Sony MDR-J11G h.ear Sports Headphones Reviews

• Decent sound, terrible as sports headphones

  
  By A1NEI36ZQL17ZK on 2004-10-17
  The sound is decent. But the phones are terrible for sports, especially for running. They won't stay in. They are constantly falling off, pulling away so that you only hear through one ear, and the clip only worsens the problem. So I'm still on the hunt for headphones that won't fall off during a workout. These aren't them.
  
  

• Works well with iPod, perfect for RUNNING and working out

  
  By AADBRL4AT42AM on 2005-10-12
  I honestly don't understand some of the negative reviews for this product. They certainly don't just fall off if worn while running, let alone while walking. Because they are very light and supported by over-the-ear clips, the earbud tends to "float" in your ear and may not feel snug to some people. The speaker face of the earbud actually points forward, and not directly into the ear. They are not designed to be a snug fit in the ear canal, like the "closed type" designs of Shure Sound Isolating or Sony Fontopia headphones. Because of this, you are able to hear outside noises while running (which is a good thing), and also don't get the stethoscope effect when the wire rubs up against your shirt/body.
  
  Sound quality is pretty good. Far from perfect, but certainly not bad. Great range and clarity for this price and purpose. Obviously there are headphones on the market that offer higher sound quality (see Shure), but for listening to mp3's, podcasts, or audiobooks while running or working out, these headphones sound just fine.
  
  Sound volume is good as well. I use mine with an iPod mini. At the lowest volume level right before it cuts out the sound completely, it's still fairly audible. When running I usually set the volume on my iPod to about one-third the max. One-half the max is about as loud as I can get before outside noises are washed out. Anything louder would probably cause long-term hearing damage.
  
  I have not experienced the crackles or distortions mentioned by other reviewers. Keep in mind that it may not be the headphones causing this. The quality of the digital audio player plays a big part in the overall sound quality. I have also not experienced any shortouts due to sweat or loss of sound in either earbud.
  
  One bonus characteristic of these headphones is that the ear clips don't get in the way of sunglasses. Because the earclips are thin and angle out toward the top part of your ear instead of against your head, your sunglasses won't have to sit on top of the earclips.
  
  My one piece of advice is to always attach the shirt-clip to your shirt if possible. That's why it's there! Otherwise, it's just extra weight dangling and putting pressure on your earbuds.
  
  Overall, for $10 these headphones are a great value and work well while running or working out.
  
  

• These work like a charm

  
  By A1OWBDQDFRKPQS on 2006-03-19
  (3/18/06) I read lots of reviews in which people say their earphones fall off and are not worth anything. I guess it all comes down to the shape/size of people's ears. These fit my ears like a glove. I don't even realize I am wearing them. I'm currently traing to run a marathon; I run a lot. So far, the farthest I've ran with them was twelve miles and I had not problems at all. I only paid $10.00 for them; if they break, that's fine; the usage I've gotten out of them so far has been worth every penny (and I'm confident I will get many more miles out of them before I need to get new ones.)
  
  ADDENDUM (8/18/06): Well now I have trained and run two marathons and the earphones are still holding up. I am currently training for a third marathon (which is in two months) and these earphones have not given me any problems. I am confident these earphones will be operating just fine in two months while I run the third marathon. If/when they break, I will definitely gotten my $10-worth out of them.
  
  ADDENDUM (10/15/06): I just ran the third marathon and these earphones are still good. I wouldn't be surprised if these hold up for a couple more marathons.
  
  ADDENDUM (04/21/07): Well now I have trained for and have run four (4) marathons using these earphones (that's too much mileage to even try to count). They have not failed me yet. Granted, ever since I've had these headphones, I ALWAYS wipe them clean with a damp cloth to remove the residual salt from my sweat. IMHO, that's the reason they have lasted so long.
  
  ADDENDUM (04/09/08): I've been running and training for yet another marathon which is just a couple weeks from now. But I finally trashed my original set of earphones; they were still working, the left speaker was starting to breakdown (slightly less volume than it should be.) Apparently two years of sweat ran its toll. However, I'm sure a non-audiophile wouldn't even have noticed. Anyway, $10 later, I have a brand-new set for the upcoming marathon. I'm sure they'll last me just as long as my old ones.
  
