Attention Sony earbud users!

[roastbeef2night]

Many people here already have the Sony EX51/71/81 headphones and many others are probably considering getting them because they offer spectacular sound for the money (particularly the 51s). However, I've discovered a major flaw that I'm sure many of you will run into sooner or later:

The cost of replacing the rubber cups is outrageous.

A medium sized cup replacement cost $12 CDN EACH (not for a pair). Only the mediums are available for replacement so if you need the large or small... you're screwed. If the distribution center is not in your town, they will not mail them, the parts distribution center insists on courier. So I (in Victoria, BC) will be charged another $15 shipping from the distribution center in Vancouver. So in total it will nearly cost me $30 CDN to replace ONE cup.

I feel this situation is unacceptable, and the Sony store employees only shrug it off. I'm hoping that there may be someone who might want to trade by mail an un-used medium set for my unused large or small set. If you use a large or small, and you loose a cup, it seems that there are no other options.

If anyone is interested email me, or pm me. Thanks.

[kauffee]

Yeah, it really is ridiculous. I wanted to try the EX71 mod on my Shure E2s. The difference in price between buying 2 EX71 replacement tips and the actual EX71s (with all 3 tip sizes) was just $5, so I ended up just getting the phones. That's pretty ridiculous.

[jwc110869]

There are enough user here to use the "Classified" section to offer trades. I use the Larges and I never tried my medium or smalls. I am always willing to trade either of those for a set of virgin larges. Its only a stamp and envelope that way............

[TheDoctor]

Bingo!

Jeff shoots and he scores.

I've got some of those (damn) Sony headphones. In the UK it is only ??7 plus postage for a set of rubbers!!!

I have a set of unused smalls if anyone wants to swap them for mediums???

[Doug Gilmour]

They may be expensive, but just be careful with them so that you don't lose or misplace them. I've had my pair of MDR-EX51LPs for around 11 months now and have never lost one eartip... If you do find that you do lose one though I'd try the iPodlounge Classifieds (http://www.ipodlounge.com/forums/forumdisplay.php?s=&forumid=8).

-Dan

[mikey]

I picked up a complete set of backups (all three sizes) for under $3 total in Japan, too bad they don't offer the same deal in North America.

[Thomas Davie]

I bought the EX-71s back in May, and have never used the smalls or larges. Would be willing to swap them with anyone for mediums. It will take some time to find them, but I *dod* have them. Straight swap, normal postage, and I'll even volunteer to send them first in case you;re not the trusting type (myself I don't particularly care if I get ripped off over a couple of small pieces o silicone.

As a side note, there i a plastics manufacturing fabrication plant in my city (and I would imagine that it is the same elsewhere in this industrialized world of ours) that said they could duplicate the earbuds for $50 for 10 pair (and then the price decreases from that point. Some of you may want to look into this option. All I did was look up in the yellow pages under plastics (I've got a girlfriend who is severely allergic to latex rubber and who can not have rubber keys on tv/remotes).

Tom

tdavie7@mts.net

[jwc110869]

Well, roastbeef2night is getting my mediums, for they went in the mail today. I still have virgin smalls, so if anyone want to get rid of their virgin larges, let me know.

[oink1]

If you need replacements and you don't want Sony to tear you a new ####### for the privelage then visit AUDIOCUBES (http://www.audiocubes.com/category/Earphones_Replacement+Earbuds/product/Sony_Replacement_Earbuds_for_MDR-EX81SL_EX71SL_EX70SL_EX51SP_NX1.html) - $10 a set :)

[dwchin]

Originally posted by jwc110869
Well, roastbeef2night is getting my mediums, for they went in the mail today. I still have virgin smalls, so if anyone want to get rid of their virgin larges, let me know.

Jeff, I've a pair of new black larges if you'd like to do a trade for your smalls. (That is, I'm assuming yours are black.)

[mikey]

Originally posted by oink1
If you need replacements and you don't want Sony to tear you a new ####### for the privelage then visit AUDIOCUBES (http://www.audiocubes.com/category/Earphones_Replacement+Earbuds/product/Sony_Replacement_Earbuds_for_MDR-EX81SL_EX71SL_EX70SL_EX51SP_NX1.html) - $10 a set :)

Seems like an okay deal until you factor in shipping ($7.00 to the US, $12.00 to the UK) all for something that weighs in at 0.1 lbs.

