Sony MDR-EX71SLW

[lwotton]

Please choose the appropriate forum for this topic. Thank you. Hello...I've been having some fustrating headphone problems..

I decided to buy some Apple In-Ear Headphones about 5-6 months ago...When the arrived I eagerly put them in and listened to some music, when I got up though the headphone fell out...I walked around for a while and the headphone fell out..

Everytime I'm walking the headphone falls out, it will just literally pop out! I have treid all the sizes of caps, even tries using two different sizes on each phone! Nothing worked...But c'est la vie..

But now I'm sick of it...sick of the millions of times...So...Can anyone give me any first hand responses on
Sony In-Ear (http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/SONY-MDR-EX71SL-FONTOPIA-Headphones-WHITE-UK-SELLER_W0QQitemZ9711420662QQcategoryZ3274QQrdZ1QQc mdZViewItem)

My cousin has them and says they are extremely good, but anyone else...

Thanks for the info.

[Jackonicko]

I feel your pain. Those Apple buds just don't stay in.

But avoid the Sonys.

Three or four years ago, they were the only easily available in-ears (as the EX70), and many of us bought them.

They sounded very different to the stock buds, and like any in-ear they had an immediacy that was fresh and exciting.

And like all soft sleeve in ears they were (and remain) exceptionally comfortable. And they stay in VERY well.

But going from the EX51/70/71 to any good earbud (even back to the stock Apple buds) you soon notice real weaknesses.

Highs are sibilant and hissy, mids are lost and weak, and though the bass is powerful, it's crude and muddy. Bass notes that should be clear and separate merge into one crude thump.

Fortunately (though many iPodders haven't caught on to the fact) there are now a raft of good alternatives to the EX51/71, using the same soft sleeve design (and thus offering the same comfort and immediacy) but with much better sound.

The cheapest alternative that offers an improvement is the JVC HA FX55.

But my recommendations are the Sennheiser CX300 (which uses the same plastic body as the four pole Sharp and the Creative EP630 but with better drivers) if you're on a tight budget, and the Audio Technica ATH CK7 if you have more cash to splash and don't want too much bass. But for most listeners, you cannot do better than the Panasonic HJE70. It's a beautiful piece of engineering and it sounds wonderful, and though it costs only $89/£52 it outperforms any of the cheap Shures and Etymotics and you can't do better without splashing $250 on the Ultimate Ears SuperFi 5.

I have a pair of SuperFi 5s, and sometimes they sound better than the HJE70 to me, for some music, but sometimes, despite their price tag, they don't.

The HJE70 represents remarkable value for money, and many E2C and ER6i owners have switched to them and regard them as the best thing they've heard.

I make no apologies for being an evangelist for these superb headphones.

Now if only I were on commission......

[VipFREAK]

I concur with Jack... stay away from Sony. Although I haven't tried any other buds than 81s I can assure you ANYTHING ELSE will be better than Sony's.

[elam]

Let's hear from everyone who switched from the shures or etys. Not people who listened to them once or knew someone who lent them a pair, but who owned the e2c, e3c or er-6is and swithed to the Panasonics and use them because they're better.

[Jackonicko]

I own all of those headphones, for starters! OWN.

And you can start at:

http://www6.head-fi.org/forums/showthread.php?t=129553&highlight=RP-HJE70

if you want people who prefer them to the E4!

I'm not going to spend time searching the Lounge, but several HJE70 users here are past owners of the ER6, and their comments should be easy enough to find.

Robototobor was just one:

Well I just got them about an hour ago and having been listening to them since then.

I must say when I first listened to them, I was dissapointed...

Then the bass came in and it completely blew me away! At first I thought the sound were almost, I don't know how to put it in words, but can be best described as "hollow". I gave it more and more of a listen, and realized that the er6i's had actually put me off because of the blaring highs and lack of lows that it has. The HJE70's are great and I'm still giving them a listen to get used to them, but they are absolutely wonderful. The bass is ace quality on it, and very tight sound. I feel the er6i's had more of a "true" sound, but the hje70s have full sound, if that makes sense. I love the metal case it comes with too. It is about 4x easier to get a "good" seal, in fact you barely need seal to get really good sound from these, as opposed to the er6i's. The only real quarrel I have with the HJE70s is that the original cord is WAY too short for it to be used by itself. You definately need the extesion cord it comes with. All in all, it's great.

Compare the general view of the HJE70s with these views on the ER6....

http://forums.ilounge.com/showthread.php?s=&threadid=50902

Thread: "Is it just me or does anyone out there also think that ER6i's suck!"

The sure thing is that they are a VAST improvement over the EX71, which is what the original poster wanted.

[elam]

It seems most people actually move up from sony 51s or 71s. One guy compares them to the e4s, but another disagrees. I'd like to find them locally and try them.

[SilleeString]

Trust me and everyone else when we all say, and all at once now kiddies: The Sony 51s/71s/81s/whatever1s are very disappointing headphones. I thought they were amazing the first time I heard them because I heard nothing but bass and thought "Holy, these are powerful!" but once that honeymoon phase passes (and believe me it passes quick) all you hear is horrible highs, and muted mids. Just listen to a cymbal crash on 51s, it sounds like you're listening to an mp3 with a 64 bitrate, terrible. Go with anything else, even the JVC ones if you're on a budget, they're the same price and still so much better.

