Customer Reviews

Sony Mdr-Ex55/Blk Ex Earbuds Headphones with Silicon Housing (Black)

5 star:		(9)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(3)
1 star:		(5)

 

 

The first thing I'll mention is if you don't have an EQ on your MP3 player then you should probably pass on these. Running these flat results in a bass heavy sound with little midrange and treble response.

I bought these as a backup set of IEMs while my Shure SE210s were being repaired under warranty. The first thing I did was adjust the EQ on my Creative Zen Vision:M to flat settings and could tell right away these were going to need some tweaking to get a decent sound. Here are the settings I'm using for these IEMs:

80Hz +2
250Hz -3
1kHz +1
4kHz +2
13kHz +7

Smart Volume: ON
Bass Boost: OFF

These settings took awhile to come to as it was hard keeping the bass from sounding too thin while keeping the midrange and highs balanced. Once I hit the sweet spot these earphones came to life! The bass sounds more balanced, the midrange doesn't sound squashed and muddy, and the highs sound more defined and detailed. Someone else mentioned the highs sound harsh but I don't find that to be the case with proper EQ.

I used these for about 3-4 days and noticed that they started sounding better, so give them some time for break-in. Stereo separation is very wide and there is this kind of downward expansion sound to them, though this may be my use of Smart Volume on the Zen. I like gain riding for a more even sound, and these phones seem to take advantage of it.

One thing about these over the Shure's is that they deliver a more colored sound. The Shure's seem more full-bodied and much more accurate, but the Sony's have deeper bass extension (with proper EQ settings) and a slightly wider soundstage with a bit more airiness. Overall they are very good if you can EQ them properly and probably worth the money.

As for build quality they are not too bad. They do fit nicely and you won't notice the feeling of them in your ears using the right size ear piece. Sound isolation is good with the proper fit (the ones pre-installed fit my ears perfectly). The cord is long enough if you wear your MP3 player on your belt. The carrying pouch is a nice bonus to keep them from getting trashed.

Edit 09/19/08: Having revisted these ear buds recently I made some changes to the EQ settings. The previous settings were slightly off. The new settings add a bit more body to the sound but may be more fatiguing because of the added bass.

Like most here, I have to move various EQ settings a lot on my MP3 player to have good sounding music with these; however, that I don't mind.

They sounded really nice once all EQ was adjusted for them, and they shut out a lot of sound when fit right.

They are also the most beautifully comfortable headphones or earphones I've ever used.

BUT.

I cannot, and do not, forgive earphone cut-out/death after just 3-4 months of use, when I mollycoddled them.
Today, the right earphone died.

This was the first Sony product of ANY kind I've touched in 17 years, FOR THIS EXACT SAME REASON.
[getting burned]

Fool me once, shame on you...fool me twice, shame on me.

As the price indicates, these ear buds are certainly not meant for audiophiles. The bass is exaggerated, and the highs sound somewhat tacky and cheap. They're not completely bad, however. They're quite comfortable for skiing and recreational use, and the sound characteristics of these headphones make them good for rap music and some kinds of rock. For all you audio snobs who criticize these headphones, just look at the price tag and shut up. Good sounding headphones cost at least double.

I agree that these are the most comfortable earbuds out there and the silicon pieces stay put much better than some competitors. However, I experienced failure of one of the earpieces after only about six weeks of use. I am buying them again, but ONLY on ebay where you can find some good bargains on them. I WILL NOT pay full retail for them, though. If they would fix the weak wiring at the plug and at the earpiece, they would have one heck of a product. But I can see from others posts, they have some work to do.

Just purchased these Sony's for use with my Creative Zen Nano Plus (they're my 1st earbuds). I have a pair of Sony MDR CD380's that I like very much, however those aren't practical for reasons of portability. After using the Zen's built in EQ I have the E55's sounding pretty good. I could not run these "flat" as the bass was overwhelming and the highs too shrill. After some EQ'ing the sound is almost there, however for the price they should sound more balanced. Problem with earbuds is most retailers will not (understandably) let you try them out before purchase.

I first bought these headphones at a "Sony Style" store a long time ago. I am very particular with my headphones and was very happy with the sound. They have deep, rich bass and clear crisp treble. They are very comfortable to wear and even eliminate most background noise while listening to music, since they form to your ear. I used them regularly for over 2 years and never had a problem with them. They even survive in the washing machine!

After 2 years, I lost them, and used the opportunity to buy the more expensive "Monster Beats" over ear headphones by Dre. BIG MISTAKE. Those headphones are absolutely not worth the $200+ price tag. Don't get me wrong, they sound good, but to someone who cares about perfect sound quality, they are garbage. Even though I wanted to believe they were worth it, (I mean, I invested over 200 dollars, I was rooting for them!) but they lacked the rich and clear bass and sounded muffled and uncomfortable. I returned them and bought another pair of these Sony headphones from Amazon, this time in black. They're perfect and I am glad to have them again! I highly recommend them to anyone.

Three things I had in mind when buying this (impulse buy at the airport for a plane ride): I run and wanted something that wouldn't fall off while running; I need something that's durable and can be easily stashed; I didn't want to spend a lot on something I may wreak, or lose.

I've had it for about 3 years, have sent it through the washer and dryer and the audio still sounds good (didn't notice audible change from before and after the wash & dry cycle) by my non-techie/audiophile standards. I listen to classical/jazz music and I can hear the different instruments, so that's my basis for "good" audio. I do not listen to music on full blast as the design blocks out external noise and insulates sound. When running I do need to keep one earphone off so I'm not oblivious to cars or other pedestrians, as again, it does a good job of blocking outside noise. No prob with the cord, other than the occasional tangling which is a non-issue for me.

I purchased a set of these ear buds today and was impressed with their quality......especially for the price I paid. I use them on a sansa clip plus
and switched because of the obnoxiously uncomfortable head phones it came with. I can say without a doubt that if you are looking for comfort these ear buds are for you. I would advise that if you do purchase them be careful with cable as it is relatively thin compared to other sets.

These headphones are comfortable and easy to use. The sound is great and so is the price.

I went ahead and bought this product because the reviews were mixed and I only use my headphones to listen to podcasts. The sound is just as bad as the negative reviews say--very harsh and metallic. And, while I like neck-chain cords, the long side on this one is too short.