Reviews (284)

Return to sender
I haven't even plugged these in and am already annoyed.The cord is designed moreto show off the SONY logo instead of comfort or what you're use to with any other set. I am not going to sacrifice comfort just so I can act as their billboard.Instead of meeting in the middle, both L & R wires come together on one side, so you have this stupid metal clip/logo hanging right next to your face, hitting you as you move around.I tried them on and was instantly annoyed.Who the hell designed these stupid things?Keep looking, these suck.

Comfort, comfort, comfort
Did I mention that these are verycomfortable?Well, they fit snug and comfy and sound very clear. When it comes time to replace the awful headphones that probably came with your portable player you might try these.Essentially these have the same specs as another pair Sony makes that is black and without the extension cord. If color is not an issue take the black pair. Why? Well they don't come with an extension like these do. The extension is a pain. If you use them without the extension they will be snugand good only if you re not moving and a little person. If you are average size or bigger and on the go with your portable the original cord is too short. If you run , bike, walk or skate for exercise with music the original cord is no good. If you use the cord it is overly long. I mean you could probably strangle yourself in cord there is so much. I don't get why they didn't stick with the original formula which was perfect. Anyway the sound is very good compared to most originals that come with portables. I got a pair for one of my sons and he likes them, except the length or shortness of the cord. One more thing, the price at Amazon seems better than most other outlets since theyseem to charge up to $20 more.

Very nice sound, but...
.. the left earphone has gone nearly dead after three months.Probably my fault.The wires are *very* thin, and I pinched one of them in the lid of the plastic case.Going to look for something a bit more sturdy.
--------------------------------
I gave this a lower rating earlier because I thought one of the earbuds had gone south due to a pinched thin wire.Not so.If one or both of the earbuds loses volume and clarity, check the little screen covering the speaker nozzle.There should be a tiny pinhole in the center of it.If it gets clogged with earwax, the sound will drop dramatically.*Carefully* clean it out with a pin, and all will be well again!

EXCELLENT HEADPHONES!
These headphones are great! The sound quality is excellent and the in-ear style is much more comfortable than any other type of headphone. Good price also. I use these headphones for running, climbing, hiking and it's been under the sun, in the sand, accidentally in water and been through some tough treatment, yet withstands and plays great, even after 1.5 years!

Sound and price Good, cord BAD!
What others have said about the good sound quality of these earphones is true, and they are also very comfortable, much more so than the Ipod phones that I retired when I got these.This is my second set which I got on recommendations of some of the reviewers.The first set was white, and the insulation on the wires of those started dissolving and falling off after only six weeks.Some reviewers said the wire on the black ones was better so I tried those.I sit here another six weeks later with headphones that are disintegrating, the insulation has turned to a soft putty-like consistency and is just falling off the wiring in hunks.Perhaps users that wear the product outside of clothing where perspiration is less of an issue would be more satisfied with this product, unfortunately job safety prevents me from wearing the Ipod and it's wiring exposed. ... Read more

Product Description

Get these Shure Sound Isolating Earphones for when music really matters. They produce an audiophile listening experience with their studio-quality sound, and they are small and ultra light with a compact design, making them ideal for active listening while you're on the go. These high-energy micro-speakers deliver great tonal balance across the entire frequency range, revealing the subtle details of original recordings, and the foam and soft rubber sleeves customize your degree of isolation and reduce outside noise. Imported. ... Read more

Features

• Compatible for use with 1/8 inch (3.5 mm) audio output ports
• Smallest of Shure E-series Weighing only 0.9 ounce - less than 1 ounce
• Instead of bulky headphones, E3 wearers get form-fitting earpieces that stay securely inside the ear without uncomfortable headbands
• Sound isolation prevents outside noise from interfering with the music, and creates a quiet space for exceptional audio clarity
• The studio grade, low mass, high energy micro-speakers employ balanced armature technology for more efficient output and extended high frequencies

Reviews (54)

Best earphones by far!
First off, if you're scared by the price, you won't appreciate what these earphones offer you.Otherwise, these are the best earphones I have ever tried (though I haven't tried the Shure E5C).

Simply put - the sound is crisp, flawless, and flat.Too many consumer earphones falsely boost the bass or rolloff the treble frequencies (intentionally or not).These give you a wonderfully flat response, so you hear the music as it is recorded and was meant to be heard.

Keep in mind, these are designed to be on-stage in-ear monitors.They're rugged, lightweight, and solidly built.The method of routing the cord (over the ears, down the back of the neck) is designed to conceal the cord behind a performer and inside their clothing.However, I have found that the E3C's work in any position that is comfortable to the wearer.

The E3C's do a remarkably good job of blocking out ambient noise.I am looking forward to the next time I can fly to try them out in that grueling environment.In fact, the first night I had them, I missed 3 phone calls because I couldn't hear the phone ringing - and it is only 6 feet away from where I was sitting!

As well as keeping sound out, they keep sound in - meaning artists in my project studio can have the monitor volume they want without it bleeding into the microphone at all.

To recap - a well designed earphone that is one of the best earphones out there.For audiophiles and recording engineers, it is well worth the money!

These earbuds stink...
If you are tone deaf or have ears stuffed full of wax!

These are UN-BE-LIEVE-ABLE!

I don't typically write reviews or post my opinions. BUT, I have to.I am sitting here working late at night, and I have these on.I can't truly express how they make me feel.They make you feel like I'you are at a concert.Really.

They are amazing.They TOTALLY isolate you from anything else. I have 3 kids and yes, the E3C's give me that "Calgon, take me away" feeling! They have just perfect highs and the bass isn't BOOM-BOOM-DROP YOUR HONDA DOWN bass, it's full, solid tight sounding low end frequency.

The little yellow foam inserts work the best for me.I don't know I'm wearing them until I take them out and miss the music.

The only thing that is a little strange is the way you have to wrap the cord over the back of your ear and route the cord aroundthe back of your neck.This is really not a big deal.It actually makes more sense MOST of the time. You must Definitely purchase the Shure E3C's if you are using an MP3 player, or walkman,or a boombox, 8 track or electric autoharp...

If you can afford these bad boys, go for it and buy em.If not, steal the money from someone...

Not recommended
These Shure earphones fall into the category of In Ear Monitors...that is they plug directly into your ear canal, so they are more commonly called canalphones.

Like all canal phones, it must be inserted and sealed into your ears properly for best sound. To do so, the package includes a large assortment of different sleeves, soft, medium, and disposable foam. Let me save you the trouble, the foams are by far the best. They provide the tightest seal, and the best sound quality. You compress them by rolling them in your fingers and then insert the earphone into your ear and they will expand to form the seal.
Without a proper seal, you will lose all the bass notes and it will sound tinny. After a while, they will wear out, and lose their elasticity, and you will have to buy replacement foams. Shure is charging a lot for these foams, so keep that in mind when you buy this product. I wish they could have priced them more reasonably.

After you insert the earphones into your, you can loop the cords around the your ears to provide stability (so the cord is less likely to yank out your earphones as you move around). It does take a while to get used to inserting them, and it takes a few moments to do so. So these are not good earphones if you expect to take them off a lot as you will wear out the foam inserts even faster.

Also, as Shure says, these are noise ISOLATING headphones. This is a blessing, as they block out at least 20dB of noise with the foams, and even in the noisiest environment all you hear is clear music. Even on an airplane or train, you are isolated and feel like you are in your own private concert hall.

