Sony MDR-E818LP Fontopia Ear-Bud Headphones with Acoustic Twin Turbo Circuit Reviews

• Highly recommended.

  
  By A2W3KBMFRUDU4J on 2003-04-04
  Try as I might, I simply can't find headphones that match these for comfort, price, and performance. My data:
  - the wireless over-ear models like MDRIF330RK have too much electrical and RF interference
  - The Sony MDR-EX70LP can't be worn for hours at a stretch (the funky ear rubber covers are to blame)
  - The street style Sony MDR-G57G don't have the low end response that these do.

  I'm continuously blown away by how well these stack up against other models way out of its price range.

  This wouldn't be an unbiased review without some shortcomings:
  - they are easily jarred loose with lots of bodily movement (good for desk jockeys and rollerblading, not running)
  - they don't come with extra foam ear covers. Lose one and they're worthless.
  
  

• Great Earbuds!

  
  By AJJ11F5MHN8K9 on 2004-02-22
  SONY's Fontopia Ear Bud Headphones provide a wide range of natural sound. They have a sleek black and silver finish, a Y-shaped cord that is a little over three feet long, and an L-shaped Stereo Mini Plug. The ultra compact headphones fit snugly, and comfortably, inside the ear, eliminating the need for a headband. The MDR-E818LPs come with slip-on ear pads. These are in a small plastic pouch hidden behind the cardboard insert in the clear packaging. Be careful when you first open the container, as it would be easy to throw out the ear pads by mistake.
  
  These particular headphones would be especially good for movement -- such as while jogging, mowing the lawn, running, or lifting weights. They only weigh 5 grams. After a few minutes, you will scarcely notice you are wearing them. The Silent Cap on the ear buds stops sound leakage, so you're less likely to disturb someone sitting next to you while you enjoy your music. I use these with my laptop if someone else in the room is watching TV, or sometimes when I take my laptop out to a cafe, eatery, or Starbucks
  
  The MDR-E818LPs use Neodymium Magnets for powerful bass, and clear treble in a compact design. Neodymium is far more powerful than conventional Samarium Cobalt or Aluminum Magnets, two other kinds of magnets commonly used in the production of headphones and other personal electronics. Neodymium is also common in the production of bass amps, boat speakers, car audio products, computer hard drives, flat panel speakers, game systems, microphones, motorcycle parts, mp3 jukebox players, and travel speakers, in addition to headphones.
  
  Neodymium is not just some marketing tag invented by SONY either, I did some research on the internet and found out it is actually a rare earth metal, and can be found on the Periodic Table of Elements (60Nd). Neodymium is a component of didymium used for coloring glass to make welder's goggles, Neodymium salts are used as a colorant for enamel paints, Neodymium is also used to color glass in delicate shades ranging from pure violet through wine-red and warm gray, and Neodymium is also used in doped glass lasers. Neodymium is also used in electric switches, lense filters, junkyard magnets, phone receivers, refrigerator magnets, magnetic or non-magnetic screwdrivers, and a host of other everyday products you wouldn't suspect. Considering it is a "rare" earth metal, I'm surprised that it's used in so many products.
  
  Other brands of bass amps, boat speakers, car audio products, computer hard drives, flat panel speakers, game systems, headphones, microphones, motorcycle parts, mp3 jukebox players, and travel speakers also make use of Neodymium, such as: Altec Lansing, Apple, Audio Technica, Boston Acoustic, Coby, Creative, Directed, Dynaudio Acoustics, Hitachi, JBL, Kenwood, Koss, Labtec, Microsoft, Morel, Panasonic, Philips, Pioneer, Polk, Sennheiser, Skylon, Stanton, Tech 21, and others. It's not like this feature is unique to SONY.
  
  Neodymium Magnets are apparently the strongest that can be found. I couldn't find a really technically proficient explanation as to why Neodymium produces better sound, but after a little research, I'll accept that as fact.
  
  These SONY Fontopia Headphones were Made in Korea. If you need to exchange them, they can be replaced through the SONY Parts Center in Kansas City, Missouri. SONY has a toll-free line for frequently asked questions. Dial 1-800-222-7669 if you need to know more about their products. If SONY can't answer your question over the phone, you can always write them at their SONY Direct Response Center in Fort Myers, Florida.
  
  I'd just like to point out that these headphones are actually a replacement for an older pair of ear buds from SONY that I can no longer find, and as such were purchased from FYE for only $8.99. They are the best little pair of cheap ear buds you are likely to encounter.

