Sony XBA-A1AP in-ear ring iron headphones evaluation

In October 2014, Sony quickly updated the in-ear headphones product line and released three products XBA-A1, A2 and A3 in the "ring iron" structure, and A3 also became the positioning of the previous generation iron headphones XBA-H3. The higher in-ear headphones, second only to the flagship model XBA-Z5. In the new three [including Z5 four] ring iron headphones, their overall structure has changed little, the side moving coil unit is Sony in recent years The design has been maintained. The moving iron unit has changed, including the most popular XBA-A1. We are evaluating this today. Thanks to the netizen for sending the prototype. Since this headset comes standard with a remote control and a microphone, The complete model is XBA-A1AP. At present, this headset Sonystyle is priced at 799 yuan, the actual transaction price is less than 600 yuan.

The Sony XBA-A1 earphone is smaller than the higher end, because the side of the moving coil unit is only 9mm in diameter [A3, Z5 has 16mm], so you can hardly see it. The side-mounted unit. It is worth mentioning that the appearance of the XBA-A1 is consistent with that of the high-end headphones, whether it is the overall gray metal texture of the outer casing, or the decorative ring of the left and right channel wiring, as well as the wire, The plug and assembly are very delicate. The appearance of the XBA-A1 is huge compared to the domestic brand entry model. Although, this is just a plastic case.

The XBA-A1 consists of a moving iron unit [Sony said the full-band unit at the press conference?] and a side-mounted 9mm moving coil unit. As shown in the official Sony logo, we can already see its structure. A2 above the yuan, will add a moving iron unit dedicated to high frequency and increase the moving coil unit to 12mm diameter. The moving iron unit emphasized by Sony during the H3 period is the same as the parallel side opening method of the moving coil unit. Looking at the picture carefully, the opening part of the moving iron unit is not facing the direction of the earphone in the ear hole.

On the XBA-H3, Sony has already explained the benefits of such a design. In theory, there are some truths. We have reviewed the structure of the moving iron unit with the previous one of the moving iron earphone disassembly and the patent of the moving iron unit. As shown, the moving iron unit is a U-shaped iron in a magnetic field, driven by a set of linkage mechanism parallel to the metal sheet above the U-shaped iron, which is the diaphragm of the moving iron.

From XBA-H3 to the current A1/A2/A3, Sony's moving iron unit opening is equivalent to directly parallel to the upper surface of the diaphragm [the upper surface of the larger surface area], rather than the common front of the diaphragm perpendicular to the diaphragm [ The surface with a small surface area], in theory, the transmission is naturally more direct. But the next problem is that the in-ear headphones need to be output from a small catheter, so the dynamic coil of the Sony iron and the opening of the moving iron [vibration] The direction of the film vibration is face-to-face and then led out through the same cavity and conduit. Does this structure really have an absolute advantage? At present, there is no good theoretical basis.

In the latest generation of moving iron units, Sony has proposed two major improvements. First, the U-shaped iron was changed to T-shaped iron, as shown in the figure is very clear. The advantage of changing the edge to T-shape can be improved. A symmetrically uniform edge magnetic field will have a similar design in a more dynamic moving-coil speaker. On the other hand, whether it is T-shaped or U-shaped, it must be linked with the upper diaphragm. From the perspective of Sony, This improvement means that the diaphragm and the linkage are fully integrated. In the previous patents of the company, this part of the linkage is a specially designed structure and contact.

From the principle alone, Sony's improvement of the moving iron unit in the XBA-A series is indeed a structural improvement for the moving iron unit. However, it may be better to feel the XBA-A2 and A3. Advantages. Looking back at the structure of the XBA-A1, after all, it does not use Sony's latest dynamic iron unit dedicated to high-pitched sound, which is the advantage of the moving iron unit in recent years.

In the dynamic diaphragm, Sony officially still uses the LCP diaphragm, LCP refers to the liquid crystal polymer diaphragm, which is the diaphragm technology that Sony's high-end dynamic headphones have been using in recent years. Interestingly... send Netizens who test headphones say that the life of this material is short, so it is not recommended that Soomal will take a long time to crash. Our symbolic downtime is about 20 hours, and the total downtime should exceed 200 hours.