About the sound quality. I've heard and owned a lot of headphones from highly praised Sennheiser PX-100's, HD497's, Grado SR60, AKG electrostatics, and others, and these Shures sound completely different. They have a very intimate midrange, you will feel like the music is hardwired to your brain. Vocals are clear and crisp and the singer sounds like they are practically singing to your face. Bass is not very prominent. It's all there, and very tight sounding. But it does sound a little bit relaxed. Compared to most headphones, I feel the bass is accurate, but just a tad bit weak.

However, above 6Khz, the treble response does start to roll off significantly. So much so that I was wondering if I had a defective product. But this is the way they are supposed to sound. Compared to nearly every other good headphone I've used, I find the Shure's treble response to be unsatisfactory. So much so that I start resorting to EQ settings on the iPod just to try to bring it back on par.

So I don't recommend these, all the treble that you are used to hearing with most other headphones are a distinct whimper. It's too bad because the sound of the Shures is pretty nice otherwise. For the same price, I really do suggest you look at alternatives like those from Etymotic Research or the new dual driver Ultimate Ears canalphones.

Make These Fit Better for Cheap!!! - READ THIS
I have tried this with E2Cs and I suspect that this will also work for E3Cs:

I love these headphones.They sound great, they have great isolation, and they are very durable.BUT, I had almost resigned myself to an unneccessarily painful fit:I have normal sized ears, but I couldn't get either the smallest plastic or foam inserts to be comfortable for more than an hour before I felt like my ears were going to bleed from the outward pressure of these buds . . . until I had a thought: "Why doesn't Shure sell these phones with the small-ish inserts like Etymotics uses.

I had remembered the earplugs that I had used to take all of my biggest exams with, so I went down to my local sporting goods store, browsed the hunting and shooting section and found $2 rubber earplugs with three "fins" on them like the Etymotics.These plugs are hollow, so all you have to do is carefully cut a small hole on the end, cut off the bulk of the back of them (the opposite end of what you put in your ear), stick them on the bare tubes of the Shures, and eureka!My EC2s fit perfectly and sooooo much more comfortably.

I have since learned that Shure sells inserts like these for an extortive price, but why buy when you can make them for 1/5 the price.I reccommend buying 2 or 3 pairs of the earplugs your first go-around, just in case you butcher the first pair like I did.

Sonic Goodness
This is my first purchase in my quest for mobile music satisfaction.I use the E3cs with my cheapo Rio MP3 player and my iPAQ 4150 runing Pocket Music. In a phrase, they kick posterior!The crisp highs, smooth midrange and punchy bass more then amplified the glowing comments I read on here that prompted me to purchase in the first place.The sleeves I chose fit the "monitors" to my ear canal like they were custom made for me, without any discomfort or irritation.

I have not yet had the chance to try them with my CD player, but the excellent job they do with just MP3s has convinced me that my money was more then well spent, it was invested. ... Read more

Product Description

earbud headphones with earclips * 4-foot cord with right-angle, gold-plated mini plug * three sizes of detachable earbuds * carry case * weight: 0.36 oz. * ... Read more

Features

• Unique, aluminum shaft for lightweight stability
• Neodymium magnets (360 kJ/m3) for powerful bass and clear treble sounds
• Closed type earphone structure delivers deep bass sound
• Elastomer hanger gives a snug, comfortable fit around your ears
• Soft, silicone rubber earbuds for a stable, comfortable fit

Reviews (18)

Sounds great but not perfect
I'm no audiophile, but I know how cheap headphones sound like, and these Sonys sound significantly better.First off, you need to stick this in your ears properly else you won't get good fidelity.Sound is generally well-balanced.Bass is not booming (this is good), but treble is still a bit overemphasized which leads to crackling (typical of cheap 'phones).Volume is lower than most cheapos -- which can mean a lot of things -- but still acceptable.

Ergonomics are good: the buds fit in the ears nicely, provides good isolation to outside noise.I don't know how comfortable these are for sports, since sweat inside the ear canal gets annoying.For other things they're pretty good: though you're not gonna forget you're wearing them, it's like wearing silicone earplugs (which I do for swimming for a prolonged period of time, so it can't be that bad).

Overall, a good value, but not quite there yet.I'm not spending $100+ for the Shures, so I'm just gonna keep looking for my whale.I'm giving it 5* because it fulfills my expectation of what $30 can get me.

The honeymoon is over
Well, I was completely happy with these until the white material that wraps the cables started to dissolve! I don't know if it is because of daily use (I used extensively for commuting purpose every day) or if it is due to super-powerful sweat. Doubt that.

Long story short, these worked fine for less than four months, and now with the white cords falling apart, they are completely unusable.

Great sound, poor design
I had originally picked up a pair of Sony MDR-EX71SL earbuds and found they had phenominal sound, but a very poor design that made it nearly impossible to keep the them from getting pulled out of your ears.I purchased these MDR-EX81LP earbuds because they appeared to be the same drivers with ear hangers to rectify this problem.Although they definitely do stay in my ears better, the ear hangers were apparently designed for someone with huge elephant-sized ears.Anyone with small or even normal size ears will probably find that the hangers wind up sticking up 1/4" or more above the top of your ears when the buds are inserted properly.Other than that, they sound pretty nice, but I thought the MDR-EX71SL's had deeper bass, and a louder fuller sound.Sony needs to invest more effort in the ergonomic design of their products.

Great Clarity, Well Built, But a Little Lacking in Bass
I originally bought the EX71-SLs which had spectacular sound quality and frontal-lobotomy-inspired design.I switched to these expecting the sound quality to be lower than the 71s--particularly the bass--and that has definitely been the case.The bass is clearly not as pronounced as the 71s, but that's not necessarily a terrible thing.Had I never heard the 71s, I wouldn't have anything to compare these to.

However, the design, fit, and quality of these is muuuuuuch better than the 71s.Scale of 1-10, the sound quality of the 71s is a 10 and the 81s (these) are an 8 or so.But as for design, I would give these an 8 and the 71s a 3; so the nod definitely goes to the 81s.

Excellent product. Bass and treble clarity is amazing.
After reading numerous negative reviews regarding these earbuds I was scared to give them a try. I did anyway and am very glad I did. They are very comfortable and fit comfortably in your ears. Bass and treble both come in very clear. The carrying case that comes with is also a nice feature to help protect their relatively fragile design.

WORTH EVERY CENT -HIGHLY RECCOMEND THESE EARBUDS ... Read more

Product Description

These full-range Shure Sound Isolating Earphones were developed for demanding onstage environments and crafted to musician standards so you hear every detail. The interchangeable foam and flex sleeves personalize the fit for comfort and block out background noise. Features high-energy drivers, 4' stereo mini plug, 16-ohm impedance and 105 dB SPL/mW sensitivity. Zip case with cable spool included. Imported. ... Read more

Features

• Enriched studio quality sound used by Musicians worldwide
• Sound Isolating in-ear design - Hear only what you want to hear
• Portable and lightweight design -weighing only one-ounce
• Personal fit kit to contour to your ear size
• Built in High-Energy in-ear speaker technology

Reviews (47)

my favorite commuter headphones ever
These are without a doubt my favorite commuter headphones ever. And when I say commuter, I mean sitting on the train, definitely NOT driving. These headphones are exactly as advertised, sound-isolating. I've actually driven a few times with them on but it seems pretty dangerous. I couldn't hear my car stereo, my cell phone, other cars, etc, etc. Not good. I take a noisy 50 min train ride into town every morning and there isn't a "quiet car." Cells phones everywhere, people having to talk over the noise of the train, blah blah blah. Anyhow to make a long story short, the E2c's cut it all out and don't require the user put the volume at a higher level than normal. Sound-isolating is the key here.

