Customer Reviews

Sony MDR-EX500LP Vertical In-the-Ear Style EX Style Headphones

5 star:		(12)
4 star:		(6)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

I use a few different MP3 Players including a Sony S Series, but also own a couple of i-Pod products and a Zune. In the past my favorite mid-priced earbuds where the Sony MDR-EX90LP which I thought had a slight edge over the SENNHEISER CX500's. This set has Chrystal clear clarity, outstanding Bass and outstanding highs. Honestly these are the most articulate set of earbuds I've used, and with the price ranging from well under $100.00 I would recommend this set to anyone.

Over all outstanding Bass and clarity with very articulate definition make these new earbuds from Sony a must have.

I have been a fan of Sony headphones for quite a while. The sound quality is pretty stellar - and there are better reviews than mine if you want to get technical. However, my impressions are still worth mentioning.

I remember when I got my first pair of MDR 70 buds and was taken by surprise when I found that the sound quality was simply amazing. It was comparable, and depending on what I was doing or listening to, better than my MDR VJ700s. Eventually, I wore them out and tried some of the new models, hoping for something that carried the feeling of awe that I felt listening to the first pair. None of them, even the mid to high end sets, sounded vastly different. Sure, most of the models were just as good, but some were worse, and found some of the high end models generally disappointing. As the years passed, I grew accustomed to the sony earbud sound quality, was fairy happy with them, and stopped looking for something new and wonderful. The MDR 500s took me by surprise, broke me from my trance, and filled me, once again, with feelings of awe that I had somehow forgotten.

Durability

The main problem I have with the buds is that they simply aren't built for wear. Right out of the package, the right earbud drops to less than half volume if the cord twists just a smidge - The issue lies somewhere underneath the plastic Y divider on the cord. My biggest complaint, in trying to resolve the problem, lies in the difficulty I have had in attempting to contact Sony. Attempts to reach them through their website have been futile - they didn't even have the MDR 500 listed on on their support so I couldn't submit a problem report. (Of course, I will try again and hope for the best - a replacement that I don't have to fight for. If that fails, I will eventually get through on the phone.)

My expectations are similar to that of all other sony buds - If you get a flawless pair and treat them right - they will last a year or more - many years, if you are diligent. If you get a dud, they won't more than a couple months. (It has only happened to me once, so it isn't fair to base my opinion on this, but it can happen - I had a pair where the rubber disentegrated 2-3 months after I started using them.)

If you wear them 5 days a week, wrap them up nicely when you put them away (a couple times a day), they will probably start to fail in 6 to 12 months. I use mine daily, treat them well, and wear them out regularly. All of mine have failed due to cord problems - approximately 40% lose contact with the plug, 40% fall apart near the Y, and 20% lose contact somewhere within the bud itself.

A reasonable expectation of headphone lifetime is 6-12 months under normal wear and tear conditions. I would definately consider a new brand/model if they were more durable as long as the sound quality and price were comparable. I have yet to find anything worth mentioning.

The bottom line:

If you own an ipod you won't get much benefit out of these buds. Most mp3 players aren't capable of producing a signal that brings out the excellent sound on the MDR 500. Stick with the low end models (30 or the 70 series) and you, quite literally, won't know the difference.

Nevertheless, the sound quality of the MDR 500 is outstanding and it is definately a good value when paired with the right sound source. If you know you want a 300+ model and are having trouble deciding whether the more expensive drivers are worth it, or even if you intend to use them a lot, try the 300s first and upgrade down the road. While I don't have a pair of the 300s I am betting they sound almost identical to the 500s. An added bonus with the 300s is that you won't feel quite so upset if you buy a new pair next year. On the other hand, when it only costs $25-$30 more for the 500s, you might as well splurge.

