Sony MDR-EX71 Fontopia Stereo Earphones - Bulk Packaged

I love the way these fit, feel, and sound. When my first pair quit working (left side went silent), I tried a competing, more expensive, brand and didn't like the way they felt so I came back and ordered 3 pair of these Sony ear buds -- figuring that it's better to burn through three of these than to spend the same amount of money for a single pair I don't like as well.

Of course, I figured they would last longer than they did. Each of the four pairs I purchased has lasted between two and eight months, and each time it has been the left side that just quits working. It's not like I'm rough on them -- I sit at a desk all day while listening. There is obviously a design flaw affecting the left ear bud, so even though I love a lot of things about these buds I'm looking for another brand.

I've listened to a lot of headphones over the years, and there's usually some glaring problem with them that you just get used to. maybe they're too boomy, maybe they're a bit too thin, maybe they don't fit right...thankfully, these Sonys don't have any of those characteristics

Not only are these very comfortable earbuds, but they have a very neutral tonal balance and are easy to drive with just about any portable media player.Sound quality is really first rate, whether driven by the headphone jack on my Mac, my iPod, iPhone, or home stereo.

A feature that I didn't eve think about until I was comparing these to other earbuds is the cabling. The Sony has a very flexible lightweight cable that doesn't cause rustling or booming noises when you move around. This is a big deal with ear buds, as they're well, IN YOUR EAR! If the cabling is too stiff, it can make some godawful noises when you're moving...which in my opinion defeats the purpose of the earbuds in the...Read more

I have had two pair of these now and I will continue to buy them until they are no longer available. The sound quality is excellent and better than far more expensive brands. The first two pair of these I bought were $50 each and I thought that they lived up to that price. So the price they are at the time of this writing, about $12, is fantastic. The bass you get out of these little things is very impressive and I have never had an issue with the quality of the full spectrum of sound they provide. The in-ear design cuts out most external noise and allows for the good bass.

The one and only negative I have is the cord. It is a very lightweight cable, which is good for comfort, but not so good for durability. The second set of these I bought I made sure to get the one that came with the carrying case which is a plastic case into which you wind the ear buds. If you are careful enough with the cord and do not crimp or bend it carelessly, it will do fine. But the cord can...Read more