a difference between 8.9 and 9. In my view the EPH-100 is a 7.5 and the XBA-3 is a 9. But the important thing is that the XBA-3 is even cheaper than the EPH-100. I paid $120 for the XBA-3 and $150 for the EPH-100, so just from that perspective the XBA-3 is the cheapest bargain in IEMs in a long time.

 

[razor5cl]

Believe me, the XBA-3 is a clear step up from the Yamaha EPH-100. It is not a difference between 8.9 and 9. In my view the EPH-100 is a 7.5 and the XBA-3 is a 9. But the important thing is that the XBA-3 is even cheaper than the EPH-100. I paid $120 for the XBA-3 and $150 for the EPH-100, so just from that perspective the XBA-3 is the cheapest bargain in IEMs in a long time.

Where did you score them for that cheap? If they were that cheap, I'd go for them instead any day!

 

[daveyostrow]

thats true, but the only problem with the xba3 is it being source dependent which may be why some thought they were thin or whatnot. i had the same issue with them at first.
for the average user eph100 i would go for ehp100.