OVERALL
ALTERNATIVES
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REVIEWS
Scored using Headphones Methodology v1.0
Headphones Methodology v1.0
Mathematical & Unbiased Scoring
Products in this category are scored under Frontum Headphones Methodology v1.0: technical specifications plus authentic consumer ratings, with 0% commercial bias.
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Sony XBA 3 Review | 93 Data compared

Avg. price:~£200Form factor:in-earConnectivity:wiredBattery life:N/A hoursActive noise cancellation (ANC):no

Sony XBA 3 Review: Compare 93 technical specifications and user reviews to see how this product ranks in the Headphones category and whether it is worth buying.

Sony XBA 3
5.6/10

Overall score

Score
5.6/ 10
✕
What it is
An overall evaluation of the headphones' quality, based on technical analyses and user reviews.
When it matters
When you need a quick reference to identify the best headphones on the market.
Score distribution
â–¼
<55-66-77-88-99-10
â–¼ Worse than 83% of models
Score components

80%

5.6

Technical score

20%

?

User score

â–¼Worse than 83% of headphones
6.8

Value for money

Value for money
6.8/ 10
✕
What it is
An indicator that combines the headphones' overall rating with their cost.
When it matters
When you are looking for headphones that offer a strong balance of performance, features, and price.
Score distribution
â–¼
<55-66-77-88-99-10
â–¼ Worse than 84% of models
Score components

70%

5.6

Overall score

30%

9.5

Price

â–¼Worse than 84%
5.6

Technical score

Technical score
5.6/ 10
✕
What it is
An assessment of technical performance for products in the Headphones category across these key areas: Sound, Calls & Controls, Connectivity, Features, Battery, Design.
When it matters
When you want to compare headphones based on technical performance and available features.
Score distribution
â–¼
<55-66-77-88-99-10
â–¼ Worse than 68% of models
Score components

52%

6.3

Sound

20%

4.0

Features

10%

7.2

Design

8%

4.6

Connectivity

6%

4.0

Battery

4%

4.9

Calls & Controls

â–¼Worse than 68%
?

User score

User score
8.0/ 10
✕
What it is
A rating that combines user reviews and the total number of reviews received by the headphones.
When it matters
When you want to understand how headphones perform in real listening and how reliable they are in terms of comfort, audio quality, battery life, and long-term use.
Score distribution
â–¼
<55-66-77-88-99-10
â–¼ Worse than 58% of models
Score components

70%

?

User ratings

30%

?

Number of reviews

  • sony-xba-3
sony-xba-3
Where to buy
    N/A~ £200
Best rankings
Available: ranking among products currently available (including other versions of this product).All: ranking among all products in the database.
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Technical Specifications of pair of headphones Sony XBA 3

Technical score
Technical score
5.6/ 10
✕
What it is
An assessment of technical performance for products in the Headphones category across these key areas: Sound, Calls & Controls, Connectivity, Features, Battery, Design.
When it matters
When you want to compare headphones based on technical performance and available features.
Score distribution
â–¼
<55-66-77-88-99-10
â–¼ Worse than 68% of models
Score components:

52%

6.3

Sound

20%

4.0

Features

10%

7.2

Design

8%

4.6

Connectivity

6%

4.0

Battery

4%

4.9

Calls & Controls

5.6
User score
User score
8.0/ 10
✕
What it is
A rating that combines user reviews and the total number of reviews received by the headphones.
When it matters
When you want to understand how headphones perform in real listening and how reliable they are in terms of comfort, audio quality, battery life, and long-term use.
Score distribution
â–¼
<55-66-77-88-99-10
â–¼ Worse than 58% of models
Score components

70%

?

User ratings

30%

?

Number of reviews

?
Popularity
Popularity
1.0/ 10
✕
What it is
An indicator based on the number of reviews received by the headphones.
When it matters
When you prefer headphones that have already been chosen and reviewed by many other users.
Score distribution
â–¼
<55-66-77-88-99-10
â–¼ Worse than 99% of models
Popularity:
Sony XBA 3 has a popularity score of 1 point, which is lower than that of 73.4% of products in this category.
1.0
Value for money
Value for money
6.8/ 10
✕
What it is
An indicator that combines the headphones' overall rating with their cost.
When it matters
When you are looking for headphones that offer a strong balance of performance, features, and price.
Score distribution
â–¼
<55-66-77-88-99-10
â–¼ Worse than 84% of models
Score components:

