Amazon.com Product Description

These Sony headphones are lightweight, economical, and comfortable. The MDR-101LP stereo headphones have an adjustable, overhead headband which allow you to fit them perfectly to your head's shape. The open-air design removes undesirable resonance by allowing outside air to pass through the headphones; the result is a better sounding headphone. The thirty millimeter drivers deliver deep bass. The Sony Acoustic Turbo circuit is included for high efficiency; it gets high sonic output from your portable stereo, and extends bass response. Put together, these two features help counter the tendency of headphones to sound cheap and bass-low. The long, one meter (3.3 feet) Y-style cord allows for ample movement and separation from the sound source.

What's in the Box
Sony MDR-101LP Headphones. ... Read more

Features

• Long 3.3-foot, Y-style cord
• Lightweight headphones with comfortable, adjustable headband
• Open-air design negates undesirable resonances for clear sound, allows outside sounds to pass through headphones
• 30 mm diameter drivers deliver deep bass
• Sony Acoustic Turbo circuit enhances low-end response

Reviews (9)

Bang For Your Buck!
Well, I needed some new headphones. I tried the UR5 from Koss. The sound quality was alright, but they could BARELY be heard. I found these, thinking Sony, would make headphones with better and louder sound. I was right.

The good news is that the sound quality is excellent. Sony headphones always seem to have more punch than other Koss, RCA, Panasonic, and other brands of headphones. The bass and treble are clear, and bass is pretty deep as other $6 headphones I've tried. I would have enjoyed the headphones that came with my player (SLSV570), but they were uncomfortable, and I mean VERY. These are pretty comfortable and lightweight, as the box explains.

The bad news is the overall durability of these headphones, which is a big minus. I've been though two of these, yet the third ones haven't broken yet at all (keeping my fingers crossed).

The price is very reasonable and very cheap, and I wouldn't have a problem buying another pair, because of their cheapness.

Overall, these headphones add a punch to your music, and the volume is loud for those quiet CD players.

Good Value for the Kids!
Great basic headphones for the kids.Why spend more on something likely to be stepped on, yanked on, or lost?

Great Value, Good Sound...
Sony makes some of the best headphones. I paid a bit more for these 3 years ago, they last a long time.The foam pads fell off after two years of regular use, but I had spares from a old pair.These 'phones are made to last and unlike some of those other funky headphones they are comfortable to wear, I wear them for hours at my PC while writing papers/ doing hw. Highly recommended, even for those who like good sound.These deliver rich base, and are good for mp3 listening as well as dvd watching. In fact, for the price I just might buy a spare. A plus side with this is if you are hard on stuff or simply like to carry headphones in your backpack you don't have to worry about them--the price is so low.I hope this helps. What are you waiting for? Buy some headphones.These headphones fit into anyone's budget.

Great Quality for the Price
Can't beat the sound for the price. Use mine for jogging. Used for over a year and still going strong.

Excellent quality for the price
I bought these after one of my older cheaper headphones broke (can't remember the brand, but they were absolutely terrible). I was actually quite amazed, these were much better over my old ones, and for very cheap price. The bass can get quite deep, and the highs are nice and clean. These headphones work great for any music listeners or gamers, and even the kids could probably use 'em.

*EDIT*
After a few years of using these phones I've noticed the bass severely crippled and became heavily distorted on both ears. The actual headphones themselves are in good condition, but the sound is just not the same. I'm done with these phones... ... Read more

Amazon.com Product Description

Lightweight and secure enough for vigorous active use, the MDR-Q22LP headphones--part of Sony's w.ear line--feature a comfortable clip-on fit that follows the contour of your ears. Both the turning adjustment and spring action earpiece allow for easy manipulation for a dialed-in fit. The snug fit design is built to withstand exercising, skating, dancing, or other sports. The MDR-Q22LP earcups use an open-air design that lets you hear ambient sound. This ability to hear outside noises is a safety issues as much as a quality of sound issue. With these headphones, you can keep track of car horns, passing bicyclists and barking dogs.

These headphones have impressive 30 mm driver units which produce a rich bass sound. Neodymium magnets give the headphones maximum energy at a minimal size and weight. The PET diaphragm keeps distortion to a minimum. Remember that the MDR-Q22LP's clip-on design is hair-friendly and keeps the size of the headphones small. Their tangle-free storage cord is adjustable, making for easy storage in a backpack, briefcase or purse. The headphones come with a 1.5 meter cord, and their straight-shaped plug is tailor-made for active use.

What's in the Box
Sony MDR-Q22LP headphones, blue and silver interchangeable headphone caps. ... Read more

Features

• Neodymium Magnets
• Fashion Headphones with Interchangeable Caps
• Unique Design Elliminates Headbands
• Innovative Spring Action Earpiece
• 30 MM Driver Unit

Reviews (13)

Finally, someone got the clip design right
Okay, headphones are a pain in the a$$! Trust me, you need to go through thousands to find the right ones. Let's get on with the review!

Sound Quality (4/5) - The sound quality on these is far by good. The bass is very deep, not too deep, but having bass too deep IS a problem (can't hear anything but BOOOOOOOOOOOOM!!!). If you wanna hear deep bass, put pressure on these. Feel discomfort from the clip and have a headache for the amount of bass. Congrats! You've become an idiot! Anyway, the volume on these is quite loud, but not quite as loud as Sony's h.ear, but the treble is better. Who says you can have it all (if you've ever heard anyone tell you that you can have it all, please hit their head with a shovel)?

Comfort (5/5) - Now, if you read the packaging (which contains someone who looks a lot like Jennifer Lopez, btw), it states things about comfort. Well, those are in fact all true. These headphones are VERY comfortable, and at times I can't notice they're on. Definite 5 stars in comfort.

Design (3/5) - Ok, design is good and awful. Let me break it down:

Good:

- The cord is long. Why good: This would be good for people using these for computering, studio monitoring, video/music editing, things that NEED a long cord.

- The cord is made with strong plastic. Why good: This would be good for bike or ATV riding. Cords get damaged from being hit with a helmet, or just in the air. This is perfect for that, and other similar rough activities.

- The plug is gold plated. Why good: This would be good for most audiophiles and people (freaks) who detail every little thing in every song. Gold plated plugs also seem to be louder than silver plugs.

- The hook is a spring hook. Why good: For people with elf ears (pointy ears), this will make it easier to fit on.

Bad:

- The hook is a spring hook. Why bad: This is the biggest negative of this headphone. The spring hook, makes the speaker go away from the ear, taking out bass and volume that all those audiophiles (and freaks) just love. Why else is this bad: This also make it leak sound. This is a pain for people listening to loud music, which make a little distraction for people sitting next to you (like a bus, or classroom, or a public place).

Features (5/5) - Yay! A positive! The features on the w.ear are pretty great. Firstly, the interchangeable covers is a nice touch, and there are blue and silver to choose from. The silver sure looks nice next to my SLCT582V, and the blue would look nice on more colored objects (such as a bright colored CD player, Sony's new PSYC players to be specific). As I said, the spring clip is a big positive and a big negative. So yeah, there may be only two features, but these are headphones, you're not getting a thousand features on them.

