Customer Reviews

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

5 star:		(55)
4 star:		(33)
3 star:		(9)
2 star:		(11)
1 star:		(10)

 

 

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

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

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

I don't know what those bad reviews are talking about. These headphones are simply the best ones I've had so far. After a horrible experience with Koss P4 headphones, I decided to look for other headphones under 10 bucks. I came across these in a local store one day and decided to try them out. It was a wonderful surprise to hear good bass response as well as feel a comfortable fit.
What's good:
1) Great bass which doesn't block out the treble/mid range and isn't muddy at all
2) Good fit, with or without the foam padding. I prefer it without the padding, since it just slips in and doesn't fall out.
3) Good case to protect the cord, etc. Kept it safe in my backpack.

However, there are of course somethings that could be improved, but aren't that bad:
1) Short cord, but I've learned to deal with it and either hold my mp3 player or put it in a closer pocket.
2) Does get unconfortable after about an hour - other reviewers have explained that the headphone isn't circular in shape, but is a bit pointed on one corner. This may help it stay in the ear, but annoys me after a while.

Sadly, after about 6 months of use the connection at the plug seemed to have broken a wire and the left earphone stopped working. But at under $10 I plan to buy them again.

SONY's Fontopia Ear Bud Headphones provide a wide range of natural sound. They have a sleek black and silver finish, a Y-shaped cord that is a little over three feet long, and an L-shaped Stereo Mini Plug. The ultra compact headphones fit snugly, and comfortably, inside the ear, eliminating the need for a headband. The MDR-E818LPs come with slip-on ear pads. These are in a small plastic pouch hidden behind the cardboard insert in the clear packaging. Be careful when you first open the container, as it would be easy to throw out the ear pads by mistake.

These particular headphones would be especially good for movement -- such as while jogging, mowing the lawn, running, or lifting weights. They only weigh 5 grams. After a few minutes, you will scarcely notice you are wearing them. The Silent Cap on the ear buds stops sound leakage, so you're less likely to disturb someone sitting next to you while you enjoy your music. I use these with my laptop if someone else in the room is watching TV, or sometimes when I take my laptop out to a cafe, eatery, or Starbucks

The MDR-E818LPs use Neodymium Magnets for powerful bass, and clear treble in a compact design. Neodymium is far more powerful than conventional Samarium Cobalt or Aluminum Magnets, two other kinds of magnets commonly used in the production of headphones and other personal electronics. Neodymium is also common in the production of bass amps, boat speakers, car audio products, computer hard drives, flat panel speakers, game systems, microphones, motorcycle parts, mp3 jukebox players, and travel speakers, in addition to headphones.

Neodymium is not just some marketing tag invented by SONY either, I did some research on the internet and found out it is actually a rare earth metal, and can be found on the Periodic Table of Elements (60Nd). Neodymium is a component of didymium used for coloring glass to make welder's goggles, Neodymium salts are used as a colorant for enamel paints, Neodymium is also used to color glass in delicate shades ranging from pure violet through wine-red and warm gray, and Neodymium is also used in doped glass lasers. Neodymium is also used in electric switches, lense filters, junkyard magnets, phone receivers, refrigerator magnets, magnetic or non-magnetic screwdrivers, and a host of other everyday products you wouldn't suspect. Considering it is a "rare" earth metal, I'm surprised that it's used in so many products.

Other brands of bass amps, boat speakers, car audio products, computer hard drives, flat panel speakers, game systems, headphones, microphones, motorcycle parts, mp3 jukebox players, and travel speakers also make use of Neodymium, such as: Altec Lansing, Apple, Audio Technica, Boston Acoustic, Coby, Creative, Directed, Dynaudio Acoustics, Hitachi, JBL, Kenwood, Koss, Labtec, Microsoft, Morel, Panasonic, Philips, Pioneer, Polk, Sennheiser, Skylon, Stanton, Tech 21, and others. It's not like this feature is unique to SONY.

