Sony MDR-EX71SL Fontopia In-The-Ear Headphones (Black) Reviews

• Good for casual listening

  
  By A2LQBWN3R5SFS6 on 2004-03-20
  I read everyone's reviews before making my decision to purchase these headphones for myself. I wanted new headphones to replace my failing iPod headphones. These fit the bill.

  Let me first say that everyone is correct in the comfort that you will receive using these. These are a world of improvement in the comfort factor over the cheap Apple iPod headphones and other ear buds.

  Second the sound is good. These are NOT premium over-the-ear headphones and should not be compared to any you own. They do provide the best noise blocking of any in-ear phones that I have tried. Previously remarked by other reiewers: you must put them in your ear fully or the bass is entirely lost. When I first put them on, I though I was in for a return, but after fiddling with them for a few minutes I was a happy camper again.

  Lastly, they come with a nice little case to keep them from meeting the same fate of other ear buds by being smashed in my backpack. They also come with a handy extension cord for when you want to lean back from the source.

  So if you need a new pair of ear phones, and comfort is at the top of your list - you might enjoy these.
  
  

• Perfect NYC commuting headphones

  
  By on 2003-10-31
  Kudos to Sony.These earphones offer the best combination of isolation, sound quality, comfort, and easy on-and-off design. I am a commuter in NYC, and twice a day I walk a few blocks, take a bus for about 15 minutes and a subway for another 20 minutes. I used to use Koss KSC-35's, but their open-air design had me constantly changing volumes to deal with the various noise levels. I also needed to put the volume on very high to deal with the subway, and I was afraid that I was harming my hearing. I tried the Sennheiser PX-200's and while real comfy, the isolation wasn't enough. Then I tried the Shure E2C's, but the only insert that would fit my small ear canals was the small foam pair. Since you need to take the time to roll these foam inserts up real small before inserting, then hold them in your ears till they expand, that made them very inconvenient for everyday on-and-off use. These Sony's are also a little more comfortable than the Shure E2C's. I have even tried the Koss Plugs, but they do not fit in my small ear canals at all and constantly came out. Thanks to these Sony earphones, I can now travel in comfort and musical bliss for my whole commute without the need to constantly change volumes. As with the Shure earphones, only the smaller inserts fit me on these Sony's. At first, it takes awhile to get used to these, and my ears did get a little sore, but after a few weeks I got used to them. The material that goes into the ear is pretty smooth for easy insertion, and is fairly easy to keep clean. A word of advice: do clean the removable inserts once in awhile in soap and water and keep your ears clean! The sound on these is very good with solid bass. Perhaps not the best you will hear, but better than your average moderately priced headphones of any design and brand. Another word of caution: if you need to operate a bicycle or vehicle these are dangerous as outside sounds are really muffled or cut off. So don't use these in environments where you need to hear sounds clearly.
  
  

• Best value for the price...

  
  By A2742OATXZE1EF on 2004-03-03
  Sound reproduction:
  - Because it's an earbud and for this price, you can't expect the sound reproduction of a $100 over-the-head headphones. The bass is quite nice for size of the earbud, the bass may become a bit overcoming for some songs, the highs are there, I just think the mids are a bit weak. Size matters, and for such tiny thing to give an output close to my Sony MDR-V600, it's quite nice.

  Design:
  - I'm amazed how many people do not like the extra length on the right side. I love this design because youcan put the right cord behind your head and you will never have worry about another cord being in your way in front of you. The extension of the cord is meant for people who have MP3 players with remotes, therefore shorter length and you won't have a cord dangling around.

  Fit:
  - The one I purchased came with 3 sets of different size earbud, and I found the middle ones to fit best. I do not have the problem of others while working as they stay snug in my hear the whole time (treadmill, elliptical machine, etc...)

  Value:
  - For under $40, it's the best earbuds for the price and some very nice sound reproduction. Design is especially convenient if you have a remote and you like the length to pull the cord behind your head.
  
  

• The proof is in the preference

  
  By A1CI0SHYU3ZDQZ on 2004-06-29
  First of all, I did ALOT of research on canal/earbud phones (including reading all of these reviews and many others on other websites) before settling on a pair for purchase. I am pretty much a audiophile however that doesn't mean I expect pefection with every purchase, I realize there's ALWAYS going to something that I wish sounded, worked or was designed better. I am also a bargain shopper not willing to shell out $500 and up for headphones, mainly because I cannot not afford it and I (like the rest of us) don't like being overcharged.
  That being said, let me start with that fact that I actually purchased the Sony MDR-EX51LP's not the MDR-EX71SL's. The reason? After my research I discovered there's not much difference between the 2, save the short cord/extension problem you will read about later and the fact that they carried them at Best Buy which made it easier to return them if necessary (I came across comments that stated Amazon charges you if you decide to return the MDR-EX71SL's).
  Let me start by saying I am VERY satified with my purchase. I bought them about 3 weeks ago at Best Buy for $39.99 plus tax, roughly the same price Amazon is charging for the MDR-EX71SL's. I was looking for earphones that would block a significant amount of exterior sound, fit snugly in the ear and not fall out as well as produce a quality of sound I would appreciate. I can say all of those needs are met with my MDR-EX51LP's. There are a few things you should know about these earphones though.

  #1 If you don't like having to fiddle with little things to get great sound, don't buy these. The multi size silicon earbud coverings take a little time to figure out. You must have a complete seal to hear clear bass so play with the sizes to see which one fits you. I actually lucked out and the medium size (which is already placed on the phones) fit my left ear perfectly giving me an understanding of how they should fit. My right ear wasn't so lucky and after playing around I found that the large size was the solution.
  
  #2 You must understand that these phones work like ear plugs. You have to fit these babies snugly in your ear or the bass is not distinct and the noises around you will be more audible and not as cleanly "Blocked out". A proper seal is a must!! Now this isn't nearly as hard or annoying as it sounds and once it's done you'll be happy you bought these. As a side note, the silicon earbuds can get quite dirty if you don't use q-tips often so clean your ears! Also this "ear plug" sensation will take some getting used to (For me a couple of days) so have patience.

  #3 Part of the complaint I noted from other reviewers was the cord of the MDR-EX71SL, apparently it is quite short and designed for ipod users and players with arm band capability. Sony's solution was to include an excessively long extension cord that again apparently caused problems (read the rest of the reviews) with its connector. The MDR-EX51LP has the same cord design as the MDR-EX71SL's (Right side longer than the left so that the cord can sit behind your head) save one distinct difference. The cord for the MDR-EX51LP has one long cord like every other pair of headphones you've ever owned so it's much easier to deal with. However, due to the similiar behind the head design (Right side longer than left), I do think purchasing a clip is necessary to hold the cord in place. I find the extra length of the right side has too much slack and either gets in the way or caught on clothing. This sometimes tugs on the phones themselves, particularly on the left side. This becomes a nuissance. Also the cord is pretty thin, no problems yet but due to experiences in the past with other earphones I fear it could be in the future.