  Specifications:
  
  Product Type: Headphones
  Features: Silver-plated plug, L-shaped plug
  Form Factor: Ear-bud
  Frequency Response: 16 - 22,000Hz
  Impedance: 16 ohms
  Magnet: Neodymium
  Power handling capacity: 50mW
  Recommended Use: Portable Audio
  Sensitivity: 104dB/mW
  Weight: 5 grams
  
  Recommended: Yes
  
  Amount Paid (US$): 8.99
  
  

• Best headphones for under 10 bucks

  
  By A34XK1ARWF3IK9 on 2006-04-15
  I don't know what those bad reviews are talking about. These headphones are simply the best ones I've had so far. After a horrible experience with Koss P4 headphones, I decided to look for other headphones under 10 bucks. I came across these in a local store one day and decided to try them out. It was a wonderful surprise to hear good bass response as well as feel a comfortable fit.
  What's good:
  1) Great bass which doesn't block out the treble/mid range and isn't muddy at all
  2) Good fit, with or without the foam padding. I prefer it without the padding, since it just slips in and doesn't fall out.
  3) Good case to protect the cord, etc. Kept it safe in my backpack.
  
  However, there are of course somethings that could be improved, but aren't that bad:
  1) Short cord, but I've learned to deal with it and either hold my mp3 player or put it in a closer pocket.
  2) Does get unconfortable after about an hour - other reviewers have explained that the headphone isn't circular in shape, but is a bit pointed on one corner. This may help it stay in the ear, but annoys me after a while.
  
  Sadly, after about 6 months of use the connection at the plug seemed to have broken a wire and the left earphone stopped working. But at under $10 I plan to buy them again.
  
  

• Art's miniDisc

  
  By A1PDAHTXGUDTKA on 2005-01-27
  I made a mistake here.
  The cloth covers for the earbuds tore while installing them (cheap)
  The earbuds are very uncomfortable. They don't fit into my ears properly & keep falling out.
  From what little I could hear from them the sound seems v. good.
  I just can't use them... Too bad since they look great.
  
  I'll have to find something else to use w/ mz-n510 ck MD unit. The supplied phones are really bad!!!
  
  
  

• Insult to music Listeners

  
  By A30YBUQVUU42E2 on 2005-09-08
  I just recieved my earbud which i ordered through Amazon. And with the first few minutes, I was disappointed. The earbud sounds more crappy than cheap imitation earbuds sold by the roadside . I was suprised as to how horrible Joe satriani sounded using the 818LP.Music sounded flat without depth or bass and absolutely tasteless . Anyone who even looks for even basic listening pleasure better look elsewhere.I expected much more from a brand like SONY.
  
  
• Great listening, don't drop in yer coffee!!
  By A1T1FYX6QTXGVW on 2004-06-21
  I had a great time at the office using these little incognito ear buds. One day, I need to keep an ear out for the phone and somehow I dropped one of the ear buds in my coffee. I tried to dry it out, but to no avail. it is now crackly and sounds bad. I guess I will buy another set!!
  
  
• Nice Sound
  By on 2004-06-23
  These buds sound great. My only complaint is the short cord since I listen from a PC not a personal player.
  
  
• Uncomfortable!
  By on 2003-12-29
  Female ears may not be large enough to accomodate the ear piece.
  
  
• Good Earbuds for the Portables
  By A11D1KHM7DVOQK on 2006-12-28
  I bought these earbuds for my CD player (at the time) because the ones I had before died on the right side. They were a pair of RCA behind the neck headphones I bought at Family Dollar for very cheap. I would buy another pair but now I have an iPod and want to buy mostly earbuds and clip headphones that are more portable. I was planning on buying a pair of Philips earbuds at Target because (I thought) these were dead on the right side and I dislike the iPod earbuds, but when I plugged these into my iPod they worked fine. After a break-in session they sound even better.
  
  Well, they are only ten bucks, so what can you expect? Not a ton, not a surround soundstage and great, powerful sound, but maybe something that has at least average sound, are comfortable, and will last a decent amount of time. And thatt's mostly what I got with these earbuds.
  
  They don't have stellar sound (that for some reason a ton of reviews rave about), but they have decent sound that's good enough for the money. Not a lot of bass, but some pairs at this price have barely any bass. The mids on this pair are emphazised (but not by a lot, props to Sony). And they do have a good, clean sound to them, so even if you are unhappy with the low end of these earbuds you at least have a good upper end.
  
  For other aspects of the earbuds, they are very comfortable and fit much better than the Apple earbuds, but feel better with the pads. I have already lost the pads but still fit fine and are still comfortable for long periods of time. Also, these are some durable headphones so far, and after a half-year of use they still put up nicely.
  
  Overall, not a bad pair of esrbuds for portables. Already got a better pair? Keep these for some useful back-ups. They don't have amazing sound, but are comfortable and last long enough to make them worth the price. 4 stars.
  
  NOTE: These are the case-less version of the MDRE828LP earbuds. If you want a case for a barely steeper price, check out the MDRE828LP earbuds instead of these, but if you want a money-saver, buy these.
  
  
• Great yet inexpensive product
  By A2XLGCT3TU91PR on 2007-07-08
  When I purchased these I had the mindset of just giving them a try because they were only 8 dollars. I didn't expect too much. I got them to replace my Ipod earphones which are the lousiest earphones ever. more sound left the earphone to the surrounding environment than what actually entered my ear. These sony earphones are different. I am really happy with the purchase.
  