Neodymium Magnets are apparently the strongest that can be found. I couldn't find a really technically proficient explanation as to why Neodymium produces better sound, but after a little research, I'll accept that as fact.

These SONY Fontopia Headphones were Made in Korea. If you need to exchange them, they can be replaced through the SONY Parts Center in Kansas City, Missouri. SONY has a toll-free line for frequently asked questions. Dial 1-800-222-7669 if you need to know more about their products. If SONY can't answer your question over the phone, you can always write them at their SONY Direct Response Center in Fort Myers, Florida.

I'd just like to point out that these headphones are actually a replacement for an older pair of ear buds from SONY that I can no longer find, and as such were purchased from FYE for only $8.99. They are the best little pair of cheap ear buds you are likely to encounter.

Specifications:

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

Recommended: Yes

Amount Paid (US$): 8.99

I bought these earbuds for my CD player (at the time) because the ones I had before died on the right side. They were a pair of RCA behind the neck headphones I bought at Family Dollar for very cheap. I would buy another pair but now I have an iPod and want to buy mostly earbuds and clip headphones that are more portable. I was planning on buying a pair of Philips earbuds at Target because (I thought) these were dead on the right side and I dislike the iPod earbuds, but when I plugged these into my iPod they worked fine. After a break-in session they sound even better.

Well, they are only ten bucks, so what can you expect? Not a ton, not a surround soundstage and great, powerful sound, but maybe something that has at least average sound, are comfortable, and will last a decent amount of time. And thatt's mostly what I got with these earbuds.

They don't have stellar sound (that for some reason a ton of reviews rave about), but they have decent sound that's good enough for the money. Not a lot of bass, but some pairs at this price have barely any bass. The mids on this pair are emphazised (but not by a lot, props to Sony). And they do have a good, clean sound to them, so even if you are unhappy with the low end of these earbuds you at least have a good upper end.

For other aspects of the earbuds, they are very comfortable and fit much better than the Apple earbuds, but feel better with the pads. I have already lost the pads but still fit fine and are still comfortable for long periods of time. Also, these are some durable headphones so far, and after a half-year of use they still put up nicely.

Overall, not a bad pair of esrbuds for portables. Already got a better pair? Keep these for some useful back-ups. They don't have amazing sound, but are comfortable and last long enough to make them worth the price. 4 stars.

NOTE: These are the case-less version of the MDRE828LP earbuds. If you want a case for a barely steeper price, check out the MDRE828LP earbuds instead of these, but if you want a money-saver, buy these.

I purchased these headphones because as a transcriptionist, the large around-ear headset I usually use was giving me some pretty bad headaches due to allergy issues I have.

These earbuds have excellent sound, but I agree with other reviewers who said they can be a bit uncomfortable to wear after a while because of their odd, slightly teardroppish shape. It's not bad at all; just a bit uncomfortable after extended use.

I would highly recommend these, though. If they'd get rid of that strange shape, these would be perfect for most people for extended, everyday use. However, I wear these things for eight or 10 hours or more at a time, and theyve never been more than slightly uncomfortable and the sound is always excellent. Though I'm going to try a different style next time just to see what's out there, I would buy these again if I needed a pair right away. I'll probably pick up another pair of these just to have a reliable backup.

The cord could be a bit longer - I dont know why manufacturers make these cords so short - but it's long enough to suit me most of the time (just barely long enough to wear with my MP3 player in my pocket, so it could be six inches longer to be perfect). Best part about the styling is that these have a Y-shaped cord instead of those incredibly annoying behind-the-head cords, and that was the major selling point of these things to me. I have tried a number of behind-the-head designs and every one of them I either gave away or discarded because they just won't stay in my ears and they were unbelievably uncomfortable to wear.

For the money, these are the best earbuds I've ever owned, and I'd easily pay $20 for them. You won't be throwing your money away on these!

As a regular I-Pod user, I've never been that unhappy with the standard Apple I-Pod earbuds -- they don't sit terribly well in the ear, but I find the sound and design to be adequate. I've wondered if there is a low-cost alternative, and my wife doesn't like them because they are too big and uncomfortable.

