What Hi-Fi? Verdict
Best in-ears £200+, Awards 2012. These Sony in-ears sound amazing, and are a commuting audiophile’s best friend
Pros
- +
Good isolation
- +
fine detail
- +
impressive clarity
Cons
- -
Pricey
- -
a little bulky
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.
In a market where smaller is often seen as more attractive, the earpieces on the Sony XBA-3iP earphones aren’t quite as slender as on comparable models from Klipsch or Beyerdynamic, but that’s because they accommodate the triple balanced armature drivers complete with tweeter and woofer.
But while they may be bigger than some, they're comfortable: In the box, there’s a selection of colour-coded silicone eartips, ranging from extra small to large, and we found them to be a secure fit and good at isolating the listener from outside noise – that helps when it comes to using the inline, iPhone-compatible mic.
Sony XBA-3iP: Sound quality
Call quality is crystal clear, as is the sound produced when spinning tunes.
The Sonys are detailed, beautifully balanced and display an excellent sense of timing. Highs are crisp, lows expertly judged.
They’re not cheap, but if you’re constantly on the move and demand optimum sound quality, then the XBA-3iP will be a fine investment.
See all our headphone Best Buys
