Customer Reviews

Sony MDR-AS30G Active Style Headphones (Silver)

5 star:		(26)
4 star:		(17)
3 star:		(6)
2 star:		(7)
1 star:		(6)

 

 

This will be the 4th pair of these headphones that I've purchased. None have lasted for longer than 10 months, and some as few as 3 months. After my last pair broke (the connection at the jack went bad, as with all 3 previous), I swore I'd never buy another pair. That being said, the price here on amazon is almost half what I paid for the previous pairs at target and that makes the prospect that they will only work for about 8-12 months more readily acceptable for me.

Other than the fact that the headphones will inevitably stop working in one ear, these are the best running/weightlifting headphones that I've found in MANY attempts (nike, phillips, skullcandy, other sonys) for the following reasons:

1. Stability tips and spring-like band design keep the headphones clamped to your ears.
2. SHORT CORD!
3. Sound quality is acceptable
4. Sweat resistant earpiece covers

For me, #'s 1 and 2 are by far the most important aspects of active headphones for fitness. The feeling that headphones are going to fall out of my ears severely detracts from my concentration and therefore the overall quality of my workout. At first, the secure fit is more than slightly uncomfortable, but either I adapt to it, or the headphones loosen up a bit and they become very comfortable. The short cord reaches directly to my ipod and nike+ armband without having to wrap, tuck, hold, wind, or clip the ridiculously long (normally 4') cord. When running, it prevents my arm from snagging it and when at the gym it prevents from getting hung up on the corners of weight machines and weight racks as I walk by. I can't use earbuds while exercising, because they cause so much pressure in my head it makes me feel like it will explode, it amplifies my heartbeat into my ears, and also can be dangerous because it blocks out nearly all noise, including vehicles on the road and charging bears.

Right now, these are the best headphones out there for me, despite their shoddy craftsmanship at the jack. If any other brand makes a secure-fitting, short corded, non-earbud headphone at a similar price-point, I will switch without question.

** Side note- I sent sony an email regarding the problems that I have had with these headphones at the jack, and got a form-letter response back over 2 months later saying something to the effect of "thank you for your valuable feedback, blah blah blah". No remedy, no solution, no tips to make the headphones last longer. I would have been satiated with even just a coupon for $0.50 my next pair or some sort of acknowledgement of their compassion for my plight. Customer service = FAIL.

This headphones have superd sound. The absolute only reason I did not give them a 5-Star rating is because after about an hour of use, I tend to get a little bit of a headache due to how tight they seem to fit. Now I am a big guy at well over 6 feet ( I guess I have a big head), which could very well be reason for the tighter than normal fit. I do enjoy the sound and I am happy with my purchase. Because the band fits around the base of your neck in the back, you can exercise, run or perform any type of activity without them wanting to fall off. And you can't beat the sound quality including the deep bass you hear. They sound just as good as any of the much higher priced units I tried before choosing these to buy.

Firstly, I'm not a headphone expert, not an audiophile. I only use headphones at the gym.

I don't like earbud style headphones as my ears don't accommodate them and I find myself constantly adjusting them. For me these are very comfortable, no adjusting needed. Important, because my workouts typically are weightlifting only. I don't need distractions in the middle of deadlifting.

I love these because I tend to choose workout music that emphasizes bass and these pound pretty well for a cheap pair of headphones! Sound quality is great, balance seems fine, I can hear more 'detail' in the music with these than other headphones.

My first pair held up well for a satisfactory amount of time. Eventually, after about a year of daily use one side quit functioning. I suspect that was my fault as I'm pretty rough with my electronics and don't take proper care of them. Just throw them aside in the car until they're needed next. However, I definitely feel I got my money's worth, especially with all the sweating they had to endure.

After breaking my first pair I was unable to find a replacement in the store. I proceeded to buy different brands of headphones, more than a dozen, but none measured up to these. I likely spent hundreds of dollars trying to find a replacement (I never think of Amazon first, silly me).

For Mother's Day my husband bought me a set of Sennheiser headphones. I expected they would exceed this set as they cost about 10x more. I was disappointed, as the quality didn't match, particularly the comfort, crispness and bass. I returned them and finally sought these out on Amazon.

After almost a year of pining for these and searching for them they arrived promptly yesterday and I had a sweet reunion with them at the gym. They were everything I remembered. Too bad I forgot to charge my iPod and it died about 10 minutes into my workout!

I feel they're definitely worth the small price having tried many other styles and brands. Will be buying a backup pair or two.

I just got these today (3/25/09)... they are well worth the $20 price tag! True, they are a little unusual - behind the neck and earbud design combined. But they are comfy, secure, sweat-wisking and SOUND GREAT considering they aren't even marketed as high-fidelity headphones. I sweat A LOT... and the MDR-AS30G's seem to channel all of the sweat away from the ear buds. Even the ear pads (NOT FOAM... YES) take on very little sweat, and wipe clean easily. I am ordering 2 more sets as back-ups, as I've tried 10 to 12 different styles of headphones, finally finding the best.

I bought these on a whim while at a local store roughly 1 year and 2 months ago, and they have finally succumbed to my daily wear. the connection to the headphone band is shorting, and the sound now cuts in and out. these headphones have great bass response, even at low volumes, and have a very crisp sound. overall, these have been my favorite headphones to date, and due to their untimely death, I will be purchasing a replacement pair.

Sony MDR-AS30G Earphones Are of high quaity-
I personally think Sony should put this item back
on the market I have 2 sets of these earphones I
think action is better than words buy a pair and see
just how good they sound.

The sound quality is great, which is a requirement for me. I never use in-ear bud style headphones because of the reduced sound quality and because they also physically hurt my ears. I was worried somewhat that the "stability" buds on these might cause a problem for me, but they work great. They are not pointy or hard, but are soft and do a fantastic job of keeping these phones in place without discomfort. You don't need to shove them inside of your ear, because the buds will grip at your ear opening. I use these for jogging and bike riding both on and off pavement. Even in winter months with a balaclava or other head cover that pushes these against my ears, they do not hurt. Even the best over-the-ear grips on other headphones have given me some discomfort, but these don't.

I've used these for over 6 months at a frequency of 4 days per week, for 1 to 2 hours a day. They are light weight and small, but they are sturdy. I've not broken or damaged them at all. I use the included plug extender, and was worried it would come loose during active use, but it stays connected well.

From other peoples' reviews, I see some of them do not get a comfortable fit, but I suggest you give these a try to see if they work well for you. I've gone through a dozen different Sony and CyberAcoustic headphones and these are the best. I've bought two additional pairs in case Sony stops making them. They seem to frequently discontinue their models.

I was looking for a set of headphones that you could expose to sweat,
movement and that they would not have the band thru' the head. This
set of headphones has the answer to those 3 questions. They sound great,
loud and clear, They lock perfectly around your ears through the back of
your neck, perfect for running, jogging, etc...

Im happy with my purchase, and they are totally affordable.

So far after about a month I still like them. I tried a number of ear buds but they don't seem to fit and kept falling off. The Sony Mdr-As30G may not be the most stylish but they stay put and sound great...

I really like this headphone. The short cord is ideal for when you have your ipod in an armband or in a front chest pocket of a shirt. The extension cord is great for when you have the ipod in a pants pocket, which is where I keep my ipod most of the time when I'm doing my walking or chore around the house. The sound quality is fine, and for the price, it's really hard to beat. A good product.