  #4 Most importantly, is the sound itself. Now this is where things get complicated. Everyone has different tastes as how their music should sound so you are going to get varying opinions. I find, with a good seal (I cannot stress this enough), the sound is much improved over standard earphones and earbuds. I found the EQ a little tinny at first but the balance can be evened out with a bass booster, this allows capabilty for heavier bass sounds. My player has 2 settings of bass boost and I find the first setting to be more than adequate, the 2nd was a bit too much bass for my liking. The external sounds around you disappear when music is playing and this allows for quiet listening as not to damage your now clean ears. This is key as I travel alot!

  So overall, I'd say that Sony has done a great job. If you want really great sound with the small size and convenience of earbuds and you are tired of tinny treble driven phones then these are for you. But if you expect pristine quality sound and bass that bumps you out of your chair I suggest you stick with over the head headphones or if you're willing to shell out $500 + for the top of the line then go for it. Shure's Ec5's rock. But me, I'd rather shell out $40 for earphones that give me just what I'm looking for. If you check out comparable earbud phones you'll find you'll end paying more for very simliar results in sound and other trade offs of various problems, etc.. I checked out Shure's (Ec2 & Ec3) as well as Etymotic (ER-6)and there were minute differences in performance and design but huge differences in price!!
  
  Final word, I rated these only 4 stars because of the cord problem and the weak excuse for a cord case (Don't bother it's too time consuming and will break eventually) but I'm extemely pleased with my purchase and would highly recomend it to anyone looking for a REASONABLY priced pair of high end earbud phones. However, I would seriously recomend the following: Research all, Physically check out all and then buy what you prefer.
  
  

• Absolutely amazing

  
  By A26YRCBW9CWGR1 on 2004-03-21
  These headphones are by far the most comfortable headphones i have ever purchased. the in ear system effectively blocks out much external sound and allows the user to hear strong treble and powerful bass sound reproduction. the bass is extrememly clearly reproduced because of the very low end of the range (much lower than most standard consumer headphones which often begin their reproductive range at 12Hz or 14Hz)these start at 6Hz

  Some tips about other reviews and some thoughts :

  - the silicon plugs cause a kind of stethoscope affect (medical instrument for observing heartbeats) whenever the cord hits something (mainly your chest) some reviews say this is a nuisance but fail to mention that it cannot be heard if you actually have your music on :P

  - when i first used these headphones i was somewhat dissapointed in the bass. i however listend to a review and waited for them to break in a bit and was astonished at how much more powerful the bass was after a few days.

  - you must also experiment with how deep in your ear the headphones should be for good sound reproduction. different ear size = different sized cap and different comfortable depth

  These headphones are somewhat pricy in stores but are completely worth the money i would give this product six stars if it was at all possible.
  
  

• your mileage will vary
  By A4PCG6ZN4QMJ3 on 2003-09-26
  I recently purchased Sony EX71 earbuds, since I was weary
  of the unbearable no-name buds that I happened to use once
  before while listening to MP3 from my Compaq 3850 PDA.

  I was confused by the many discordant opinions about these
  buds; except all agreed that the buds were comfortable.
  Shure e2c earbuds have been described in much less polite
  terms as to comfort, which was my main discriminant in
  purchasing the EX71. I'd be curious to try the Shure, though.
  Yet, I decided to try a pair of EX71 and do a little subjective
  testing of my own. The results may be of general interest, so I
  am posting them here.

  As to the comfort, I subscribe to the general opinion. Sony
  EX71 are positively very comfortable. I tried and sit under
  them at work for 5 or 6 hours with no more discomfort than
  that of reasonable over-the-ear phones. That's not bad for
  a device in close contact with my ear canal.

  As to the sound, the issue is thorny. By way of summary I
  can say this: I think the EX71 are not bad at all, but I also
  think they are difficult to drive--not an easy load from my
  experience, and if poorly driven they sound truly terrible.

  Here is my setup 1)
  Winamp with MAD MP3 decoder
  Delta 2496 Audiophile card
  META42 phone amp with AD8610 (mildly bright amp)

  Here is my setup 2)
  Compaq 3850
  PocketMusic 1.2 MP3 player (www.pocketmind.com)
  Cans driven directly from phone plug

  Comparison headphones: Sennheiser HD580

  Let me premise that I cannot hear anything above
  16,000 Hz, as tested with a tone generator and the
  HD580. On the low end I can hear down to 16-18Hz.

  Impression on setup 1: The Senn are clearly superior :)
  but the EX71 put up a good fight: EX71 buds are pleasant
  to listen to. In more detail:

  (a) The bass lacks the depth and precision of
  the HD580, but as long as you don't push the buds too
  deep in your ears the bass is acceptable. The "as long
  as" is a very important conditional clause, and, to me, it's
  an advantage because I find it uncomfortable to have
  objects deep-seated in my ears. I understand this can be a
  serious drawback for those using the buds in very noisy
  environments or while jogging or sporting. On the other hand,
  bass is there in reasonable quantity and quality. Not bad, not
  bad at all. (b) Mids are a bit rough and a bit muddy on the
  EX71. The Senns are smooth as velvet, clear as drinking
  water. EX71 are cotton, but not burlap. The difference is
  easily audible, and tolerable. The EX71 are reasonably well
  defined and selective, different components can still be picked
  up easily. (c) Mid-hi and high end in the EX71
  is somewhat too exuberant; the EX71 pull out hiss from the
  darkest corner of a recording, tending to exacerbate the
  harshness of mediocre remasterings of '70s or older tracks.
  In these cases, a good DSP is just about mandatory. On good
  tracks, the EX71 are pretty good, more brilliant, even if less
  defined than the HD580. Still easy to listen to.

  Impression on setup 2: The Senns are merciless, MP3
  artifact in the opening of Also Sprach Zarathustra at
  128Kbps are truly annoying. However, the 3850 does a
  reasonable job of driving the cans both when the digital
  volume control is half way and when it is full way up.
  The sound level is OK at full volume. The EX71 at half
  volume are unpleasant, at full volume they are
  unaudible--not because the sound level is too high, but
  because the sound quality is insufferably poor. Apparently,
  the 3850 has a hard time delivering current (EX71 are
  rated at 16 Ohms), an attribute probably shared by much
  portable electronic equipment. The EX71, it seems, easily
  provoke bad electronic behavior and are very intolerant
  of it, too. This seems to me as an alarming mix.

  ---------

  Since I bought the buds for portable use, I tried a 3rd
  setup hooking up a second META42 with a Burr-Brown OPA2132
  (a more mellow, darker-sounding amp) and plugged the EX71
  into the META42. This worked MUCH better; the general tenure
  of the result was still hissy (not much, but audibly so,
  probably from the PDA as the amp is as quiet as a church
  mouse). The sound quality improved remarkably, and I never
  drove the PDA volume tab past halfway. By way of example,
  on one occasion when I took the setup outdoors I thought I
  heard a bell tolling in the distance in the real world, while
  I was listening. Repeatedly I took off the buds, only to
  realize that the sound was actually part of the reproduced
  musical program.