Portability (5/5) - Ok, pictures mean nothing. Yeah, their "clip design". That's what I like to call advertising. Not all clip designs are slim, but that is what Sony and the picture are making you think. Even though these DO happen to be very slim, fair warning. Anyway, these are very slim. Slimmer than my slim design CD player. So, these are very portable.

Price (4/5) - The price for these are surely not a bargain, but they aren't overpriced. The price is set about just right. Most headphones with these features would be also around the $20 mark.

Who they might be for: These headphones would be for people who aren't TOO picky about audio quality, but still want decent sound from them. People who might be using them for long periods of time, or have small-normal sized ears. Maybe for people using computers, or for studio monitoring of some such (but you will need to buy an adapter). People may want to consider these for durability, for maybe people doing sports, bike/ATV riding, or other rough activities. These may be good for people who are using these in not-so-public places, but still travel a lot, or even for home usage. These would be good for people who like interchangeable covers and style.

In my opinion, these overall deserve 4 stars. They aren't exactly perfect, but they're damn there close.

A satisfied user
If you're into to music with heavy bass content and delight in driving vehicles with massive subwoofers, these are not the headphones for you. Then again the devices you normally use these in don't output alot of bass to begin with. So go get the can-style headphones.

For everyone else; hey, these are great. They do the job we need perfectly. Want to disguise the fact your using an iPod or need to hear the outside environment while listening to your tunes/fifth race at Haymarket, get these.
I got mine when my Nth set of Q33s bit the dust and have only noticed a slight drop in distant radio reception on my discman.

Eh...I expected more
Looking for headphones to go with my iPod, since the earbuds that came with it hurt if I wear them for long periods of time...

Not impressed with these headphones."Rich bass" my ear -- the cheap headphones that came with my last portable cd player have better-sounding bass.These Sony headphones are tinny sounding, and I need to crank the volume to hear anything through them (or press the 'phones to my ear -- the spring clip doesn't have enough tension to put them in that place for me).

On the plus side, I suppose, they are comfortable to wear - I don't find that they "deform" my ear in any way, and they don't hurt. They'll suffice for running, but I'll be sticking with the Apple earbuds for other uses (plane trips, at work, etc.)

Just What I Was Looking For
These headphones are great. They are lightweight and compact. I can barely tell that I am wearing them. They are comfortable because a wire is all that goes behind your neck, no hard plastic. They are definately better than any earbuds. I had a pair of TDK earbuds that came with my MP3, but they hurt horribly! These are far superior, and worth the money.

SONY STINKS!!!
Okay, before i start, let me say that i am both and audiophile and a gym rat. So when i work out or run, its all about the music. I also listen to a variety of music; from simple guitars and drums to electronica. This is why i need headphones that are perfect. However, im not loaded, so i need headphones that are AFFORDABLE and Perfect.
Well, sony has done it again. They've become one of those companies who simply believes that if they stick their label on an item it'll sell. Unfortunately, thats true cuz when i saw SONY on a pair of headphones for 19.99, i bought them. These headphones are not a good deal for the price. First, they have no bass ports (little holes on the side of the headphones) which are usually needed to provide rich bass. Second, i hate this sliding-clip design. Just make the headphones click into place sony!!! you dont have to be unique about everything!!! The only thing i love about these and other clip on headphones by sony is there single cord design; where the cord goes behind then neck from the left to the right earpiece and then a single cord goes from the left to the cd player. No one else seems to copy this design, so i end up buying sony.
If your not a big audiophile, these earphones deserve 4 stars. I think the same clip headphones from phillips for 14.99 at target are a better idea. ... Read more

Product Description

Double the fun on karaoke night by doing duets. The LS-3C01 Duet Microphone from Leadsinger works with the LS-3700 all-in-one karaoke microphone using ultra high band with noise reduction for great sound. Use it to remotely control the functions of the LS-3700 microphone including reserve, play, stop, pause, speed, pitch, music volume, vocal volume and more. Imported. ... Read more

Features

• Wireless design is easy to use and handle
• Duet microphone for people who want friends to sing along to karaoke favorites
• Designed for use with the LS-3700 all-in-one karaoke system
• Ultra-high bandwidth signal with noise reduction for great sound
• Controls many of the LS-3700 functions, including play, pitch, speed, and volume

Amazon.com Product Description

Koss Pro4AAT Titanium Pro Headphones are rugged, closed-ear headphones built tough enough for broadcast use but at a price even the smallest studios can afford. Built for extreme durability and with a closed ear design for maximum bass and isolation, these headphones have a wide frequency response of 10 Hz-25 kHz and feature titanium-coated high polymer diaphragms for crisp, accurate sound and oxygen-free copper voice coils for signal clarity. ... Read more

Features

• Stereophones, with 3.5mm plug, and 6.3mm adaptor
• Frequency response 10-25,000 Hz
• Titanium Coated High Polymer Titanium Diaphragm for Accurate Sound Reproduction
• Oxygen Free Copper Voice Coils for Signal Clarity
• Closed Ear Cushions for MaximumBass and Isolation

Reviews (13)

Most impressive.
Not going to write much, as most has been posted on the site, but definitely get these headphones if you're looking in the 50-100 dollar range. Actually these are better than many higher-end(higher-priced)headphones I've tried. Only complaint is that the headphones might be slightly large and heavy - extended use makes for hot ears. Nevertheless,the sound quality is superb. You won't be dissapointed.

Outstanding sound
I just received these headphones yesterday and the sound is incredible, I am hearing instruments on my albums I never even heard before - The sound is crisp and clear. I am not going to write a long winded review of these since so many have already been written. But I will say do yourself a favor and pick these up, you won't regret it.

They are a little heavy but they are also extremely durable. Some reviewer mentioned that they killed his neck, well, I don't know what to say about that except that unless you are a child these should not fatigue you like that.

And also, whoever wrote that the lifetime warranty honored by Koss cost him 25 percent of the purchase price to ship back is insane. The cost to ship back the phones is $6.00 flat. And unless he paid 24.00 for these, his statement is incorrect.

So sit back, relax and enjoy your music.

Awesome
I got these headphones because my dad got tired of hearing the bass from my stereo pounding through the house.These headphones take nothing away from that head-shakin sensation.I had originally gotten these for use with my stereo but I have found they work extremely well with my iPod Shuffle as well.I had heard that a portable device did not have enough power to drive these headphones but they certainly do.The sound quality is terrific in general.Even on my awesome stereo I have not been hearing every little detail in my music.It wasn't until i strapped these on my head that I have truly experienced my music.My only complaint is that they are a little on the heavy side so when you run around, they tend to slide forward on your head.Surprisingly, they do not make my ears boil when I wear them for long periods of time which is very nice because I tend to listen to entire cd's at a time.The Koss 4AAT's are well worth the $65-$75 you spend on them.I reccomend them to anyone who appreciates music.

Best sound at best price
I have just recieved the Pro4aa and hooked them up,I tried them with several types of music,the sound is clear and sharp the bass responce is great, for the price and quality this is the one you want.

