Sony MDR-EX81?

[daspler11]

I've seen the review of the Sony MDR-EX81's in the iLounge Holiday Buyer's Guide and these headphones are looking pretty good and the price range is good for me. I was just wondering if any of you have the Sony MDR-EX81 headphones and if they are worth buying?

[jkads3]

Refer to this thread:

http://forums.ilounge.com/showthread.php?s=&threadid=125348

[daspler11]

Thanks

[Cakbar]

I have the 81's. For the price they are very good. I recently got some ER6i's and they blow the 81's away. I don't think you will be disappointed with the 81's, but for a few extra bucks you can get the ER6i's. I got my ER6i's for $58 before shipping/tax at buy.com (after applying for their visa card and using the $30 coupon.)
If you do get the 81's, I would think twice before using them for gym/exercise. I found that, because of their design, sweat flows down them into the ear canal. I use a set of Apple In Ears for the gym.

[EliWho]

I purchased the 81's, and I am pretty dissatisfied. The sound was actually quite good, but I had major problems with the phones themselves. First, the rubber ear things are attached to the phones very poorly, and use over time (wax, sweat, etc.) loosens this considerably over time. This, combined with the over-the-ear design, makes it exceedingly easy to pull the phones out of your ear and not have the rubber things follow! More than once I had to fish them out of my ears - very dangerous and not at all quality.

Second, the cords from the main cable to the earpieces is very flimsy. I have a habit of wrapping my headphone cords around my ipod, and the 81's could not stand up to this - the wires developed cracks and tears, and now I am left with no white plastic casing left and all exposed wire! Very bad indeed.

I would not purchase these again. I am now in the market for probably either the Ety er-6i or the shure e3c.