Here is a review of five low-priced alternatives bought on Amazon in March 2010. The story in a nutshell -- all the $8-$10 earbuds are a slight step up from the Apple buds, all the $6 earbuds are a big step down.

JBuds Hi-Fi Noise-Reducing Ear Buds (Black) (paid ten dollars) (Four stars)
Positives: Good sound, decent comfort, long cord
Negatives: Too long cord, no "slider"
A very solid sound -- much like the Apple buds. These are a great low-cost in-ear alternative to the Apple buds. The sound balance is similar to the Apple's, but a bit crisper and clearer, perhaps due more to the in-ear design than the actual technology. The JBuds ship with three sizes of silicone ear-inserts for different size ears, though I personally find the fit to be awkward and a bit slippery (see SkullCandy review below). A 54" cord was the longest of the ones I tested, and arguably too long. Also, there is no "slider" on the cord to hold the buds together when you are storing them (A very nice feature of the standard Apple buds and others).

Skullcandy INK'D Earbuds (White) (paid ten dollars) (Four stars)
Positives: Great bass, very comfortable, long cord
Negatives: Too much bass, line-rustle noise in cord
How it is possible to get so much bass into a tiny and cheap earbud I cannot imagine, but there it is. Really impressive, but it's actually a bit too much bass -- the balance is off. If you are listening to bass heavy music, it's overwhelming -- I had to try to adjust the EQ on the I-Pod to bring it down, and even then a bit too heavy. The sound is not mushy or distorted, just like the equalizer is shifted too much. These in-ears come with three sizes of silicone ear-inserts for different size ears, and I find the fit to be great. A long 52" cord, with a "slider" to hold the buds together when storing. A BIG concern -- there's a fair amount of cord-noise that rides in the line -- if the cord is brushing against your shirt or jacket when moving, you hear the rustling right in your ear. I've had worse cases of this in the past, but it is very noticeable in these, and makes them less ideal for walking or moving situations. (Is this a problem with all in-ear buds that have a snug fit?)

Sony MDR-E818LP Fontopia Ear-Bud Headphones with Acoustic Twin Turbo Circuit (paid eight dollars) (Three stars)
Positives: Good sound
Negatives: Even bigger than Apple buds, poor packaging, short cord
To my ear, the Sony's had the best sound of the five low-cost buds I tried -- a solid step up from the Apple buds, for people who don't like the in-ear style of bud. But a note of caution -- these are slightly *bigger* than Apple earbuds, even without the foam covering. In my ear, the foam cover makes them comfortable enough, but they are rather large. At the same time, the Sony Fontopia has an unusually short 40" cord (even shorter than the Apple 45" that bothers some people), but it's plenty long for typical uses (walking, etc.). There is no "slider" to hold the earbuds together when storing, which is a feature I like on the Apple buds. I have one big beef with these though -- the earbuds have a thin foam cover over the speaker that helps it hold in your ear more firmly and comfortably. I have no problem with that, but you have to put the foam pads on yourself, and it's very difficult. I ended up tearing one of them before I could even try them out. It's very frustrating to buy a new product that breaks before you can even use it. These deserve four start on performance, but gotta ding them on the design and packaging.

Panasonic RP-HV21Portable EarDrops Earbud Headphones (Black) (paid six-dollars) (one star)
Positives: None
Negatives: Huge earbud, terrible sound
I liked the look of these when I got them out of the package, but they are a bigger and worse alternative to the standard Apple earbuds. A very "tinny" and shallow sound compared with others at the same price point. They're too big for comfort in my ear, though that's always a personal consideration -- these Panasonics are larger than the Apple buds and equally hard surface.These Panasonics are about the same size as the Sony MDR-E818LP Fontopia earbuds, but those have a foam pad that helps hold them in and provide a little comfort. the "Clip" feature on these (the two buds can clip together, or clip to clothing or cords when not in use) is nice, but doesn't override all the performance downsides. I'm tossing them -- way worse than the basic Apple buds.