  In sum, I will keep my EX71. They are comfortable, very
  small, and if properly driven their sound is not bad at
  all to me. People that hear past 16,000 Hz or have
  different priorities may certainly think otherwise, but
  I'm pretty happy with my pair of EX71.
  
  

• Not good for active people
  By A1MSVE56KX9N5A on 2003-06-25
  When I had read all of the reviews of these headphones I was pretty excited to try them out. When I opened them up and listened to them sitting at home they sounded great! Then I went for a jog.......a totally different story. Once the earphones are in place they do a great job of cancelling out sound but any movement of the cord at all (bumping against your shirt while running) transmits the sound directly to your ears. Anybody who has used a stethoscope will know what I'm talking about. While running (even walking) you hear this constant loud bumping sound being transmitted to your ears. I cannot believe that I haven't heard this mentioned before, its pretty significant. For sitting at home their great but if you plan on moving your body at all, forget it.
  
  
• Not much to improve on...
  By A1F3GOUFG7Y73U on 2004-09-20
  I proudly have a pair of [white] ones. Amazon.com only sells them in black, but if you go to Warehouse123.com, they can sell you white ones. May be more expensive, but if you want [white], that's what you have to pay. It was all in the sake of my iPod to match it's whiteness. They are also available on SonyStyle.com for about $50.
  
  The earphones will be the same, regardless of color. (Of course.)
  
  
  Sound: The sound is awesome! Because of it's superior quality and closed-type design, you can re-listen to every little sound, echo, filters to acapellas... it's amazing how much details you can hear. It really does pick up EVERY single sound. Imagine this in the aspect of working with digital images. Most earphones can only provided so much sound... let's say 200% zoom. These will provided you with minimum 600% zoom. So that's really good. Bass is great too, you just need to make sure you have the right sized silicon earpieces on the earphones to perfectly fit your ears so they will pick up the bass. Otherwise, if you put on ear coverings that are too small, you will get no bass at all.
  
  
  Design: It looks great... again, I prefer the white ones. The biggest problem I noticed previous reviewer's reviews was that the cord for the earphones were too short. I thought it couldn't be that bad... but they really are. From the part that the cord splits to the individual earpieces, you'll have 15 inches of cord to connect to your music player. Basically, you have to be holding it next to your neck for it not to be jerking your head around. It comes with an extension cord, that makes it longer. It is approx. 35 inches, almost 3 feet. So... that will definitely give you more cord space. The extension cord in my opinion did not weigh the headphones down at all. Just note that the reason why the cord is so short is because the headphones are "remote-friendly". Thus, ideal for music players with remotes as many Sonys do as well as the remote offered for iPods.
  
  Another part of the design is that the earpieces don't exactly split up into two pieces and go straight up to your ears. Like most Sonys... one of the individual earpiece's cords is short, while the other one is long. You wear the short one to your left ear, the other goes around the back of your head to the other ear (the long one). I prefer this design over the common one because you don't have those situations where the cord runs into your neck or face...
  
  
  Comfort: I tried the small silicon earpieces, but they were too small and I did not get any bass. Though it was comfortable and I did not feel it at all due to the ultra light-weight of the earbuds. To get bass I had to wear the larger silicon ear coverings, which was very similar in feeling to wearing a doctor's stethoscope. It's just one of those things that you have to get used to, but once you start listening to music you dont's notice it as much. But bass is necessary to have... small price to pay. After wearing a few days, you get used to the feeling.
  
  
  Price: For the quality of sound... this is definitely a good bargain compared to other similar earphones of the same price range.
  
  
  
  Conclusion: Could be improved definitely, comfort for in-ear type earphones is tricky... and it's definitely one of the better ones in that area. Sound quality is exceptional.
  
  
  *Personal notes:
  
  - The in-ear feeling may be very, very uncomfortable at first. But no need to worry, you get used to it in a matter of minutes with music playing. After a few days of wearing them, you'll have no uncomfortableness at all. Just be sure to test all earpieces out to find the perfect one. One way to make sure is play a song with good bass. The earpieces with the best bass reception is the perfect fit.
  
  - Make sure to be careful with the earpieces. The earpieces may fall out at times, not on its own but it's not un-ordinary to get earphones tangled up or dropped.
  
  
• Takes a little doing...
  By A2EBP3M0QBJ8DP on 2003-10-23
  These headphones MUST be fit properly to hear the bass and detail of which they're capable. It took me around an hour of fidgeting with the headphones and my iPod before I finally got decent bass. iPod owners, turn your Sound Check off. I may try using Sound Check again, but am getting great sound at a volume just shy of center. With the Apple headphones, I always needed a higher volume to get crisp sound. These block enough ambient noise out that a lower volume works well. You may or may not want your equalizer set to Bass Booster. Again, make sure they fit your ears properly for decent bass.
  
  
• Good comfort, sound, strange cord design, price varies
  By A1FMWLZ9YY91XI on 2005-02-21
  I never bothered using the Apple earbuds that came with my iPod; too many negative reviews and they just looked uncomfortable. My husband researched earbuds exhaustively and presented these as a gift. For the most part, his research paid off.
  
  Noise cancellation: when I'm plugged in, I'm tuned out to the outside world. One little quirk: they can be a bit like a stethoscope. I can hear my footsteps, teeth grinding and breathing TOO well. Also, touching the cord is like tapping a live microphone. At times distracting, but after awhile, I don't notice it too much. Overall: ****
  
  Comfort: The soft, varying gasket sizes allow for maximum comfort over sustained (hours long) periods of wear. They're tight enough to stay put, loose enough to keep from feeling "suctioned." Overall: ****
  
  Sound quality: The bass is satisfying, treble can be tinny at times, but for earbuds, I think these produce great sound. If I were to step up, I'd probably opt for an over-the-head set. Overall: ***
  
  Design: The weak point, I believe. Others have said it and I agree that the uneven right/left cord length is rather awkward (even when the right wraps around the back of the head). Used without the extension cord, the regular cord length is not long enough to fit in a waist-length pocket. With the cord, there is an excess that, if not carefully managed, tends to catch on everything around it. In addition, the cord/extender connector is so heavy, it tends to pull the delicate cords out of the ear; I've resorted to using my cell phone cord clip to solve the problem. Cord itself is very delicate. Overall: **
  
  Case: Nice idea, a bit cramped, but I like how compact it is. Fits neatly into a purse pocket or backpack with no worries about the buds' safety. Overall: ***
  
  Price: Do your research and be patient! I've seen the price go from $50 to $34, down to $25, and, as of this writing, back up to $34, all here at Amazon.
  
