Sony XBA-N3 VS Kiwi Ears Septet
IEM Comparison: Expert & Community Scores Side-by-Side
Sony XBA-N3 and Kiwi Ears Septet use 1DD+1BA and 1DD+4BA+1Planar+1PZT driver setups respectively. Sony XBA-N3 costs $300 while Kiwi Ears Septet costs $269. Sony XBA-N3 is $31 more expensive. Kiwi Ears Septet holds a clear 0.8-point edge in reviewer scores (6.5 vs 7.3). Sony XBA-N3 has significantly better mids with a 1.5-point edge and Sony XBA-N3 has significantly better treble with a 1.5-point edge.
Insights
| Metric | Sony XBA-N3 | Kiwi Ears Septet |
|---|---|---|
| Bass | 6.5 | 7.3 |
| Mids | 6.5 | 5 |
| Treble | 6.5 | 5 |
| Details | 5.3 | 7.3 |
| Soundstage | 6.5 | 7 |
| Imaging | 4.8 | 7.3 |
| Dynamics | 6 | 6 |
| Tonality | 6.8 | 7.1 |
| Technicalities | 5.1 | 7.2 |
Sony XBA-N3 Aggregated Review Score
Average Reviewer Scores
Kiwi Ears Septet Aggregated Review Score
Average Reviewer Scores
Sony XBA-N3 Details
Driver Configuration: 1DD+1BA
Tuning Type: Warm V
Brand: Sony Top Sony IEMs
Price (Msrp): $300
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Kiwi Ears Septet Details
Driver Configuration: 1DD+4BA+1Planar+1PZT
Tuning Type: Neutral-bright
Brand: Kiwi Ears Top Kiwi Ears IEMs
Price (Msrp): $269
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Sony XBA-N3 User Review Score
Average User Scores
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Kiwi Ears Septet User Review Score
Average User Scores
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Sony XBA-N3 Gaming Score
Gaming Score & Grade
- The gaming score is prioritizing technical capabilities of the IEM (Separation, Layering, Soundstage) and good value.
Gaming Score
5.6Gaming 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
7.1Gaming Grade
A-Sony XBA-N3 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
C+- Satisfactory technical performance. Handles basic detail retrieval adequately in most tracks. Maintains reasonable cohesion in simpler arrangements.
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.
Sony XBA-N3 Reviews
8*
* score normalized
check links for more info:Super* Review original ranking
Super* Review Youtube Channel
6.5
Reviewer Score
Sinfully addictive tuning hampered only by a slight lack of detail and imaging performance. Precogvision Youtube Channel
6
Reviewer Score
Exceptional tonal balance only limited by its slightly smoothed over definition Crin Youtube Channel
5.3
Reviewer Score
Tastefully done and now discontinued. Great coherency, timbre and overall tuning. Midbass bleeds a lot. Lacks resolution, layering and imaging chops.
Kiwi Ears Septet Reviews
7
Reviewer Score
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 Youtube Channel
6.8
Reviewer Score
8
Reviewer Score
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.
Sony XBA-N3 User Reviews
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