Sony XBAH3 Hybrid 3-way Driver In-Ear Headphones

So what can I say. I was initially disappointed. Why you may wonder, well... read on.So to start off, I needed to find me a new set of headphones, the small kind that goes in the ear. Now I learn they are categorized as IEM's (In Ear Monitors). What I had in the past, and for many years now, where the Sony MDR-ED21LP Fontopia In-The-Ear Headphones, which became discontinued a while back. I go through them in about a year or so, the in-ear part eventually breaks up and become painful to wear and the last working one I had actually ended up breaking at the plug. So why am I telling you this, well cause I'm hard-of-hearing and I tried probably a good 50-60 different pairs when I worked at Best Buy, I returned nearly all of them and the winner for my ears where these $20(Sony MDR-ED21LP) headphones, which shocked me. And ever since, I think 2004, I have only purchased them. When I first saw they where not making them anymore they said the Sony Mdr-Ed12Lp where the updated version of what I had been buying. It does sound the same, as it still has the 16mm driver in it, but it's a far far less quality build. They didn't last long. So that brought me to a new search. I had to learn some new lingo when it came to specifications. It was interesting to learn a few things. One thing I learned was that cheaper headphones are generally made louder, something to do with getting enough treble and bass from one speaker, and I learned that higher quality in ear headphones are not necessary going to be as loud, but they will be far more clear. This I learned after I got these Sony XBA-H3.So then I was on the search for new headphones, I decided to finally go for higher quality headphones that are made to last longer than a years use. I was set in stone to find a better model that had a 16mm driver in it. I was just convinced I needed that to make sure I could hear my music. After some research these Sony XBA-H3 kept showing up in reviews and posts and had a 16mm driver in it and I read it had two additional speakers in each ear, for 3 speakers in each ear. I guess the other kind of speakers in there are not a driver type speaker, they are called armature. And this is another piece of lingo I learned... it's said that armature are great for mid and treble range of sounds, but not bass. And I learned that the 16mm driver are more on the bass side and not as good for treble. Though my old Sony's had good treble, but they are nothing like what these new headphones produce. Even with my hearing disability, I can CLEARLY hear a difference.So why was I disappointed at first... It was cause I simply didn't know enough. I didn't realize that headphones are... well, not just headphones... There are all kinds for different reasons and require different kinds of "support". And by "support" I mean the device being used, my Cowon J3 MP3 Player, all class 10 flacc files, where not really able to fully power the headphones. Apparently most mp3 players should power these headphones, but mine didn't, I had to up the volume and it starting to clip and distort. I initially thought it was the headphones, cause my old ones didn't do that. This is why I was initially disappointed. But I was also disappointed cause of another reason. It just didn't seem loud enough. And I needed to know why. This is where I learned that cheaper headphones sound louder and more professional headphones don't necessarily. It took me a few days to understand this on the new headphones. First I learned that you have to make sure your ear buds are sealed good, this helps keep the bass in. So I changed to the hybrid ear pieces, and it helped, but it is still not enough for me so I got the Comply T-200 tips and it fixed the issue. Remember, I'm also hard-of-hearing... So, with that issued figures out, I then had to figure out the sound difference from my old beloved one-speaker-per-ear headphones. At the moment I do not have a small pocket amp, I plan to get one to use with some of the current products I have that simply don't power the earphones enough. But, with out that I am using the headphones as is and what I have learned and adjusted to is this...With the same Cowon J3 mp3 player, playing class 10 flacc files, the headphones are a bit more quiet than my old headphones. BUT... and it's a big butt... They are far far more clearer. I am certainly hearing things I have not heard before. And I have begun to learn that most of the music I have been listening to where actually overly BASS'd on the old ear phones. That was kind of a shock to me. But, don't get me wrong, the bass on these XBA-H3's are definitely there, it's very well rounded and present with out disrupting the mids and highs. The mids are probably what was the most pleasing new things for me to hear, remember I'm hard-of-hearing. I'm hearing all my music as if the first time, and they are not even hi-res files... There is another new term/lingo I learned on this new learning curve process... and that is "sound-stage" What an interesting concept to describe speaker, but it certainly makes a lot of sense now. The sound-stage of these ear phones are really good, I feel like I can feel space between the instruments, especially the bass and mids, the highs are present, but I don't know how to explain the "space" in the "sound-stage" that the highs offers. It's kind of like the bass and mids are in front of me at a very definable clarity, and the highs are like... well... high above every thing else.There is another thing I learned that was actually fascinating. My old headphones may have been loud volume wise; but with out realizing it was causing fatigue. I never really put two and two together until I did deep research of these headphones. The Bass, Mids, and Highs, although very very up front and present, are in no way over bearing, it's as if they are "breathing". I COMPLETELY understand what it means when headphones are described as being fatiguing. When I have my headphones on my PC I'm able to turn up the volume and every thing is crystal clear, but not Fatiguing at all. It seems like there's some sort of limiter in the headphones that prevents it from being overbearing, not sure it's the best way to describe it. So when I get my pocket amp to power these headphone when using my Cowon J3, I know the loudness I can get will be clean, distortion free, and non fatiguing, that's pretty neat.So I learned a lot upon my decision to buy a higher quality ear phone. It has actually put a lot of things into perspective for me. I am extremely happy with these ear phones. Having the feelings of appropriate separation of sounds, bass mids and highs, has given me a 3D approach to music, so much so that I am now in the search for a portable hi-res player with a built in amp to go with these headphones.And on a last note. I probably would have been more thrilled with the headphones right away if I had plugged them into my PC first, I never thought to do that, as my PC can clearly power the headphones just fine. But then again, this entire process as been a fun learning curve.The kind of music that I listen to would be classical music.