  
• Pretty damn reasonable, but not for sporting activities
  By A11OJ8XOH9XDL2 on 2004-02-24
  For the money & their tiny size, these earbud headphones sound pretty damn good. The reason I'm not entirely happy with them is that I'd hoped to be able to use them while running, and they're not suitable for that (which seems obvious in retrospect). For one, the earbuds will start to slip out when the sweat starts pouring into your ears (somewhat to be expected), but this slipping is greatly worsened by the uneven cord length. One of the earlier reviewers commended Sony's design choice to have uneven cord lengths - i.e. the right & left lines from the earphones meet on the left hand side rather than in the middle, this is apparently useful if you have your portable music player on one side of the body. However, if you are bouncing around a lot, the off-center weight distribution will very quickly pull the left earbud out of your ear. That having been said, earbud headphones are probably just a poor choice for working out, and in day-to-day use the buds are very comfortable in my ears, so I'd still very much recommend them if your useage scenario is a bit more sedate. And they're only $35, which is fair for what you get.
  
  
• Great sound, terrible design
  By A2V6JA8LDH1JKI on 2005-01-18
  I own several pairs of headphones- Koss' "The Plug," Creative's earbuds, a pair of over-the-ear studio headphones from Sony, and this set. This set excels in some features, and fails miserably in others. First, the good:
  
  SOUND
  The sound quality in this pair is excellent. It blows all my other pairs away, hands-down. The sound is remarkably clear and crisp, and reproduces everything from Slayer to Debussy in incredible quality. The bass response isn't the same as Koss' The Plug, but unless you are an absolute bass fiend, you won't really notice. Once properly fit into the ears, these also create some passive noise reduction that helps quite a bit.
  
  COMFORT
  The rubber pads are far more comfortable than The Plug's scratchy plastic-and-foam design, which constantly hurt my ears. They're still in-the-ear, which can feel invasive to some people and can get tiresome after some time. However, this is the most comfortable pair of in-the-ear buds I've ever seen. However, note that even with a perfect seal, the rubber means that if you sweat quite a bit, the earbuds tend to come loose.
  
  And now, the bad:
  
  DESIGN
  Where this set excels in sound and comfort, it fails miserably in design. I wish Sony hadn't tried to get all fancy on this set, because the poor design has relegated this pair to gym-only usage for me.
  
  First, Sony somehow thought that consumers wanted a cord that went around the back of the head instead of hanging in front. As a result, the left cord is much shorter than the right- the right earbud is designed to go around the back of your neck and then into the ear. I knew this going in and thought it sounded cool. In practice, it isn't. The metal nub where the two cords come together is just heavy enough to constantly be tugging on the wire, so the left earbud always feels like it's being pulled out of your ear. I ended up "modding" my pair by doubling up the right cord and using a twist-tie to make them effectively the same length. It solves the problem, but looks bad.
  
  Second, Sony manages to get the total cord length wrong...twice. The package comes with the initial cord, which has the standard jack and the earbuds. This is about 1' long, which isn't even long enough to connect to a MP3 player in a front jacket pocket without the earbuds being yanked out. The package also comes with a 3' extension cord, which then makes the total cord length 4', a foot longer than the basic set of headphones. This extra foot is annoying; it hangs too low when attached to something in your pocket or on a belt clip, which means it gets caught on things easily and yanks out the earbuds.
  
  Additionally, the cord manages to be both too thin and too heavy at the same time. Like Koss' The Plug, this cord is very thin and tangles very easily, particularly given its extra length and uneven earbud cords. While Koss' set at least then has the virtue of being nigh-weightless, the Sony pair's extension cord uses large gold connectors which add significant weight to the set and, again, make them feel like they're being pulled out of your ears.
  
  Finally, the package comes with two cases. The "carrying case" is junk. You have to wind the cord so tightly it makes a thousand kinks to store it inside, and it takes about five minutes to accomplish this should you for some reason want a cord which resembles an accordion. By contrast, the earbud case is well-designed and the one bright spot on this otherwise dreary design plan; I wish my other headphones came with one of these.
  
  OVERALL
  These aren't going to cause you to pitch all your other headphones. They're good for a dedicated purpose, but they're too unwieldy to be the kind you pop in and out of your pocket throughout the day. When Sony makes a version of these with just a basic, no-frills 3' straight-line cord, I'll be the first to buy it and recommend it. Until then, proceed with caution.
  
  
• Nice workout headset for non-audiophiles
  By A3Q8QFUBS4Y9GT on 2003-10-18
  I read all the Amazon and epinions reviews on the predecessor of this model -- MDR-EX70LP. And the reviews are mixed. Some complained loudly about the quality of the sound in comparison to the "shure e2c" and any "Etymotic Research" models. Others liked the sound compared to their other earbuds.

  I don't consider myself an audiophile. The only reason I'm replacing the Sennheisser MX300 that came with my iRiver ifp-195tc was that they kept falling out when I was on the treadmill. Some people from Google Groups had positive experiences working out using the Sony Fontopia family, and it's way cheaper compared to the other models especially the Etymotic Research models, so I went for it.

  I just got them this afternoon, and they worked like a charm while working out. Here come my humble review:

  The GOOD:

  * short cord perfect for armband mp3 players, no more flailing cords

  * I've never used the in ear canal type of bud before and these sound pretty decent. I'd love to try the shure and ER models just to see what the fuss is about if I get the chance.

  * the length of wire going into right ear is longer than the left. This style is meant to be worn behind the head. My Sennheissers were like this and I got used to it. It's definitely another plus for armband mp3 players.

  The BAD:

  * The drawback of the in-canal type of bud, I guess is that when you rub the chord the ruffle comes through pretty loudly, kind of like how kids with cups-and-string phones. I could hear my heart beating and myself breathing in the background of the music, but I got used to it.

  * The cord is rather flimsy. They had to keep it light considering the target audience I guess. I like light.

  * Because they chose the shorter cord to accomodate remotes and my iRiver type of players, there is an extension portion you can use if the cord is too short. The junction is fairly heavy, but the connection is solid so far.

  * As I was doing my pre-buying research, I found that some people lost the rubber fitting tip of the bud, and had to get replacements from Sony. The replacements are more than $10 for a pair before shipping. I haven't had a problem with them falling out, but KNOW that you don't get any backup tips. They give you one pair each of "small", "regular", and "large". Lose one and you're on your own.

  That's about all I have. Notice I didn't go crazy describing the audio response in different frequency ranges and stuff. I'm NOT an audiophile. They sound good. They are a bit more expensive than regular $5-$10 buds, but well worth the price. A final plus for this model is that some people describe the Etymotic Research earbuds as providing an orgasmic experience. You won't have to worry about orgasms in public with the Sony! ;-)...

  I enjoyed jogging today a lot more without having to tug and organize the wires on my Senns, and the music was great. AND THE BUDS STAYED IN THE WHOLE TIME.
  
