The Sony MDR-EX51LP/EX71SL Maintenance FAQ

[Xavier]

thats why u shoulda went with the shure E line.....

[dwchin]

I always keep my volume at 25-50% (depending on what type of music it is) and I've run most of my mp3's through mp3gain as well. And, since we're all sharing, I usually use no EQ, but when I do.....I like the acoustic setting

[Doug Gilmour]

I use a pretty high volume, it's around 70% I'd say since I have volume boosted mine. But 60 isn't bad I just like my music loud.

-Dan

[bench]

thanks for the suggestions! does mp3gain make it easy to convert all your mp3s or is it time consuming?

acoustic seems to be the best eq setting for the ex51, in my opinion.
there's a bit of clipping on certain songs but it's definitely not as bad as the dance eq setting which, although may sound more clear, causes a lot of clipping on many of the songs i have. i'm pretty happy with acoustic eq and at about 50-55% volume

what i wonder is how the e2c compares when using its best eq setting (if there's any clipping).. but i suppose that's not relevant to this thread

[dwchin]

Originally posted by bench
thanks for the suggestions! does mp3gain make it easy to convert all your mp3s or is it time consuming?

Well, it's not that time consuming for me, but I believe it does depend a bit on your cpu. On slower computers I've noticed it does take a little longer for it to analyze all the mp3s. I tend to do it in chunks....perhaps one or two albums at a time as I add them to the iPod. However, I know someone who did pretty much his entire collection all in one shot....he added his entire Music folder, hit gain and let it run overnight. You can do that if you don't feel the need to look at it beforehand. (e.g. if you find a setting you like and you want all your songs at that setting, you can just hit the Gain button and let it go) It is an easy process.....All you do is add your mp3s, and either hit Track (or album) analysis, then hit Gain later on (if you like to look at things before you change them) or you can go straight to Track (or album) Gain and do it all on one step, without looking at it yourself. The website you get the program from has a little faq and explanation that will make it clearer Hope that helps you.....I'm really glad I ran my mp3s through mp3gain, since I hated the static.

[GooseGoose]

Hello everyone!
Well I was the person who had broken Sony's EX71s in the original post...

Well, i sent it back to audiocubes and they sending a brand new one as we speak....

When I get it, I will take extra care of these... This FAQ was extremly helpful.... I do remember yanking it out alot so I guess thats why they broke...

As for everyones problem with the design of the cords, I am not a fan of it as well... I do put it behind my neck but it just dosn't have the same effect...

This may sound stupid but, you always know when someone has a iPod with the infamous white cords in a Y-shape... I live in Philly, and everone has an iPod now... You can tell with the white Y-cords comming out of everyones ears... When you see that you know that person is "cool" cause they have an iPod... With these you have just one cord going down.... I know, it sounds silly but I like the Y-shape for the look as well... It just screams out to everyone "Yea, that's right... I have an iPod!"

So... when I get my new Sony EX71's what I plan to do is just use WHITE electric tape and put them togther so I get the Y-shape back again... Don't get me wrong, I love the sound of the EX71s... There awesome... But I like Sound and "look" as well.....

[Doug Gilmour]

Originally posted by GooseGoose
Hello everyone!
Well I was the person who had broken Sony's EX71s in the original post...

Well, i sent it back to audiocubes and they sending a brand new one as we speak....

When I get it, I will take extra care of these... This FAQ was extremly helpful.... I do remember yanking it out alot so I guess thats why they broke...

As for everyones problem with the design of the cords, I am not a fan of it as well... I do put it behind my neck but it just dosn't have the same effect...

This may sound stupid but, you always know when someone has a iPod with the infamous white cords in a Y-shape... I live in Philly, and everone has an iPod now... You can tell with the white Y-cords comming out of everyones ears... When you see that you know that person is "cool" cause they have an iPod... With these you have just one cord going down.... I know, it sounds silly but I like the Y-shape for the look as well... It just screams out to everyone "Yea, that's right... I have an iPod!"

