Looking for a pair of in-ear bud earphones, help please - Page 2

petal666 · 31st July 2004, 12:27 PM

Most reviews say the EX71's have muddy bass. I was using a pair and thought they sounded good until I bought some ER-6s. Now I can safely say that the EX71's have muddy bass.

Febs · 31st July 2004, 1:58 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by PooJou
Sony MDR-E888 SP (short cord) OR, if you really want White... Etymotic ER6i is coming out soon.. ~$210 or similar...
EX71 is rubbish as i've said many a time

I've heard the 888's don't last too long..and while I'd love a pair of ER6's, I'm just not prepared to spend that much on a set of headphones.

I'm not an audiophile, I just want something that sounds good and lives on the nice side of $100.

Snufkin · 31st July 2004, 2:10 PM

Since when did you need to be an "audiophile" to appreciate good sound?

Even $500 isn't "audiophile" territory for headphones, you'd need to be spending $2000+ IMO on a headphone setup to be considered slightly leaning toward "audiophile" and even then it's still easy to spend a lot more

Heck, a good set of speakers costs $500, it's not unusual for $200 headphones to sound better than $500 speakers yet $500 isn't considered "audiophile" value when it comes to speakers.

Redux · 31st July 2004, 2:10 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Febs
I've heard the 888's don't last too long..and while I'd love a pair of ER6's, I'm just not prepared to spend that much on a set of headphones.

I'm not an audiophile, I just want something that sounds good and lives on the nice side of $100.

Just get the EX-71's then.

white, short cord, neck chain, some noise isolation, sub $100. Its pretty much what you're looking for.

In terms of sound quality, well... as long as they crap all over the stock Apple buds, that's all you really need to know, right?

Me personally, I did what this guy at Atomic did:
Sony MDR-EX71SL earphones review with iPod

No regrets.

But damn, those white ER-6's...

EDIT: I don't recommend you buy overseas though.
Looking back, I'd prefer to have paid the extra $25 for 1-year warranty (just for peace of mind).

Wink · 31st July 2004, 2:42 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Redux

Me personally, I did what this guy at Atomic did:
Sony MDR-EX71SL earphones review with iPod

Hey that's me

The OCAU review is here (with pics rather than links to pics).

Oh and Snufkin - any idea on when you'll be stocking the ER-6i?

Febs · 31st July 2004, 2:45 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Redux
In terms of sound quality, well... as long as they crap all over the stock Apple buds, that's all you really need to know, right?

Pretty much.

I know I can get better sound quality...but yeah like you said - these suit all my requirements (inc. budget) the best.

Quote:

Originally posted by Redux
EDIT: I don't recommend you buy overseas though.
Looking back, I'd prefer to have paid the extra $25 for 1-year warranty (just for peace of mind).

Yeah I plan on getting them from Minidisc.com.au rather than bluetin. I'd much rather have an Australian warranty.

Wink I read your review the other day. It's the best review I've been able to find for the EX71s.

Thanks.

Snufkin · 31st July 2004, 3:20 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by WinK

Oh and Snufkin - any idea on when you'll be stocking the ER-6i?

Due mid August, taking preorders now

PooJou · 31st July 2004, 4:00 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Redux
Just get the EX-71's then.

In terms of sound quality, well... as long as they crap all over the stock Apple buds, that's all you really need to know, right?

Lol, you just contradicted yourself, the stock apple buds + foamies are MUCH more balanced than the EX71...

Redux · 31st July 2004, 4:57 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by PooJou
Lol, you just contradicted yourself, the stock apple buds + foamies are MUCH more balanced than the EX71...

Hmm... I don't know what you mean by 'balanced', but I can vouch that the EX71's are damn more satisfying to listen to than the stock buds.
If you're going to get fussy about it, maybe 'quality' isn't the word, 'output' fits my mentality more accurately.

Standing at North Melbourne train station with these things on for the very first time, God... it was beautiful!
I have the music on so soft... and I can pick out every bit of the song, no matter how loud/noisy it was around me (and this was at peak hour, ~6:30pm).
Its weird, because... there was so much around me, and this level of noise isolation coming from these tiny, tiny buds. Its like, whoa!
Such a good experience. Its so easy to underestimate them.

There's no point the stock buds being more 'balanced' if I can't hear the music properly at a train station. So in a way, the EX-71's DO have better sound quality (under certain conditions). =P

The best part about these is that I always forget they're there, always. They're simply amazing.

They're definitely worth the $95 mate.

Redux · 31st July 2004, 5:01 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by WinK
Hey that's me

WinK, in your review... what do you mean by muddy bass? I know... its muddy, lol.

