Average Reviews:
(More customer reviews)First of all, I did ALOT of research on canal/earbud phones (including reading all of these reviews and many others on other websites) before settling on a pair for purchase. I am pretty much a audiophile however that doesn't mean I expect pefection with every purchase, I realize there's ALWAYS going to something that I wish sounded, worked or was designed better. I am also a bargain shopper not willing to shell out $500 and up for headphones, mainly because I cannot not afford it and I (like the rest of us) don't like being overcharged.
That being said, let me start with that fact that I actually purchased the Sony MDR-EX51LP's not the MDR-EX71SL's. The reason? After my research I discovered there's not much difference between the 2, save the short cord/extension problem you will read about later and the fact that they carried them at Best Buy which made it easier to return them if necessary (I came across comments that stated Amazon charges you if you decide to return the MDR-EX71SL's).
Let me start by saying I am VERY satified with my purchase. I bought them about 3 weeks ago at Best Buy for $39.99 plus tax, roughly the same price Amazon is charging for the MDR-EX71SL's. I was looking for earphones that would block a significant amount of exterior sound, fit snugly in the ear and not fall out as well as produce a quality of sound I would appreciate. I can say all of those needs are met with my MDR-EX51LP's. There are a few things you should know about these earphones though.
#1 If you don't like having to fiddle with little things to get great sound, don't buy these. The multi size silicon earbud coverings take a little time to figure out. You must have a complete seal to hear clear bass so play with the sizes to see which one fits you. I actually lucked out and the medium size (which is already placed on the phones) fit my left ear perfectly giving me an understanding of how they should fit. My right ear wasn't so lucky and after playing around I found that the large size was the solution.
#2 You must understand that these phones work like ear plugs. You have to fit these babies snugly in your ear or the bass is not distinct and the noises around you will be more audible and not as cleanly "Blocked out". A proper seal is a must!! Now this isn't nearly as hard or annoying as it sounds and once it's done you'll be happy you bought these. As a side note, the silicon earbuds can get quite dirty if you don't use q-tips often so clean your ears! Also this "ear plug" sensation will take some getting used to (For me a couple of days) so have patience.
#3 Part of the complaint I noted from other reviewers was the cord of the MDR-EX71SL, apparently it is quite short and designed for ipod users and players with arm band capability. Sony's solution was to include an excessively long extension cord that again apparently caused problems (read the rest of the reviews) with its connector. The MDR-EX51LP has the same cord design as the MDR-EX71SL's (Right side longer than the left so that the cord can sit behind your head) save one distinct difference. The cord for the MDR-EX51LP has one long cord like every other pair of headphones you've ever owned so it's much easier to deal with. However, due to the similiar behind the head design (Right side longer than left), I do think purchasing a clip is necessary to hold the cord in place. I find the extra length of the right side has too much slack and either gets in the way or caught on clothing. This sometimes tugs on the phones themselves, particularly on the left side. This becomes a nuissance. Also the cord is pretty thin, no problems yet but due to experiences in the past with other earphones I fear it could be in the future.
#4 Most importantly, is the sound itself. Now this is where things get complicated. Everyone has different tastes as how their music should sound so you are going to get varying opinions. I find, with a good seal (I cannot stress this enough), the sound is much improved over standard earphones and earbuds. I found the EQ a little tinny at first but the balance can be evened out with a bass booster, this allows capabilty for heavier bass sounds. My player has 2 settings of bass boost and I find the first setting to be more than adequate, the 2nd was a bit too much bass for my liking. The external sounds around you disappear when music is playing and this allows for quiet listening as not to damage your now clean ears. This is key as I travel alot!
So overall, I'd say that Sony has done a great job. If you want really great sound with the small size and convenience of earbuds and you are tired of tinny treble driven phones then these are for you. But if you expect pristine quality sound and bass that bumps you out of your chair I suggest you stick with over the head headphones or if you're willing to shell out $500 + for the top of the line then go for it. Shure's Ec5's rock. But me, I'd rather shell out $40 for earphones that give me just what I'm looking for. If you check out comparable earbud phones you'll find you'll end paying more for very simliar results in sound and other trade offs of various problems, etc.. I checked out Shure's (Ec2 & Ec3) as well as Etymotic (ER-6)and there were minute differences in performance and design but huge differences in price!!
Final word, I rated these only 4 stars because of the cord problem and the weak excuse for a cord case (Don't bother it's too time consuming and will break eventually) but I'm extemely pleased with my purchase and would highly recomend it to anyone looking for a REASONABLY priced pair of high end earbud phones. However, I would seriously recomend the following: Research all, Physically check out all and then buy what you prefer.
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Product Description:
Super-light in-the-ear design New, super-small 9 mm drivers Soft, silicon earbuds Two sizes of earbuds accommodate a full range of ears 400 kJ/ma ultra-high-power Neodymium magnet Hard carrying case and earbud holder supplied FONTOPIA(R) Headphones in-the-ear design : fits snugly, yet comfortably inside the ear; eliminates the headband so you can enjoy music while exercising, skating or dancing Sony's first closed-type Fontopia design : reduces outside noise for high-intensity listening; helps generate powerful, resonant bass response New, super-small 9 mm drivers : are a key enabling technology; ultra-compact drivers produce powerful sound with space left over for the sonic isolation of Sony's newly-designed silicon earbuds Soft, silicon earbuds : reduce outside noise, provide long-lasting comfort, hour after hour; the earbuds are washable, removable and replaceable Two sizes of earbuds : accommodate a full range of ears Long-throw PET DIAPHRAGM : or deep, extended bass down to an incredible 6 Hz; low mass for extended high FREQUENCY RESPONSE all the way out to 23,000 Hz 400 kJ/mã Neodymium magnet : for maximum energy in minimum size; ounce for ounce, this high-power Neodymium is far more powerful than conventional Samarium Cobalt or Aluminum magnets; even with the small, 9 mm drivers, Neodymium achieves 100 dB of sound pressure output from a modest 1 mW input power. Oxygen-Free Copper (OFC) cord : for high signal transmission, low noise Stylish, Neck-Chain Cord Gold-plated mini-plug : for exceptional corrosion RESISTANCE, superb conductivity, low noise Streamlined, compact case : neatly stores the ear-buds and headphone cord when not in use; vivid purple styling; high-impact case is ideal for carrying in a pocket or backpack New case design : minimizes
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