meh.. it was really hard for me to find in ear monitors (IEM's) that i could like. i wanted quality sound with in-line microphone that works consistently. it is really more about getting earbud tips that fit your ears. you can buy so many different types of earbud tips that are compatible with your IEMs. I really don't recommend that people go out and replace their current IEMs with these or any others if it is just a matter of comfortable earbud tips. just try about 15 different earbud tips! i guarauntee at least one of them at the right size will fit well for you! there are other good sounding IEMs for less money but not many good IEMs that have a consistent good working in-line microphone. the replaceable wires was a big plus for me because if the wire breaks i don't need all new IEMs. They do sound fantastic but i did still have to spend a good bit of money to find the perfect earbud tips for my ears. for me the earbud tips came down to choosing between comply Tsx-200 comfort Plus and Comply Tx-200 Isolation plus tips. the clear winner turned out to be Comply-Tx-200 these fit so well and hold in place so well even with this bigger heavier bulky IEM! the Tx-200 was more comfortable than the Tsx-200 in my ears

Where do I start?I currently have the Triple Fi 10s from UE, and a pair of XBA-4's from sony. I had the Shure SE420s a while back too.These XBA H3s are new to my collection, and they are absolutely fabulous. My source is an unamped ipod and and unamped ipad mini retina.First, I was concerned about the 40ohms rating, but the sensitivity is high enough that I went ahead and bought this pair. While I have a collection of over-the-ear and on-ear cans which I will gladly use an amp for, IEMs are more portable in nature. I wanted a great IEM that I could take to school with me to study without the need for any other external power source. The XBA H3s do NOT need an amp. Does the amp help them? Not that much. Or maybe the gains just aren't appreciable to my ears. Your ipod will drive these just fine.These H3s are great. Bass extension is mind blowing (cannot emphasize this enough), treble is super bright, and the mids are there too!!The 4-balanced-armature XBA-4s have a wonderful, analytical sound, if a little bit dark. They are a great set of buds, but they're slightly boring. If critical listening is on your agenda, the 4s will suit you will. I find them to be a little disappointing though. I don't know what it is, but they just don't do it for me.The Triple Fi 10s are, in my opinion, the most versatile IEM ever made. While they have been discontinued by the manufacturer, new examples can still be bought if you look hard enough. They sound great and really fun, but without losing that analytical side of them. These are a mix between the H3s and the XBA-4s.The H3s are the most fun of the 3 mentioned here. And this was probably Sony's aim. These guys have 2 balanced, analytical drivers, and one dynamic one.Bass: it goes really, really deep. Bass is boomy but controlled (crazy, I know), and in no way overshadows the mids (again, crazy!).Mids are slightly recessed, but present and enjoyable to listen to.Uppers: bright. The more I listened to them, the more rounded the highs got. Is this burn in or am I just getting used to them? I don't know. Either way, after a few extended listening sessions, treble seemed to smooth out a bit.The good:-Bass is ample, tight, and low.-Mids are great, if just a tad recessed.-Highs are bright and accurate, and will settle in time.The bad:-These are huge honkers, and as such are a bit heavy in the ear.-The loop around the ear can be uncomfortable if not positioned perfectly.-No volume control for apple devices. Mic is included though.My suggestion: get a pack of comply T200 foam tips with your order. Isolation will improve and so will comfort. I have to say that I don't think you could do better for the money, even at MSRP.I don't say this often, but I think Sony really knocked one out of the park here!