  

• Horrible pieces of junk

  
  By AM92XT1WQDPS0 on 2005-02-15
  These DO NOT securely stay on your ear. When I run with them they constantly are coming away from my ear so I can't hear them (so much for that "Non-Slip Design for a Secure Fit"). Addtionally, if any sweat drips down onto one of the ear phones, it effectively mutes that side. I usually have to pull them out and try and blow any moisture out of them with little to no success. I am definately in the market for a new pair of head phones to run and work out in.
  
  I originally bought these as I've had much success with Sony Sport headphones, but Sony should be ashamed of itself for these.
  
  

• Fell apart

  
  By AVJJ2D4G5I0Z4 on 2007-03-02
  Decent headphones for the gym, but it fell apart after about 2 months. The clip busted and white cover on the earpiece fell off.
  
  
• Nice sound, comfortable and secure (for me)
  By A3JOW15ARJCECJ on 2004-07-30
  I purchased these as a replacement for the headset that came with my Sony "S2 Sports Radio Walkman" and I am quite pleased. They are comforatble and secure (on me anyway), the cord is nice in that it does not seem to get tangled and/or need to be wound after each use, and they sound quite nice.
  
  
• Fits/Sounds Great
  By A2C264HY1HHZVX on 2007-03-06
  I think it is genetics that causes some people not to be able to find a headset that fits well.... After trying 10 different headsets, I finally found this one... It fits great, sounds great, and is water resistant so when I sweat I don't break them. I loved them so much I recommended them to my mom, and she too finds them to be a great fit and sound quality... She is an extreme exerciser as well... Definitely worth the money....
  
  
• Pain Problem Solved
  By AN8AMCGUNRKNH on 2006-03-30
  I was very skeptical about purchasing these headphones, because the IPod earphones, and several sony earbuds hurt my ears after an extended period of time. These were much better than i thought. The sound is clear, and a great sound for around 15 dollars.The cord slider is always a nice feature. And about them falling off, so far, i have not had any problem with them. They are very light, and very comfortable. You don't need to shove them in your ear liek the earbuds, and the weight is distributed to different parts of your ear, allowing you to wear them for extended periods of time, w/o them hurting. I would ahve given it 5 stars, but the material used, could have been a little more flexible, which might cause the problem of falling off people are saying they are having.
  Overall, Great sound, and build for the price!!
  
  
• more than satisfactory for the price
  By A1C0L8DAE03XD6 on 2006-06-13
  I dug these up today after becoming worried about taking my new ER-6i buds out with me, especially to work out. After becoming very spoiled by those wonderful phones (highly recommended!), I really expected to hate these little guys, but that wasn't the case. Now, I won't evaluate them comparatively with the aforementioned Etymotics (a ridiculous proposition), so please don't get that impression. That said, I wasn't displeased with the sound of these Sonys considering their price and intended use.
  
  High frequencies feel rolled off or muted, kinda like turning the tone control down on an electric guitar or 2-eq-knob stereo system, but that's better than the screechy highs that some low priced 'phones deliver. Midrange seems to be tuned to emphasize vocal ranges, which may or may not be pleasing to your tastes. The bass lacks any real semblance of detail, but at least it's there in sufficient quantity without being distractingly boomy. Better still, many basslines are at least partly distinguishable in terms of the individual notes (you'd be hard pressed to identify pitches or anything like that, but you can at least tell a difference between them: better than the "1-note-bass" response of a few cheapies I've heard).
  
  A word of warning: when I first put these on, they sounded awful, just disgusting (no bass, ultra-tinny highs/few mids), but I found this to be caused by the headphones falling too far out of the ear; to get decent sound, these must be fitted as snugly as possible (comfortably) into the ear. This is not easy for everyone, as some other reviews here attest, so your mileage may vary; my experience with these has been surprisingly positive given their budget class.
  
  
• Water-resistant headphones from Sony
  By A32IZMMLXUH13Y on 2006-03-09
  Through trial and error I have found that the headphones that wrap around each ear instead of the traditional band (over the head) style or earbud only style are best suited for very active work outs. The problem for me was that a couple of the wrap around models that I tried did not do a good job of channeling my hard earned sweat away from my ear canal. Sony has done a good job of incorporating their sport (water-resistant) over the head (band) style with the wrap around the ear style. These headphones do a pretty good job of keeping sweat out of my ear canal, the wrap around allows me to be more active without having to adjust the headphones, allows me to more comfortably wear a hat...if I wish..and the earphones are more comfortable on my ears vs. having an ear bud stuck in the ear canal. Amazon was about the only place I could find them though. These are exactly what I was looking for.
  