So... when I get my new Sony EX71's what I plan to do is just use WHITE electric tape and put them togther so I get the Y-shape back again... Don't get me wrong, I love the sound of the EX71s... There awesome... But I like Sound and "look" as well.....

Great to see that you are getting a new pair without much hassle online. It's also great to see that people are finding this FAQ useful. As for your comment on design the design isn't that bad, but it took a bit for me to adjust to I must say. What you would consider cool to wear in Philly would be thought of as potentially dangerous in other areas in the world especially in London, as the White earbuds would scream out I am using an iPod, which you could get mugged for. It really doesn't matter to me that I can show an iPod off to others as I bought the iPod for myself to listen to, not for others to look at.

In Toronto the iPod has exploded in popularity. Around 40 people at my school alone own one. Many iPod ads have been on display in Toronto recently. Take a look at these pics that were taken from Toronto's St. George subway station:

http://www.macminute.com/2004/03/11/toronto

-Dan

[bench]

thanks for the advice on mp3gain, i'll look for it and try it out
however, i've stopped using the acoustic eq already... the clipping even on that eq setting was starting to annoy me. i'm sticking with eq off and it sounds much better in terms of clipping, although the sound doesnt sound as 'spacious' or 'breathable' as acoustic or dance.

i think i might do a little reserach on the e2c and see if they're worth it. so far, from what i've read around here, it sounds like the ex51 might be more comfortable than the e2c's and i wont have to constantly buy new foams (not sure why i would have to do this.. do they wear out or something?) but the e2c supposedly has better quality sound.. maybe the clipping problem on acoustic & dance eq wont be a problem

[Xavier]

erm its a no brainer that I am trolling (Editted for content)

Doug Gilmour Edit: Don't Troll Again, especially in my FAQ Thread..

[Elithrar]

I'm getting used to the neck-chain design. It's great in the way that it allows the earphones to just dangle off your next when not in use.

For the poster who wants to tape the cables together; why not just have the neck chain go around the front of your neck? Anyway, from a distance, most people recognise white earphones as iPod earphones anyway.

[dwchin]

Originally posted by bench
thanks for the advice on mp3gain, i'll look for it and try it out
however, i've stopped using the acoustic eq already... the clipping even on that eq setting was starting to annoy me. i'm sticking with eq off and it sounds much better in terms of clipping, although the sound doesnt sound as 'spacious' or 'breathable' as acoustic or dance.

i think i might do a little reserach on the e2c and see if they're worth it. so far, from what i've read around here, it sounds like the ex51 might be more comfortable than the e2c's and i wont have to constantly buy new foams (not sure why i would have to do this.. do they wear out or something?) but the e2c supposedly has better quality sound.. maybe the clipping problem on acoustic & dance eq wont be a problem

I admit the static is annoying, and it's a bit annoying also having an extra step to finish before you can put the songs on the iPod. I can hear the static with my Sennheisers, though, so either way I was going to have to do it anyway, haha. Let me know how the Shure's work out if you do try them.....at the time, I couldn't really afford them (even though they're only about $60 more than what I paid for the EX51's) and if they're worth it I can save up and check them out.

[Doug Gilmour]

Originally posted by Elithrar
I'm getting used to the neck-chain design. It's great in the way that it allows the earphones to just dangle off your next when not in use.

For the poster who wants to tape the cables together; why not just have the neck chain go around the front of your neck? Anyway, from a distance, most people recognise white earphones as iPod earphones anyway.

Yes, I agree the neck-chain design is a very simple and convenient design. You can just take them off while talking and hang them from your neck, than return to your music by puttig them back on.