Here's my punch list:
1. the little rubber tips that come with the Shure's are worthless. Painful in the ears. I think they are now selling an "ultra-soft" rubber tip that is supposed to be somewhat better. These may even come with the new E2c's. Check before purchase.

2.the foam tips are wonderful, but take a few days to master. These headphones come with a bit of a learning curve. Slight curve. Takes about a week to become a real master. Twist the foam, take the wire over the back of your ear and twist put in. Sounds painful, but it's really not.

3. Wax guards on the E2c's don't get waxy unless you are a dirty dirty person who doesn't use q-tips.:)

4.E2c's are pretty personal. One doesn't really let someone "try on" your ear phones. Mostly because they do stick into the outer ear canal.

5.I put them on at the beginning of my train ride and I look up once in a while to see people's mouths moving without any sound. I can only hear my music.

6. Don't listen to your music at a high volume, these phones sit pretty close to your ear drum.

7. I can't tell if these phones actually produce a better sound than higher-end phones. My ears are not trained to tell the difference. I'd say they do but don't take my word on that.

8.Buy.com has them for $65.Worth every penny for the long commute into the city or I guess a noisy plane ride, or waiting room, elevator, cab ride, bus ride, restaurant, ahh, I guess really anywhere there's noisy stuff going on and you want to enjoy your music. man, does that sound like a sales pitch? sorry.

great sound, but poor build quality
I purchased these earphones about 3 months ago.The sound quality is excellent.The first time I used these was at the gym.All external noises (weights clanging, conversations, etc) were filtered out.All I heard was my MP3 player, and my heartbeat.The one dissappointment is the construction quality of the earphones. After 3 months, the plastic housing opened up.It's nothing a bit of super-glue cannot repair.But for $60, I expected more.

Very very high quality sound and comfortable ear bud
I live and work in a big city. I take mass transit to work and live. the noise of the train and everyday city noise can drive you nuts so I got this earbud for $60 from the suggestion of my friend who owns a E3c. Anyway, at first the quality of the sound is just unbelievable. it's like listen to high quality speakers in the middle of the night. clear, rich sound without the noise to spoil the music. bass is rich and powerful. the high is clear. it block out the noise yet sit confortably in your ears. I admit at the first few weeks of wearing it my ears is not very comfortable. but after a few weeks, the uneasy feeling is gone and all I left is clear music. I saw some review saying that the bass is bad. I think that's mostly because their music source is weak. This is a powerful ear bud. if you use it to listen to some cheap cd-player or mp3 player. it will suck. if you have a high power source like I use my SONY PDA. the earbud will offer its full capacity. don't believe me? plug it into your HIFI and try some techno or pop CD. you will see. just tune down the HIFI first or you will be deaf.

Great earphones.Just don't move a lot.
I finally got a pair.Turned out to be generally cheaper in Manila at around US$82 plus no need for shipping costs, duties, and taxes.Preferred to get this instead of those battery operated noise cancelling headphones as friends confirmed the weak buzzing sound caused by the noise cancelling system.

It is a great pair of earphones and it does eliminate the surrounding noise.You do have to do some adjustments with some other gadets you have like celfones as you will definely not hear it.Celfone unit has to be visible or on mute but vibra mode.My Sony Ericsson P910i has a very loud and scandalous ringtone but I could not hear it even if it was at my side... and my music volume was not that loud and I was playing soft music.

The cables and manner of their connection is very sturdy, including the construction of the case.You get a stronger feeling that you are got a very good product.

I do have to admit that comfort is somewhat an issue... but tolerable.You get that relieved feeling everytime you take it off after using it for quite a long time.

I would NOT really recommend this for those with small ears as they may have difficulties inserting it and using it properly to maximize it.

If you haven't tried one, try pushing a pair of earphones (not headphones) just a little bit inward your ear.You can at least get the idea of how outside noise is isolated, and how much clarity the music is, especially the bass.This is something you can't get from any superbass earphones.

If you have read some drawbacks on this products, here are some other drawbacks:

1.Everytime you speak, you hear yourself from within.Its quite annoying.

2.You hear your footsteps from within if you use it while walking, especially if the volume is low and listening to relaxing/soothing music.

3.The cables placed behind you ears can also be annoying or even irritating if you move a lot like walking, jogging, or working out.

4.Since the sound is very clear, you also hear any imperfections in the music.

Overrated.
Had high expectations on this product even if it was the lowest offering from Shure.I kept these earbuds for 2 days before returning them.Could not get them to truly fit in my ears, even with the smallest of the earbud.When I listened to them for awhile and took them off, my ears hurt with the constant ringing.(Note I didn't even play my music from iPod loud).

Even when I fit them properly into my ears, I didn't think the music quality was all that it was meant to be.My noise canceling headphones from Sony sounded better than these.The music sounded distant with not enough bass, which I like.

I didn't like the fact that I had to do some maintenance on these earbuds, as ear wax can easily accumulate within the ear bud.Shure provides an ear wax removal tool and that alone sealed my fate with the e2c.

Could not justify spending $$$ for these earbuds with all the issues that I've experienced with Shure's e2c.Perhaps the e3c is a better set but it is costly.

Be sure wherever you buy these earbuds that the seller has an acceptable return policy, just in case!!

WA ... Read more

Product Description

6i isolator earphones are designed specifically for use with the Apple iPod and other small portable players, offering 8 dB higher overall sensitivity and increased bass response. ... Read more

Features

• Includes 5 ft. cord with 3.5 mm stereo plug / 1 pair eartips / 1 pair foam eartips / 2 replacement filters / Filter changing tool / Shirt clip / Zippered pouch
• Includes shirt clip and zippered storage pouch
• Use with MP3, CD, DVD players and personal computers
• Lightweight, compact, fits in your pocket; no battery required
• Highest noise isolation (15 to 35dB)

Reviews (27)

Perfect: A Bit Tinny, But That Problem Is Solvable
Here is how you solve it...Go to Radio Shack and for about 20 dollars pick up one of their little headphone amps.Looks like half a stick of dynamite with a cable at the end of it. Attach the cable into your audio device and the Etymotics into the amp.Makes the 6i's sound like the 4'P's, which cost three times as much.Really, this works.Without the amp, the 6i's are four stars, but with the little amp, well....outrageously good.

They work like they are supposed to work
The other reviewers have said pretty much what needs to be said.They are a little bright, meaning there isn't much bass.If you want more bass, crank it up on your player.The highs and midrange are perfect.If I could "define" their sound, I would say that they sound "precise."That is, music comes through super clear -- you will hear everything (e.g., a guitarist shifting his hand along the strings of his guitar).If you have low bitrate mp3's, you will notice the compression noise with the Etymotics because of their clarity (even though you cannot hear the noise in cheaper headphones or speakers).Thus, with the Etymotics, it pays to have higher quality sound files.