And yes, I own the JVC so I'm not speaking out of speculation. I also own the 51s, the Panasonic HJEP50s, and the Sennheiser CX300, so I'll tell you if you want the best of this pack, Sennheiser is your choice.

Really, the Sonys should have a "These actually kinda suck" warning on the package.

[Jackonicko]

The EX51 and 71 are still the most popular 'first non iPod phone' so most HJE70 and ER6 and E2 users will have tried the Sony first - unless they were savvy enough to take notice of all the warnings.

For ER6 and E2 owners, Panasonic need to overcome some prejudice - having just spent more money, most people would doubt that an $89 headphone could be better than their 'more expensive' kit. But it is, and plenty of open minded ER6 and E2 owners have swallowed their prejudices and made the journey.

Like

Piarco75
scousePod

Registered: Mar 2004
Location: London
Posts: 187


quote:
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Originally posted by Jackonicko
And in the case of those who can prove that they have tried both the EX71 and the HJE70, all have expressed a strong preference for the Panasonic.
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You can add me to that group... my HJE70's arrived today and they are fantastic!! The design is brilliant, taking the best points of the B&O A8's and improving on them, and the sound is simply excellent. After a burn-in period I think they'll be as near as perfect as I want (or am willing to afford - E4c's are well beyond what I'm willing to pay!).
My Griffin EarThumps will still see use on runs/gym, etc but the HJE70's are for every other occasion i.e. a good 85% of my iPod usage.
I'd still prefer a single cord solution, but the extra inches are being dealt with by the purchase of a NYC headphone clip - matching black of course

I've been through the stock earbuds, EX51's (original model) EX71's, Etymotic Er-6i's and the EarThumps before I got these - and they produce the kind of performance I've wanted all along.

The 51's and 71's were too bass heavy and had a serious problem with treble (NOT a faulty 71 set - I went through 3 pairs as I thought they must be faulty to sound that muddy and have the same treble issue) producing harsh sounds in various tracks. Their pro though was the fit - it was extremely comfortable.
The Etymotics cord gave me serious issues due its thinness and cord noise, plus the fit of the earbuds, despite modification, was never really comfortable. The sound was balanced, but I was looking for a little more bass.
The EarThumps remain my bargain buy - brilliant little headphones, not just in look but performance. Lots of bass (not to everyone's taste I know) but gave a good representation of mid and high range. Just a shame they don't seem to be built to last beyond 6 months with heavy iPod usage. Then again if you use the supplied pouch instead of wrapping the cord around the iPod case you may have more luck than me!

And the HJE70's.... exactly what I wanted. Very happy camper!

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[Jackonicko]

Perhaps iMonster, Piarco 75, Truckson, Chics LI, Alfa 999r, Jackson, and evo Gage will drop in and give further impressions......

[elam]

Actually the e2cs are cheaper at about $60 and the er-6is are the same at $89. I'm just curious as to why there are so many good/great reviews of the er-6i. Are they all paid off? Or just stupid? And no reviews of the Panasonic. That was my original question and that's why i'd like to give the Panasonics a try.

[Jackonicko]

The good reviews for the ER6 are surprising, because the general feeling you get is that most people rate them poorly. There are more dissatisfied ER6 users than for almost any other headphone, with the possible exception of the EX51/71.

But Etymotic are very good at giving away review copies......

Panasonic seem to have no problem in shifting the HJE70 without doling out review sets - they're now almost unobtainable in the UK.

[lwotton]

After reading the review that someone posted, this is the link..

Panasonic (http://www6.head-fi.org/forums/showthread.php?t=129553&highlight=RP-HJE70)


I was wondering why he says they fall out...I hate my Apple In-Ear phones because they constantly fall out. Do they do the same??

[lwotton]

http://www.audiocubes.com/category/Headphones,+Earphones_Earphones/product/Panasonic_RP-HJE70_Stereo_Earbuds.html

They ship around the world and they cost £56 total, which is the exact amoutn I have! :D

I am such an audiophile...Still, anyone know if they fall out...Thats my main concern..

[Jackonicko]

Mine don't.

They fit exactly the same as other mainstream soft sleeve in ears. If you have a problem with EX51/70/71, you'll have a problem with these. If you don't, you won't.

And yes, I do have a big problem with the Apple in-ears

[lwotton]

Well, I believe I'll go for either the Sennheiser CX300 or The Panasonic, maybe the Sennheiser since they are cheaper...

but decisions still need to be made about my finances at the moment..,:confused:


Thanks all

[lwotton]

Hey, anyone who is online..

I still want to buy the Panasonic ones, but am still wondering about them falling out, with my ipod in ear phones the situation is terrible, in college today they fell out when I was eating, talking, not moving and just generally "pop" out!!

Do the panasonics fit snugly and comfortably into your ear, since I wouldn't like to pay £56 on headphones for them to "pop" out!