Coby CVE92 Isolation Stereo Earphones (paid six dollars) (one-star)
Positives: None
Negatives: terrible sound
These are cheap and I like the packaging (just in a plastic ziplock, not clamshells and fluff), but the performance is simply substandard for the pricerange, These Coby's have a very muffled sound, and don't come with different size silicone ear inserts (most people know these really aren't one-size-fits-all). I'm tossing them -- way worse than the basic Apple buds.

I bought these ear buds to monitor sound input from specialized microphones for my camcorder, but I'm also using them with my computer. Sound quality is very comparable to a high-end headset I've been using for the same purposes... maybe even better. I can pick up sound details in both the high and low freq range you can't hear on our home theater sound system. The base is very strong for an ear bud -- not too strong. The sound quality is so excellent I can hardly see spending any more.

I also rate the comfort very high, with the understanding that for any given pair of ears, a given ear bud configuration will seat only so soundly for exercise (retention), or lightly, for comfort at a desk for instance. The diameter of these buds is quite large. When I took them out of the package, I first wondered how they were going to (possibly) seat in my ears. One thing a user needs to understand is that the speaker portion of these buds needs to face forward. In other words, there's a left and a right bud. In my ears (to my surprise), they lay lightly where they're suppose to -- which of course is great for an office environment. There is very little pressure to create hot (bearing) spots during longer use... but as a consequence of that plus, I would think some folks will find (as they might with any other bud) that they might not stay in their ears so well during vigorous exercise. The goals of each require mutually exclusive design approaches.

I do however intend to use these to monitor sound during relatively vigorous wilderness filming... and they do seem to stay where they're supposed to be enough that I don't anticipate any trouble keeping them in my ears. The bottom line I think is that you need to choose either a headset or ear buds for either vigorous or gentle conditions. Particularly if your ears are sensitive to pressure, it's probably not reasonable to expect one ear bud or headset design to work best for you over both conditions.

Overall then, I don't think you're going to find better sound quality; and I think the large diameter speakers of these ear buds is instrumental. These were a great buy.

I bought these hoping for somewhat better sound than came from the stock set of free earbuds that came with my mp3 player. As soon as I tried them, I noticed that the sound was a little better, but, not so much better that I would have gone out of my way to purchase these. Probably due to the shape of my ears, and the awkward design of these buds, the left bud always sat a little further away from my ear canal, causing the sound balance to be unequal. If I worked at it, the friction from the covers held them in place well enough, so long as I sat in one place, as in a car, airplane, waiting room, etc. Since I had them, I decided I might as well try using them.

As others have said, these have a strange shape. I would assume that a deviation from the plain round design would be for some ergonomic purpose: either to make them fit more comfortably, or make them stay in the ear more firmly. Strangely, this is not the case. They seem designed to fall out of the ear, and do not fit as comfortably as the simple round design of the cheap, free buds that came with my mp3 player. And, for all the trouble I had getting the single pair of covers to slide over them without tearing, they were extremely ready to come off at the slightest opportunity, and using these without the covers did not work for me, since it was mainly the friction from the covers holding them in my ears. I did my best to make sure that, anytime I picked these up, I located both covers before carrying them to a new location. Nevertheless, in under two weeks, one of the two covers has simply vanished, and I cannot locate any replacement covers for this model. Since I have not, yet, owned them a whole month, I hope to be able to return them and try another design. If you're planning to buy some ear buds, I would steer you away from these. If, for some reason, your heart is set on these, Krazy Glue the covers on, or, no matter how careful you are, you'll lose one of them and have nothing for your trouble.

I ordered these with Panasonic RP-HV21-K headphones as well and the difference in the quality of sound is amazing, these produced such clear sound while the Panasonic was pretty bad. These are definitely the way to go, only a few dollars more but well worth it. I've had two pairs of Sony headphones, one lasted about 8 years until one of the buds went out a few weeks ago and the other four years and counting, you really can't beat these headphones.

these headphones have good sound reproduction and are well constructed.I use them when excercising and they hold up to abuse and stay in the ears .