  
• Great for gym use
  By A3CN2SSR9UYR9R on 2007-01-15
  I've bought these headphones specifically to use with my ipaq at the gym to watch movies while I'm on a cardio machine (treadmill or elliptical trainer). I had already gone through 5-6 other headphones this way, which lasted from 1 week to a few months each. The big problem is that sweat permeates the soft pads of many headphones, and once it also gets inside the speakers, the electronics break down as well.
  
  So far, after about 1 month of use, the sony headphones seem to be the best of the bunch. There are no soft pads, and sweat doesn't seem to bother them at all (they're advertised as "water/moisture resistant"). They stay on the ears very firmly, and the shirt clip prevents the wire from swaying too much during exercise. I'd rate them about perfect for this type of use, with the possible exception that I would like them just a bit louder at max volume (it gets noisy at the gym sometimes). I would expect them to last several more months, if that doesn't happen I'll update this review.
  
  
• Great for running.
  By ATJVEC4CZAJ88 on 2005-02-06
  I bought these headphones to use while running, and I have been very pleased with them. They fit securely around my ears, and stay well positioned. In fact, I have run as far as 10 miles with virtually no movement of the headphones. The clip helps to prevent excess movement of the cord.
  
  
• good for the price
  By A3M0DR1XRCJWOU on 2005-06-27
  I have had these headphones for almost 6 months now. I have travelled with them, run with them, listened to my iPod for hours on end with them, and I've been completely satisfied with them. After all, they're only 10 dollar headphones. In the time I've had them there has been no signs of deterioration in them; they seem to be very durable. While I'm not the most selective on the sound quality of my music, the sound quality of these headphones seems perfectly fine. I bought these headphones specifically for running and they have definitely served their purpose. I have never had any problems with them falling off. They fit very securely on me at least. I was pretty surprised to see all of the negative reviews for these headphones as I've never had any problems with them. I am inclined to recommend them to anyone looking for some inexpensive sports headphones.
  
  
• Wouldn't recommend ...
  By AP2DZD6OPW4NJ on 2006-02-23
  Although the sound is decent, I agree with many of the other reviewers' thoughts on these headphones. They too often fall off the ear and when they do stay on are easily rattled around. The clip is very awkward and only pulls the phones off the ear when one extends/rotates their torso. Shortly after purchasing mine, the rubber-coating on one of the wires inadvertently split open, revealing the leads. The sound was eventually lost in that earpiece. I would suggest looking eleswhere for quality headphones for exercising.
  
  
• In no way are these for running
  By A3DSHH6B2GF08A on 2007-01-26
  I had similar problems with my headphones falling out when I ran... The way the cord is set up, combined with the less than snug fit, made it a comedy act with me continually placing the headphone back into my ear. Or even worse, running while holding the headphone in my ear... a la ghetto blaster days. I have a sneaky feeling that the positive reviews are written by the company somehow because I can't imagine anyone having a decent enough experience to give 5 stars. I do use them for the gym when lifting, and they work fine for that.
  
  
• If you sweat.....then sweat these
  By A3CYC4FBRCL3DX on 2005-07-16
  I have owned 4 pairs of these headphones and i can tell you what you are going to expect....the earpiece doesn't stay in the ear so you don't get the full volume of the mp3 player. if you are working out and sweat, one ear is guarenteed to short out. sweat drips in the ear sometimes it comes back to life after it drys and sometimes it doesn't. if i were you i would check out Sony MDR-A35G i am going to try these next.
  
  
• don't waste your money
  By A23TTO15XQLUFS on 2005-12-14
  If I could give these negative stars, I would. I bought these thinking they'd be great for the gym. WRONG. They continuously fell off, so often it was annoying not only me, but the girl on the treadmill next to me. Not only that, but the ten seconds they did stay on, they bounced around and made a rattling noise so loud, I couldn't even hear the music I was listening to. I highly recommend you forget these duds. I'm going to purchase another pair of Sony h.ear MDR-J20 headphones, which is what I bought these to replace because I slammed the car door on the cord of my original pair.
  