  

• Not bad (and a tip)
  By A35FBBZX7QJHCX on 2003-12-08
  Headphones and earbuds are very subjective, and reviews vary widely for them, especially Sony. Some audiophiles would have you believe these are unredeemable junk, and other users really love them. The truth is somewhere in between for me. They're a nice combination of performance for the money. Better sound quality than the cheap phones that come with most portables, but less expensive than the high-end earbuds (which I personally can't justify buying).

  One tip on proper use - if you don't get the buds inserted correctly, the sound is awful. Bass is nonexistent, mids and highs are washed, and if you turn up the volume too high to compensate, the speakers can respond with an overdriven crackling.

  To fit the buds correctly, slip them into your ear canal, then GENTLY tug on your ear, pulling it back and away from your head. The buds should slide a little deeper into the canal and create a seal, dramatically improving quality. Don't just try and jam them in your ear. Also, experiment with the silicone caps to get the best fit.
  
  

• Give them their due
  By A2IMGBKWDJJZC2 on 2004-01-08
  I bought these after reading mixed reviews. Those that have trasehd them seem to be expecting something other than what $35.00 will buy. If you want overall great sounding and very comfortable earbuds, then these work great. If you want super high fidelity, then spend $200.00 on a pair of over the ear Sennheiser or the like. The in-ear system is by far the most comfortable set of bud type earphones I've ever worn. They also block out almost all of the noise around me when I'm exercising. For $35.00 you can't go wrong.
  
  
• Some design clarifications...
  By A3HCWWG2FIHELP on 2004-12-28
  After reading some of the reviews, it seems as though many people are not understanding the design behind these really nice earbuds.
  
  First design "flaw" I'd like to clear up is issues with the uneven cord length. The reason behind the uneven cord length is so you can take off one of the earplugs without having it dangling below ur waist. you're supposed to wear it behind your neck so if you decide to take one of them off, it will be right on your shoulder when it's time to put it back into your ear.
  
  The second design flaw I'd like to explain is in terms of the cord length. The reason the cord is so short is not only b/c ppl wear their audio players on their arms. The reason behind this design is a result of many players coming with a wired remote control. For those of you who have players with wired remotes, you probably know how long the cord can get when you attach a standard length headphone cord to a wired remote. Sony fixed that issue by making the cord shorter.
  
  The last design flaw is in terms of the sound. When I first got these earphones, i didn't know they were supposed to completely seal out any external noise. if the earbud is not fitting very snuggly into your ear canal, you won't get the true sound being produced and you will need to move up one size. as soon as the earbud creates a pretty tight seal around your ear hole, you will experience the true capabilities of these earbuds.
  
  
• Know what you are buying
  By A2BMZRO0H7TFCS on 2004-04-22
  1) CORD a: Yes, the cord on one side is longer than the other so that you can either put the cord behind your neck or let it hang under your chin. This is a feature. If you don't think you'll like this design, then these headphones may not be for you. I do wish it was just a tad longer however. An additional couple of inches would help when wearing thicker clothing.

  2) CORD b: These headphones are short-cord style headphones, with an extension cord. The short-cord style is ideal for many current portables that come with a wired remote so that you don't have an extra 6-10 inches of tangled cord. For those who don't need it to be short, the extension should give you plenty of extra length.

  3) EARBUDS & COMFORT: The earbuds are made of silicon and the degree of comfort may differ for everyone. Personally, these are significantly more comfortable than *ANY* in-ear headphones I have ever worn. I have not however, tried the Shure or Etymotic's, but then again, I'm not reviewing $120 headphones. Also, some of you may not like how far down the ear you have to insert these. It practically sits in your ear canal. I don't mind however. My only complaint about the silicon buds is that it picks up a lot of particles, from your ears or just dust sitting on the desk. Might want to give them a good wipe with a wet paper towel now and then.

  4) SOUND: The frequency response specs on these are pretty impressive. Hooked into my MP3 player or MiniDisc player, I am pleased with the sound quality, which is mostly rock-based, pop, and some trance. The bass is very very good. So good, that I turned the bass boost on my MD down. I usually have to compensate for poor bass, but with the MDR-EX71SL's, not so.

  5) ACCESSORIES: The MDR-EX71SL comes with 3 different sized earbuds, a 3 foot extension cord, a plastic case for the headphones, and another piece of plastic which I think is supposed to enclose the headphones or help wind the length of the cord(not sure yet).

  6) MISC: I read one reviewer mention, "South Korean-made, Sony badged" and I'm not sure what that has anything to do with it. Sony hasn't made their products in Japan for a long time, less some of their higher end equipment. These are not rebadged headphones.

  SUMMARY:
  If the features of these headphones appeal to you, I am confident that you will be satisfied, or even very happy with them. And it's hard to beat Amazon.com's price. I have a fairly discerning ear and I like them very much. I also own Grado's and Koss Pro headphones. If you can afford to pay 4 times more for headphones, then it's likely you will enjoy the Shure's or Etymotic's, but I for one would rather save the money. If you're like me, then I think the MDR-EX71SL's are worth a listen. If ultimate sound quality is your objective and price is no barrier, you might be happier with the higher end cans like the Etymotic's.
  
  

• Terrible sound - unless you only like thumping bass
  By A2F4CCQYDU9R1L on 2004-05-10
  I'm a drummer in a rock band and I live in Manhattan. My band's been doing a lot of recording lately and I've been using my new iRiver HP140 as I get around the city (the iRiver is AMAZING by the way - not only does it kick the iPOD's a** with regard to price, features, etc - but it records digitally, which means my band can get crystal clear quality onto MP3 or WAV just by setting up a pair of condenser mics during rehearsal and feeding them through a mixer and into the iRiver. WOW - what a difference).

  Now that our rehearsals are coming out so clean on the iRiver - I was looking for a good ear-bud style headphone to hear the new recordings that would also block out some street/subway noise, but didn't want to shell out the $100 for Shure E2's or even more for the E3's and above. I figured I'd give these relatively inexpensive Sony's a try. Big mistake.

  Let me start with the pro's - as there were a few nice things about these ear-buds. I had been using normal plastic ear-bud style headphones that came with the iRiver, and another pair that came with my old Rio. These new Sony earbuds that go inside the ear are much more comfortable than the old style. The also block out an unbelievable amount of noise. I've been immune from all of the sirens, subway noise and all of the other distractions in NYC. If you want to hear your music in an environment with a lot of ambient noise - the "in-ear" style earbuds are for you (just try not to get run-over by a fire truck or ambulance in the process - you won't hear the sirens!) However, all of this is probably true of any "in ear canal" style ear-bud - not just the Sony ones. Sony did include 3 different size rubber pads which should be good to fit just about any size ear. They also include a nifty little carrying case which is just big enough to fit the buds of the headphones (the cord stays loose). This would be helpful for protecting the headphones in a bag or pocket and would probably keep them clean (since they go in your ears). Sonly also includes a small plastic case (about the size of a business card holder). This is convenient for storing the extra rubber ear pieces, and the entire earphone assembly - including the cord.