Shoddily Made -- greatly disappointed.
I have a set of 30 year old Superex ProB VI headphones that are still going strong -- the Pro4 line has been around about as long, so I figured to try them out. Audio quality is FINE, but these headphones only lasted about 6 months before something broke. Looks like the sliding mechanism on the top ate the far channel. These have a "lifetime warrantee", so I sent them back, but that will end up costing about 25% of the purchase price. No excuse for such a poorly designed mechanism... sad to say, these apparently are made in the USA.

Would not buy these again, sorry to say. ... Read more

Amazon.com Product Description

Any music fan that travels by plane, train, or bus knows that it's hard to hear the nuances of a complex melody over the roar of loud engines and your fellow travelers. Enter the dynamic, closed Sennheiser PXC 250 headphones, which employ NoiseGard active compensation to dilute ambient sound, so you can enjoy your favorite tunes without turning the volume to ear-busting levels. The headphones are also equipped with Duofol spiral-embossed diaphragms and a Kevlar-reinforced copper cable, which combine to ensure a distortion-free signal and high-quality sound, including powerful, punchy bass. Frequent travelers will appreciate the compact design, with fold-and-flip ear cups that turn 90 degrees for flat storage. If stuffing the phones into a backpack or suitcase seems too cumbersome, merely stow the phones in the included belt pouch for effortless transport. The headphones weigh only 2.29 ounces (not counting the 1.8-meter cable) and come with both 1/4-inch stereo and 3.5 mm double mono adapters (for airline audio).

The PXC 250 noise-canceling headphones are factory reconditioned, meaning they were returned to the manufacturer and restored to like-new condition. The product comes with a two-year warranty on parts and labor.

What's in the Box
PXC 250 headphones, 1.8-meter cable, 6.3 mm adapter, 1/4-inch stereo plug, 3.5 mm double mono plug, soft belt storage pouch with extra pocket, user's manual. ... Read more

Features

• Factory reconditioned to like-new condition; 2-year warranty
• Lightweight, foldable closed-ear portable headphones
• NoiseGard active noise reduction cancels steady-state noise by up to 15 dB
• Fold-and-flip design lets listener turn the ear cups 90 degrees for easy transport
• Includes 1/4-inch stereo and 2-pronged airplane adapters

Reviews (2)

Wonderful sound, at least for this non-audiophile
This is certainly the nicest pair of headphones I've ever owned, so I'm in no position to compare the PXC-250 to other expensive models, whether noise-canceling or not.

That said, I consider these headphones easily worth the $100 I paid for them.I don't sleep well on airplanes (who does, after all?), but I slept comfortably for almost half of my recent trans-Atlantic flight with these headphones on.They don't "cancel" the surrounding din, as other reviews have pointed out, but they make a huge dent in it.They say it knocks 15 decibels off the sound reaching your ears.That might not sound like much, but for loud noise the difference is enormous (since decibels are on a logarithmic scale, 15 decibels for loud sounds is a whole lot more in absolute terms than 15 decibels for quiet sounds).

The quality of music is also a big improvement over the cheapish headphones I've always used with my iPod, such as those white earbuds.I'm hearing sounds on my music that I'd never heard before, on everything from Beethoven to Pat Green.

I also like how compact these headphones are.You can look normal when wearing them on the street, which would not be possible with something like the more-able (and more expensive) Bose Quiet Comfort II.

There are a few drawbacks, none of them major:
1) You must turn the noise-canceling on to get quality sound even in noiseless environments.Battery life might be an issue (although after ~20 hours of use on the same two AAA's, there is no sign of diminished capacity so far).
2) The noise-canceling unit, which is separate from the headphones themselves (presumably to reduce their size), can be a tad awkward when on-the-go.It is about the size of a dry-erase marker, and clipping it to your belt leaves two dangling cords that must be dealt with.
3) Getting a proper seal around your ears can be somewhat challenging given the small size of the earcups.I've gotten the hang of this one, though, so it's not an enduring problem.

These issues not withstanding, I heartily recommend these headphones

Very pleased
I am taking a trip to Tokyo at the end of the month, and that was my reason for purchasing the headphones.I was a bit weary of going with the refurbs...but I'm trying to save money everywhere I can for the trip.I have had them for two days and have taken them around with my MP3 player on the way to class and what not to test them.I've been very pleased with the noise-reduction function.Even with no music playing they do a very good job.Definately an excellent buy for noise-reduction headphones at a refurbished price.They have worked flawlessly thus far. ... Read more

Product Description

These Aiwa headphones with Mute Switch have a double headband for the best fit and long-wearing comfort. Features 38mm (1-1/2") Neodymium magnetic driver units; single-sided OFC cord; Ear Logic design for comfort and super bass sound; gold-plated stereo mini plug and adapter; and CCAW voice coils for great sound performance. Silver. ... Read more

Features

• Built-in mute switch
• Double headband for fit and comfort
• 38mm (1-1/2") Neodymium magnetic driver units
• Ear Logic design
• Gold-plated stereo mini plug

Reviews (10)

Bass went out
I have been using these phones for about a month with hardcore rap beats with extreme bass. I turn the volume up pretty loud, and eventually the bass booster inside burned out, and now my recordings and beats are distorted

Better then some expensive studio models
I bought my Aiwa originally for PC gaming.Comfort- and sound-wise these headphones were excellent.Add an outside noise blocking to top it off.
I've used studio monitor headphones at the University of Hartford volunteer radio station (wwuh.org) while hosting a program.
Now I am bringing my Aiwa to the station in place of our professional ones.Combination of total comfort and a very decent sound wins hands down.
Of course, in a recording studio you'd need high end "ears", but for my purposes Aiwa are indispensable.
I don't see much use in a mute button (at least it's harmless compare to distorting inline volume controls in some other inexpensive models).
I'd prefer having coiled cord in the air studio, but at home I like being on Aiwa's super long leash at those times when I need to grab something from the other end of my play/work office.

Great!
First, I'm not a hardcore audiophile so I guess my ears aren't SUPER sensitively pampered to only Seinhiesser or whatever, but I am a musician who plays 3 instruments and isn't completely ignorant or tone deaf.

Sound blocking: It drowns out sound REALLY well, which is awesome if you live in a noisy dorm like I do.If you're just wearing them with quiet music or no music, you can still hear what's going on around you muffled, but once the music goes up to medium to high volume, you can hardly hear people talking at all.Great for if you want to study or concentrate, doubles as earplugs.

Long cord: great plugged in at home or something, gives you mobility. Length can be slightly annoying on portible audio devices, but not bad.Just got to wrap it around your CD player a gazillion times, or bunch the cord into a ball and hold it next to your music player, or just let it hang a lot and hope it doesn't catch on anything.

Really comfortable:Doesn't hurt at all, even after hours.Easy to adjust, though I always keep it on the smallest setting because I'm a small person.Your ears get slightly hot after a while of being covered though, but that's just obvious and inevitable I think.