I bought these to replace my old earbuds (JVC HAFX300B In Ear Headphone) which had decent sound, but became uncomfortable after about an hour. Surprisingly, these headphones don't have that problem. Though they're bigger and heavier, they're quite possibly the most comfortable in-ear headphones I've ever used. In addition to being comfortable, these headphones sound fantastic. The 13.5" driver provides excellent bass response while still offering up clean, crisp highs. I feel comfortable saying that these are on par with, if not better, than the more expensive Shure SE210's (Shure SE210 Sound Isolating Earphone - Black) and come without the epic learning curve (the fit of Shure headphones takes a while to get used to).

In my opinion, these buds are well worth the money. I'd highly recommend you give them a try. You won't be disappointed.

Let me first start with saying that although I don't like the over-pretentious word "audiophile", I am very picky about my personal sound equipment, and wouldn't touch those cheap and crappy earphones that so many music players come bundled with. Throughout the last decade I have been a great fan of Sony's in-ear headphones. My last earphone was the Sony MDR-EX71, but when it finally broke (as my earphones for some reason tend to do after a few years) I thought that I would try out something different.

So after having read some stellar reviews, I bought the Sennheiser CX400II - but even though it is generally considered a very good earphone, I found its high-frequency response seriously lacking, and its bass range much too boomy for my taste. I just couldn't stand it, so I was back to Sony again. For some time I pondered between the more traditionally designed MDR-EX77 and the MDR-EX300 - the slightly unorthodox vertical design of the latter seemed a bit intimidating and I was afraid that they would not fit my ears properly or keep falling out because of the weight of the driver unit.

But in the end I decided to take the plunge and went - not for the EX300, but instead its big brother, the MDR-EX500: the brushed metal design looked really nice and I hoped that they would have a slight edge in performance. Ironically, just after placing my order, I learned that these phones are now discontinued and being replaced by the (probably superior) MDR-EX510. But then again, who knows how long it will take before they are available outside Japan?

The EX500 comes delivered in a normal paper/plastic box, and not one of those horrible laser-welded hard plastic containers that require power tools for opening and which might cut your fingers in a heartbeat. Thank you Sony! By the way, I also noticed that the phones are manufactured in Thailand and not in China like everything else these days.

Inside the box are a the beautifully crafted earphones, the ubiquitous set of silicone buds (small, medium and large, all appropriately color-coded), a cord length adjustor gadget (just a piece of plastic that you can wrap your cord around if you would need to make it a bit shorter) and also a very neat nylon/leather carrying pouch with an integrated plastic winder. The pouch is actually really nicely designed and (if used) will surely help prolonging the expected life length of the earphones.

As you probably know, the cord to the right earbud is a lot longer than the one to the left earbud, as it is supposed to go around the neck behind your head. If you didn't know, it might leave you a bit baffled, but it is no big deal really. The only problem it causes is when trying to use the storage winder - since the cord to the right earbud is a bit longer, it doesn't "match up" around the winder without creating a small extra loop.

The main cord is medium length and does not require any extensions ("LP" in the product designation means "L-plug" and is usually the long cord version, while "SP" means "Straight plug", which normally is the short cord version). The EX500 has a tiny gold-plated L-shaped connector, but no integrated volume control, which I personally don't really see as a problem as it would inevitably sooner or later lead to cable breakage.

The cable seems a bit fragile and I am sure that it will need to be handled with delicate hands to stay in one peace. These are not the kind of earphones that you just throw into your bag together with your gym shoes and towels - they deserve a better handling.

A bit worried about poor fit, I carefully inserted the earbuds into my ears - and I was immediately relieved with nice and comfortable fit. The disc shaped driver unit part resides just outside the ear canal, but since it is so small and light, it doesn't feel a bit strange at all and is not heavy on the ears.

I however noticed that the silicone hybrid earbuds do not offer a total isolation from outside sounds. This might be an issue for somebody using these phones in noisy surroundings, such as during commuting. If you use the earphones in moderately silent surroundings such as the office or at home, it should however not be a problem. Sound leakage seems absent.

