The other rec I would give if someone doesnt want as much mid-bass but still wants a huge stage would be the Sony XBA-A3 (unless PEQ is fine then just go for the Sony MDR-EX800st and leave the iem world).
2 Likes
I cannot keep up with Sony’s IEM names, but I know I’ve tried a few of them. I think I’ve tried the either the 800s or the A3s but I can’t quite remember they seem to look pretty similar just from some pics on google.
1 Like
Haha yeah their names arent that good (better than most chifi though).
Those 2 do indeed share similar shapes/builds, the 800st is the single DD and is semi open and has no isolation. the XBA-A3 has the same (assumed) 16mm DD but with 2 Sony BAs.
I made a list of their audiophile iem history:
IEMS:
2008:
Sony XB90EX (16mm DD)
2011:
Sony MDR-EX1000 (16mm LCP DD), FLAGSHIP)
Sony MDR-EX800st/MDR-7550 (16mm Multi Layer DD)
Sony MDR-EX600 (16mm Multi Layer DD)
2012:
Sony XBA-1 (BA full-range)
Sony XBA-10 (BA full-range)
Sony XBA-2 (2 BA full-range + woofer)
Sony XBA-3 (3 BA full-range + woofer + tweeter)
Sony XBA-4 (4 BA full-range + tweeter + woofer + super woofer),
2013:
Sony XBA-H1 (9mm DD + BA (full-range))
Sony XBA-H2 (13.5mm LCP DD + BA (full-range))
Sony XBA-H3 (16mm LCP DD + 2 BA (full-range + super tweeter))
2014:
Sony XBA-A1 (9mm DD + BA (full-range))
Sony XBA-A2 (12mm LCP DD + 2 BA (full-range + super tweeter))
Sony XBA-A3 (16mm Aluminum-coated LCP DD + 2 BA (full-range + super tweeter))
Sony XBA-Z5 (16mm Aluminum-coated LCP DD + 2 BA (full-range + super tweeter), FLAGSHIP)
Sony XBA-100 (BA, full-range)
Just Ear Listening/Monitor/Club Sound (13.5mm DD (woofer) + BA (Sonion 2356, tweeter), CIEM, Prototype?)
2015:
Sony XBA-300 (3 BA (full-range + woofer + super tweeter)
Just Ear XJE-MH1 (13.5mm DD (woofer) + BA (tweeter), CIEM)
Just Ear XJE-MH2 (13.5mm DD (woofer) + BA (tweeter), CIEM)
2017:
Sony WF-1000X (6mm DD, TWS)
2016:
Sony XBA-N1 (9mm DD + BA (super-tweeter))
Sony XBA-N3 (9mm LCP DD + BA (super-tweeter))
2018:
Sony IER-M7 (4 BA (2 full-range + woofer + tweeter))
Sony IER-M7 (5 BA(2 full-range + woofer + tweeter + super tweeter))
Sony IER-Z1R (2 DD (12mm Aluminum-coated LCP full-range + 5mm super tweeter) + BA (tweeter)
2019:
Sony WF-1000XM3 (6mm DD, TWS)
2020:
Just Ear XJE-MH/nZk (13.5mm DD (woofer) + BA (tweeter), CIEM, Hiroyuki Sawano LIMITED EDITION)
2021:
Sony WF-1000XM4 (6mm DD, TWS)
2023:
Sony WF-1000XM5 (8.4mm DD, TWS)
and here is the HP version (need to add the 2 latest ones though).
Headphones:
1985:
Sony MDR-V6 (40mm DD, closed)
1989:
Sony MDR-CD900ST (40mm DD, closed)
1991:
Sony MDR-7506 (40mm DD, closed)
2011:
Sony MDR-Z1000 (50mm LCP DD, closed), FLAGSHIP)
2014:
Sony MDR-1A (40mm Aluminum-coated LCP, closed)
Sony MDR-Z7 (70mm Aluminum-coated LCP, closed), FLAGSHIP)
2016:
Sony MDR-Z1R (70mm Aluminum-coated LCP, closed), FLAGSHIP)
2017:
Sony WH-1000XM2 (40mm Aluminum-coated LCP, closed, Wireless)
2018:
Sony WH-1000XM3 (40mm Aluminum-coated LCP, closed, Wireless)
2018:
Sony MDR-1AM2 (40mm Aluminum-coated LCP, closed)
Sony MDR-Z7M2 (70mm Aluminum-coated LCP, closed)
2019:
Sony MDR-M1ST (40mm Aluminum-coated LCP DD, closed)
2020:
Sony WH-1000XM4 (40mm Aluminum-coated LCP, closed, Wireless)
2022:
Sony WH-1000XM5 (30mm Carbon fiber composite, closed, Wireless)
13 Likes
Jesus!
What a legend you are haha That is incredible.
6 Likes
Thanks, I did come across these on your database. I was not sure how comfortable the fit was?
1 Like
my goodness
1 Like
Comfort is not an issue, the issue most people would have is that they look like USB sticks sticking out of your ear lol and that they are not as stable as the more “CIEM” shells most chifi uses nowadays.
4 Likes
I almost fell backwards in my chair after reading 16mm DD
Ok thanks. As long as it’s comfortable, I don’t mind.
Oh yeah big boi DD with Sony iems.
(XBA-Z5 pics ^)
They used a 16mm DD in their XB90EX, EX600, EX800st, EX1000, ,XBA-H3, XBA-A3 and the XBA-Z5.
4 Likes
4 Likes
6 Likes
Mmmm came acoss GS Audio GD3A and XBA-N3 as well going through the reviews
The Sultan of Sony!
2 Likes
That one is extremely well tuned, but the soundstage isnt anything special compared to the older XBA-A3/Z5.
2 Likes
Ok that’s what most of the reviews were saying regarding the tuning.
Yes, but I think you mentioned somewhere the soundstage is only slightly better. But the Z5’s has better texture? I don’t remember which was stated to be the faster bass.
I’ve been non-stop looking at Sonys since you posted that list. I even came across your Sony Tournament. 
1 Like
Both the Z5 and the A3 have much bigger stage than the N3, Z5 wins in depth (deepest stage in an iem I have heard) and the A3 has a wider stage than the N3. Dont really remember if the A3 has a wider stage than the Z5 though, but the widest stage goes to the EX800st (needs PEQ).
I found the N3 to have better texture as it is also faster/tighter, the Z5 is a bit too slow/loose for me personally.
1 Like
I wish could somehow A/B/C them somewhere. Or at least 2 of them to compare. I noticed a few sellers on ebay carrying the N3. There’s also Sendico, but I’ve never used them.
Dont think any places has it for demo as they are all discontinued. Only models I believe Sony has not discontinued yet are the IER-M7, M9 and Z1R, perhaps also the MDR-EX800st.
1 Like
Have you tip rolled with Sonys to improve the isolation? Particularly with the A3