  Ok - I know I said a few nice things above - but unless you are spending $30 for a carrying case and rubber pieces - this is the part you're going t want to read.
  The sound is AWFUL! I am a musician, and I have a pretty good ear. These earphones are ALL bass! But - not good bass - booming, thumpy, club/house/techno style bass.
  If you are into dance music or the kind of bass where you have a subwoofer sticking out of the back of your car - these are definitely for you. If you actually want to hear the instruments and vocals in your music, along with high's, mid's and low's - these are not for you.

  I tried everything - including turning the bass to it's lowest levels on my MP3 player, and even boosting the treble. The treble from these headphones is "tinny" and flat. The bass is completely overpowering and totally inappropriate for just about every genre of music, except possibly bass thumping techno.

  I used a "Y" connector and compared these with my "free" headphones from iRiver and Rio just to make sure I wasn't imagining things. I'd take the free headphones any day.
  I brought these into the studio and let the other guys in the band hear them. They were laughing at how bad they were (and at me for spending $30 on them).

  Stay away from this product - mine will be returned today.
  
  

• Good fit, quiet, hi-fi, POOR DURABILITY
  By AEAPGAG8DXQLT on 2005-11-23
  These fit great - extremely comfortable. I've worn for 6 hours on a plane and forget they are there. The sound blocking is excellent - great for airplanes, etc. The sound quality itself is fine (but personally I'm not an audiophile and I'm probably as happy with $15 as $80 phones). But the durability is POOR. Within 8 weeks, the thin, smudgy rubber cords were fraying and peeling BOTH near the jack and near one earphone. This is BAD NEWS. How did Sony make such a basic engineering flaw? I have $5 phones that last indefinitely, at least the basic insulation on the cord. Others have reported this too; I wonder how many favorable reviews were written by owners in the first month.
  
  
• Insulation wears off!
  By ADUL3AK7JFGC4 on 2006-01-12
  Other reviewers have noted this as well, and they're right! The plastic insulation around the headphone wires will break down over time into a sticky mess. You're left with bare wire. Sure, the headphones sound good, but the faulty insulation makes these headphones not worth the money.
  
  PLUS, when you call SONY and complain, they only offer you the option of replacing the headphones (for a charge of $30) or having them "repaired" for $60.
  
  
• The quality of this product had degraded!!
  By AVTWRZ7OZRHYO on 2005-04-21
  This is my 2nd unit that I've purchased. The first one I ordered was perfect. It has lasted for over 8 months until my dog chewed one of the earbuds. But I did not hesitate to order a 2nd pair.
  
  Now, when I received the 2nd pair, I did not realized that the coating for the wire was different from the first pair. The first one seems to be coated with plastic. The second one seems to be coated with this silly putty type rubber. I've bought this at the end of January and now, I can see the coating on the wire has been tared apart and the wires inside are been exposed.
  
  I had recommened this earbuds to a friend because of the first unit. After few weeks of usage, my friend was telling me that his cord was ripping apart and that the wires were being exposed. I told him he was crazy. Now that I this problem, I realized that he was not crazy after all.
  
  I do not recommended this product at all unless you want to use this for a short period of time or get an older version with the plastic coating (i'm not sure if you can tell from the packaging)
  
  UPDATE:
  I've complained about how bad the quality has gotten with this product, what's worse is their customer support.
  
  I've tried to RMAed this since I was still under warranty. First they charged an estimate of $7 for repair, which I give authorization to. Few days after I authorized the charge, I noticed that they changed it to $31.11 and the next day, began the repair process and see a charge for $31.11 for a refurbished one. I could get a brand new one from amazon for $32!!!
  When I called to ask Sony why I was charged, they gave me different answer, one said that the product was out of warranty, another said it was because the receipt wasn't sent with the product. THIS IS A JOKE!! this is causing me lots of headache.
  
  I will call my credit card company and tell them I did not authorized them to charge me that amount and I will never buy another Sony product again!
  
  
  
• Wire insulation problems
  By AG7VZJLPHNWDD on 2005-04-26
  I used these headphones walking around campus and at the gym. The wire insulation around the long wire that goes behind the neck started to get really soft and pliable and eventually fell off. Some other people had been having the same problems. The older models have a different type of coating, but the newer ones that I bought didn't last that long.
  
  
• Im an audiophile, and for commuting, it doesnt get better than these.
  By A1M18VHZ0WK8QR on 2005-07-07
  These headphones are as good as it gets for a commuter in NYC, and should be a part of any Ipod owner's arsenal. I say this after going through about $500 worth of headphones to find what I wanted. Here is my experience that brought me to my love affair with these headphones.
  
  I bought my Ipod in December of 2003 and quickly found the white ear buds to be unacceptable. I already had a few other headphones, all of which didn't do the job.
  
  1. Bulky over the ear Sonys which were poor sounding.
  2. On the ear Sony's which were uncomfortable and poor sounding
  3. Grado 60s, which sounded great, but were bulky and not for commuting with a 10 ft cord.
  4. Sony ear buds which were very comparable to the Ipod buds.
  5. Koss ear buds which were very comparable to the Ipod buds.
  
  So my first purchase after hours of research was the Eytomic ER-6s. And while the ER-6s are good, they have faults. They block so much noise they are dangerous, they are difficult to get in and out of your ear, and if someone accidentally got caught on the cord and ripped the headphone out of my ear, my eardrum would have exploded. Additionally, the headphones weren't efficient enough to use with the preamp from the ipod... it just couldn't drive them well enough. So, even though I had just spent another $150 for headphones, I wasn't satisfied.
  
  I then found the Sony 71s, and ive been happy ever since.
  
  Pros: I can wear these headphones 5 hours a day and my ears don't mind at all.
  Bass Response is terrific
  Not fragile
  Terrific cord design. If you have a jacket on and store your ipod in your chest pocket - short cord. For pants pocket - long cord.
  Sound quality that exceeds my personal requirements for a commuting situation.
  If someone pulls out the earbud, your eardrum wont explode.
  Substantial noise dampening. My guess would be approx 10 to 15 db.
  
  Cons:
  Sound varies depending on the size of the rubber ear applicator. I typically use the medium rubber earpieces, but the large size drops the DB output by approx 5db, and drops the bass response substantially.
  Rubber ear applicators come off a little too easy when tugged upon. This is what caused me to buy a second pair.
  They are efficient enough to be driven well by an ipod, but not as well as the Shure E2s. The E2's can blow out your ears they are so loud.
  
  Side note:
  I tried out my friends Shure E2s... and they were better than the ER-6s in both efficiency, ease of putting in my ear, and comfort. They sounded good... better than the Sony 71's... but they didn't fit my needs better than the Sony 71's... I throw my headphones in my pocket and don't worry about them. The shure jelly earpieces seem to collect large amounts of dirt, and be more fragile than the Sonys. They also cost significantly more, and I didn't find them to be as comfortable as the Sony 71's. None the less, they would make a good choice for certain individuals.
  