Earphones normally require a certain break-in period to achieve their optimal sound quality and especially the EX500's with their larger sized drivers, so after having played a few tracks on my iPod just to make sure that I hadn't gotten a dud, I connected the earbuds to my computer and left it running through a number of various albums in iTunes in an endless loop on normal sound level for a weekend, and tried to forget that they were there.

Finally I decided it was time to assess the sound quality of the EX500's. Well, I must say that I wasn't disappointed. The sound immediately struck me as having a purity and clarity of a pristine character - transparent, very musical and very pleasant indeed.

The bass is quite laid-back and never threatens to take over or drone out of control, like some other cheaper earphones often have a tendency to do. For some music genres, like heavy techno or dance, I have a feeling that some people may feel that the bass may be a little bit on the light side. For electronic, acoustic or classic music, the Sony's are just perfect. The Sony has a neutral and flat sonic reproduction without exaggerating any part of the frequency range.

If you initially think the bass is too weak, I would first recommend you to test the fit of the earbuds, and maybe try a different sized bud. I would also strongly recommend leaving the equalizer on your music player turned off and to stay away from any kind of "loudness" or "bass boost" functions, as they will just ruin the fine-crafted sonic balance of the earphones and may even induce some nasty distortion. Let your ears get used to the even and flat frequency response of these earphones, and you will no doubt discover a new world of sonic detail.

If you wish, you can purchase third-party earbuds to replace the original silicone ones, and these have been reported to emphasise the bass response while also improving the sonic isolation. So far I have been sticking with the originals, so I cannot tell.

The midrange and the high frequencies are incredibly clean and clear without ever sounding metallic or "glossy". The richness of the musical detail is simply breathtaking, and it would be a complete waste to throw low-bitrate music tracks at these phones, as they will relentlessly reveal every compressing flaw that cheaper earphones may get away with.

If I have to say anything slightly negative about the EX500's besides the lack of a complete sonic isolation, it is that they are not *quite* as comfortable as my other in-ear phones and will cause some slight fatigue like after an hour or two. But maybe that's a good thing, you need to give your ears a break from time to time. I have been using the EX500's while walking, and althoough they definitely do not fall out or cause any discomfort during moderate excercises, they are probably meant for relatively static usage and when listening to the music is your primary goal.

I am not sure about the differences between the EX300 and EX500, but I find it unlikely for anybody to go wrong with any of these earphones. Because of the slight shortcomings mentioned above, I cannot full-heartedly give a five star rating, especially considering that these earphones are probably out of reach for many people with limited financial freedom, but if you are serious about your music, I can nevertheless strongly recommend them.

I use these on a daily basis with my portable mp3 as well as desktop/laptop. Sound quality is expectedly excellent--I've have 4 or 5 previous Sony earbuds at this point, and as always the MDR line didn't disappoint in terms of sound quality.

Strong, clear bass and clean highs can easily be distinguished, especially when going from PC speakers.

The un-boxing is also something of an experience; Sony served up a deluxe packaging for this almost-top-of the-line earbud. It comes in a box in a box with another (sort of) box (case) inside. The presentation is really above and beyond the call of duty.

Ease of use: insert into ear, listen to music.

Only thing I'd improve is to bring back the really short cord and bundle a cord-extension rather than the present full-length cord and fidgety cord adjuster. My previous earbuds had the extension, so I recognize the convenience and usefulness of this setup.

After reading a bunch of reviews on various Sony earbuds I chose these because it seemed like they would have the most neutral sound with decent bass. I consider myself an audiophile, and my biggest concern was whether or not the music would sound "flat" or "tinny". They did not disappoint. I tested these with two different iPods, my Nintendo DS, and the in-flight entertainment system on a recent flight to Hawaii.

Music has a much deeper, fuller sound than my wife's "candy" type earbuds. Of course, these are also 4x the cost of those.