But, how did you get any bass at all out of your iPod???
I've tried turning some EQ settings on, but they just distort the music.

Thraxeh · 31st July 2004, 5:21 PM

what do the 51's compare to the 71's ?

PooJou · 31st July 2004, 5:52 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Redux

There's no point the stock buds being more 'balanced' if I can't hear the music properly at a train station. So in a way, the EX-71's DO have better sound quality (under certain conditions). =P

The best part about these is that I always forget they're there, always. They're simply amazing.

They're definitely worth the $95 mate.

Fair enough, if they were $50, like in SG, then i'd say np, but $95..

- depends on your music as well... i mean, i stand around at flinders with the E888's in, at low volume as well, and i can hear it fine... I just supremely dislike the EX series of sony earbuds, extremely muddy, extremely vague

Each to their own though

- there's no In ear earbud at that pricerange that can beat the EX71's admittedly (says a lot about those earbuds

)

Redux · 31st July 2004, 7:07 PM

No arguments from me there.
Mine were $70 from bluetin. The MDR-E888's could have easily been had for $102 (inc. delivery). ><"
But like Febs, in the end it came down to vanity. You know, white.
Noise blocking and comfort was a real bonus.

So far all the earphones I've ever had hurt my ears after continuous use.
The EX71's were the first exception. So you can see how they've made mark on me.

Should I hand my mini down to my sister and pick up a Hi-MD this year, colour will no longer be an issue.

The E888's are definitely a bargain for price:sound quality.

Honestly though, how are they for comfort? They look... you know... =P

PooJou · 31st July 2004, 7:52 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Redux

Honestly though, how are they for comfort? They look... you know... =P

Personally, i don't like shoving things in my ears

- earbuds sit outside of your ear canal as you know, and i dunno, they fit perfectly in my ears, because most all plastic fantastic earbuds are completely symmetrical and round, they just fall out

Fit depends on person

(psstt we get ripped of for sony goods here, like, bigtime...

as you know)

Wink · 1st August 2004, 4:07 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Redux
WinK, in your review... what do you mean by muddy bass? I know... its muddy, lol.

But, how did you get any bass at all out of your iPod???
I've tried turning some EQ settings on, but they just distort the music.

By muddy, I mean that the music sounds a little muffled.

Most of the music I listen to (Hiphop) is bassy by nature so I've had no real problems with the amount of bass.

I would never used EQ - like you've discovered, they just make the music sound crap and it also chews up more battery power by using it.

31st July 2004, 12:27 PM	#16
petal666 Member Join Date: Jun 2001 Location: Red Hill, QLD Posts: 4,598	Most reviews say the EX71's have muddy bass. I was using a pair and thought they sounded good until I bought some ER-6s. Now I can safely say that the EX71's have muddy bass. __________________ i5 2500K, GA-Z68MA-D2H-B3, 8GB 1600MHz, 1GB HD6770, 120SSD, 3TB, Liteon 24x DVD, 2x Dell 30" LCD, iPod touch Canon 5D3 + Lenses FS: SR Cranks $300

31st July 2004, 2:10 PM	#18
Snufkin OCAU Sponsor Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: Surrounded by headphones Posts: 6,273	Since when did you need to be an "audiophile" to appreciate good sound? Even $500 isn't "audiophile" territory for headphones, you'd need to be spending $2000+ IMO on a headphone setup to be considered slightly leaning toward "audiophile" and even then it's still easy to spend a lot more Heck, a good set of speakers costs $500, it's not unusual for $200 headphones to sound better than $500 speakers yet $500 isn't considered "audiophile" value when it comes to speakers. __________________ Got Headphones? We do! Australia's #1 headphone destination since 2002. www.headphones.com.au Last edited by Snufkin; 31st July 2004 at 2:11 PM.

31st July 2004, 7:07 PM	#28
Redux Member Join Date: Oct 2003 Posts: 420	No arguments from me there. Mine were $70 from bluetin. The MDR-E888's could have easily been had for $102 (inc. delivery). ><" But like Febs, in the end it came down to vanity. You know, white. Noise blocking and comfort was a real bonus. So far all the earphones I've ever had hurt my ears after continuous use. The EX71's were the first exception. So you can see how they've made mark on me. Should I hand my mini down to my sister and pick up a Hi-MD this year, colour will no longer be an issue. The E888's are definitely a bargain for price:sound quality. Honestly though, how are they for comfort? They look... you know... =P Last edited by Redux; 31st July 2004 at 7:08 PM.

31st July 2004, 5:21 PM	#26
Thraxeh Member Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Sydney Australia NSW Posts: 4,132	what do the 51's compare to the 71's ?