Quality: Great. But DEFINITELY play music in it for a while before judging it, let it break in a bit.At first, everything sounded muffled & gross and even worse than my cheap earbuds, so I was sad.But after letting it play for a couple of days, now it's EXCELLENT quality, and im really really satisfied!I don't hear any distortion.Im able to decipher lyrics in songs effortlessly that I've never been able to understand before.Clear base, good all around.I definitely think that these headphones are much better for contemporary bass/guitar/drum/electronic stuff & vocals though, than for classical music (especially strings).In the beginning, classical music sounded really muffled & awful...after letting it break in, it's gotten TONS better, so now, classical music actually sounds really good & clear on these.It's just that once in a while, violin sounds a bit tinny though, but it's usually fine; piano & other instruments sound fine.So in short, great quality!But if you listen exclusively to classical music or something, maybe another headphones more catered to that would be better, though these are usually quite good anyway and almost always sounds crystal clear; but if you're the standard contemporary rock/pop/etc music person, these are perfect.Phenomenal sound, I LOVE these headphones, they sound better and better every day.

Big:These are huge.I'm a small person, so I look like a total retard wearing them, but maybe they'll look okay on you.Random note: these are the same headphones that Natalie Portman wears in the movie "Garden State" if you want a visual :)You can wear them around your neck when you're not using them, but then you can't look down cause they get in the way.So maybe size might be an issue for some.Nothing major though.

Mute Button:Great.I wasn't looking for this feature, so its a nice little extra.It only mutes it when you have the finger on the button though...meaning that the second your finger leaves the button, the music starts playing again; it doesn't work as an on-off switch.However, there are levels of muteness, which is nice.Like, if you only push the button slightly, the music plays in one ear so you can hear someone talking more.Then, it mutes the music completely if you push it all the way.Easy access, no problem.

Overall, I highly recommend these headphones.They're the best I've ever owned (though I'm no audiophile), and are excellent quality, isolation, comfort, sound, and value.They're nearly flawless.My only slight complaint is slightly tinny sounding violin on OCCASION (it's usually great), its hugeness, and really long cord length which might actually be good for some.So yeah, buy these, they're awesome

Great RELIABLE headphones, with few flaws
I purchashed these headphones to replace my 2nd set Philips HP170 headphones that developed a short in the wire just like my first set.

These headphones are serving me well, and they do a very good job in drowning out sounds of coworkers and they are very comfortable. They also have a very long wire which allows me to move around my cube without being retricted to staring at my computer screen all day.

The sound quality is pretty good, but I think they they can use a bit more bass and clarity.Also while I like the mute button on the headphones, but I also wish they had a seperate volume control on both the left and right side as my philips headphones did.

Other than that these are very good headphones, and more importantly, they last longer than 5 months.

At $30 these are a real bargin.

Excellent low-end headphones
For those browsing the low-end headphone market, these headphones deserve consideration.It a very powerful seller for Aiwa which is why it's still being sold about a year and a half after i bought them with NO alterations to the original product.That's impressive.

Pros
-Excellent Sound quality
-Easy Access Mute Button
-Excellent Noise Cancellation
-Very comfortable
-Long cord
-Great value
-Nearly zero force needed to adjust headset to head

Cons (nitpick)
-Too easy to accidentally hit mute button
... Read more

Product Description

Cushioned, around-the-ear earcups with padded adjustable headband * CenterLock auto tuning * switchable SRS processor for 3D sound image * selectable 3-channel transmission * includes 2 NiMH rechargeable battery packs and built-in charger * operating range up to 300' ... Read more

Features

• Soft, cloth-covered earpads and headband cushion for comfortable extended use
• Supra-aural, hi-fi stereo headphones for superb audio quality
• Automatic tuning for better reception
• Volume and transmission channel can be set individually on the headphones
• Expand with an additional set of headphones for multiperson use

Reviews (46)

Poor Right Out of the BOX!
After reading the variety of reviews on Amazon I still went ahead and bought a pair.What a mistake!First I waited 24 hours for the batteries to charge, a little long bey hey, I waited patiently.Next, the base unit wouldn't turn on.Instruction said the base unit automatically turns on when the headphones are turned on.Nope.I had to unplug the base unit and plug back in to turn it on.Next, they a constant low level hissing...on every channel.And don't change headphone channels with them on your ears or you get a very LOUD popping noise.And the grand finale was they automatically shut off every 3-5 minutes.Packing them up tomorrow and shipin em back...

Solution for Hearing-Impaired Mother-in-Law!!!!!
Spent considerable time researching cordless headphones!Spoke with hearing specialist about type of headphones to buy and was directed to ones that had large ear "coverings" to facilitate hearing aids.The RS-65 was probably the BEST Christmas present; mother-in-law now enjoys watching TV at a level that others (in the room) can also tolerate.Just wish the battery would last longer than four hours!

Great wireless headphones - One year review...
We've had these headphones one year now and have encountered zero problems with them. They work great inside the home from room to room (one level home) and to various points out into the yard (1+ acre).Lightweight and comfortable.No problems with breakage or wear, they still look new.On average, they are used several times per week for about an hour or so per use - but during football season, they are used MUCH MORE!I recommended these to a co-worker whose husband is loving them so much that he bought a set as a gift for someone else.

Sennheiser RS-65
I would ditto all of the other reviews; this is a good set of wireless headphones.The only downside is that after using them for a couple of months to give a decent review, I read that I should have received a second battery that wasn't in the box (it does say it on the box, but no mention in the instructions).No big deal for a $20 battery though.It is worth noting that they use a proprietary battery vs. something you can buy at Radio Shack.I am happy with the purchase.

Sennheiser RS-65 vs AR AW721
I just bought these and have a few obvservations that might be helpful.I replaced the AR AW721 with these. The foam on the ARs were starting to break down and flake off after a couple of years. These have valour so should hold up better. The Sennheiser sound better than the ARs.There is less static and the range is better. I think they are both comfortable with the edge going to the ARs because the ear foam is softer and a bit larger.The Sennheiser is lighter weight which I like.The ARs are a closed design and the Sennheiser are an open design.You will hear more room noise with the Sennheiser than the ARs.My daughter uses them to watch movies when we have people over so she likes not hearing as much room noise.The Sennheiser is more money, better sound and reception, lighter weight, but are all plastic. I have concerns how they will hold up over the long run.The AR is heavier, a bit more comfortable (especially for those with larger ears, and I think more durable.Ours gets thrown around quite a bit. I bought an extra set so two people can listen at the same time. If you are thinking of a second pair I would recommend getting two COMPLETE units and not getting the ADDITIONAL second unit. The complete units are about twenty dollars more, but you get two addition batteries instead of one and another charging base so I think it's a better deal. I did audition the new Pioneer 800 5.1 surround sound headphone also.They sound fantastic BUT they work on IR (line of sight) and the range was not that great and cut out pretty quickly.I suggest you check these out is a store first if you are interested in the Pioneers. ... Read more

Amazon.com Product Description

Designed with the athlete in mind, this compact Rio MP3 player provides rugged durability and up to two hours of skip-free music. Store and play MP3 and WMA digital music files with 128 MB of built-in memory, or listen to your favorite radio station with the integrated FM tuner. Advanced navigation and a large, backlit display make finding songs and artists simple, while the USB connection and Rio Music Manager software provide quick and easy music file transfers. Perfect for the gym, it has a built-in clock and stopwatch and up to 10 hours of battery life. Packaged with incredible software to help you organize your music, including RealOne, iTunes, and MoodLogic software to create mixes for 100 tracks. Upgradable to 256 MB using MMC memory cards (not included). Includes sport earphones, carrying case with belt clip, adjustable sport armband, one AAA battery, and USB cable. PC and Mac compatible. ... Read more