Movies such as the new JJ Abrams "Star Trek" were fully encompassing. Voice reproduction is crystal clear and easy to understand. The soundstage actually reminded me of a smaller version of my home theater. I actually forgot I was watching the movie on a plane for periods of time.

The bass these buds produce is impressive, able to hit even the lowest notes in songs such as Black Eyed Peas' "Boom Boom Pow". That being said, during periods of transition from low bass notes to higher treble notes, I did notice them occasionally bottoming out. I am not sure if this will go away as they mellow with age. It does not happen enough to make me want to send them back.

Construction is impressive. They feel very solid thanks to the metal housing and reinforced cable strains. The wires connecting to the earbuds seemed rather thin to me, while the main supply cord has a much more substantial feel. I found myself being very delicate with the cords to try to keep them from snagging or tangling. They did tangle easily.

The case that comes with the earbuds is actually very well constructed, and the hidden magnet was a nice touch. However, the plastic wire spool that is included inside seemed like an afterthought. It is impossible to get the earbuds to stay in place while you try to wrap the wire around it, and the two different lengths of the earbud supply wires (they don't split in a traditional "Y" shape) makes it awkward to neatly wrap the cords around. I found that no matter how I tried, there was always some extra cord I had to loop back over itself, or leave it hanging and just stuff it into the case.

Lastly, my ear canals must be an odd size or shape because the medium-sized tips felt slightly too big and caused my ear canals to start itching after a couple of hours of use. Not entirely sure if the itching was due to the size of the tips or the material the tips are made out of, but it got annoying after 5 hours on a plane. The small-sized tips were too small and fell out easily. Again, not enough to make me send them back, and my wife does not have the same problem with them. I'm chalking this one up to my ears.

All in all, a very quality product. With earbuds you obviously get what you pay for. That makes me wonder how much better the $200 earbuds sound than these!

I purchased this headphones on Aug. 14 2010. Let's not get technical; the sound is really really good, will block out other sounds completely if you turn up the volume just a tad more. You can detect outside sound if you turn it down depending on your hearing. The stethoscope effect is definitely there but will disappear once you have your music on. Anyway, cord was designed to go around the back of your neck, so the right earphone has longer cord compared to the left. I have gotten use to it but I still prefer the conventional one. And yeah, cord is long and will get all tangled up but they have a (I don't know what to call it) thing included to loop your cord so you can adjust the length. But the right earphone would still get tangled up anyway since it's longer and there's no way to shorten it. I'm still happy with this purchase though. I was worried at first that it won't hold up since it get tugged alot. I was very careful with it at first but if you know the adage "familiarity breeds contempt", that's what's happening now. I'm not careful with it anymore, it get pulled alot still and I don't care. Thing won't die, won't even fall apart. I'm waiting for it to happen, I'm curious how long it will hold up to my constant abuse but looking at it closely, it's not even frayed or stretched. Still sounds good too. You must wondered why I didn't review before. Well, just bought an iPod nano & it came with its own earphones. D@mned the thing's not designed for comfort, my ears hurt! Didn't realize till then how comfortable my Sony earphones are until now. Oh and Apple iPod earphones do not have crappy sound, they're OK actually it's just that Sony sounds way way better. I can detect other sound accompaniment in the music when listening with Sony. Well this Sony at least.

So far, of at least 15 earbuds I've tried, these have the best high's, mid's, and the bass kicks. The only negative is the cable drives me nuts, but I have yet to break the cable. I'd have to say they are pretty sturdy. Great sounding product, as comfortable as any other earbud. Sony still makes great personal audio products.

Beautiful rich sound, and surprisingly comfortable. I own several different sets of buds and the 500s are by far the richest sounding set I've ever used. The only complaint I have is that the cords on all Sonys are a bit flimsy.

These Sony ear-buds have very nice, crisp and clear sound. The bass response is quite goood. If you are looking for great sound for a portable music player, this would work great. The fact that they fit snug, helps eliminate noise as well.