  
• not the best
  By A3SBAZA1057K2V on 2007-12-31
  I received these for chistmas as replacement to my ipod earbuds and I am less than satisfied, they will be returned. First, the bud shape is awkward and large, and becomes uncomfortable to wear after 10 minutes use. They are bass-ier than the ipod buds and I can't hear the singer's nuances as well, which may or may not be a minus to others, but I prefer vocals over boom. And yes they are light, but the material is a slick hard-plastic which is hard to grip and also hollow, so anything touching against the bud reflects into your ear..for instance, hair brushing over the outside plastic becomes amplified, which is annoying and distracting.
  
  The sound is decent for the price, and if you have short hair it may not bother you, but these are not the best choice for everyone.
  
  
• Decent for the price
  By A2XACY04XC4IJ2 on 2008-04-22
  I've had these for about 6 months and they've served their purpose. Decent sound quality, lightweight, and inexpensive. I never had a problem with them being uncomfortable, but they do tend to fall out from time to time when running/working out, which is the main purpose I have them. The real downfall for me was the short cord - if you have your desktop computer tower on the floor, don't expect to be able to reasonably plug them in and listen comfortably from your chair....or if you have your mp3 player in the wrong pocket the cord might not reach to your ears. Not to mention, they're malfunctioning now because of a broken wire probably that is causing one or the other speaker to cut out, so it's time for some new ones and I won't be getting these again. I guess you get what you pay for...
  
  
• Quality is the best so far. The shape fit nicely into ear
  By A3EZAZH1CZNHZJ on 2008-05-22
  This product always be my first choice since i got one 5 years back.
  The bass and treble is very clear and you will not regret on getting this.
  
  
• I've never had luck with Sony products...
  By A2N9F3776N4MGF on 2006-04-11
  There's little I can tell about the 818LP because my set...broke down after roughly 2 months of use.
  Other than that, I think that in terms of sound, they're worth the price but for a price just a bit higher you can get the Koss Spark Plug earbuds which outperform the Sony 818LP in ALL ASPECTS. The foam covers are not only difficult to put on, they fall off in an instant, mine lasted one week and one has gone missing, making the other one useless as there is no spare set included.
  Generally, I'm very disappointed with these earbuds, I expected more from Sony...MUCH MORE, but - just because of their sound - I give them 2 stars...
  
  
• Only had 9 months - and broke already!!
  By AWZQVRHWQDQE7 on 2006-06-16
  I bought these headphones for my girlfriend's ipod and within 9 months - they were broken. I guess I didn't expect much for 7 bucks. Next time I know to buy a higher quality item.
  
  
• Great for the $
  By AGXV8E7XK9J6H on 2006-11-10
  I got these ear buds to use along with my notebook computer since they are so small and easy to carry. I have had several Sony products in the past with no complaints and like this design of ear bud. Plus they are under $10, even if they get lost or break after a year or so your not out much. For what they are, they do a very good job. You can't really expect great sound quality or build quality in this price range. If you want a great set of headphones check out the Sennheiser HD-595s, you won't regret it.
  
  
• If you plan on walking a lot while listening...
  By AXLV2L2MT93JW on 2007-01-16
  Do not buy these. After two minutes of using these, I realized that they weren't going to stay in my ears and I was S.O.L. They are oddly shaped, uncomfortable, and do not stay in.
  
  
• Great for the price!
  By A12XDEMP7PQPDT on 2007-06-26
  These lightweight, comfortable earbuds provide good, well-balanced, sound at an attractive price. They do not rival $200 headphones, of course; but they are better than one would expect for the price. There are no frills--I used to have a similar set with a small in-line volume control, but they were bundled with a Sony Clié PDA and don't seem to be available for separate purchase. One word of caution: an identical pair of these headphones developed distortion on one side after only about three months; I have no idea if it is common for them to go bad so quickly, but at their low price I was willing to gamble on another pair--so far, after about a month, there have been no problems.
  
  
• Good deal for earphones
  By A3FJ6H1E0372KC on 2008-07-14
  I also own a pair of Shure noise canceling earphones that I use for airplane trips. But those are too expensive to use for my clumsy workouts with my ipod, so I bought these as an alternative. Sound is much better than the Apple-issue white earphones and also an upgrade over similar JLab earphones I bought last year. The sound is richer and the bass is decent.
  
  4 stars based on price/value.
  
  
• Very good sound in a small form factor
  By A2ENNPWC706YJ3 on 2008-08-15
  I have tried various ear-bud headphones and I almost always get disappointed. These headphones are a very good exception. They have very good lows compare to others. They certainly blow away the headphones that come with the iPod Nano. They are comfortable to wear, even without the little sponges.
  
  
  
  

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