They isolate sounds very well.After a long day, they are fun to listen to when relaxing because all background noise disappears and you can immerse yourself in your music.This isolation is great for loud environments (e.g., plane trips), but the drawback is that you will not hear background sounds, so be careful using them in environments where you need to be cognizant of ambient sounds.For comparison, I have Sennheiser noise isolation headphones, which sound good, but do not sound as good as the Etymotics and do not isolate sound as well as the Etymotics.

The Etymotics are relatively comfortable.Even if you don't plug them into your ears deeply, they "stick" well and don't fall out.I'm not a big earbud person at all (e.g., I cannot wear the standard Sony earbuds because they will not stay in my ears), but the Etymotics are comfortable & do not fall out.If you have a chance, try them out before buying to make sure they are comfortable to you.

Bottom line: they sound great, but are a little bright and are a little expensive.I bought mine during a sale for $82 shipped.While this is still expensive, they are a very high quality product.With the Etymotics, you get a quality set of earbuds with precise sound and super isolation.If this is what you are looking for, the Etymotics are about as good as they come.

What are you using your Etymotics for?
Etymotic ER-6is (white)
MSRP: $149.00 / Street Price: $90-105 / I paid: $81 (New)

Reviews on these are mixed and I'm going to throw in my two cents as an unbiased review from a graduate student.
I spent two weeks researching earbuds for my Creative Zen Micro and here is what I've determined about the Etymotics.

What they are best at:
Drowning out ambient noise without needing active noise-cancelling features.

Where they work best:
Airplanes, work (self-directed, quiet settings) where people aren't talking to you, book reading, etc.

I originally wanted my earbuds to do 2 things:
1.Be portable.
Yes.These are pretty portable, although they have a 5-ft cord, which is nice for stationary settings, these tend to get tangled.I wind the extra cord around my belt-clip which is a lot cheaper than buying accessories.

2.Use them while running/biking.
Now, this I have a very mixed review on.They DO drown out ambient noise.Thus, running or biking with them on means that you have to be VERY ALERT.For someone like me who likes both bike trails (paved/non-paved) and the road, this is slightly dangerous.You aren't going to hear cars, sirens, or hear the guy behind you yell, "ON YOUR LEFT!"

You are going to hear a lot of stuff rattling around in your head because the inner ear space is sealed off.That means, when your teeth chatter, or when you chew, you're going to hear it over your music if you don't have your volume up loud enough.When you're going over bumpy road on a bike, you hear "WHUPwhupWHUPwhup."I turn my "cPod" up to about volume level 10 at work, and 14 outside to combat this. (Max is 24)

Sadly, I might just go back to the Creative-included headphones (surprisingly decent sound but a little big for my ears), or my cheapo $9 SONY earbuds.Both give me a little more peace of mind for their relatively "open" sound.As I bought these earbuds for their "multi-functionality," I was sort of bummed out.

**Other thoughts**

I thought the bass was still a little "tinny" for what it was, but Etymotic explains it as "true sound."I found that the cure (at least for CREATIVE owners), is to change your equalizer settings if you want "hotter" bass.

It really sends shivers down my spine to listen to piano rock on it.The notes are well-defined and just gorgeous; for example, Ben Folds is nuanced and nice.The surround-sound left-ear to right-ear channel effect that some bands do literally makes me dizzy with these 'buds.

I do think some of the problems people are finding with these earphones comes from the fact that they're probably also listening to middle quality mp3s (read: 64-128 kbps).I have noticed a definite quality difference in comparison vs 192/VBR (variable bit rate) mp3s.

Pluses: The customer service people are NICE!!!You can get smaller/bigger earpieces by calling, and they are terrificaly nice about it.

Bottom-line:
If you can actually use these, if they fit your lifestyle,and if you not pay $149.00 MSRP, they may be worth it.

Amazing.....
If you are reading this wondering wether or not to get these i would highly suggest you get them! I switched to these headphones from my origional ipod headphones which were terrible.Once i got these i instantly recognized the difference, their simply great. They are worth every penny, the only downside about them is you can start to tell that your mp3's are not all quality sound, but the headphones are suberb i would reccomend them to anyone looking to buy a pair of noise canceling headphones in a small package.

Yow wow! Nice earphones
My doctor said I had some low-frequency hearing loss. I figured that, as I don't listen to loud music, it might be the thundering noise of full-throttle locomotives in enclosed train stations, busses racing past two feet away, and the sound of the Chicago El clattering deafeningly overhead. Just a guess. I needed noise reduction!

These earphones are great. Noise reduction is at better than with earplugs - these things fit deep in your ear - and you can listen to the music softly while still hearing the subtlties of the tune. All this as you stand next to a locomotive at Union station. What more could you ask?

The bass is, as reported, nothing spectacular, but it is sufficient and seemingly accurate. Most players have an "add bass" button, by the way, so if you're into distorting music with headphones with extra bass, you might as well just distort the music at the source.

The headphones seem quite efficient. I run my non-ipod at "4" on a scale of 25 of loudness. Those little speakers are right next to your eardrums, so you don't need much out of them.

I can see how earplugs might bother some people. If you find somebody putting a wet finger in your ear to be kinky rather than irritating, then you will be okay with them. Hmm, you might even find them exciting. I say a wet finger because the best way to put them in is to slightly moisten them first. Too moist, of course, and they squoosh around in your ear a lot.

Now for the warning: when listening to music with these, you will not hear the car beeping at you. You will not hear the bus driving past. You will not hear the train bearing down on you. You will not hear the cop yelling "stop or I'll shoot." You will not hear the announcement saying your train is on a different track. You will not hear your wife screaming that the house is on fire. It all sounds funny, but we use sounds all the time for context and safety, and you need to take extra care when using these. ... Read more

Product Description

In-the-ear design * lightweight, folding headband * Acoustic Twin Turbo circuit * water-resistant S2 Sports® design * 4' cord with mini plug * 0.7 oz. ... Read more

Features

• Water resistant for outdoor use
• Folding construction is compact and portable
• Acoustic Twin Turbo circuitry delivers powerful bass sound and high efficiency
• Moisture Guard mechanism pulls sweat away from the ear canal
• Comfortable vertical, in-the-ear design

Reviews (18)

Functions well for 6 months
I picked up these headphones to replace a pair of Aiwa HP-JS35 I used for jogging. The Aiwas had quit on me within a few months. The Sony headphones are well designed, they fold up for easy portability in a tri-fold design. They also sound reasonable as far as in-the-ear headphones go. As with the Aiwas, the left ear piece stopped functioning after a few months. These outlasted the Aiwas, but that's a small consolation. I do sweat a fair amount on a 10K run, but the description, which sold me on the Sony headphones, reads:

Water-resistant - stands up to rain, snow and occasional splashing
Moisture Guard Mechanism pulls sweat away from ear canal

Apparently, the moisture guard is a gimmick, because the left ear piece shorted out from the sweat. I've been looking for another pair of headphones, but so far, I haven't found a pair that would be suitable to take on my jogs. I'm using my iPod earphones while I keep looking, but I don't expect them to hold up with repeated use as they're not designed for exercise.

Nice design; awful sound quality
This is an interesting headphone design that works to keep sweat out of the headphone mechanism, but the sound quality is unbelievably bad. I thought the stock iPod earbuds were bad, but they sound worlds better than these. No bass at all.

Nice fit but lasts only 90 days
These headphones fit well and are much better than the ear bud styles.Those never stay in place.I also like how they collapse, and are therefore much more portable to take the gym.

