Sony XBA 300AP VS Kiwi Ears Septet

IEM Comparison: Expert & Community Scores Side-by-Side

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Sony XBA 300AP and Kiwi Ears Septet are in-ear monitors. Sony XBA 300AP costs $295 while Kiwi Ears Septet costs $269. Sony XBA 300AP is $26 more expensive. Kiwi Ears Septet holds a decisive 1.4-point edge in reviewer scores (5.9 vs 7.3). Sony XBA 300AP has better mids with a 0.5-point edge and Kiwi Ears Septet has better soundstage with a 0.5-point edge.

Insights

Metric Sony XBA 300AP Kiwi Ears Septet
Bass 6 7.3
Mids 5.5 5
Treble 5 5
Details 6.5 7.3
Soundstage 6.5 7
Imaging 6 7.3
Dynamics 5.9 6
Gaming capabilities 6.1 7.1

Sony XBA 300AP Aggregated Review Score

Sony XBA 300AP Average Reviewer Scores

Shuwa-T

Average Reviewer Score:

5.9

Mixed


Kiwi Ears Septet Aggregated Review Score

Kiwi Ears Septet Average Reviewer Scores

Jaytiss
Jays Audio
IEMRanking AI

Average Reviewer Score:

7.3

Generally Favorable


Sony XBA 300AP User Review Score

Sony XBA 300AP Average User Scores

Average User Score: n/a

Based on 0 user reviews

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Kiwi Ears Septet User Review Score

Kiwi Ears Septet Average User Scores

Average User Score: n/a

Based on 0 user reviews

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Sony XBA 300AP Gaming Score

Gaming Score & Grade

  • The gaming score is prioritizing technical capabilities of the IEM (Separation, Layering, Soundstage) and good value.

Gaming Score

6.1

Gaming Grade

B

Kiwi Ears Septet Gaming Score

Gaming Score & Grade

  • The gaming score is prioritizing technical capabilities of the IEM (Separation, Layering, Soundstage) and good value.

Gaming Score

7.1

Gaming Grade

A-

Sony XBA 300AP Scorings

Average Technical & Tuning Grades

Average Tunign Grade

B-
  • Generally enjoyable tonal character with some noticeable unevenness. Maintains listenability while showing room for refinement in frequency balance.

Average Technical Grade

B
  • Satisfactory technical performance. Handles basic detail retrieval adequately in most tracks. Maintains reasonable cohesion in simpler arrangements.
Bass B
Good bass foundation with decent impact. Maintains acceptable control while providing satisfying thump in most tracks.
Mids B-
Decent midrange performance - balanced but unremarkable. Adequate clarity for most genres without notable flaws.
Treble C+
Decent treble with acceptable extension and detail. Can sound slightly unrefined but avoids being harsh or sibilant.
Soundstage B+
Good soundstage with proper width and depth. Instruments have clear positioning with reasonable front/back placement.
Details B+
Good resolution with clear articulation of nuances. Reveals recording nuances and maintains clarity in complex passages.
Imaging B
Good imaging with precise instrument placement. Clear localization within the soundstage including front/back positioning.
Gaming B
Decent spatial awareness for fundamental positioning. Creates satisfying atmosphere in story-driven games while handling basic directional cues. Value-to-cost may not be optimal for gaming-focused users.

Kiwi Ears Septet Scorings

Average Technical & Tuning Grades

Average Tunign Grade

A-
  • Pleasing tonal balance with good technical control. Minor quirks present but not distracting. Demonstrates decent genre versatility.

Average Technical Grade

A-
  • Competent technical presentation. Handles separation and detail well in most tracks, with modest soundstage and acceptable imaging capabilities.
Mids C+
Decent midrange performance - balanced but unremarkable. Adequate clarity for most genres without notable flaws.
Treble C+
Decent treble with acceptable extension and detail. Can sound slightly unrefined but avoids being harsh or sibilant.
Dynamics B
Good dynamic expression with solid impact. Handles volume contrasts well while maintaining good transient snap.
Soundstage A-
Excellent spatial presentation - wide, deep and tall. Precise instrument placement with clear separation in all dimensions.
Gaming A-
Good fundamental spatial awareness for most gaming scenarios. Handles basic positioning well but may lack nuance in complex situations. Value-to-cost may not be optimal for gaming-focused users.

Sony XBA 300AP Reviews

Sony XBA 300AP reviewed by:

Shuwa-T 5.9 Reviewer Score
B- Tuning
B Tech
Inoffensive tuning, decent extensions Shows limitations in the soundstage depth and width

Shuwa-T original ranking

Shuwa-T Website

- Shuwa-T
Bass: B Mids: B- Treble: C+ Soundstage: B+ Details: B+ Imaging: B

Kiwi Ears Septet Reviews

Kiwi Ears Septet reviewed by:

Jays Audio 7 Reviewer Score
A Tuning
A+ Tech
Bright-leaning with slight warmness - has an unique sparkly/lush, airy, and spacious sound. Great tech for the price, treble is not overly harsh or peaky (at mid volume), pretty smooth with the extra mid-bass balancing out the treble boost. Vocals are pushed back/not fully extended and not as prominent. Mid-volume set, doesn't scale well. Gets spicy with energetic genres past mid-volume. Great for instrumentals, acoustics, indie, classical, etc.

Jays Audio original ranking

Jays Audio Youtube Channel
- Jays Audio
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Price: $269

Buy Kiwi Ears Septet on Linsoul

Kiwi Ears Septet reviewed by:

Jaytiss 6.8 Reviewer Score
B- Tuning
C+ Tech
A unique open back iem.

Jaytiss original ranking

Jaytiss Youtube Channel
- Jaytiss
Mids: C+ Treble: C+ Dynamics: B Soundstage: A-

Kiwi Ears Septet reviewed by:

IEMRanking AI 8 Reviewer Score
A+ Tuning
S- Tech

The Kiwi Ears Septet delivers a neutral-bright sound signature characterized by clear vocals and a notably forward treble that enhances detail retrieval, particularly in female vocals and acoustic instruments. Its bass response is neutral and controlled, lacking the weight of closed-back designs but offering tight, fast decay. While this tuning excels with well-recorded tracks, it can become fatiguing with bright or poorly mastered material due to its upper-midrange and treble emphasis. The open-back design contributes to an airy presentation, though it reduces isolation significantly.

Technically, the Septet showcases a wide soundstage with precise imaging and strong microdynamics, allowing subtle instrumental textures to shine. Its seven-driver quadbrid configuration (dynamic, balanced armature, planar, and piezoelectric) integrates cohesively through a sophisticated 5-way crossover. However, the low sensitivity (95dB) demands powerful sources to avoid dynamic compression, and the open-back design makes it less suitable for noisy environments despite its comfortable fit.

Buy Kiwi Ears Septet on Linsoul (affiliate)

- IEMRanking AI

Sony XBA 300AP User Reviews

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