70%

5.6

Overall score

30%

9.5

Price

6.8
Active noise cancellation (ANC)
no
This pair of headphones does not support active noise cancellation. 27.5% of headphones support active noise cancellation.
Driver type
balanced armature
Driver size
?
Number of drivers
3
Market range: <1 – >4
This pair of headphones uses 3 drivers, more drivers than 98.6% of headphones and equal to 0.5% of headphones.
Lowest frequency
4 Hz
Market range: <5 Hz – >20 Hz
This pair of headphones reaches a lowest frequency of 4 Hz, lower lowest frequency than 97.2% of headphones and equal to 2.1% of headphones.
Show more
Noise-canceling microphone
no
This pair of headphones does not support a noise-canceling microphone. 39% of headphones support noise-canceling microphones.
Can be used as a headset
yes
This pair of headphones is headset-ready, 84.8% is not. 15.2% of headphones can be used as headsets.
Number of microphones
0
Market range: <0 – >4
This pair of headphones has 0 microphones, fewer microphones than 73.2% of headphones and equal to 26.9% of headphones.
Boom microphone
no
This pair of headphones does not include a boom microphone. 13.5% of headphones have a boom microphone.
Microphone SNR
N/A
Show more
Connectivity
wired
This pair of headphones supports wired connectivity, less flexible connectivity than 49.2% of headphones and equal to 50.8% of headphones.
Bluetooth version
N/A
Maximum Bluetooth range
N/A
Audio latency
N/A
Multipoint support
no
This pair of headphones does not support multipoint. 30.6% of headphones support multipoint.
Show more
Ambient sound mode
no
This pair of headphones does not offer ambient sound mode. 24.9% of headphones support ambient sound mode.
EQ support
no
This pair of headphones does not support EQ customization. 23.2% of headphones support EQ.
Companion app
no
This pair of headphones does not work with a companion app. 21.6% of headphones support companion apps.
Adjustable ANC levels
N/A
Voice assistant support
no
This pair of headphones does not support voice assistants. 60.9% of headphones support voice assistants.
Show more
Battery life
N/A
Battery life with ANC
N/A
Charging time
N/A
Quick charge
no
This pair of headphones does not support quick charging. 33.1% of headphones support quick charge.
Battery capacity
N/A
Show more
Brand name
Sony
Form factor
in-ear
Weight
7 g
Market range: <14 g – >340 g
This pair of headphones weighs 7 g, lighter than 98% of headphones and equal to 0.2% of headphones.
Acoustic design
closed-back
Clamp force
N/A
Show more