  
• Comfortable fit, great sound
  By A27CW07L5OECKG on 2007-01-15
  I purchased these headphones to use with my iPod while I run. Too often, the ear bud headphones that came with the iPod would fall out of my ears because of the impact from running. These Sony wrap around headphones stay in place and sound great.
  
  
• great headphones!!
  By A355VQSOYNDJC9 on 2007-01-31
  These headphones have been great when I use them with my iRiver either at the gym, travelling on planes, or relaxing in bed. At the gym, they fit snugly and securely in my ears, they are comfortable and the sound is good, and plenty loud as the iRiver has very good volume levels. I sweat loads when I work out which includes weight training and various cardio machines and I have had no problem with the headphones
  getting wet or remaining in place. I like them so much that I bought three pairs just in case Sony no longer makes them in the near future and its sometimes difficult to find good headphones for the gym.
  
  
• Horrible fit, terrible sound, not a great design...
  By A1C8UZWZU1RAG4 on 2007-07-03
  I was very hopeful that these would be the sports headphones for me, but was sad to find that they did not stay in place on my ears or offer the quality sound I was looking for. As a female, I found the ear pieces too large to hook my ear sufficiently, and they just couldn't stay put on my ears. Every time I moved my head from side to side (even minimally) the inner bud would slip out of my ears or the hook would slip completely off my ear - not good for those long walking/jogging sessions. Also, in my opinion, the sound was really quite "tinny" and not as clear/rich as I had hoped it would be. And the sad excuse for a "clip" would not even stay on my thinnest t-shirt - total waste! I really expected better from Sony, but I find myself still searching for those perfect headphones.
  
  
• Awesome Headphones, Terrible Clip
  By A3F3B6HY9RJI04 on 2007-09-05
  I can often be very active while wearing headphones and listening to my music and audio books. Activities can be digging trenches, running, riding my bike, housework, working out at the gym, and countless other activities.
  
  Most importantly, these things have never fallen out or become uncomfortable. I once even took a nasty spill at the gym and they stayed in my ears without any problems. Even after prolonged usage (8+ hours) my ears have never grown uncomfortable or sore which other headphones of this type have done to me in the past.
  
  The sound quality is great for something without noise cancellation. The only times I've ever had troubles hearing my books on tape is when a large truck passes by when I'm running or biking on the road.
  
  My only complaint is the clip that comes with it. You are supposed to use it to clip the cord to your clothes so that it isn't flipping all over the place. This thing is useless and doesn't stay hooked on to anything for long, if at all. After a couple of weeks of frustration with it I took it off. I do wish there was some sort of clip to keep the cord under control.
  
  But for headphones in this price range (sub $20) these are hard to beat.
  
  
• Best Headphones I've Found For Working Out
  By A11ERS6KZDOVXW on 2008-02-26
  At the outset, these headphones do not have outstanding sound quality. If you were sitting at your desk listening to music, you would probably want more comfortable headphones that deliver better sound. With that being said though, these are the best headphones that I've found for working out. I actually prefer the foldable over the head style headphones, but they unfortunately seem to break too often. I've had my pair of these guys for many months now though, and they've held up great. I have no problem with them staying in my ears when I'm working out either, and I have rather large ears. I don't know if women would have a harder time keeping these in because of their hair, but I don't see why these shouldn't do the trick for guys. The cord is also a good length - not too long, not to short. All in all, if you're looking for a good pair of headphones for the gym, its definitely worth trying these out.
  
  
• Nice headphones
  By AM949IB9JWV6R on 2005-08-07
  These headphones have great sound quality. I have bought 2 pairs now though for running and both pairs have broken. My left ears wire has come loose on both of them so i only get sound in my right ear. They are nice except for that one problem and the clip really does help out. Even though they break i will probably go buy one more pair.
  
  
• Fitting to the High-Speed, Low Drag Lifestyle, not so to the Mobile Audiophile
  By A32H4AOC0MFGB6 on 2005-10-29
  If one watches the chronology of my reviews, I went through my most beloved MDR-EX51LP Sony Fontopia earphones, relegated my MDR-V150 Sony Studio Monitors to home use, and are in need of real portable headphones for my iPod. After much research and trepidation, I purchased these earphones. When I first connected them to my iPod, figured out how to attach them to my ears, and flipped on the power, I was treated to awful sound! Perhaps it was my phenomenal experience with Fontopias that conditioned me to better sound. It was incredibly tinny, with too much emphasis on the treble, and almost no bass. I seriously considered returning them, but after about a week, I either got used to the sound, or the earphones were "broken-in", because it didn't sound nearly as bad.
  
