What Hi-Fi? Verdict
Best in-ears £120-£200, Awards 2012. Great upgrade for iPhone users, for calls and music alike
Pros
- +
Open, airy sound
- +
excellent detail
- +
well-defined bass
- +
top-notch timing
Cons
- -
Nothing at this price
Why you can trust What Hi-Fi? Our expert team reviews products in dedicated test rooms, to help you make the best choice for your budget. Find out more about how we test.
Sony’s been grabbing headlines for its TVs, Blu-ray players and home cinema amps over the past few months. But what about its headphones?
The XBAs come from the company’s mid to upmarket Prestige earbuds. You can also buy a vanilla pair without the inline gubbins (the XBA-2) for around £20 less.
Sound quality is great. Spin Santigold’s The Keepers in 320kbps and they sound tuneful and exciting. Agility and precision is up there with the very best at this price, and the spacious delivery allows for plenty of detail all the way up the frequency range.
We can’t fault these buds – even call quality is good. Well worth a listen.
MORE: Best in-ear headphones to buy in 2014
