We had the chance to give two of the new XBA-series models a listen: The dual-driver XBA-2 and top-of-the-line quad-driver XBA-4iP. There's an iP variant for all four models--the XBA-1, -2, -3 and -4--which includes an inline remote and microphone that's compatible with iOS devices.
The XBA-2 (left) and XBA-4iP models we tested.
(Credit: Timothy Fernandez/CNET Asia) Sony definitely wants to win over style-conscious consumers with these IEMs, which look less like professional earbuds used by musicians, and more like something you would wear on your daily commute. The earbuds themselves have a dual-tone metallic design, part chrome, part shiny gray. They can be worn over-the-ears or straight down, although we wouldn't suggest the over-the-ear method with the iP versions. The microphone/remote will dangle too closely to your face to be used comfortably.
Sony has even included a shiny L-shaped plug.
(Credit: Timothy Fernandez/CNET Asia)
The smaller XBA-1 and XBA-2 models would also look more natural in the ears and have that typical L-shaped design of older in-ear monitors by Shure and Ultimate Ears. The larger XBA-4iP we received, however, is large, almost too large, and would look awkward when worn by those with smaller earlobes.
These headphones also come with those new flat "tangle-free-type cords. We found that the lightweight cable made the earbuds more comfortable to wear and quite resistant to tangles.
If you scrolled down to this portion immediately, then you would probably know that most balanced armature IEMs are known for their sound quality--most notably for the improved detail you get from your music. Here's a short summary of what we thought of both models.The XBA-2 would likely be the most popular model among the four (XBA-1 to 4) due to the good price-to-performance ratio you'd expect from dual-driver headphones. However, Sony's choice of pairing a woofer with a full-range driver gives these earbuds a distinct bass-focused response with a clear midrange and recessed treble. The soundstage wasn't particularly wide but there was very clear separation between the channels. The lack of treble, however, will make rock and classical sound a bit lifeless. Hi-hat hits will take the biggest hit while female vocals come off as less lively.
A closeup of the inline remote and mic on "iP" versions of the XBA headphones.
(Credit: Timothy Fernandez/CNET Asia)
With the XBA-4iP, we get two additional drivers, a tweeter and a super woofer, and this does wonders for the sound quality. Overall, these quad-driver headphones give a substantial amount of bass with good extension together with much improved treble. The midrange also sounded slightly more forward with an improved depth. Bass extension was better than many dynamic driver in-ear headphones we've heard mainly because it didn't have that bloated, exaggerated sort of low end you hear in most of those consumer-oriented models. However, while the bass is impressive, the depth and volume of lower-frequencies make the XBA-4 a little fatiguing for extended listening.
The XBA-4 does seem to fit better when worn over the ear.
(Credit: Timothy Fernandez/CNET Asia)
The XBA-2, which has a smaller and more streamlined design, fits well in our ears and can be worn over the ears or straight down. We found both ways to be equally comfortable. The XBA-4iP, on the other hand, didn't quite fit perfectly in this reviewer's average-sized ears. The tradeoff of having four drivers in a larger enclosure and Sony's decision to avoid the flatter appearance of professional IEMs resulted in a slightly odd fit. We had some trouble getting the XBA-4iP to stay perfectly positioned. So if you opt for the larger XBA-3 or -4 models, we'd recommend going to the ones without the inline microphone and remote so you can wear them over the ear. With more than a handful of balanced armature headphones in the market these days, Sony is in for a tough fight. The triple- and quad-driver models would be the ones to look at if you're an audiophile for their better bass and treble definition. The single driver model would likely provide more detail than most of Sony's affordable EX-series earbuds, but--judging from the performance of the XBA-2--may not be able to beat similar offerings from brands with more experience in balanced armature technology such as Shure and Etymotic Research. The dual-driver version, on the other hand, may not sound as balanced as other dual-driver IEMs from Sony's competitors.
We don't have prices for the rest of Asia yet but these are the reference prices for Japan:
XBA-1: 7,455 yen (US$96)XBA-2: 18,375 yen (US$237)XBA-3: 24,675 yen (US$319)XBA-4: 30,979 yen (US$507)All models are available in "iP" versions and that cost about US$16 more. The XBA-series headphones should hit stores in Asia from November.