Features

• Includes earbuds, carry case with clip and armband, AAA battery, USB cable, and music management software
• 128 MB on-board memory; expandable up to 256 MB via MMC cards
• Supports MP3 or WMA files; upgradeable for future music formats; PC and Mac compatible
• Integrated FM tuner, clock, and stopwatch; water and impact resistant
• Up to 10 hours' playback on one AAA battery; accepts NiMH rechargeables

Reviews (242)

Surprised sound quality.
Pleasantly surprised with the sound quality in such a small and light device. Earbuds just so so. (Use my own superior earbuds, so it's okay.) The FM tuner reception is not that good, that's why the four stars. Bought this manufacturer-refurbished for about $50. Spend an additional $27 for an SD 512 mb flash memory(512 mb works in the external memory slot!). The software works well with my Windows XP/Windows Media 10. For less than $80 I get 640 mb of total memory, more than enough for what I need.

Better hope nothing breaks cuz you'll be buying a new one
Rio no longer supports this model and the Sports case is cheap and breaks easily. Once it breaks, you are out of luck because Rio only carries replacement parts for their newest models. Do yourself a favor and buy something dependable with good product support such as Ipod, Iriver, or CreativeLabs..Leave Rio alone.

So far so good
I've had my Rio for a couple of days now. It's been working great. The bundled software is not all that great, but if you have Windows XP and Windows Media Player 10 then you can use that. The player has good sound and is really durable. The armband took me a minute to figure out but everything works great. The internal memory is a nice starting size. I was able to fit 54 tracks on my internal memory (64Kbps - WMA format). I bought a 128MB card for $18 and that works perfect and now I have over 100 tracks on my player. I've been hearing that the player can handle cards up to 512MB despite what the specs say. I haven't tested it so it's still a rumor to me.

In conclusion, for the price this player is a very good buy. I use it when i work out and the armband is a nifty way to keep the player close but out of the way. I'm not sure is the USB interface is version 1 or 2 but the interface is really quick. When I update my track listing it takes about 1 minute and a half to transfer 54 tracks to my player. Check the Rio site frequently for firmware upgrades. When I got mine i had to upgrade the firmware which is a sinch and take about 30 seconds to do.

Just to add, many have complained about how the player tends to slip out of the armband when you move excessively (ex. Running or jogging). I have to say that I use my Rio everyday while running and have yet to have it slip out of the armband. I run just like everyone else, and wear it while playing basketball also and it has not fallen once.

Great, But It Has a Few Flaws
The Rio Sport is an excellent little mp3 player.The sound quality is great as is the display. While, the original model came with only 128MB of internal memory, it has an SD slot making expansion fairly inexpensive, especially in 2005 when 512MB is available for $50.

In general, the construction is rugged with a rubberized enclosure apparently meant to reduce the affects of impact from dropping. It is also has a rather compact, odd shape that is probably less than ideal for someone wanting to store it in his pocket.

While there are a handful of small design flaws, two features that are particularly annoying.First, it has a four position concave rocker switch that is extremely sensitive.While this is great to use blindly with your thumb, it creates a real problem when placing the unit in a pocket as switch easily depresses, causing the RIO to change songs, stop, or pause.

In short, the Rio Sport is a decent mp3 player that could use a couple of minor interface modifications and feature enhancements

Pros
Excellent sound quality
Good battery life
Rugged
Compact

Cons
Main concave control button very sensitive, too easily depressed
Plastic bracket interferes with buttons and jack
Uses AAA batteries instead of AA



****Note that the technical description in Amazon is incorrect regarding the memory type and expandability.It uses and SD card and can go over 128 MB in total.My 512 MB card is working fine.

Great little mp3 player
I used mine over 8 hours a week for over two years in a gym.It took many hard hits and continued to work.It worked for 6 months even after the plastic case was cracked.But the internal memory is starting to fail.Perhaps using it in a steam room was just too much for it.Very well made! ... Read more

Product Description

• Tuned bass port
• Flexible ear piece
• Over-the-ear non-slip design
• Rubber Comfort Rings
• Gold-Plated Plug

Features

• Tuned bass port for enhanced bass sound
• Gold-plated plug for better connections
• Flexible non-slip design offers a comfortable, snug fit

Reviews (2)

I Love This Product, but.....
I absolutely love these Over-the-Ear buds by Jensen, but I've gone through 3 pairs in the last 2-1/2 years.I love the way they fit.They sit snuggly in my ear like a regular bud and the over-the-ear part guarantee that they're going to stay put.Nobody can hear what I'm listening to.I use them a lot and unfortunately the bud detaches from the over-the-ear thing and sometimes when that happens the wire breaks too and the sound is lost.I have yet to find something similar to these that will fit the same and give the same sound quality.

Powerful for the price
Until an accident caused one bud to stop emitting sound, these were my favorite pair of earphones. They were comfortable (I often left them in when I went to sleep), affordable, lightweight, durable, and had good sound quality. I used them with my Sony CFD-V5 boombox, my Oritron OP5034 portable CD player, and my RCA RP2410 MP3-CD player. On all three, bass and detail was great, and there was no distortion at a higher volume. All in all, these earphones were a great value; the only possible downside is a bit of fuzziness in the sound, which I got used to rather quickly and began to prefer over my other earphones (it lent a bit of warmth to the music). I plan to buy another pair in the near future, and I highly recommend that you do so as well. ... Read more

Product Description

Built on the same features as the SR60, but utilizes a 4 conductor connecting cable and larger ear cushions, the result of which gives a more open stage. The SR80 provides an improved bass resonance, which enhances the overall detail. ... Read more

Features

• Vented diaphragm
• Non Resonant air chamber
• Standard copper voice coil wire
• Standard copper connecting cord
• Mini plug with 1/4 inch plug

Reviews (9)

The best I have so far used.
I had Sennheiser HD497 for over a year which I loved except for that its Bass performance was not good.

Then came the SR60, which I soon exchanged for SR80 (because of its superior Bass performance) and also bought a Total Bithead Headphone amp and I absolutely love the setup.


Q. How do you know a good can from bad??

Ans. I use a simple solution that works for me.

1. Firstly, Close your eyes while listening to music.

2. Put a rather noise song (something that has many instruments playing simultaneously) and try to figure out-
-- diffrentiate exactly what instruments are playing
-- in which ear and at what pitch level they are playing?
-- how audible the soft ones like bells and chimes are?
-- How defined, spacial and NATURAL sounding the Bass is? (There are many people for whom loud Boom-Boom Bass means good Bass. What they fail to understand is how NATURAL it sounds is more important.)
-- How the overall experience is?

Do this much with a Grado and you are sure to take one home.

Absolutely Amazing...
Seller:Audio Advisor, ordered on Friday via FedEx GROUND and had it by MONDAY!!!

Ups:GREAT SOUND.Good bass.Cord is long enough, but not too long for me.Very comfortable, with plenty of adjustments, even for a small head like mine.