Sony XBA 3 vs the average pair of headphones

246810TotalDesignSoundBatteryConnectivityCalls & ControlsFeatures
  • 96.8% lower weight
    This pair of headphones is lighter than the average pair of headphones (7 g vs 218 g). The average pair of headphones weighs 218 g.
    7 g vs 218 g
  • 14 Hz lower bass extension
    This pair of headphones has a lower lowest frequency than the average pair of headphones (4 Hz vs 18 Hz). The average headphones reach a lowest frequency of 18 Hz.
    4 Hz vs 18 Hz
  • 2 more drivers
    This pair of headphones uses more drivers than the average pair of headphones (3 vs 1). The average headphones use 1 drivers.
    3 vs 1
  • Direct 3.5 mm plug
    This pair of headphones includes a direct 3.5 mm plug, the average pair of headphones does not. 39.8% of headphones have a 3.5 mm male connector.
  • 6 dB/mW higher sensitivity
    This pair of headphones has a higher sensitivity than the average pair of headphones (108 dB/mW vs 102 dB/mW). The average headphones have sensitivity of 102 dB/mW.
    108 dB/mW vs 102 dB/mW
  • 8,000 Hz higher treble extension
    This pair of headphones has a higher highest frequency than the average pair of headphones (28,000 Hz vs 20,000 Hz). The average headphones reach a highest frequency of 20,000 Hz.
    28,000 Hz vs 20,000 Hz
  • 96.8% lower weight
    This pair of headphones is lighter than the average pair of headphones (7 g vs 218 g). The average pair of headphones weighs 218 g.
    7 g vs 218 g
  • 14 Hz lower bass extension
    This pair of headphones has a lower lowest frequency than the average pair of headphones (4 Hz vs 18 Hz). The average headphones reach a lowest frequency of 18 Hz.
    4 Hz vs 18 Hz
  • 2 more drivers
    This pair of headphones uses more drivers than the average pair of headphones (3 vs 1). The average headphones use 1 drivers.
    3 vs 1
  • 6 dB/mW higher sensitivity
    This pair of headphones has a higher sensitivity than the average pair of headphones (108 dB/mW vs 102 dB/mW). The average headphones have sensitivity of 102 dB/mW.
    108 dB/mW vs 102 dB/mW
  • 8,000 Hz higher treble extension
    This pair of headphones has a higher highest frequency than the average pair of headphones (28,000 Hz vs 20,000 Hz). The average headphones reach a highest frequency of 20,000 Hz.
    28,000 Hz vs 20,000 Hz
  • Direct 3.5 mm plug
    This pair of headphones includes a direct 3.5 mm plug, the average pair of headphones does not. 39.8% of headphones have a 3.5 mm male connector.
  • 2.7 % higher distortion
    This pair of headphones has a higher total harmonic distortion than the average pair of headphones (3 % vs 0.3 %). The average headphones have total harmonic distortion of 0.3 %.
    3 % vs 0.3 %
  • Non-replaceable earpads
    This pair of headphones has non-replaceable earpads, while the average pair of headphones has replaceable ones. 75.6% of headphones have replaceable earpads.
  • No voice assistant support
    This pair of headphones does not support voice assistants, the average pair of headphones does. 60.8% of headphones support voice assistants.
  • Fixed cable
    This pair of headphones has a fixed cable, while the average pair of headphones has a detachable one. 62% of headphones have a detachable cable.
  • No battery indicator
    This pair of headphones does not show battery level clearly, while the average pair of headphones does. 56.3% of headphones have a battery level indicator.
  • 1 fewer microphones
    This pair of headphones has fewer microphones than the average pair of headphones (0 vs 1). The average headphones have 1 microphones.
    0 vs 1
  • 5.87x less popular
    Sony XBA 3 is less popular than the average pair of headphones (1 vs 5.9).
    1 vs 5.87
  • 7.6% worse value for money
    Sony XBA 3 has worse value for money than the average pair of headphones (6.75 vs 7.3).
    6.75 vs 7.27
  • 5.87x less popular
    Sony XBA 3 is less popular than the average pair of headphones (1 vs 5.9).
    1 vs 5.87
  • 7.6% worse value for money
    Sony XBA 3 has worse value for money than the average pair of headphones (6.75 vs 7.3).
    6.75 vs 7.27
  • 2.22x more expensive
    Sony XBA 3 is more expensive than the average pair of headphones (£200 vs £90).
    £200 vs £90
  • Non-replaceable earpads
    This pair of headphones has non-replaceable earpads, while the average pair of headphones has replaceable ones. 75.6% of headphones have replaceable earpads.
  • Fixed cable
    This pair of headphones has a fixed cable, while the average pair of headphones has a detachable one. 62% of headphones have a detachable cable.
  • 2.7 % higher distortion
    This pair of headphones has a higher total harmonic distortion than the average pair of headphones (3 % vs 0.3 %). The average headphones have total harmonic distortion of 0.3 %.
    3 % vs 0.3 %
  • No battery indicator
    This pair of headphones does not show battery level clearly, while the average pair of headphones does. 56.3% of headphones have a battery level indicator.
  • 1 fewer microphones
    This pair of headphones has fewer microphones than the average pair of headphones (0 vs 1). The average headphones have 1 microphones.
    0 vs 1
  • No voice assistant support
    This pair of headphones does not support voice assistants, the average pair of headphones does. 60.8% of headphones support voice assistants.
  • 4 older release date
    This pair of headphones was released earlier than the average pair of headphones (2012 vs 2016). The average headphones were released in 2016.
    February 2012
    2012 vs 2016

Video reviews

Hands-on testing, unboxing, and real-world video evaluations

6.0
dentReviews
≈ estimated
24/12/2012
Hands-on review · sound tests with different players
Verdict
Sony XBA-3 offers decent bass and clarity, but its metallic treble and source sensitivity make the price hard to justify.

Third-party reviews

What customers like about Sony XBA 3

  • Excellent instrument separation and layering in complex tracks
  • Great level of detail retrieval and crisp, shimmering treble
  • Impressive bass response with a good punch for balanced armature drivers
  • Spacious and wide soundstage for an in-ear monitor
  • Comes with a generous selection of hybrid and noise-isolating eartips
  • Good passive noise isolation across a wide array of frequencies

What customers don't like about Sony XBA 3

  • Mid-range frequencies feel somewhat recessed or thin (V-shaped sound)
  • Treble can have a harsh, unnatural, or metallic tinge to it
  • Sibilance is present, which can cause listening fatigue over time
  • Lacks an in-line microphone and remote for smartphone use on the standard model
  • Cable is non-detachable, creating a risk for long-term durability
  • Low impedance makes the sound heavily reliant on the connected audio source

Verdict

The Sony XBA-3 is a premium in-ear headphone featuring a triple balanced armature driver system (full-range, woofer, and tweeter) designed to deliver high-fidelity audio with a frequency response of 4 Hz – 28 kHz. Key characteristics include a lightweight 7g design, a dual-layer magnesium and ABS housing to suppress vibrations, and a low 12-ohm impedance for high efficiency. Its main pros are exceptional detail retrieval, a wide and well-defined soundstage, and energetic, sparkly highs that appeal to audiophiles. However, common cons include an artificial or 'metallic' timbre in the mid-range, potential sibilance at high volumes, and a lack of an inline microphone for smartphone use.

Compare Sony XBA 3 with other products in the Headphones category

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