Reviews

101

Okay. Because this site and this review is what made me go and try these earbuds out, I will write my own comments.

I had (have) the 71s. I always LIKED them, never loved them, but they were definitly the best I could find in my price range. I didn't like the bass, and my experience with earbuds, including the Apple ones (both the ones that come with the iPods and the Apple In Ear buds) has always been lots of fudging around to get them to stay in and be comfortable.
One slight tug on a cord and they would lose a seal or lose the comfort or come out all together.

I have realized that, besides sound quality, when talking about earbuds, you really can't listen to other peoples opinions because of different sizes and shapes of ears. The Apple buds fit me very well, did not fit my firned AT ALL.


So...anyway...I went up to the Sony store here in Manhattan to see if they had the 81s. They did. For $49.99 plus tax. In black and in white. There was a guy there who asked if he could try them. The sales person said they don't allow that because of sanatary reasons, but you can buy them, open the package in the store, try them...if you don't like them return them and get your money back right then and there. (FYI you can also return them within 30 days)
So I was sold, knowing that I could return them.

I am NOT returning them.
The things are perfect for me. I am in love with them!

cont......

Posted by Atm Inside on March 10, 2005 at 9:09 PM (PDT)

102

MAN!!!!!
:(

I just wrote up my nice, lengthly continued review of these (answering a lot of other peoples questions) and had to copy and paste the second part because of the character limit, but accidently copied something else before I pasted. Woops.

Maybe tomorrow night.

Posted by Atm Inside on March 10, 2005 at 9:12 PM (PDT)

103

SonyStyle.com now has this in stock both blackand white models for $49.95!

Posted by iPodOne on March 12, 2005 at 7:47 AM (PDT)

104

i have an update on these. They are now available in the US at SONYSTYLE.COM for $50. AND...they are the LP type of cord. So ipodlounge
management, you should update this review and let other people know.

Posted by WickedKlown89 in DE on March 13, 2005 at 5:33 PM (PDT)

105

My cord is also uneven. Please let me know if you guys find out anything about this, its really annoying and I'd like to exchange them.

Also, I had the same problem taid. I wanted to stomp on these things at the gym they were pissing me off so much. If you're sitting down yea the sound is great but working out at the gym these things will just not stay in position. I tried all three bud sizes, same results, I'm thinking about pulling off the clip part and trying them out as regular ear buds, but I don't want to split the wire.

Posted by waleed on March 18, 2005 at 7:46 AM (PDT)

106

I just recieved my ex-81's. I ordered them from sonystyle.com. They don't come with the pouch shown in the review. But instead a very well designed hard white egg-shaped case with a flat bottom. It's pretty cool how when you wrap the headphones around they perfectly get to the area that stores them, even the audio jack reaches that area to be stored easily. All without having to fold a cable back because it's too long or anything. Also, the cord that it comes with is what is described as the LP.

Posted by brianru in New York, New York on March 20, 2005 at 6:45 AM (PDT)

107

Why is the US release MUCH different than this? The pair I picked up at Circuit City comes with a HUGE hard carrying case, and no extension. My only gripes are how I can't adjust the chord like I did with my 71s, and how the hook doesn't rest on my ear well. I don't really think this was worth my extra $40. I might return em, but I'll try em out for a little longer to see if they grow on me, but so far, I don't see much reason to buy these over the 71s, unless they fit your ears better. BTW, the frequency rating on mine are 5-23,000 hz instead of the 15-23,000 hz I saw for the Japanese version. My 71s only have 6-23,000 hz.

Posted by nineohtoo on March 28, 2005 at 10:44 AM (PDT)

108

First, these are now $36 shipped from eCOST, so you won't have to risk so much on trying these. Second, I've owned ear buds for many years, but these are my first that are literally in-ear. It took a while to understand how to fit them and until I did, I was thinking this was the worst $36 I had ever spent. Personally, my problem was that I was trying to wear them like traditional ear buds, which rest snuggly against the bottom part of ear hole. The trick was to make these fit snuggly against the TOP of the ear hole and then push gently in until the poles are also snug against my ears. I also had to try all of the different rubber buds to find one that would slide in with a good fit. Bottom line is that they are great once you get them fit properly, so be prepared to use some patience with these. Also, if you are long-time Sony earbud user, the best feature they have is the uneven cord. It goes up the left side to the left ear, then around your neck to the right. If you ever want to listen to music and someone else too, you can pop the right side out and let it hang down. The neck cord keeps the right side from just dangling down to the ground but instead just sits right below your shoulder on its own until you are ready to reinsert it.

Posted by wrtiede in Plano, TX on March 29, 2005 at 5:39 PM (PDT)

109

hey, does anyone know if you can buy the 71's or 81's in Canada??? in white?

Posted by insan56 in Canada on March 30, 2005 at 8:55 PM (PDT)

110

hey, does anyone know if you can buy the 71's or 81's in Canada??? in white?

Posted by insan56 in Canada on March 30, 2005 at 8:55 PM (PDT)

111

Hello!!

Please help, I really want to purchase the MDR81 headphones. But would want to buy them in UK.

Can anyone please advise a UK release date for this product?

Thank you for your help

Jim

Posted by jimmer on March 31, 2005 at 11:22 AM (PDT)

112

Hi - will the Sony Model MDR-EX81SL headphones fit the i River MP 3 player (Model IFP799)?
I have just purchased the Sony headphones as a result of these reviews - I await their arrival with anticipation as the in-ear headphones that came with the i River MP3 player do not stay in my ear - keep falling out - and I can't do anything to stop this happening! Frustrating to say the least.