  Admittedly, these are certainely not $40 Fontopias, but they'll do. I use them every day with my iPod mini, and they do just fine, thank you. As for their sports application, the 'phones stay securely on my ears, and they are some of the most stable platforms I've used to date for athletics. I go on vigorous walks at least thrice a week, and these sports earphones, along with my iPod are my constant companions. They don't interfere with my eyeglasses, and allow enough outside noise in that it isn't dangerous to me.
  
  I am still waiting until perhaps after Christmas 2005 when I can scrape together enough shekels to shell out for a set of MDR-EX71 Fontopias, but these will not be for exercise, as I've seen many reports, including my own, that over time and sweat, apparently the cords on the white Fontopias disintegrate. Anyway, I'm digressing here. MDR-J11G's are good sports earphones, just don't expect anything close to resembling audiophile quality, and you shouldn't be disappointed!
  
  
• Junk. A little workout sweat destroyed them.
  By A2SZKZ57UOUMIL on 2006-10-24
  Don't buy these. I don't have a problem with Sony, in fact, some of the other Sony headphones (like the MDR-J10) are much better. I used these running outside and at the gym and in no time they stopped working. And they sounded like garbage to start with. Oh, and since I am a forgiving person, I bought a second pair of the same thing to see if the first was a lemon. Nope. It's just a terrible product. They clearly couldn't take the abuse of some sweat. Junk. And they feel awkward. Get the cheaper MDR-J10. Much better. Lasted much longer through the workouts.
  
  
• Don't fit and sound is really not that great.. :-(
  By A1C8UZWZU1RAG4 on 2007-06-23
  I was very hopeful that these would be the sports headphones for me, but was sad to find that they did not stay in place on my ears or offer the quality sound I was looking for. As a female, I found the ear pieces too large to hook my ear sufficiently, and they just couldn't stay put on my ears. Every time I moved my head from side to side (even minimally) the inner bud would slip out of my ears or the hook would slip completely off my ear - not good for those long walking/jogging sessions. Also, in my opinion, the sound was really quite "tinny" and not as clear/rich as I had hoped it would be. I really expected better from Sony, but I find myself still searching for those perfect headphones.
  
  
• Uncomfortable and obtrusive
  By A1QLQCJVGCQPP0 on 2007-07-22
  I've tried more headphones than I care to admit, and these are definitely near the bottom of the list.
  
  The plastic ear clips are hard and too large. I have big ears and they fit ok, but anyone else it out of luck.
  
  These are not perfect, but they are much better: Sony MDR-J10 h.ear Headphones with Non-Slip Design (Black) (also available in several other colors)
  
  
• Love 'em
  By A8D55T859ZQ6H on 2007-10-17
  These are my third pair of earphones and they are by far the best. They fit my ears snugly, no danger of falling out while exercising. I listen to a lot of old-time New Orleans jazz and the bass sounds great.
  
  However, these are in-the-ear phones and if you have unusually large or small ears they may not be right for you.
  
  
  
• Great earphones
  By A7B9CUG34HVRJ on 2008-03-14
  I've had these earphones for almost a year and a half now and they're among the best I've ever had. the buds aren't too big as to be uncomfortable, but not so small they fall out, and the clips are just the right size that the hold the buds perfectly. I would highly recommend these buds
  
  one word to the wise however, if you have particularly small or large ears you will have trouble with these because of the size of the clip. they fit me perfectly but if my girlfriend, who has rather small ears, tries to where them, they just slip right off because the clips are too big for her ears.
  
  
• Terrible for small ears
  By A1K8D3WS817M44 on 2008-05-20
  I bought these to wear while running, but they are way too big for my ears. The bud doesn't fit in the canal - which is the case for all ear bud styles for me. They are too "tall" and didn't survive any head movement at all.
  
  

• Xtreme TB264DKO 264-Disc CD/DVD Case

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• Sony MDR-A35G S2 Sports Headphones with Sweat Guard Mechanism