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Side-by-side comparison — scores, specs and which one fits your setup.
Specs comparison
Analysis
The Sony IER-M9 scores 9.1/10 with 16Ω impedance and 103dB sensitivity. At 16Ω, it drives well from most phones without an external amp.
The Sony XBA-Z5 scores 8.2/10 with 16Ω impedance and 104dB sensitivity. At 16Ω, it can be driven directly without extra hardware.
Based on our scoring, the Sony IER-M9 scores higher overall. However, the right choice depends on your full audio chain — use our analyzer to see which fits your actual setup.
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A high headphone score doesn't mean your audio sounds great. Your DAC, amp or source might be the real bottleneck.