A club in your head

alvinchonggl [at] mediacorp.com.sg

SINGAPORE — Some thumping good bass might make music enjoyable for certain people, but for others, it tends to overwhelm other parts of the spectrum, leading to what can sound like a muddy mess. Sony’s latest in-ears, the XBA-H3, might just be the solution for that.

While in-ears have generally used either dynamic or balanced armature (BA) drivers, the XBA-H3 use a hybrid of both in an attempt to give listeners the best of both worlds — the more impactful bass of dynamic drivers and the better detail of BA drivers. Sony’s solution here works. The bass hits hard and comes with enough low-end rumble, while the mids and highs still come out nice and clear — thanks to having two BA drivers. It results in a very warm and lush presentation that envelops you and is a good fit for most genres.

All that good sound, however, comes at a price. The XBA-H3 are odd-shaped earphones that will stick out from your ears. While they are good-looking, they will not be as comfortable as in-ears that fit flush with your ears. The build quality, however, is great and the earphones do well enough to seal off most ambient noise.

But for those who fear getting odd looks or prefer headphones, Sony’s MDR-10BT might just be the fit for you. The MDR-10BT are Bluetooth- and NFC-enabled headphones that are warm and fun-sounding, with enough detail to be a pleasant listen no matter what genre you prefer. The headphones come with great rumble in the bass. Vocals sound great and the soundstage is good.

However, the MDR-10BT do not have the most refined sound. The trebles are somewhat muted and the bass could do with more impact. Still, the generally good sound combined with the comfort of the headphones go a long way in helping you get immersed in the music.

You will want to use them plugged-in for the best sound, but you do have the option to use them wirelessly, which trades audio quality for convenience. Sony touts a 17-hour battery life for Bluetooth operation, and I definitely did not have problems running out of juice from day-to-day use.

The Sony XBA-H3 retail at S$438 and the MDR-10BT at S$299.