Downs:Proves to you why you shouldn't have gotten that crappy stereo, and why you need a soundcard for your laptop...

All Arounds:Had researched for a good pair of headphones for a while and learned about Grado Labs.Read reviews that were very good, but didn't have the money at first.So I struggled through using my RadioShack (Oh yes, that bad) and then sorta went up to (birthday sympathy from a friend) a pair of Sony's...Well, needless to say, I finally got enough money to buy some Grado's.By then I found out that a friend had SR60's and every minute I was there they were on my ears, absolutely loved them.However, I heard that the SR80's had a bit more bass, and I like bass in the music I listen to.So, I bought a pair from Audio Advisor...Soon as I got em (luckily right before I left for a two-day vacation) I set em up to my stereo with a mix cd of all the music I listen to and set it repeat and let em break in while I was gone.Now that I'm back, they sound amazing for what I listen to usually (rock), but even listening to jazz and classical it sounds great.I also use headphones for gaming (people around me don't like blasting gunshots and explosions :) and it's very helpful to be able to hear where things are coming from...All in all three thumbs up for Grado Labs.

They're pretty comfortable, too
If you are reading this you have probably already read one of the many reviews raving about the perfectly balanced and clear sound of these headphones. [...] Most of those (older) reviews comment on how the older earpads were too hard on the ears, or the headphones themselves were overall just uncomfortable to wear.

I just wanted to add that (at least in the newest incarnation--the pads have been tinkered with by the manufacturer) they are *very* confortable, compared to many other headphones. The earpieces have two pivot points: one allows them to pivot on a vertical axis attached at the headband and another on a horizontal axis running through the earpiece. This combined with the bendable headband allows for a lot of adjustment. I have a pretty large head and they're not overly tight or otherwise uncomfortable. And the apparently-recently-redesigned earpads on this model have some cushion without being mushy-soft on their outer surface (pads like that always made my ears sweat).

Before buying these, I read just one (recent) review that claimed these were comfortable, and I didn't beleive it. Now I do. (I also didn't beleive they would sound appreciably better after a break-in period, but they did after about 30 hours of being attached to my receiver with the radio on nonstop.) Well, that's all I wanted to say. Back to listening.

Great Headphones
First the good: These headphones will clearly reproduce any note or sound given to it. You will hear beautiful clear music. Bass response is excellent. 1 review here says it is too bassy, another review says there is not enough bass. I think it is perfect. Grado does not give their headphones the "Sony" treatment by boosting the bass. High notes are unlike anything I have ever heard. They sound like NHT Zeros (perhaps even better), clear, pristine, sweet. I have had my Grado SR80's for 2+ years now and I'm used to the large "uncomfortable" earpads. Super long cord, must be close to 5 or 6 feet. The tip of the connector appears to be gold tipped (although I could be wrong). Inexpensive - for the money you can't beat these cans. At under $100, it's like buying a Toyota Corolla with a Porshe engine.

Not so good: These headphones utilize "open air" design. Not only can you hear sounds while you are wearing them, but the sounds you are listening to will exit as well. You can't really wear these on a plane because you will bother your neighbors. The best place to listen to them is in a quiet office or bedroom. Not so comfortable to wear (if they are new), either in the long term or the short term. Cheap foam covering the headphones. Thick "stethoscope-like" cord can be cumbersome. My Panasonic portable CD player does not have any problems driving these headphones at all. Maybe it's because my CD player is older and I picked a good model. :) I have owned older Sony CD players that had difficulty driving any headphones, regardless of power requirements.

These are the best headphones I have ever owned. The soundstage is the same as my other Sony headphones so I can't say whether it is good or bad. I can say this: the reviewer "Gal" from Jerusalem (below) has it right on.

Grado SR80s not for me
I've owned and used (off and on) a set of Grado SR80s for the past year and sadly I can __not__ recommend them because they have such poor bass response (IMO and given my ears and listening habits). They are also not very comfortable to wear (I find them too heavy on the ears after only 30 minutes of use and yes they have the new style of head cushions and I've tried to break-in the headband as best as I can).

I've tried everything that I can think of to make these headphones sound better (to me). I carefully "burned" or "broke" them in (for more than 20 hours before I even used them), I tried higher-powered amplifiers, I listen to different types and sources of music, nothing really helped.

I've finally come to the conclusion that the SR80s are just an inexpensive "boutique" or audiophile headphone that will never sound good to me even if they do come from Grado (I guess that the much higher-priced Grados are actually pretty nice and some say that the SR60s are both more comfortable and have better bass -- and the SR60 is less expensive, go figure). Can you tell that I'm not happy with these phones? Actually, they're probably fine for classical music or anything that doesn't have an important or strong bass line, they have a clean, very well defined, mid and high range but that's about all. They are also not suitable for low-powered (portable) music players (which isn't a direct fault of Grado's, but you have now been forewarned).

Overall, __not__ recommended for most users (popular, rock, folk, dance, and country music fans do not need to apply). ... Read more

Amazon.com Product Description

These Sony headphones are lightweight, economical, and comfortable. The MDR-201LP stereo headphones have an adjustable, overhead headband which allow you to fit them perfectly to your head's shape. The open-air design removes undesirable resonance by allowing outside air to pass through the headphones; the result is a better sounding headphone. The thirty millimeter drivers deliver deep bass. The Sony Acoustic Turbo circuit is included for high efficiency; it gets high sonic output from your portable stereo, and extends bass response. Put together, these two features help counter the tendency of headphones to sound cheap and bass-low. With Sony's UniMatch plug, it is possible to connect these headphones to both mini or full size headphone jacks. The MDR-201LP's cord is single-sided which minimizes tangles. The long, 1.5 meters (4.9 feet) Y-style cord allows for ample movement and separation from the sound source.

What's in the Box
Sony MDR-201LP headphones ... Read more

Features

• Extra-long 4.9 foot (1.5 meter) cord
• Lightweight overhead headphones with adjustable headband
• Open-air design for clear sound
• 30 mm diameter driver for delivery of deep bass
• UniMatch plug adaptor will fit both mini and full size jacks

Reviews (4)

Simply a great value, you can't go wrong.
In this price range you cannot go wrong with these. While they may not provide picky audiophiles with super-high standards looking for supreme sonics with the total sound they're looking for, these are excellent for casual listening at your computer, gaming while everyone else is asleep, or listening to your MP3 player on the treadmill. They're great for travel too. Because of the extremely low price, you won't be afraid of damage or loss during travel and activities. The way they sit on your ears allows your ears to still breath and if you want to hear outside sounds you can. The cord is just a tad short, so I give it 4 stars.

About to order my third pair
I'm currently on my second pair of MDR-201 headphones and will be ordering another pair soon. For the low price that these go for, you get a sturdy set of headphones that are comfortable and sound good. I find they last 2+ years with heavy office use. I've tried other budget headphones from other companies (Yamaha, Aiwa) but in most cases they fell apart almost immediately. Also, for those of you out there who've been blessed with a humongous noggin like I have, these are the headphones for you - they fit even my 7 5/8 size head comfortably. The 1-sided cord is also great for avoiding tangles when using the phone. They're well-designed and a great value.

they do the job
My old standard Sony headphones broke while I was on a road trip, and I came across these. They were cheap enough that I didn't have to worry about making too big of a dent in my money. However, I don't think the sound quality is all that great, and wouldn't recommend them to serious listeners.