-Dan

[bench]

Originally posted by dwchin
I admit the static is annoying, and it's a bit annoying also having an extra step to finish before you can put the songs on the iPod. I can hear the static with my Sennheisers, though, so either way I was going to have to do it anyway, haha. Let me know how the Shure's work out if you do try them.....at the time, I couldn't really afford them (even though they're only about $60 more than what I paid for the EX51's) and if they're worth it I can save up and check them out.

yea, its definitely a money issue keeping me from going with the shures. but i figure if the sony's can sound just as good to me (note: to me), then the shures wouldn't be worth it. starting to doubt it now mainly due to the clipping. i think i can notice that the mids aren't as clear without using eq but then there's the clipping when using eq..

and yes, the thought of having to go through mp3gain as one more step to putting songs on my ipod is pretty annoying. i guess i'll either have to live with eq off or using mp3gain and having eq without clipping... or get the shures but that's last on my list not only for the money issue but i've never used them so i don't truly know if they'll get rid of the clipping problem. anyone know?

on the bright side, the behind-the-neck design is great! i dont think they look any less cool. i can turn my head side to side just fine, dont even need a clip as some have talked about since they've had their buds pulled out of their ears by head turning (but i'm thinking this is mainly due to ex71 users who use the extension cord, adding extra weight). i havent really had much of a problem with it at all.. had a couple accidental cord tugs in which the left ear bud pulled out but that would've happened with any type of earbud regardless of "Y" or "L" design. since the cord is out of the way, i can brush my teeth while listening to music and also, i was pleasantly surprised at how lightweight they are. very very cool.

i realize this thread is entirely about the sony's so i apologize for getting too into the shures here. however, xavier seems to have nothing better to do than to make his bias for shures public through a couple rude posts. i dont think he's very convincing

[Doug Gilmour]

Originally posted by bench
yea, its definitely a money issue keeping me from going with the shures. but i figure if the sony's can sound just as good to me (note: to me), then the shures wouldn't be worth it. starting to doubt it now mainly due to the clipping. i think i can notice that the mids aren't as clear without using eq but then there's the clipping when using eq..

and yes, the thought of having to go through mp3gain as one more step to putting songs on my ipod is pretty annoying. i guess i'll either have to live with eq off or using mp3gain and having eq without clipping... or get the shures but that's last on my list not only for the money issue but i've never used them so i don't truly know if they'll get rid of the clipping problem. anyone know?

on the bright side, the behind-the-neck design is great! i dont think they look any less cool. i can turn my head side to side just fine, dont even need a clip as some have talked about since they've had their buds pulled out of their ears by head turning (but i'm thinking this is mainly due to ex71 users who use the extension cord, adding extra weight). i havent really had much of a problem with it at all.. had a couple accidental cord tugs in which the left ear bud pulled out but that would've happened with any type of earbud regardless of "Y" or "L" design. since the cord is out of the way, i can brush my teeth while listening to music and also, i was pleasantly surprised at how lightweight they are. very very cool.

i realize this thread is entirely about the sony's so i apologize for getting too into the shures here. however, xavier seems to have nothing better to do than to make his bias for shures public through a couple rude posts. i dont think he's very convincing

I agree with you completely. And I would also like Xavier to stop with his comments. He is giving pretty much no reason or being productive at all on this topic.

-Dan

[dwchin]

I'd have to think that clipping might not be reduced with the Shures. The only reason why I say that is because I could still hear the distortion while listening with my Sennheisers, as well as with the Sony's. (Admittedly, my stock Apple buds are still in their packaging, hehe, so I've never tried them, and both the Sennheisers and the Sonys are a bit heavier on the base side than other head/earphones I've used.) I've read on other threads that the static is not really the fault of the phones you're using....but then I've never actually used the Shures so I can't say for sure. I'd be interested in learning if you hear any distortion if you do decide to go for them

I agree about the yanking out of ears....I almost never experience any yanking when I move my head, except if I'm leaning on the cord accidentally, of course. But when I first got them, I attempted to use that lame earbud capsule case thing to tie up some of the cord (as it was a suggested feature of that capsule....as if it made it any more useful) and it did tend to tug on the left side just a bit. I've since abandoned that little case, and no more tugging