The downside I have experienced is these phones have lasted me about 90 days and then stop working.

I use them almost daily on the treadmill and can feel the sweat building up.It appears that the sweat eventually shorts out the earphones.

I do like these headphones for overall performance and cost.I keep several on hand, knowing they won't last very long.My issue is they unexpectedly stop working, usually in the middle of my workout, and must finish my workout on the treadmill in silence.

I will try the behind the head version as well.

Sweat!
On my 4 mile jog this morning I was thinking I should come back and post a great review of how these headphones have worked so well.Then a big drop of sweat landed in my ear and created this popping noise everytime the earphone created a seal in my ear canal and then broke the seal.I had to take the headphones off for the last mile since it was too annoying.

This is my third pair of headphones in my quest for the perfect jogging headphones.I'm starting to think there is not a "perfect" set out there.These have come the closest of any.They stay in place which is huge.They sound OK.The sweat wasn't a problem until today (which was my 3rd time jogging with them).I guess I needed to point it out since they advertise a sweat guard mechanism.I sweat ALOT, so it doesn't surprise me that this feature doesn't work quite right.Maybe I sweat inside my ears??

For the price, I think these headphones are worth the attempt to see if they work for you and your excercise pursuits.

Great for runners
These headphones are really designed for runners. They have strong and light adjustable frame, never slip off, fit nicely, sound is good and the price is right. Unless you have some very special requirements, you can't be wrong with buying these phones. ... Read more

Product Description

The top model of Sennheiser's StreetWear range delivers crystal-clear, well defined highs and absolute precision across all frequencies.

With a warm, natural, detailed sound image they not only give a brilliant performance on Hi-Fi systems, they will also bring your portable player to life! Ideally suited to all types of music.

Features

• Open-Aire® dynamic Hi-Fi stereo headphones
• Completely new ergonomic design
• Extremely lightweight and comfortable
• Extended frequency response and warm, natural sound reproduction
• High-efficiency drivers - great for use with portables
• Detachable OFC copper cable

Features

• High-efficiency drivers--great for use with portables
• Detachable, 9-foot OFC copper cord
• Open-Aire dynamic hi-fi stereo headphones (open-ear design eliminates undesirable resonances)
• Lightweight and comfortable, ergonomic design
• Extended frequency response and warm, natural sound reproduction

Reviews (84)

Give it time, you wont regret it!!
wow, where to start.. well I bought these cans after reading the praise from headphones.com and some user reviews here. At first, sound quality from this guy wasnt the best.. but trust me, give it some time (about a week of heavy listening, I just kept my computer playing music 24/7 on them) and they will REALLY warm up. I cant believe how great the sound quality turned out to be! Wierd because it was like one day I put them on and they magically sounded amazing...

As for comfort, at first they were very uncomfortable but I found out I was wearing them wrong. Its easy to mistake these for ear-surrounding headphones (cause your ears sort of fit inside the pads) BUT they're not! if you just rest them on your lobe and on top of your ears, they're way comfortable! I can listen to them for like 3 hrs+

Made for Japanese Market?
Same complaint that everyone else has - nice, clear sound but the ear cups are tiny and tight-fitting.The bass is somewhat weak compared to my Sonys.These headphones also feel very cheap and I would not recommend sleeping with them or carrying them around.One roll onto these things and they will break.These are not as tight-fitting as the vice-like grip I got from a pair of Yamaha headphones, but they are definitely not as comfortable as my Sony headphones.I've owned several Sony headphones, and they are always very comfortable with big, bulky ear cups.From my experience with the Yamaha, you can slide the ear cups all the way down to maximize the headband length to reduce some of the tightness.Also, what you can do is place the headset around something wide for a few days to stretch it (i.e., a basketball or books).This will break them in without breaking them.The Senns have a brittle, hard plastic band (unlike the flexible but sturdy plastic of my Sonys), so if you keep flexing it back and forth, you're liable to snap it into 2 pieces (see the hairline at top of headphones where plastic is joined).I put the Senns around a box for 3 days and it has loosened the grip around my head considerably.It's even loose now to the point where I have to move the ear cups up a notch.

Returned becuase of comfort
Great sound, very lightweight. But even after breaking them in for 3 weeks I had to send them back. I'd say I have average size ears, but these still placed too much pressure on the ear and I couldn't stand to wear them for more than 45 minutes.

Great headphones, great price
These are great headphones at any price, and unbelievable for the price they're being sold at. Don't bother spending three or four times more on top-of-the-line headphones - these have top-of-the-line sound at a very consumer-oriented price. Wonderful. Faithful, clear, and balanced representation of music. If you dislike the sound coming out of these, your source is at fault. I've found that the higher the quality of the source, the better the sound. You can really tell the difference going up in source quality (try listening to your favorite music with these, using a DVD-Audio disc & player as a source along with a headphone amplifier...you will have a huge grin on your face.) Given the price, this is must-have upgrade from generic headphones for your PC or portable player or home entertainment system.

Great Sound, Uncomfortable Design
I've owned many, many headphones in my life.To name a few, Sennheiser 600's, Sennheiser PX 100's, Sennheiser MX 500, Sennheiser MX550, Sony high end Fontopias, Koss UR40, Grado 60's, and Grado 80's.I'm an addict, and I don't know when to stop.I thought I'd try to help out the countless other people out there who want to get the most bang for their buck without going through the same hassel as myself.

Sonically speaking, these headphones are an amazing value for their price.I personally prefer the sound of the Grado 60's for the same price.In comparison, I would say that these are more exact in their sound but also less forgiving.The Grados are not as black between the notes, but it favors poorly recorded music and mp3 compressed music.The Grados are definitely more engaging and let you enjoy music as opposed to these Senn's that let you critique music.I'd prefer the Sennheissers over the Grados for Classical and Jazz.For Rock and Hip-Hop, I'd definitely prefer the Grados.Techno music is tied, the Grados pump more bass and is more forgiving to the sampled music, the Sennheisers excel in channel separation and timing.

The Good: Sennheiser HD-497's sound VERY good.Overall Construction is very good.Included 1/4" plug is a big plus for home listening.

The Bad:Believe it or not, there is an actual break-in time for these headphones.By the time you've finally broke them in, your time to return the headphones may already be up.Out of the box, they sound like crap.

My main complaint with the Sennheisers is the comfort level.In almost every respect, they are well made headphones.They adjust properly to fit all head sizes and are light enough to wear for hours.The one, and largest shortcoming is the design of the actual ear cushions.They actually sit on outer edges of your ears.And it hurts!After 20 minutes of listening, I had to take the headphones off because my ears hurt.They were bright red on the edges, and I swear, I don't have big ears or a big head!To accentuate this pressure on my ears is the fact that the plastic band is molded to squeeze these suckers as hard as they can on your head.There is no give, nor will there be any sort of future give that a metal headband might have provided.After 30 minutes of listening, I stated getting a headache.Not so much from listening fatigue that is common with headphones, but from the squeezing of my head at the ears.The best visualization is putting a vice grip (albeit with foam pads) on your head at the ears.