TURN YOUR PORTABLE INTO A HI-FI
I've gone through about half-a-dozen pair of these same 'phones for the last 4 years; I wouldn't think of using any other set while on the move!They're the surest way to wring every last little drop of fidelity from any walkabout stereo, pricey or cheap.I've tried it on an inexpensive Awai, and one of Panasonic's expensive "Shock-Wave" cassette players.These 'phones make either sound terrific. ... Read more

Amazon.com Hands-On Review

The Sennheiser HD 650 open-air dynamic headphone is a music lover's dream: easy to wear and downright intoxicating to listen to. Sennheiser is, hands-down, the number-one name in high-quality headphones, and for good reason. From the issue of its legendary HD 580 headphone in mid-'90s, the German company has cornered the market on ultimate over-ear sound coupled with ultimate comfort, an unbeatable combination.

With no need to reinvent the wheel year in and year out, 2004's titanium/silver-colored HD 650 is only the third top-of-the-line incarnation since the HD 580, following the classy HD 600 (and not counting Sennheiser's made-to-order $15,000 Orpheus electrostatic headphone). Is each issue better than the last? Fundamentally, yes, though they're also simply "different." Taking as a starting point that each is truly excellent, the 580 might be said to focus on glorious midrange; the 600 makes a point of delivering extended, exceptionally airy high frequencies; and the 650, fittingly enough, tackles the most difficult area of sound for small drivers to handle: deep bass.

The 650 offers appreciable bass well below 40 Hz, the region responsible for the deepest frequencies generated by kick drums, timpani, double bass, electric bass guitar, and all manner of electronic sounds. Further, the 650 reproduces its low frequencies with only minimal emphasis in the upper-bass region, between the areas we commonly call "bass" and "midrange", in which undue emphasis can destroy clarity both above and below.

If you listen mostly to classical, jazz, and acoustic music, you'll probably embrace the headphone's low-end authority without reservation. If you listen to contemporary pop/rock and electronica, however--genres subject to a fair amount of equalization and bass boosting over the course of recording, mixing, and mastering--then you might find yourself facing, at times, a bit too much bass. Of course, most rock demands excellent bass response, and the HD 650 delivers. It just isn't forgiving of a musical production's gross errors of judgment, which would makes it a great asset for sound engineers.

The 650's driver material is a specially fabricated "acoustic silk" that minimizes harmonic and intermodulation distortion while maintaining a natural timbre. These drivers start and stop on a dime, ensuring dynamic transient "snap" while minimizing subtle, unwanted resonances that a given sound can induce.

Its broad frequency response is rated at 16 to 30,000 Hz, -3 dB (that is: the point at which the frequency extremes are reproduced 3 dB quieter than the frequencies in between), and 10 to 39,500 Hz, -10 dB. This makes the headphone a brilliant way to fully appreciating high-resolution audio formats like SACD, DVD-Audio, and LP records. Comparatively lower-res compact discs also sound fabulous. For best results, listen through a high-quality headphone amplifier, such as a dedicated headphone amp or the headphone jack in a high-quality preamplifier, integrated amplifier, or surround receiver.

The 650 performs remarkably well with portable audio devices (your iPod will likely never have sounded better), but keep in mind that a) you'll need to crank the volume (sucking battery power), b) the 650 will probably make you uncomfortably aware of how amazingly far MP3s are from CD quality, especially below 160 kbps, and c) the open-air nature of the drivers means they block no outside noise whatsoever and broadcast their high frequencies to anyone within earshot.

The headphone's detachable, Kevlar-reinforced OFC copper cable is over 9 feet long. While unquestionably durable and free from motion noise over most of its length--that is, noises audible in the ear cups when the cable is moved or touched--we noticed that the top foot or so (where it meets the earcups) is far more susceptible to motion noise than, say, any part of the cord for the HD 600. It's not an issue when one is either motionless or rocking out.

A nice touch for nighttime use and for blind listeners is a trio of small bumps above the left earcup to assist in orienting the headset. Other features include hand-selected, matched transducers with tight (+/1 dB) tolerances, computer-optimized and highly efficient Neodymium ferrous magnet systems, extremely lightweight aluminum voice coils, and a gold-plated .25-inch jack plug with a separate adapter lead for connecting to minijack .125-inch plugs.

As to comfort, the 650's elliptical ear cups use thick felt pads which circle the ears completely. It's perfect for extended listening, putting no pressure on the ears themselves and fitting snugly across the head. The 650 is the tightest of the three models, an asset for those who want to listen while upright and moving about. --Michael Mikesell

Pros:

• Great sound overall
• Uncommonly comfy fit
• Deep bass response
• Extended overall frequency response
• Dynamic performance
• Extremely low distortion
• Long headphone cord
• Mercilessly revealing of a recording's deficiencies

Cons:

• Top 1 foot of cord is susceptible to motion noise
• Mercilessly revealing of a recording's deficiencies
• You may hate your speakers after hearing this headphone

What's in the Box
Headphone, a detachable headphone cable, a .125-inch minijack adapter, a hard-shell storage box (silver with embossed blue lettering), a user's manual, and warranty information. ... Read more

Features

• High power neodymium magnets deliver maximum efficiency
• Lightweight aluminum voice coils for very fast transient response
• Specially designed acoustic silk ensures precision damping over the entire frequency range and helps to reduce THD to an incredible 0.05%
• Improved frequency response is 10 - 39,500 Hz (-10 dB)
• Hand-selected matched driver elements

Reviews (7)

Don't forget to buy a dedicated amplifier and a cable and...
Many MP3s at 128kps sound terrible on these phones because the device reveals details like noise, distortion, discontinuities, low bandwidth, low sampling rates.On the other hand, you will be reintroduced to familiar CD tracks because the level of detail and musicality revealed may be astonishing.Amorphous boomy bass passages may become powerful punctual distinct deep bass impact events as if from a live setting; or muddy-sounding midrange noise may be transformed into a spacious and ethereal background vocal you never knew was there.The 650 can render it if it's there, like putting on a pair of glasses and seeing 20/20 after groping around the music nearsighted for years.

Here's the rub: If you don't have them already, you will need a headphone amplifier (100 plus bucks) and a high quality headphone cable (Equinox, Cardas (150-300 bucks)) to make the 650 sound the way it can.It can run off an MP3 or CD player and reach good volume levels, but the sound quality can become distorted because the portable players and some home audio amplifiers don't have the circuitry to generate the power to drive the headphones.The 650 will still sound better than any phone you already own but more demanding parts of the music may become distorted as a result of the player's limitations.I threw out five CDs after listening to them with the 650 because I realized their recording quality was low.These phones can also hurt at medium volume -- it might be sound pressure across the spectrum.These phones made my speakers sound terrible and now I must upgrade.Ugh.Audiophile hell.

