Short answer: the Noble Audio XM-1, though neither ranks well in its class. It ranks #1043 of 1291 in-ear headphones by sound quality, rated 2.8/5, at $599; the Sony XBA-Z5 ranks #1097, rated 2.5/5, and costs $699.99, which makes this an easy call rather than a real tradeoff. Both are rated below 3.0/5 among the 1291 in-ear headphones, and the Truthear Nova, ranked #2 at $169.99, is a better place to start if sound quality matters.
What the Noble Audio XM-1 does well: Bass is lifted about 5.1 dB with extension to 20 Hz, giving kick drums and bass lines extra weight. Watch for: A 5.8 dB peak near 7.6 kHz can make cymbals and sibilance sound sharp.
Why pick the Sony XBA-Z5: Bass is lifted about 3.7 dB with extension to 20 Hz, giving kick drums and bass lines extra weight. The tradeoff: Presence sits about 3.5 dB low with an 8 dB dip near 7.1 kHz, so vocals and instruments lose some bite.
Buy the Noble Audio XM-1. It is rated higher for sound quality than the Sony XBA-Z5 and costs less, so only choose the other one for a particular feature it does better.
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Bass is lifted about 5.1 dB with extension to 20 Hz, giving kick drums and bass lines extra weight.
Bloom Audio $599.00 eBay
Bass is lifted about 3.7 dB with extension to 20 Hz, giving kick drums and bass lines extra weight.
Acoustic Sounds $699.99 eBayPrices on this page were last checked October 16, 2026 at 5:46 PM UTC. Product prices and availability are accurate as of that date/time and are subject to change; the price and availability shown on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.
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Specifications Side By Side
| Noble Audio XM-1 | Sony XBA-Z5 | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $599.00 | $699.99 |
| Ranked | #1043 of 1291 in In-Ear Headphones | #1097 of 1291 in In-Ear Headphones |
| Form Factor | In-ear | In-ear |
| Connection | Wired | Wired |
| Driver Type | Hybrid | Hybrid |
| Drivers | 1 x 8.3mm dynamic + 1 x xMEMS Cowell MEMS | 1 x 16mm dynamic + 2 x balanced armature |
| Impedance | 32 ohms | 32 ohms |
| Frequency Response | 20Hz - 20kHz | 3Hz - 40kHz |
| Harman Preference Score | 59 (measured by oratory1990, via AutoEQ) | 55 (measured by crinacle, via AutoEQ) |
| Deviation From Target | 2.82 dB standard deviation | 3.35 dB standard deviation |
| Tonal Tilt | -1.03 (negative is warmer, positive brighter) | -0.85 (negative is warmer, positive brighter) |
| Sub-bass Extension | Within 6 dB of target down to 20 Hz (+7.5 dB at 30 Hz) | Within 6 dB of target down to 20 Hz (+0.9 dB at 30 Hz) |
| Sensitivity | - | 107 dB/mW |
| Weight | - | 0 lbs (11 g) (without cable) |
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