Bottom line:Grados are a better choice for the money, but also uncomfortable in a different, more tolerable way.My advice is move up a line in the Sennheiser series to get greater comfort plus better sound.(Keywords should be: Full-size, Open Ear) If you can't afford that, move down a line, and get the Sennheiser PX100's.An amazing value for the money, extremely well engineered, and sound almost as good.Good Luck! ... Read more

Product Description

Block out unwanted noise while you listen to your favorite tunes with these Sennheiser Noise Canceling Fold-Up Headphones. Featuring an exclusive battery-operated noise reduction system that quiets background sounds, these headphones are ideal for travel or other noisy environments. The ultra-lightweight but reinforced metal frame folds up for storage in a protective carrying case (included). Great for travel or outdoor activities, headphones feature a comfortable, solid ear pad design; outstanding bass response; duofol diaphragms for lifelike audio reproduction; ergonomic head pads for a perfect fit; and uninterrupted audio even if noise-reduction system batteries are drained. Imported. ... Read more

Features

• Uses 2 AAA batteries (not included), batteries required only for noise reduction
• Folding, lightweight, closed-ear portable headphones
• NoiseGard active noise reduction cancels steady-state noise by up to 15 dB
• Fold-and-flip design lets you turn the ear pieces 90 degrees for flat folding and easy transport
• Includes .25-inch and 2-pronged airplane adapters

Reviews (88)

Not very impressive
I bought these after reading some excellent user reviews, but wasn't very impressed. The noise canceling is minimal in everyday surroundings, which I expected, but when I tried them on an airplane which was my main intended use, the results were not as good as I expected and I was able to hear a lot of low frequency rumble from the plane. They certainly make a difference and made it more enjoyable to watch a movie, but I don't think they are worth the price. The sound quality is quite good but aren't comparable at all to the Bose in my opinion, which had the 'wow' factor for me. I haven't tested the Bose noise-canceling on a plane yet so I can't comment on that comparison. I did try a cheap pair of noise-canceling headphones in a shop and was amazed at the amount of noise it canceled since most headsets claim they are intended mostly for low noise. Unfortunately I can't remember the brand!
In summary, I wouldn't recommened the Sennheisers, neither the noise-canceling nore the sound quality are worth the price. I'm going to sell mine and pay the extra for the Bose.

Most of what I wanted is here.
I first used these headphones on a school trip to an amusement park.I sat at a table in the food court and they blocked 90% of the conversations of people at other tables and walking past.I was still aware of the roar of the rides and the screams of the riders, but they were sufficiently muted to let me hear the string bass(jazz) in detail.The ability to block out the midrange noise and hear the acoustics of the room and the miking was a delight.I look forward to my flights back to Maine this summer, but I doubt that anything will defeat the noise of a turboprop puddlejumper.I am looking forward to Sennheiser's next model as possible family Christmas gifts.
I found these light and comfortable; I have disliked the feel of many previous headphones.I have not tried the Bose.I still want this product to cost less than $80.00.

Functions well. Ugly design.
The noise reduction works well. On my back deck it subtracts
out all of the lawn mowers, traffic, and most of the flights
overhead, leaving only the birds and the rustling of the leaves
in the wind.

I also like how the headphones fold up. They are a practical
size for slipping in the already overstuffed laptop bag on
flights.

But these headphones are ugly. Not just ordinary ugly: butt
ugly. Sennheiser needs to hire an outside design firm for the
next release.

It's good but not the best !
I am writing this review while using this product for the first time ;-). I have great expectations for this product by seeing the reviews. It's good but not exceeded my expectations (with this price).

As a headphone good. As a noise cancellation it's AVG. Because, it never cancels all the noise around you. That's for sure. Only say 65 to 70% of noise.

Final suggestion, if you are looking for only noise cancellation there is no other option than this (BOSE is there, which is too expensive). If you are looking for a decent headphone go for a 10$ one next door.

Good luck,
Ram

Quiet Trade Offs
When turned on but not plugged into an audio source, the Sennheiser headphones reduce white noise, such as jet engines and road noise, by about half (best estimate). It is enough to provide some relief but it does not reduce sounds like talking or clattering, so you will be disappointed if your goal is complete sensory deprivation.

The competing Bose headphones that I tried in stores provide better isolation but cost more than twice as much, are less compact and block air flow around the ears. The Sennheiser headphones allow ears to breath better and are comfortable enough to permit resting on a headrest or pillow while traveling in an airplane or automobile.

The headphones fold and store in a 4" x 7" x 1" case with a main pocket and front pocket that holds the converter jacks for old-style large audio jacks and airplane jacks with two prongs. I have enough room in the case to carry the extra battery pack from a digital camera and a USB flash drive.

When the noise-canceling feature is combined with an audio source, the sound is enhanced and is noticeably superior to regular headphones (especially the junk passed out on airplanes). I use them only once a month so their cost seems high but I am glad to have them when I am trying to hear or tune out sounds on a long flight.

The two AAA batteries lasted about ten hours before showing signs of fading. The battery pack is in the middle of the cord and can be clipped on a belt or kept in a pocket, leaving enough cord on either end to reach the audio jack and the headphones. Often, however, I find myself wishing the battery pack was at the plug end of the cord so I would not have to juggle it in my lap or lay it on the seat next to me.

I concluded there were no perfect headphones when I was shopping and opted for the Sennheiser's features and price. I may have chosen differently under different circumstances.

FYI: The headphones I bought in July 2004 were made in Ireland. Lately, I have seen on packages in stores that production was moved to...guess where...no, not Switzerland, keep going east... Chinese quality seems to be improving but they should have passed some of the cost savings along to the customer for a product that has been out for quite a while. ... Read more

Product Description

• Noise Cancelling Headphone ideal for plane, trains and automobile journeys
• Reduces ambient noise to provide quieter listening environment
• Foldable headband design for easy portability
• Soft leatherette ear cushions for extra comfort
• Dual plug Adaptor for airline entertainment compatibilty
• Carrying pouch and AAA battery included for ease of use
• Gold plated plug

Features

• Foldable for portability
• Soft leatherette ear cushions for comfort
• Includes dual plug adapter for planes
• Reduces ambient noise
• Ideal for noisy environments

Reviews (15)

THIS IS AWSOME
I was definantly scepticle when i ordered them but for the price and the sale i thought what the hell. So i just got them and i dont belive this they have a usefull case and the airplane plug probably helps too, but the noise canceling is great. i probably would have paid a hundred for these. i would definantly get these again.

Excellent headphones but OFF/ON light did not work.
Although the OFF/ON light on the headphones didn't work, the noise (or even coherent TV sounds in a room) were reduced to faint, almost undetectable signals when the headphone switch was turned on with the headphones hooked to a CD player playing music at a low signal level.

With the headphone switch turned off, the outside noise sounds were not reduced at all.

I am very pleased with the headphones. I don't think the headphone light is at all important. You will realize instantly when the battery is not working. I have not tested the battery life, but will comment again here if it is less than 2-4 hours.

Flying now will be a completely new and pleassant experience.

okay for the price
i had these headphones for about two days and i really liked the sound quality and the noise canceling worked great.<br /> the only downside was that they didn't stay on my head tightly enough and kept falling off.<br /> <br /> except for that, these would be great headphones to buy for home use and... u can't argue with the price! :D

Very good for the price!
These headphones worked very well on a round-trip to Paris.They cancelled engine noise well enough for me to hear the movie dialogue clearly and to sleep on the overnight flight. They were so comfortable that after wearing them for 7+ hours, I forgot I was wearing them until the flight attendant spoke to me and I could not hear her. The headphones are very light, with fairly small earpads.They fold very nicely to fit into the carrying pouch (included). Battery life is decent, one single battery lasted the flight Paris and a flight to Hawaii from the East Coast.