Posted by Blacky17557 on April 7, 2005 at 12:54 AM (PDT)

113

Hi - will the Sony Model MDR-EX81SL headphones fit the i River MP 3 player (Model IFP799)?
I have just purchased the Sony headphones as a result of these reviews - I await their arrival with anticipation as the in-ear headphones that came with the i River MP3 player do not stay in my ear - keep falling out - and I can't do anything to stop this happening! Frustrating to say the least.

Posted by Blacky17557 on April 7, 2005 at 12:59 AM (PDT)

114

The difference between the 81SL and LP is that the SL has the short cord attached to the phones then a longer extension cord. They are meant for those who use in-line remotes. The LPs have hust one piece of cord which is the perfect length for carrying your iPod around in your pocket and don't use a remote.

I bought the LPs last week on eBay from Smooth Buy Electronics. They cost about £30 including shipping to the UK. Only took a few days to get here too. They also come with a hard plastic carry case instead of a pouch (because they are US versions?).

Very happy with them for outdoor use as they block out a huge amount of the background noise around you compared with normal on-ear headphones. Plenty of bass, so those that say there isn't can't be wearing them correctly. Still suffer from that slightly 'boxy', compressed sound which I think is a trait of earphones as opposed to headphones (though I have just ordered some Shure E3c's to compare, so either those or these will be for sale on eBay soon!). My old MDR-G72s are still favourite, I think...

Posted by sjminem in Leicester, UK on April 8, 2005 at 4:28 AM (PDT)

115

I picked up the LP version of these phones yoday. Haven't had a chance to listen to them. As I have been using the showcase recently for my iPod, the longer cord is appreciated. I would like to make note that they came with a great case! The case is not the pouch offered above, but a 2 piece oval (white on the bottom , sorta translucent on the top. You wrap the phones around the case and the jack goes into a nifty compartment on the bottom; which I presume also holds the spare buds? I plan on listening to these bad boys tonight. Hopefully these will replace the earJams that I am using now. At least I will no longer worry about them popping out... I grabbed them in NY for $40.

Posted by JustReboot in NJ, USA on April 14, 2005 at 11:04 AM (PDT)

116

I should have read all the notes. Some folks already commented on the case (my bad). I'll also have to check my typing before hitting 'submit.' So used to spellcheck. The case my be an issue once the weather here warms up... You can always just use the 'bud holder' which is a small plastic cyclinder which snaps together and 'supposedly' prevents tangles. We'll see...

Posted by JustReboot in NJ, USA on April 14, 2005 at 11:09 AM (PDT)

117

Just got the Sony MDR-EX81 plugged in what a disappointment sounded flat and far too demanding of the Ipod's amp. But then I removed the restricted volume and now they sound great!!! Thanx to http://www.eupod.com. I am still torn between the Shure e3c and sennheiser pxc 250? as the next upgrade

Posted by ashtya on April 17, 2005 at 10:47 AM (PDT)

118

After living with the EX81LP's and a pair of Shure E3c's now for a couple of weeks I've come to the conclusion that I like both for different reasons. The Sony's sound the most immediately impressive due to their overblown bass and treble. But their midrange is a bit dissapointing and sounds very tinny. Consequently, the Sonys stretch further in the highs and lows but suffer from a slightly woolly, unfocussed sound as a result. Best iPod EQ setting seems to be Vocal Booster with them. In comparison, the E3c's are a lot more faithful to the original recording. Mid range is much more balanced and prominent, and though bass and treble aren't as forceful as the Sonys, I found the E3c's to pack much more of a punch. They are certainly louder at the same volume level than the Sonys. Classical music in particular sounds far superior on the Shures. Also, they seem to isolate much better than the Sonys, but that could be purely down to my ears having a tighter fit with the Shures. I used both sets just yesterday on a flight and the Shures blocked out much more in-flight noise than the Sonys. So I find you tend to be in your own private world when listening with the Shures. Best EQ setting for the Shures seems to be Jazz. The Classical setting sounds even better but this setting is more prone to bass distortion on an iPod.

Posted by sjminem in Leicester, UK on April 18, 2005 at 8:21 AM (PDT)

119

I'm sorry but I must disagree with you folks. I was so anxious for these to be 'the ones.' Unfrtunately I just returned them to the store where I bought them. Let me explain...

The first thing I noticed after I put them on was the fact that I heard every echo in my head. I guess the closest thing I coulkd compare this to is placing the tips of your fingers in your ears. Try grinding your teeth. Yeah, it's like that. EVERYTHING is amplified, the cors brushing against your outer ear, etc.

I tried to readjust the 'phones in the mirror, same thing. I tried to change the buds, same thing. OK I thought I guess I could 'live with it,' if this was the only gripe. Unfortunately I also experienced 'leakage' of audio. Sorry sony, but you lost my vote on this one. Looks like I'll stick with the ear-jams for now...

Posted by JustReboot in NJ, USA on April 18, 2005 at 9:16 AM (PDT)

120

I have recently bought a G4 iPod to ward of boredom on an upcoming extended round world plane trip. After listening with the supplied earbuds I was very soon aware that they are very uncomfortable after only a short time - no where near the 8+ hour segments they will be used on.
Purely on the reccomedations of iPodlounge I have just been and bought a pair of MDR-EX81s - principally for the comfort side of things. On that score they appear to fit the bill perfectly, but I am astonished at the improvement in sound quality compared with the supplied Apple freebies. I'm no audiophile but this is an upgrade well worth making.

Posted by David Theobald on May 21, 2005 at 11:51 PM (PDT)

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