Sony MDR-EX81

[jdogg6590]

Hey,

First off....for an under $50 headphones...would the MDR-EX81 be best value? I mean for sound quality and for comfort and sound cancelation.

ALso...on pricegrabber I did a search and found these: http://www.pricegrabber.com/p__Sony_Sony_MDR_EX81LPW_Stereo_Earphones_White,__ 7486096/search=Sony+MDR-EX81+Earphones

Are those the same ones as are reviewed here at iLounge (with an A rating)?.

Thanks,
Jeff

[The_Doc_Gerbil]

Those are the same ones, but don't buy them off of the Internet. I bought a pair of MDR-EX71's off of the Internet for $20 and they broke within 2 months. Although the manufacturer had no notice of it, they were refurbished (box said so) and the wires were way softer than normal.

I now have MDR-EX71's that have thick cording and have no splayed wires. I've had them for about half a year. It was an extra $30 but definitely worth it.

I suspect those retailers are the same - those are refurbished headphones and they just aren't mentioning it either. I think I got mine from PCMall or something; the vendor had a high rating, I remember that.

While I'm at it, I'd recommend the MDR-EX71. When deciding between the 71 and 81, I was told the 81's were simply annoying with the plastic device on the earbuds, and the 71 had no problems at all staying in - this was true, and I think the plastic piece was as well (Although I can't vouch for this because I haven't tried using any 81's).

The 71's work great and don't fall out. They're comfortable, and there's no need for a plastic piece to help keep it in - it looks like a liability to me. In plain English, I'm recommending the 71's instead of the 81's.

However, I'd also by additional ear buds (those gray rubber pieces in the picture you showed).. they don't come with enough and chances are you WILL use some eventually. They're only about $2.

[Jackonicko]

Don't buy the EX51, 71, 70 or 81 at all if you're remotely interested in sound quality.

You can do MUCH better than this over-hyped rubbish at this price point.

At the $50 price point, my recommendations would include the Sennheiser CX300, or the V-Moda Bass Freq.

See:
Affordable in ears, an overview
http://forums.ilounge.com/showthread.php?t=181101

[Jokieman]

Don't buy the EX51, 71, 70 or 81 at all if you're remotely interested in sound quality.

You can do MUCH better than this over-hyped rubbish at this price point.

At the $50 price point, my recommendations would include the Sennheiser CX300, or the V-Moda Bass Freq.

See:
Affordable in ears, an overview
http://forums.ilounge.com/showthread.php?t=181101

X2.........

[jdogg6590]

I'm not sure if I mentioned, but Im looking for the ear phones that plug into your ears...inears i think they're called.

Also, how are these three different?

http://www.pricegrabber.com/search_attrib.php?page_id=333&form_keyword=Sennheiser+CX300&rd=1

[Jokieman]

I'm not sure if I mentioned, but Im looking for the ear phones that plug into your ears...inears i think they're called.

Also, how are these three different?

http://www.pricegrabber.com/search_attrib.php?page_id=333&form_keyword=Sennheiser+CX300&rd=1


The Sennheisers are Canal buds.

[Jackonicko]

Affordable in ears, an overview

http://forums.ilounge.com/showthread.php?t=181101

[jdogg6590]

http://www.tupianguanjia.com/bin/285/DSCN0015.JPG

these are em?

[jdogg6590]

I need to know if this is the right one? http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&ih=011&sspagename=STRK%3AMEWA%3AIT&viewitem=&item=320056673888&rd=1&rd=1

That is the type I'm looking at on ebay, want to know before I bid.

Thanks,
Jeff

EDIT:
I was looking here: http://www.ilounge.com/index.php/reviews/sort_grades/C79/79 at the earphone ratings

I saw this one: http://www.ilounge.com/index.php/ipod/review/sony-fontopia-mdr-ex70lp-earphones-ipod the Sony Fontopia MDR-EX60LP Earphones. They got a good review, and I cant find the Sennheiser CX300 even reviewed.....would the sony's be a better pick?

[ShadowVlican]

be careful with the fakes/knock off products you find on ebay

there are ton's of fake CX300s

[Jackonicko]

Go and read the thread.

Affordable in ears, an overview

http://forums.ilounge.com/showthread.php?t=181101


EX51/70/71/81 are TERRIBLE. EX85 and 90 are quite good.

[jdogg6590]

So the 90's are these:
http://cgi.ebay.com/Brand-New-Sony-MDR-EX90-Headphones_W0QQitemZ320058190048QQihZ011QQcategory Z40138QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

Now....what is this plugging into another thing?

And now, between these earphones, which is the best, forget price, but which is the best for sound isolation and sound quality?:
Sony MDR-EX90
Sony MDR-EX85
Sony Fontopia MDR-EX60LP
Sennheiser CX300

Thanks,
Jeff

[Jackonicko]

The EX90 and EX85 use the same driver, so should sound the same. On that list they are FAR and away the best sounding, and the EX-70 (There's no such thing as a 60) is the worst.

The EX90 and 85 do not isolate as well as the 70 or the CX300

[jdogg6590]

Hmm...now what is the difference between the EX90 and the EX85? Does one have better sound isolation than the other?

Is the sound isolation on those FAR below that on the 70 or the CX300?
Do you think that if I just go with the EX90 or EX85 I'll get sufficient sound isolation?

And finally....is the sound quality so much different between the 85/90 and the 70/CX300 that it is in obvious decision?

Thank you so much for all your help Jackonicko, you've been quite helpful!

-Jeff

[Jackonicko]

1) The EX70 was the original Sony Fontopia in-ear. It is no longer current and was replaced by the EX71. The EX71 spawned a lower cost version, the EX51, with cheaper accessories, and cheaper build, but with more colour options. Because it uses the same drivers and body, there is no appreciable difference in either sound quality or isolation. The EX81 is the same thing again, but with ear clips.

2) The EX85 is the lower cost version of the EX90. I believe that there is no appreciable difference in either sound quality or isolation, though we don't yet have the EX85 in the UK.

3) To my ear the difference between the EX51/70/71/81 on the one hand and the CX300 on the other is appreciable. It's the difference between dreadful and acceptable. I'd rate the EX90 another step ahead of the CX300.

4) Whether the EX90 will provide sufficient isolation for you is down to you and your specific needs. I find it ideal - providing enough isolation, but giving me a sporting chance of hearing a car horn when I step off the sidewalk...... The isolation isn't much less than that provided by the EX51/70/71/81. If you wanted to listen on a building site, with pneumatic drills in use, none of the phones you've mentioned would be OK. There is some leakage, because of the design, so you'd annoy someone sitting really really close to you in a silent library.

5) There are two models of EX90, one with a single piece cord, one with the cord split into a short cord and an extension. I'd strongly recommend the latter as being more rugged and robust and less likely to break.

[lrscpa]

I too purchased the MDR-EX81s based upon the recommendation in the iLounge shopping guide.

What a dissapointment!

NO Bass. Sounded like I was holding a tin can to my ear. The stock buds that came with my iPod sounded much bettter!

[jdogg6590]

Hmm...I'm between the EX90 and EX85...just that...I can't find the 85's anywhere...do they exist or did you type the wrong model number by accident?

Also I can't find the singel cord EX90 (which would be the one which I'd want).

[Jackonicko]

The single cord model is more vulnerable to breakage, so I would STRONGLY recommend getting the LP model, not the SP.

The EX85 is probably Japan only at the moment. But it does exist.

http://www.audiocubes.com/product/Sony_MDR-EX85SL_N.U.D.E_EX_(Monitor)_Earphones.html

Haven't you heard of Google?