  I have recommended the Sony 71's to approximately 10 people, and given these headphones as gifts. Everyone loves them. I don't understand some of the poor reviews on the site. I have broken a pair from crushing them, but I wouldn't expect any product to live up to those standards. After a year and a half of using this product, I recommend it without conditions. 5 stars.
  
  Best Regards,
  Ben
  
  
• What is it like REALLY?
  By A4FWHL8Z6L8L3 on 2005-11-01
  Wonderful, superb, awesome, unbelievable you hear them say about this pair of earbuds. Blah, blah, blah. Let's get this straight: this is coming from an audiophile point-of-view. That matters if you want good sound, period, and are not easily satisfied with second rate, just o.k., fair to mediocre performance in return for your hard earned.
  
  Cut to the chase -- these phones receive a B- letter grade, which is not quite as bad as it seems. Read on. Based on the user reviews and manufacturer superlatives, I was ready to be impressed with these as an upgrade for the cheap ones packaged with music players these days. Opening the box, I was surprised at how small they actually were since the pictures one sees online make them look larger and more substancial. At that point I recall saying to myself how much the Sony style is an innovative and aesthetically based one -- consumers come to count on Sony's products being distinctive and functional, not like the slapped together chaff of the cheaper branded competition. Even though they are physically smaller than you might think from the photos, they do have a certain air of quality, as it is difficult to imagine better form & finish in something so small, price considered. The rubber fittings on the ends are practically as big as the phone itself and since the earbud fits down inside your ear, you now have a better sense of the scale involved. That soft rubber fitting acts like a bushing and effectively seals your ears off from outside sound. Essentially a good thing. The sensation takes some getting used to though, even if you have used sony earbuds from a different era that were covered in foam, for example. I tried both sizes of the rubber end pieces and while the smaller sized one fit more snug than the larger one, I'm not sure it was more comfortable for me. I intend to switch back to the larger size just to be sure. You see, my ears throbbed after half hour to an hour on each of several listening sessions. It's like having tiny toilet plungers wedged in there and when removed, you breath a sigh of relief. That characteristic may disappear after you've owned the earbuds for week or weeks, but I warn you, go for small doses at first at any rate.
  
  In addition to smarting my ear canals, I got a headache each time I used them, and soon lost interest in any thoughts of any really extended listening sessions. Based on the user reviews I've seen before, chances are this may pass as well, but do be forwarned, your mileage may vary. And I never thought my ears were especially delicate. Upon my first listen to these I quickly found that positioning the ear pieces in order to ensure a tight seal is **mandatory** for any sense of bass that these phones are capable of. Surprise, I then was satisfied with the lower end of the headphones frequency response. The bass was there alright (again, surprising in phones so small) and reasonably accurate. A bit woolly for my taste, but definitely satisfactory. I did not need a bass boost even at lower volumes, which tells you a lot. The rest of the frequency spectrum was more uh, problematic. The range is extended and everything but the sound is colored and one can hear the small-spaced plastic kind of resonances that vibrate and sing along with the program source. The high end response in particular was downright hollow for the first couple of days I had them. And I only used them upward of an lhour each time. Luckily, I stuck with it and this effect was lessened the longer the phones were used. Since my ears were sore, I then left them on and went about some errands, instead of choosing to hear all that racket in realtime. I am surprised other users have not noted that these phones ABSOLUTELY need break-in and in a major way. So I then thought about it and decided to play demagnitizing tracks and a system burn-in track (from the XLO Reference Recordings CD Test & Burn-in CD, avaiable through Amazon.com) for several hours, in an endless loop. I don't recall needing to do that with full size phones. When I returned again the obvious and hollow ringing resonances were much less offensive! I recommend that you obtain this useful 24k Gold disc (or one like it) for burn-in of this and your other new hi-fi purchases. If you don't want to do that, then by all means leave them on at a moderately high volume overnight (or at least several hours) with a music CD or even the white noise that's located between the stations on the radio dial. This in order to get the best, most relaxed and truer-to-life sound from the phones. Some audio products need this break-in treatment more than others.
  
  Some people have noted in their description how "clear" the MDR-EX7SL phones sound. Well, it must be only if you're used to listening to lower fidelity sources, like MP3s. Even after break-in, there is a veil between you and the music program material, and it shows up on all musical genres, on both portable and home audio CD/DVD players. Yes, they sound better, much better than the cheapies, but they also have "limitations" shall we say, that are audible. To try and put a finger on it, the drivers inside do work hard to bring you good sound -- and you are aware of them working hard! This is unlike even higher quality earbud headphones you own or might have listended to, not just full size ones. With higher quality (more expensive) headphones the sound is effortless and get you in there, closer to the music. With these phones you are very much more conscious of your equipment (the phones themselves). These earbuds flat out sound constricted, even a bit pinched, in spite of sporting a nice, wide frequency spectrum. They are defintely more closed-in than one may be used from other headphones, including expensive earbuds.
  
  Are they unpleasant? No. Apart from the comfort issues I mentioned at least! Properly broken-in, they are not shrill or tinny, and any distortions are manageable. That to me makes them worth buying. The midrange is satisfactory, nothing less or more. No, bass is not tight and ultimately textured as it could be but neither is it largely artificial like cheap 'phones as well as Sony's mostly dreaded "mega bass" switch that they feature on their media players. The Fontopias are more refined than that. However if you have mid-level Sennheisers or Grados (or better) for example as your full size headphones, you will obviously be taking at least a couple of steps down in quality execution, so do lower your expectations. That being said, I would be good with these earbuds if I was cut off from more honest, luxuriant, higher-end headphones or earbuds. After your ears stop protesting, I can imagine these would be good choice for their intended purpose, portable use, e.g. walking and jogging.
  
  Which brings up my last point. One never loses the sensation that a good swing of the head would dislodge these puppies. Jamming them, twisting them snugger into the ear helps, (if you can stand pushing anything in your ear) but especially with the cord's extension (and its weighty connection) snapped on, the shorter length left earpiece is especially touch and go, nestled but twitchy in ones' ear canal. It does not make for a completey relaxing wearing experience. Again, from what long term users are saying, one might well get used to this. Yes, the MDR-EX71SL is a compromise, but for less than $50 it is an good experience "overall" and absolutely a major step-up from the giveaways that came with your ipod/mp3 player. Those get a D or F letter grade. I aways thought a B- letter grade was a way for professor/instructor to damn one with faint praise, but in this case it just means Sony has struck a real balance between price and performance, something even the most tin-earred of us will no doubt appreciate.
  