Pathetic non-existent performance
I just bought this pair of headphones with high hopes that it would actually perform what it promises:Noise-Cancellation.There was a 2% difference of noise reduction when the unit was turned to it's ON position.And unbelievably enough, that's not even an exaggeration.The only difference from the On and Off position is that when you turn it On, you'll hear a slight "hiss" and your music's volume will increase a little.Other than that, it's just the same turned off or on.The only positive thing I can say about the headphones are that it's cheap, and that when you wear the headphones (off OR on position), they do help in muffling any sound that is around you.So save your AAA battery and don't even use the noise cancellation feature (if you can even give it the credit of being called a "feature").I just bought these headphones today, and I'm returning them first thing tomorrow.They make me wanna throw up just looking at them =|.hahha, j/k...but they do really make me sick. ... Read more

Product Description

Perfect for busy DJs or avid music fans who do lots of listening, these Sennheiser supra-aural headphones are exceptionally comfortable and lightweight. Providing crisp low bass tones and brilliant sound, they feature powerful neodymium magnets and lightweight diaphragms that provide high sound levels. These headphones will perform optimally with your home system or your personal player. Comfortable leatherette ear pads are removable. The 10' Y-style cord can be connected to your belt and features a take-up system to adjust the length for on-the-go listening. Headphones feature a 1/4" stereo jack plug. Imported. ... Read more

Features

• Replaceable leatherette ear pads
• Closed, dynamic, supra-aural headphones
• High efficiency drivers
• Wind-up belt clip for excess cable
• 10 foot Y style cable

Reviews (77)

best ive had
these are the best headphones i have ever owned, the sound is incredible, and although they do get a bit tireding and a bit hot they are still worth it, love the extra extra long cable and the cable winder thing.blocks out a lot of noise and keeps what ur listening to from leaking out.the price is very nice also :D

Sennheiser HD202
These headphones represent the best money I have spent on music in the past 12 month - and I buy CD's every week. I have always used earbuds and thought they sounded good - what a mistake - its like the difference between dipping your toe in a muddy puddle and swimming in the Ocean - The sound quality of these babies are nothing short of stunning. I can now hear things in my music that I could never hear before. The bass response is awesome with warm mids and sweet but solid highs.

I paid $50 AUS on Ebay for these brand new - less than some of the less reliable asian brands and if I lost them today, I would go right out and buy another pair.

The reason I chose Sennheiser is their reputation amongst professional Sound Engineers, DJ's and Audiophiles - they have always been a little out of my league price wise until I found these. .

Are these $20 headphones?
After reading several reviews, I did something I usually don't do - I ordered a pair of these headphones without listening to them first. I have ordered earphones (the expensive in your ear kind) and was disappointed in both cases. I returned each of them. But these babies are just what I was looking for. I use them with my iPod. I also have a pair of the very expensive Sennheiser HD600 headphones, and while they are more open and more accurate (for 22 times the price they should be!!); I was very surprised how great these sound. When I got these, I thought the earpiece seemed a bit small, but they covered the ear fully, and after using them for a while, I didn't even notice that. I have a very large head, and I have not felt that these are tight at all; in fact I have worn them for several hours, with no discomfort at all. They are very light-weight too!! I have trusted the Sennheiser name for years, and these continue to enforce with me that the trust I have in the Sennheiser name is not unfounded. If you want a pair of headphones that has strong, clean bass, and great sounding mids and highs - get these babies!! You will not be disappointed!!

Extremely Pleased
I haven't owned a pair of over ear headphones in years and decided to buy these mainly to be able to listen to the DVD audio a comfortable distance from the audio receiver and I didn't want to spend a lot of money.The sound is excellent with all types of music, having listened to everything from Brian Wilson to James Brown to Buddy Rich on them.The headphones are well constructed, lightweight and comfortable.

Awesome Headphones!
I've read some of these reviews saying they're not very comfortable, etc...but I must have the perfect ear size for them or something.These things are still as nice as two pillows after 4 hours and they sound unbelievable...hell for $20 how can you go wrong?!?

Get these headphones today, you will not be sorry.Sennheiser is a great name, and this is a great product! ... Read more

Product Description

The Sony Bud Style Headphone's super-light, in-the-ear design reduces size and weight, providing comfortable wear hour after hour. The high-quality 16mm dome-type driver units and Neodymium magnets provide enhanced sound quality with deep bass and clear treble, are small enough to fit inside your ear, and the Acoustic Twin Turbo circuit gets high sonic output from your portable stereo. Features 16-ohm impedance; 108 dB/mW sensitivity; 50 mW power handling capacity; 12-22,000Hz frequency response. Includes compact case and ear pads. 0.18 oz. ... Read more

Features

• Compact winding case supplied
• Super-light in-the-ear design
• High-quality 16mm driver units
• Sleek black and silver metallic housing
• Neodymium magnets provide powerful bass and clear treble

Reviews (25)

Not too bad
It is a pretty good headphone for <10$.

However, as a 6'4" person, the cord is a tad too short if I have my Ipod in my left pocket. If you are taller than that, it will almost certainly be too short, and I would not recommend you to buy this unless you have an extension cord or a remote.

You got to get these if you listen to any type of music!!!!!
Get these Earphones now!!!!!!!! If you listen to rap,punk,rock,classical, just get them. They are steal for this price.Great for the computer, MP3 players, and CD players. At first I thought I was going to get ripped off because of the price earphones but these phones have great sound. Crisp and Clear. Lots of Bass for small little things. Just listen to a 50 Cent with alot of bass and you will know what I mean. Can't say much more. You won't be disapointed with the purchase.

Cheap and Fabulous
...And they were less than 10 dollars.

I have purchased many earphones, but to a lot of disappointment, since I knew that every time I would get them, I would have to compromise sound quality for size and ease of use. However, having 10 dollars in my pocket and my eye on these Sony MDR-E828LP's, I tried the earbud experience for one last time.

Fortunately, my "last" experience was phenomenal and much better than expected. The 9mm Nd magnets and circuitry made these sound somewhat comparable to my Studio Series headphones (which much difference, of course). The cord length is perfectly suited for these types of headphones, but the design is slightly flawed, depending on whom buys the headphones.

The sound quality is definitely better than any other earbud that I have tried, however I am sure that it cannot be compared to the quality of Shures or Sennheisers, as those are the de facto companies for professional sound. The bass is somewhat lacking, however the mid and high frequencies are definitely clear and crisp. However, that is only with the foam earpieces on. Operating them without the cushions makes a world of difference, since it completely diminishes the low frequency and alterting the mid and high frequencies noticably.

The question of design is concering comfort, as good sound also compromises the comfortability level of these earphones. Wearing these headphones for an hour or so is comfortable; it is after that hour of listening that the pain begins. After two hours or so of listening, one begins to feel as if your ears have been cut on the inside, especially without the foam covers. However, the reason why I say that it is dependent on WHOM buys the product is because the construction inside of my ear is small, and that could have affected the comfort of these earphones.

All aspects considered, the E828LP is a very smart and cost-effective buy for somewhat premium sound. Of course, nothing short of high-quality is expected of a Sony product.