Extraordinary sound at a reasonable price.
The jury is still out on these headphones. Without a doubt, they are among the best headphones I have ever heard. However, the little wooden Grados give them a run for their money (but then they should at almost twice the price of the 650s). The only complaint I have on the 650s is their "softness"; one has a definite tendency to fall asleep when listening to music through them (and that's not altogether a bad thing). Great headphones.

Things you need to know for producing the best sound
The HD650 is a superb headphone.Unfortunately,someone complain about quality of sound.
However, I guess that those people do not know about "break-in"(or "burn-in") period.
Almost all the headphones do not sound as good as a well used pair when you are listening to music with a headphone for the first time after you bought.
In a word, headphones must be "electrically" adapted by playing music for total of hours in order to sound to the intended best state.
Break-in period needed for producing the best sound depnds on a headphone.
I guess HD650 needs break-in period of over 100 hours.
What you need to do for that is to just listene to music you like.
After that period, you will be suprised by remarkable quality of sound produced by HD650! If you use a good CD player and a headphone amp, the sound quality would be more impressive!
Anyway, enjoy outstanding HD650!!

Excellent, but what did you expect?
So headphone.com calls them "simply the world's best headphone." I can't speak for the Grado or AKG contenders. I can say that they're better than my Sennheiser 590's, and that is shocking.

Which leads me to my first (and probably most important) point about this headphone. They cost a lot. A whole lot. Sennheiser has many units, including the 580, 590, 595, 600, and 650 (among many others), which could be construed as 'reference' quality. You'll spend about half as much on one of the 5xx models as you will on the 650. So if you were to ask me whether the 650 is *twice as good* (that is to say, it costs more in proportion to its increased capability), I'll tell you no, probably not. I might just not buy them, given the decision again. Perhaps if the price came down a bit.

At any rate, they are really a superb headphone. The sound is really incredible. You never really realize what you're missing in a recording until you've heard it through a set like this. You can hear the saliva in the back of a vocalist's throat. I'm not kidding. Everything is reproduced clearly, accurately, crisply, and I've yet to find any recording (Vocal, Classical, Electronic, etc) that can tax them. I suppose I'll stop trying to some day, but it's just wonderful to hear the headphones doing their job.

The construction is far more solid than the 590's are. Where there is plastic on the 590, you see metal and (no kidding) Kevlar. They are more attractive. They are also quite a bit heavier. They have a 1/4" connector instead of the more customary 1/8" mini connector -- this doesn't particularly bother me, I'll get to it in a minute.

Like the 590, they are an open headphone. That is, they are not "sealed" or "isolated". Sound from around you will seep in, and it is possible for others to hear what you are listening to (somewhat).

They are less comfortable. My guess is because of the metal band, the "spring" mechanism that keeps them round is tighter than the 590's, and it pinches. It really feels as though somebody is compressing your head. The ear cups are fine. They are almost identical to the 590's, but a little larger.

So, you probably wouldn't be here if you didn't know you needed an amplifier for these headphones (this is where the 1/4" plug comes in). However, it bears mentioning that you should not even consider buying these cans without first buying a capable amplifier. The PPA/PIMETA amps are cheapish, and Headphone.com has some that will work fine. To demonstrate this, you'll need another headphone and the 650. Connect the other headphone to your amplifier. Listen at a comfortable level. Then, relax a second, and attach the 650. The first thing you should notice is that the white noise is gone. The second thing -- other than the sound quality, of course -- is that it is much quieter. These cans need a lot of power to drive them effectively. Look at their specifications and you will understand (300 ohms of impedance!).

Buy em if you want the best and aren't afraid to spend the $$. Buy the 590's or 595's if what you need is a stellar headphone and you don't want to spend too much. Use the extra money to buy yourself an amp. You'll need it.

nice, but flawed
My expectation of the 650 was rather great, with it's 0.05%, 10-39500 and ratings on headphone.com ... the problem is that they are drastically colored. Sennheiser states that these cans were developed with the way music listeners listen to their music today. That's cute, but to do this they have colored all the audio ranges with a "creamy" sound that dulls all the details. All wave lengths are dropped so you get artificial bass in all spectums leaving your not-so-average-music-listener feeling like you are listening to great music but it's not the best.

I just finished an extensive review the another serious audio listener and engineer and we both agree that there needs to be more advertizement on these cans to let you know that they are pre-toned for your average listening pleasure. There's no way I would do mix-downs or proof a final track with the 650s ... they are just not accurate enough.

The best cans out there are still the HD 600s. They're numbers are slightly lower than the 650s but it's not going to cause you grief with colorization. You can get to 10 with 650s and 12 with 600s in the lows, but because of the colorization and everything begin in the lower bracket you'll wish they produced the 650s with the extra low and no colorization.

650s are a disappointment. When you train your ear to hear everything being played and recorded and want the most accurate listening that you can you'll want the 600s. ... Read more

Amazon.com Product Description

Tapes can still sound great, especially when you have a good deck to play them on. The Sony TC-WE305 cassette deck has all the basic features you need in an dual well unit. Normal and high speed dubbing are possible with a touch of a button. Dolby B noise reduction reduces hiss and distortion, while an integrated MPX filter further enhances the listening experience. High-density permalloy heads are durable and squeeze more sound quality out of your cassettes. Meanwhile, LED peak level meters help you determine the best recording level for your CD and tape dubs. Lastly, twin analog tape counters help you keep tabs on your recording and playback progress.

... Read more

Features

• Measures 16.9 x 4.7 x 11 inches (WxHxD)
• High-quality dual-well cassette deck
• Tape to tape high speed dubbing
• Dolby B noise reduction, MPX filter
• LED peak level meters

Reviews (2)

There's nothing wrong.
I've had no problems with my deck. It still runs the same as when I bought it. I do pampere my equipment however. I've even recorded from my studio equipment to the deck and had minimal generation loss.

Very poor product
This is by far the worst dual cassette deck that I have ever purchased. The play back and record have very poor sound quality. The tapes regardless of what kind, do not play at the right speed, in other words they play slower then other tape decks.
Very unhappy. ... Read more

Product Description

The Shure SFG-2 stylus tracking force gauge is the industry standard.This simple-to-use measuring device was developed to give listeners a way to insure against the problems caused by improper tracking force settings, which include mistracking, excessive record and tip wear, and poor sound reproduction.This gauge is a highly accurate beam balance instrument designed to measure the actual downward force exerted by a stylus on a record over the range of 0.5 to 3.0 grams.Each gauge is individually calibrated, and displays readings in 0.05 gram increments in order to provide a precise measurement of stylus tracking force. ... Read more

Features

• Shure Tracking Force Gauge measures force of turntable stylus
• Precise, 0.05 gram increment scale measures force of stylus on record
• Prevents mistracking, excessive record and tip wear, and poor sound reproduction
• For use with all Shure and other brands of turntable stylus

Product Description

With Bose technology, you dont have to compromise the quality of your audio just because youre listening through a pair of headphones. Our acoustic equalization techniques deliver the rich nuances of your music that conventional headphones often lose. You hear the intricate notes of an acoustic guitar, the full range of vocals and even the beat of a drum with greater clarity and impact. TriPort® headphones faithfully reproduces deep, full low notes without requiring the artificial bass boost function foun