  
• Great Sound but terrible cord quality
  By A13AQYYLBEQ4YK on 2006-06-29
  I've gone through two pairs of these in about an 8 month period. I loved my first pair but within a couple months, the cord disintigrated to the point where the wires were exposed in a couple places. I thought I just had bad luck and bought another pair, THE SAME THING HAPPENDED. I held on as long as possible to buying a new pair of earbuds by trying to tape up the exposed wires, but they kept breaking. They are great buds, crisp clear sound great bass for earbuds, but the cord quality is miserable. Save yourself the hassle and money of having to buy a new pair every couple months and look at the Sennheiser CX 300. They sound better, look better, and are constructed MUCH better.
  
  
• Headphones great, but don't lose the earbuds
  By A20LIQJ9LRO6OH on 2003-10-04
  The headphones sound terrific, but gross as it is you'll have to constantly clean them for earwax because it makes a significant impact to the sound quality. I could live with that, but the thing that was most irritating was that the earbuds come off very easily, so it's easy to lose them when you carry them around in your pocket with your MP3 player. For some reason, Sony doesn't sell packets of ear buds, and after scouring high and low including the Sony store, the only place i found to buy the earbuds was the Sony replacement center which wanted to charge almost $8 a piece for each individual earbud!! (including taxes, shipping etc.). The headphones are basically unuseable without the earbuds.

  So the lesson is, if you're a careful, meticulous person then definitely buy these because the quality is excellent. If you're someone like me who plans on carrying them in your pocket all over the place, be prepared to either shell out a daylight robbery type of price for replacements or buy new headphones altogether pretty soon.
  
  

• Great sound blocking headphones
  By A17XE4QXRJ1UGZ on 2004-10-07
  I have been interested in trying out a set of sound blocking headphones for a while. I didn't want to spring for expensive custom fits though. For the money these Sony's are a great product.
  
  Sound quality is quite good. Highs and mids sound nice and the bass is suprisingly good for such small phones.
  
  Yes, you get a little of the stethoscopic effect, but that is the trade for the quality sound and noise blocking features. Additionally, I have yet to hear this effect while music is actually playing.
  
  I am actually a fan of the short cord. I use these on my motorcycle to protect my hearing from the wind noise while providing some tunes. I have an MP3 player in the breast pocket of my jacket that the cord is the perfect length for.
  
  These are also great for air travel to block out noise/voices.
  
  They are relatively comfotable. Similar to wearing ear plugs. They come with three different sized "covers". My advice would be to experiment with each to see which offers the best combination of comfort and sound.
  
  Also, a trick I have learned is to pull the top of ear up when inserting these into your ear canal. It opens up your ear canal and allows for a much better fit.
  
  
• The cord length is perfect and flexible...
  By A14XNR6GCAA99F on 2005-02-03
  After quickly ditching the mondo uncomfortable buds that came with my iPod, I went on a quest for quality yet affordable earbuds and found these puppies. I've gone through 5 pairs of these things in the past 2+ years, at first buying them off some guy in Japan on ebay before Sony decided the US market was worthy. (Both this model and it's predecessor EX70xx) I use them constantly both at work and while jogging. They're great, but there's a few tricks to using them that if you don't do, you'll hate them.
  
  (1) Concerning cord length: The protective case for the buds is intended to be used to control the cord length when in use. You wrap the cord around the open case as many times as you need and then close it. Each time takes up about 1 1/2 inch of slack or so. It also lets you keep up with your protective case while your using them. Really quite cleaver.
  
  (2) These earbuds are designed so that both the cord connecting the two earbuds and cord connecting them to your playing device go behind your neck!! This helps to eliminate tugs on the cord from either resonating in the buds or pulling the buds out of your ear. This also helps explain again why the extension cord is so long. If you don't do this, you will hate using these headphones for anything other than sitting at a desk.
  
  (3) Out of the box, the bass is a bit heavy; but they calm down after they're broken in. And it's been said before, but it's worth reiterating, you have to put them all the way in your ear for them to resonate or you will have very poor bass.
  
  (4) If you're using them with an iPod, you really should hunt down the white ones - just from a design aesthetic if nothing else.
  
  I took off a star because I'd prefer the cord be one piece, but I understand that this was designed for the Japanese market which utilizes a lot more in-cord remotes/displays... yada, yada... The sound really is quite good for the price and it's amazing how well they block out outside noise. Hope this helps.
  
  
• Perfect for ipod Shuffle or reg. ipod w/ remote, or armband!
  By A2R1AWDM2UYMK8 on 2005-05-11
  THE SOUND & FIT:
  Being fully "in-ear" headphones, they produce incredible bass and block out outside noise. It has a great balance of mids and treble too. I ordered Apple in ear buds and loved the improvement in sound over the standard earphones that come with the ipod but, they would not stay fully seated in my ears even when relatively still. These Sony's sound at least as great, if not better, than the upgraded (and more expensive) Apple in ear buds and blow away the standard ear phones that come with the ipod. They look great (in white) and match my ipods perfectly. They do not fall out either! -Even when jogging. The Apple buds don't really conform to the shape of your canal, but these Sony's do, so that they can be held in place better. The ear pieces have a nice, premium, rubberized feel and look expensive. They are an excellent value!
  
  WORDS OF ADVICE:
  There is 1 drawback, which depending on your use, could be a big advantage... The cord. It is a 2 piece cord. The 1st piece is too short to use by itself with a normal ipod. When connected to the extension piece, it is way too long.
  BUT... If you have a ipod Shuffle, there is no better choice out there if you use your shuffle with the neck lanyard. The cord is the PERFECT length. Also, if you have the Apple remote cord, this is the perfect set of headphones to use with your remote and regular ipod. To give you an idea of how long the cord is without the extension... With the speakers in my ear, the jack at the end of the cord hits me 1 inch above my belly button (I am 5'8")
  
  BOTTOM LINE:
  You'll love the sound, the feel, and the look, and depending on your particular use, you could also love the cord length!
  
  
• Better buy some electrical tape with it
  By A3QGJKOS66422Z on 2005-11-25
  Great look, very comfortable, but these headphones are disposable. The poor quality extruded rubber coating will only last a few weeks. Good value if you opt to rarely use them.
  
  

• Memorex 700MB/80-Minute 52x CD-R Media (100-Pack Spindle)
• KHypermedia 80-Minute/700 MB 48x Blank CD-Rs (200-Pack Spindle)
• Kingston CF/1GB 1GB CompactFlash Type 1 Memory Card
• Sony PC-234S Audio Plug Adaptor
• SimpleTech 1GB CompactFlash Type I Memory Card (STI-CF/1GB)

• Sony MDR-EX71SLA Fontopia Bud-Style Headphones with Case (White)
• Sony MDR-EX51LP Fontopia Headphones
• Grey Replacement Silicone Earbuds for Sony Ex51/ex71/ex81, Creative Ep-630, CX300
• Sony MDR-EX51LP Fontopia In-The-Ear Headphones, White
• Sony MDR-EX81LP Bud-Style Stereo Earphones (Black)