The Best Earbuds I Have Ever Used
The bass is clear and strong.The treble is crisp and does not break up or pop.Great for techno, rock, and alternative music.I compared these to the Apple iPod M9394G/A Earbud Headphones that my friend owned.The Apples couldn't hold a candle to the Sony buds and on top of that the Sonys are thirty dollars cheaper.The sony spin case is also convenient.If you have small ear canals these may be a little too large, but otherwise I would highly recomend them.

dont buy this if you got small ear!
This headphone is fine for being inexpensive. However it does hurt your ear, if you have small ear like mine. ... Read more

Product Description

Slip on a pair of QuietComfort 2 headphones and hear your music come alive. Decades of Bose research combine with our Acoustic Noise Cancelling headphone technology to deliver the ultimate in audio performance. This award-winning technology electronically identifies and reduces the unwanted noise around you. So you hear more of what you want to hear and less of the tiresome sounds that have so often distracted you. Proprietary TriPort headphone technology also helps give you our best headphone audio performance while keeping the design compact and streamlined. Unlike conventional, bulky noise reduction headphones, QuietComfort 2 headphones are lightweight and comfortable. Listening to your favorite music, you may even forget you have them on. Our original QuietComfort headphones were designed for airline travel, but proved effective wherever noise was a problem: on buses or trains, in the office, even at home. We enhanced the convenience and portability features of the QuietComfort 2 headphones to make them even easier to enjoy in a variety of environments. Whether you take them on a trip or to the office, your QuietComfort 2 headphones will fold flat to store easily in a bag or briefcase. A single detachable audio cable gives you easy access to portable players, home stereos and in-flight entertainment systems, all with less tangling than two-cable designs. That same cable can be removed so your headphones can go "cordless" when you simply want the benefits of noise reduction. Experience the QuietComfort 2 headphones for yourself. We think you'll notice the difference that our best headphone audio performance and our best noise reduction technology make in this comfortable pair of headphones. ... Read more

Features

• Premium headphones reduce unwanted noise to make what you want to hear sound even better
• Acoustic Noise Cancelling and TriPort headphone technology
• Convenient fold-flat design and comfortable fit
• Ideal for home and travel use

Reviews (36)

Very good headphones
I am overall very delighted. The headphones are sitting tight on the ears, are comfortable for hours, even if you wear glasses. The mentioned pressure is negligible and at least they produce a warm and pleasent sound. I listen mostly to classical music, so, I can't say much about other categories. With my Ipod they sound great, also with my PSP. I like the feature to disconnect the cords and have a cordless noise canceling device. I tested it in the parked car with the engine on and the A/C running on high. It is as advertised an oasis of silence. I compared them to my AKG HEARO 999 AUDIOSPHERE I, which was twice as much, and I like them more. They are well manufactured, there is no jiggle, and the carriage bag is very nice. Afterall, I don't think they should be used on skateboards (for security reasons!), or in the gym, they are too expensive to risk a damage.

Other option to ponder
I was surprised to see so many reviews and more importantly, much more views by potential buyers. Since most people come to Amazon to buy product and read reviews, I thought i'll post some alternate products:

1. Noise Cancelation: If noise cancellation is your ultimate goal, then the best for the task are

(a) Etymotic Research.
(b) Shure.
(c) Ultimate Ear.

Please be aware that the sound quality and isolation provided by these venerable headphones are leaps better than anything Bose could ever aspire, but the downfall is some of their models cost more than double (..Ultimate Ear costs $900 for instance).

Some people say that Sennheiser Noise cancelation headphones are better, But I am not sure about that. www.Headphone.com is a good place to start shopping and reading reviews.

2. Simple Headphone: If noise Cancelation is not of importance, then the whole wold of good headphone open up to you like Grado, Sennheiser, Beyerdynamic, AKG, KOSS etc..

One thing guarenteed, if you care to look around, then you will never buy a Bose which are worth less than half they are priced at and if u do spend that money Bose costs to get other Audiophile quality cans, then my email is above to personally thank me for guiding you the that way.

Good headphones until the buzzing started
I am reviewing the Bose Quiet Comfort Series 1 headphone.I got this set as a gift and used it occassionally for travel.I found the headphones too bulky to take with me most of the time.Still, I found the noise cancelling to be great and enjoyed the sound quality.Unfortunately, the headphones began making loud vibrating noises after about a year (and 15 total hours) of use.Bose will fix them for $100 or offer me a credit toward a trade in on the Series 2 of $112 (I would pay $188 + tax vs $300).I am not impressed enough to pay this for a new pair.

There's much better out there, people!
Tried one of these in a Bose store, oh my God it was a joke.Drums sounded muddy and boomy at the same time, highs were shrill and unnatural, and voices sounded completely hollow.

The Sennheiser PXC-300, at 2/3rds of this Bose's price, blows it out of the water in all departments: noise cancellation, physical comfort, and most of all, SOUND QUALITY.

Me, I'm no hoity-toity "audiophile"---but I do have friends who are audiophiles, and they do plenty of headphone listening, contrary to the previous reviewer.In fact, many audiophiles will tell you that a two hundred dollar pair of quality headphones can easily surpass the sound quality of a two thousand dollar pair of speakers!

To be fair these Bose headphones sound slightly better than the under-100 dollar competition by Sony and Phillips.But compared to my Sennheisers at 2/3rds of the price, they're toast.

OK,
When I began looking for headphones, I knew that i needed a closed system and a very comfortable pair. I was planning on using them for college which is on the east coast and i'm on the west coast. Noise Cancelling or at least attenuation was important for the plane and doing homework. I would use them on the airplane, dorm, and generally everywhere. I looked at the Sennheiser hd 280's, quiet comfort 2's, triports, and a few random sony models. Ifound these headhphones to meet my needs.

1. These headphones are extremely comfortable. They just are. The pressure on my head is very slight. I can wear them much longer than my sennheiser pcx250's.

2. The sound was good enough for me. People have cited too much bass, but because i am using iTunes and iPod: i have a good equalizer at my desposal. I can change those aspects if they bug me on any specific song.

3. They have a shorter cable (about 5 feet) than most high end headphones. This is good because i can listen to my iPod or computer without getting bogged down by the cable. If i am listening to something farther away, it comes with an extension cable so i can do so.

4. The noise cancelling very good. I have a pair of sennheiser pxc250's and i think that both passively and activly- the Bose has got them beat.

When you are buying headphones remember a few things:

monitor headphones give you a flatter sound. Completely as it was recorded.

you probably aren't an "audiophile".

Open backed headphones are inapproprate in almost every enviroment we use headphones in: the car, train, airplane, library, around other people, computer, and anwhere that has ambient noise or people that will be bothered by the music.

Although it may be hard to believe, you will listen to your headphones for 4 hours plus- ie, an airplane, doing homework, watching a movie.

For these reasons- i suggest a good set of closed headphones. Many people said that the sennheiser 280's were prone to cracking and were somewhat uncomfortable. the cracking would really bug me and i have to be able to wear the headphones for long periods. The triports don't have as full of a sound as the QC2's do. The sony's look dumb and played up to meet a specific audience. I also looked at Ultrasone stuff but nothing there was well recieved.
I found that Bose Quiet Comfort 2's were a good compromise on all the things i was looking for. Great Comfort, decent noise quality, good noise cancelling, but expensive. ... Read more