This is my take on the three: Sony XBA-Z5: Fun and very bass heavy sound. Sony MDR EX1000: Very wide Soundstage, sparkly treble, decent and tight bass. Best overall sound out of the three. Sony MDR 7550: Most balanced sounding out of the bunch. Bass extends deep and can be punchy. Tape mod turns this into the ultimate bass iem. Best price to quality ratio. All three are amazing and have some of the widest soundstage you can find in IEMs.
Excellent review as always, but I gotta mention the cable thing Most cable "change" the sound stage and the "echo" of the sound (if you knock on an empty cabinet the air inside should echo - try it out yourself with any cupboard - But that echo got erased by some aftermarket cables. I found out only because I forgot to stop recording after a rehearsal) And people mistaken that change as "improvement" thanks to marketing gimmicks I tried several pairs of cables , and the only pair that improve, rather than change the sound signature of EX1000 cost three times the price of the IEM
I believe they sound better but I have never seen a graph showing sonic differences which I think I hear so I don't want anyone to grab a cable because they see it in my video. I don't argue one way or the other but I clearly buy them myself ;)
I'm a fan of grainy treble, so that's what made the EX1000 seem interesting. Also, I like a spacious full-size can-like soundstage. If the Z5 aren't too dark/excessively bassy and less spacious, I think I'll keep the order I have on them. The shop still has some leftover EX1000 stock tho.
Stage on the ex1000 is biggest in IEM world. 16mm well ventilated awesomeness. The Z5 is not as wide for sure. Treble on Z5 is pretty good. mid bass hump sound always bothered me. i like a hit in the sub bass only and i will tune the rest
800 has softer treble good for long listening sess. If the ex1000 trebs don't bother you then no it's not worth it...if you a Sony fanboy...PULL THE TRIGGER!!!
Hello, sorry to bring up an old post, but didnt know who else to ask. Are the EX1000 and EX800 Series stock cables interchangeable? Any difference in quality or difference in feel? thanks in advance.
The 1000 is a LITZ cable and feels just bit thicker? It definitely does not turn into an un godly nightmare after I put it down. It made me put cover over it and the 1000 so it would coil. I might ave skipped the horror with the quick covering?
I`m sorry but I have a follow up question. I ordered the black Signal cable from Beat Audio for my EX1000 and I can`t get them to fit the 800ST. I wrote Stephen a mail and they definitely don`t make connectors for the 800ST. How did you manage to fit your cable on them? Did you "force" them in?
The 800st with tape over the vent has more bass than any IEM I have tried if you use an amp. The general sound of mids and highs is pretty much fine too with the vent covered. The ex1000 does not have more than xb90 but ex1000 is huge stage, and good control over all freq. More audiophile than basshead
EX1000 has better mids and stage while the IE800 has better treble for most listeners. The bass depends on what you like and who you trust. I am a basshead and 1000 will slam for me but not for most others? Weird. I think the EX1000 are the finest IEM period so I am quite bias
FLC8 have great mids and an awesome fit and can be configured with filters. ex1000 is the finest IEM ever made IMO. The fit can be a problem and that is a big one but I like the 1000. FLC8 is very very comfy and sounds great.
This is my take on the three:
Sony XBA-Z5: Fun and very bass heavy sound.
Sony MDR EX1000: Very wide Soundstage, sparkly treble, decent and tight bass. Best overall sound out of the three.
Sony MDR 7550: Most balanced sounding out of the bunch. Bass extends deep and can be punchy. Tape mod turns this into the ultimate bass iem. Best price to quality ratio.
All three are amazing and have some of the widest soundstage you can find in IEMs.
i have now Z1R, Ier m9 , zba Z5, finally i got myself a ex800st directly from Japan.
How is the sound of 800st compared to xba z5?
Because of Hawaii back then u have all three and I'm happy I bought them because now 2021 they still cant be beat by iems that cost 4000 dollars
Excellent review as always, but I gotta mention the cable thing
Most cable "change" the sound stage and the "echo" of the sound
(if you knock on an empty cabinet the air inside should echo - try it out yourself with any cupboard -
But that echo got erased by some aftermarket cables. I found out only because I forgot to stop recording after a rehearsal)
And people mistaken that change as "improvement" thanks to marketing gimmicks
I tried several pairs of cables , and the only pair that improve, rather than change the sound signature of EX1000
cost three times the price of the IEM
I believe they sound better but I have never seen a graph showing sonic differences which I think I hear so I don't want anyone to grab a cable because they see it in my video. I don't argue one way or the other but I clearly buy them myself ;)
Truth told! Great video, well done.