[dwchin]

Partsolver.com seems to have comparable prices to audiocubes.

[roastbeef2night]

Thanks Jeff. I like my Sony buds enough that I nearly broke down and spent the $30. Instead it only cost 80 cents for two! Nice.

BTW I packaged them inside a beer cap wraped with a bit of plastic wrap. Figured it might keep them from getting crushed too much... Probably not really necessary in the end.

[dwchin]

Inside a beer cap? Haha, clever :) Nice way of getting around purchase of a little box.

[jwc110869]

Originally posted by roastbeef2night
Thanks Jeff. I like my Sony buds enough that I nearly broke down and spent the $30. Instead it only cost 80 cents for two! Nice.

BTW I packaged them inside a beer cap wraped with a bit of plastic wrap. Figured it might keep them from getting crushed too much... Probably not really necessary in the end.

I didn't go quite that far, just inside a snack baggie. But I have no worries of them bouncing back from any compression they might go through.

[jwc110869]

Well, I sent out my small ear caps today, so I'll have 6 larges in a week or so.

I would encourage others to trade as well, to save the expence from Sony or where ever.

p.s. - if someone is really, really hurting for a large cap, I suppose I could be persuaded (good begging) into mailing away one. Of couse it has to be really, really good begging.................... I mean a sincere request.

[toothpaste]

good to know, thanks

[dwchin]

By the way, I've still got a pair of new black medium caps for the EX51/71's. If anyone has a pair of new smalls and would like to trade for the mediums, let me know.

[dwchin]

My pair of mediums have been sent out, sorry :) Thanks for the pm's I got though.

[braincuttermd]

I have an unused pair of small and large in black. I wouldn't mind having an extra pair of mediums if anybody's interested in trading.

[mkong818]

I also have new pairs of small and large in black if anyone wants to trade for some new mediums.

[roastbeef2night]

Got the earbuds yesterday in the mail.
Thanks Jeff! Good to have the Sonys going again.

[Super Steve]

I got virgin large and mediums that i put in my ear once to find out it's kinda big.

They are like 1 hour old at the moment and i'd like some small ones if anyone wants to trade?

let me know! (these are grey ends from my white mdrex81sl)

[DrtyWhiteBoy]

Amazon.com has 51s for less than 30 dollars i think.

[LouMac]

Hey all,

I just got a pair of EX-71s, and I have no need for the medium and large inserts. They are brand new and unused, so I'd love to trade either set for a pair of virgin smalls that someone is willing to part with.

Send me a PM to coordinate.

Thanks!

[wells]

I would also like to trade. I lost one of my smalls and would trade the large (totally unused) or mediums (tried for fit one time) for some smalls.

I'm in the UK.

[Lizzle]

Wells - I'm in the UK too, brandishing some smalls for you. I've PMd you.

[wells]

If anyone else wants to trade (their) mediums in exchange for larges let me know.

Or if you know where you can buy replacement buds in the UK, that would be great too!

[rschravendeel]

Hello,

I emailed sony (france) about a missing earpiece, and got a reply THE NEXT DAY, that they would send me a replacement medium earpiece. Within 5 DAYS, I received TWO EARPIECES, ABSOLUTELY FREE.

Whatevever happened to you, I got mine free, compliments to SONY.

Ronald

[Chewie]

Originally posted by Lizzle
Wells - I'm in the UK too, brandishing some smalls for you. I've PMd you.

Lizzle if it does not work out with Wells, drop me a PM or e-mail me as I have a set of unused mediums or large to trade for smalls :)

[texasbiggs]

Will trade....have small unused black ..need large unused black
Sony 51.

North Texas...USA Mail only...

texasbiggs

[hzl]

i have the small and large to trade to medium... PM me. Since they are so small the light, I can drop it an envelope for basically anywhere, though US would probably be faster.... Anyway, PM me if you got some to trade! Thanks!

[andrew]

how bout just... not lose them?

[Doug Gilmour]

I'm going to close this as I have made a sticky, the Sony MDR-EX 51/71/81 Eartip Exchange (http://forums.ipodlounge.com/showthread.php?s=&threadid=75979) thread.

All future offers should be posted in there.

Thanks,

-Dan