Sony MDR-XB40EX High Sensitivity Driver Extra Bass EX Earbuds - 13.5mm

by Sony

Product Details

• Product Dimensions: 7 x 4.2 x 2.4 inches ; 3.2 ounces
• Shipping Weight: 1 pounds
• Shipping: Currently, item can be shipped only within the U.S.
• ASIN: B001RB24U0
• Item model number: MDR-XB40EX
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (176 customer reviews)

Product Description

Amazon.com Product Description

Experience deep bass sound with Sony's MDR-XB40EX High Sensitivity Driver Extra Bass EX Earbuds-perfect for enjoying upbeat music. Enjoy features that include high sensitivity driver units that reproduce a powerful bass acoustic and a vertical in-the-ear design which delivers exceptional audio quality for an overall enhanced sound experience.

Vertical in-the-ear design delivers comfort and superior audio quality

High sensitivity driver units that produce powerful acoustics

13.5mm Driver Unit

Engineered by Sony, the wide 13.5mm Extra Bass high sensitivity driver unit accurately reproduces powerful, dynamic booming bass sound. 

Premium Sound Quality

The MDR-XB40EX earphones have a tightly sealed acoustic design that reduce sound leakage, allowing you to experience the dynamic bass.

In-The-Ear Design

Featuring a closed type vertical in-the-ear design and stylish hairline-finished aluminum, the MDR-XB40EX earphones deliver exceptional audio quality and reduces ineffective sound passages.

Hybrid Silicone Earbuds

Maximize comfort and enhanced audio quality with a double layer of silicone that fit the uniquely shaped earphones.

Flat Y-type Cord

Minimize tangles with the flat yet durable Y-type 3.9ft (1.2m) cord.

MDR-XB40EX Specs

Driver Unit:	13.5mm, dome type
Magnet Type:	Neodymium
Frequency Response:	4Hz - 24,000Hz
Impedance:	16 ohms
Sensitivity (db):	105dB/mW
Power Handling Capacity:	100mW
Cord Length:	3.9ft (1.2m)

What's in the Box

MDR-XB40EX Headphones, Carrying case, Earbuds

Product Description

Designed for hip-hop and dance music lovers, the MDR-XB40EX Extra Bass earbuds accurately reproduce the deep bass sound. Featuring wide 13.5mm high sensitivity driver units, these earbuds are engineered to reduce sound leakage while delivering premium sound quality. Each earbud is constructed with a double layer of silicone to maximize comfort and eliminate sound distortion. In addition to a flat Y-type cord to help reduce tangles, these high performance buds come with a handy carrying pouch and clip.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

78 of 82 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The cord is everything you didn't know you needed, August 7, 2009

By 

Heather Lion (New) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Sony MDR-XB40EX High Sensitivity Driver Extra Bass EX Earbuds - 13.5mm (Electronics)

Great sound, awesome bass. That's pretty standard for any Sony headphones for over $40.

The buds are also really good. Better than many of the other silicone buds out there, they won't "pop" off when you pull the cords out of your pocket. I had an older pair of sony "in-ear" earbuds that did that. But these silicone buds (which come in 3 sizes) will not come off unless you really want them to come off.

Fit is excellent--they don't actually stick very far out of my ears, which is what I was worried about in the pictures. In fact they fit very well. I originally thought the silver tab was a little tacky, but they're great for keeping the cord from bothering my ears. Also, they are basically a "sound reservoir"--they serve as a kind of speaker cabinet for that great sound.

The real kicker is the cord--it's actually tangle-free. I'm serious. I store it in my pocket after bunching it up into a ball, which would tangle up any other earbuds (including all the ones I've used before). But when I take them back out, instead of having to untangle anything, I just shake them out and they're ready to go. No knots, nothing looped or caught on anything. Simply awesome, and I don't think I could ever go back to the regular cords--even if the earbuds themselves were better and cheaper.

48 of 49 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Extremely Satistfied, July 18, 2009

By 

jpw1138 - See all my reviews

This review is from: Sony MDR-XB40EX High Sensitivity Driver Extra Bass EX Earbuds - 13.5mm (Electronics)

I had to chuckle when I read a reviewer said he was hearing things in music he used to listen to 30 years ago with these earbuds. I was listening to Steely Dan's "Aja" album when I started writing this review with these earbuds on, and it was like new music to me. And this from something I've listened to at least 100 times in my life.

-- Very comfortable. I have large ear canals, and these won't fall out, even during light exercise like treadmill or elliptical. Different sized buds.

-- Tangle-resistent cord, plenty long if you want to carry in your iPod in your front pants pocket and still reach your ears (and I'm 6-5). Includes clothing clip.

-- Very solid, tight bass, of course. Not too boomy, even for heavy bass music, although I think this could depend on production value and listener's choice to some extent.

-- Midrange passes the "stick on the drum skin" test. Provides solid performance throughout the full audio range.

-- Crisp highs. This is where I heard things I had never experienced before in a headphone, or home stereo for that matter.

-- Not noise-cancelling, but definitely noise-reducing. For example, I cannot hear my keystrokes as I type this.

Try these buds. The fit, bass response, and price were the key reasons I bought them. Guy at Best Buy could have sold me Bose buds for nearly twice the price, but claimed I would just be paying for the name. I will never know, nor care, since I love these so much.

UPDATE: For a hoot, I decided to switch over to my Sennheiser HD555 full-sized over-the-ear headphones. The Sonys win hands down. For the same kind of bass as I get from my Sonys, I would have to run the signal through my sound card's equalizer, which of course would distort the sound.

Truly amazing. I never believed earbuds could ever beat a full-set of cans. Oh well. Live and learn.

42 of 43 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Exactly what I was looking for, June 30, 2009

By 

Richard D. Suel II (Louisville, KY United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Sony MDR-XB40EX High Sensitivity Driver Extra Bass EX Earbuds - 13.5mm (Electronics)

I'm a software engineer, so I spend a good portion of my day listening to music while working. I've been looking for headphones to replace the stock headphones that came with my 80GB iPod classic, and I was really looking for headphones with decent bass. To me, nearly all genres of music sound better with a nice solid low-end as long as it doesn't distort and overpower the highs.

I bought these MDR-XB40EX's for $59.99 and also the MDR-EX300LP "Superior Studio Sound" headphones for $79.99 at Best Buy so I could compare the two and keep the ones that sounded better. To me, the MDR-XB40EX's are more comfortable, sturdier and fuller sounding than the more expensive buds. These have excellent bass, without being ridiculous. I've actually adjusted the EQ on my iPod to the "Treble Booster" setting, which raises the high end without modifying the low end ... and they sound AWESOME! These are exactly what I was looking for, and well worth the price at $59.99.

Oh, and these do a great job of isolating talkative co-workers if you work in a cube environment.