On the official website of XBA-A1AP, Sony also introduced the use of silver-plated OFC wire and the connection of the left and right channel ground. However, it has been equipped with a line control and a microphone, as well as a non-changeable design. It seems that such a design does not have the role it deserves. This feature is only suitable for positioning higher A2, A3.

When testing the headphones, we used as many sources as possible, with Sony E463 Walkman, Sony X1050 Walkman and Sony PCM-D100 as reference. Also with vivo X5 Max, FIIO X3K and iPhone 6 Plus and some portable amps Reference. Contrast headphones We choose Vsonic VSD3s, Asteri AX35 [circle iron], Aurvana In-ear2 [moving iron] and so on.

Overall, Sony still maintains a heavy-sounding sound style on the entry model. The XBA-A1 is not included in the Hi-Res product line. Its style is also more emphasis on the low-frequency thick and medium-frequency softness and fullness. Cui's AX35 is neutral and focuses on the style of resolving power. The XBA-A1's "moving iron" trace is also very difficult to detect. Its performance in the middle and high frequency is in the AX35, In-ear2 and even the moving circle. The VSD3s and XE800 are the softest.

In the high-frequency part, although there is no independent tweeter, the XBA-A1 shows a good resolution. Compared with the dynamic headphone VSD3s or XE800, its high-frequency dynamics and resolution are somewhat weak, but at high frequencies. The control of dynamic and very high frequency extension is better, and it is difficult to have sharp distortion. The advantages of these two dynamic headphones are still very good dynamic, the sound is stretched, and the disadvantage is that the high frequency part may have The burr and sharpness. The weakness of the AX35 is that it is introverted, the dynamics are insufficient, the sound will be more cautious, but relatively clean. The dynamics of the XBA-A1 are much better than the AX35, and the sound is more balanced and stereoscopic. Under the appropriate sound source, XBA -A1's high frequency will be very soft, and has a relatively good tension, which is actually a rare style in the entry of the moving iron headphones. [The best performance is vivo X5 Max]

In the low frequency part, the XBA-A1 will be affected by the sound source style and driving force, and the thrust will be larger. The style of the sound source will make the XBA-A1 have a relatively better performance. The neutral sound source will make the XBA-A1 The low frequency is somewhat rushed. On the D100 player, the low frequency of the XBA-A1 is still not well converged, and the sense of volume is still a bit more. On the very imported Sony E463, the low frequency will be more divergent. It seems that there is a very strong Sony's soft and full-bodied low-frequency flavor. And the iPhone or FIIO X3K, the neutral style will make its low frequency a bit awkward.

In the intermediate frequency and vocal performance, XBA-A1 can always show a very warm and soft style, and even some soft transitions, the resolution is indeed relatively general, why write low frequency part first, because the control at low frequency is relatively good Under the player, the XBA-A1's intermediate frequency will be more balanced and clean. In the big dynamic music performance, the XBA-A1 shows the strong style that Sony's dynamic headphones like, the low frequency is thick and has a good momentum, but The sound field is not wide enough, the mid-frequency lacks explosive power, and these aspects are much larger than VSD3s and XE800. The AX35 of Asilui is very restrained and neutral, and the sound can't be opened under the big dynamic. The style of Sony is put. Too open, indeed, as an entry model Sony seems to have been more biased towards this style.

Overall, the Sony XBA-A1AP headset has a very good design and a relatively small size, can be used with the phone to have a call and answer phone function. The headset uses a new moving iron unit, from the sense of hearing is not amazing [Location is really low], but as a Sony 600 yuan product, the performance is satisfactory. Compared with Aurvana in-ear2 or Asilui AX35, the mid-high frequency part has obvious dynamic advantages, the sound style is soft, but the resolution is slightly Poor. Compared with the entry-level dynamic headphones, the XBA-A1AP sound is still cautious, and the low-frequency rich style is probably the taste that Sony originally wanted to pursue. It has obvious distortion marks. If the sound source is not good enough, the low frequency The sense of quantity is still more. In general, Sony XBA-A1AP headphones, as the most popular one in the new A series, are not positioned high in Sony headphones, sound performance, functional appearance and Sony's brand are completely worth about 600 yuan. Price.