Thanks. Still my opinion 2 years later
If anyone knows where to get a good aftermarket cable for the ex1000 / 800st let me know. Preferably a 2.5mm cable.
Hi ... Is there anything in the 250 dollar range that can rival the Sony EX 800ST?
Sony ex800 is 237 on Amazon US
@@joshgubser2625 sorry, I meant in terms of SQ but with a better seal. Most people said that it is not really meeant for outdoor use.
Have a Z5 on order. Wonder if I should have gone for the cheaper EX1000. Stock of both is hard to find.
Z5 are good. I prefer single dynamic driver over hybrid so the ex1000 stayed. Just personal tastes.
I'm a fan of grainy treble, so that's what made the EX1000 seem interesting. Also, I like a spacious full-size can-like soundstage. If the Z5 aren't too dark/excessively bassy and less spacious, I think I'll keep the order I have on them. The shop still has some leftover EX1000 stock tho.
Stage on the ex1000 is biggest in IEM world. 16mm well ventilated awesomeness. The Z5 is not as wide for sure. Treble on Z5 is pretty good. mid bass hump sound always bothered me. i like a hit in the sub bass only and i will tune the rest
Is it worth picking up the EX800ST if I already have the EX1000?
800 has softer treble good for long listening sess. If the ex1000 trebs don't bother you then no it's not worth it...if you a Sony fanboy...PULL THE TRIGGER!!!
Hello, sorry to bring up an old post, but didnt know who else to ask. Are the EX1000 and EX800 Series stock cables interchangeable?
Any difference in quality or difference in feel? thanks in advance.
They are
Isn't the 1000's cable the same as the 800ST's except the memory wire portion is longer and the cable is shorter overall?
The 1000 is a LITZ cable and feels just bit thicker? It definitely does not turn into an un godly nightmare after I put it down. It made me put cover over it and the 1000 so it would coil. I might ave skipped the horror with the quick covering?
The Best Bass Headphones are... Ah, I see. Do the 1964 U8 still have a place among your stable? Planning on keeping/selling?
Keep. An all BA set is worth having for reference and it sounds great. just lacks that sub bass punch.
Hi, can you listen on low volume on the 800st? Do they hiss? I will be using these with my Sony xperia x. Thanks
I don't have any issue with hissing but I am not using sony DAP
can you send the link to buy that after market from bea audio, thanks
www.e-earphone.jp/shopdetail/000000079308/
Yes
Can I ask what cable you are using for the EX800ST?
It's from a company called Beat Audio. (No relation to Dr Dre's company)
Thanx a lot man :) One last question... Do you select the EX1000 when chosing the 800ST cable? Cause I think I wanna get the black Signal cable ;)
I think they are the same thing. The Beat Audio cable was marketed to the ex1000 but I use it with the 800st
Thanx a lot for your help!
I`m sorry but I have a follow up question. I ordered the black Signal cable from Beat Audio for my EX1000 and I can`t get them to fit the 800ST. I wrote Stephen a mail and they definitely don`t make connectors for the 800ST. How did you manage to fit your cable on them? Did you "force" them in?
My friend, which one do you prefer, EX800ST or Campfire Audio Comets?
EX800ST imo
Do those have more bass than the Sony mdr-xb90ex?
The 800st with tape over the vent has more bass than any IEM I have tried if you use an amp. The general sound of mids and highs is pretty much fine too with the vent covered. The ex1000 does not have more than xb90 but ex1000 is huge stage, and good control over all freq. More audiophile than basshead
Have you ever heard the Sennheiser IE800? If so how would you compare it to the EX-1000?
EX1000 has better mids and stage while the IE800 has better treble for most listeners. The bass depends on what you like and who you trust. I am a basshead and 1000 will slam for me but not for most others? Weird. I think the EX1000 are the finest IEM period so I am quite bias
MDR ex1000 vs FLC 8s?
FLC8 have great mids and an awesome fit and can be configured with filters. ex1000 is the finest IEM ever made IMO. The fit can be a problem and that is a big one but I like the 1000. FLC8 is very very comfy and sounds great.