document updated 17 years ago, on May 24, 2007
- all over-the-ear headphones are far too big... they don't fit in your pocket, they can't hide under your shirt, and it's just generally less socially acceptable to wear these honking big things while grocery shopping, etc
- Koss Earbuds — one of the cheaper earplugs that provides decent isolation. However, the bass is "muddy", and very clearly inferior to the Sony MDF-EX51. Also, the fact that there's some solid bits of plastic that come in contact with the ear means that they're slightly painful (not really bad per-se, but sort of nipple-clamp ache kind of thing).
- Sonny MDR-EX51/EX71 (note that sometimes you can get them for a very similar price) — Much clearer bass than Koss Earbuds. Downsides: It's really easy to lose the rubber outer piece. And they're somewhat fragile... I've had three pairs that have shorted out in one place or another. The EX71 have an separate extension cord, and without it, they're the perfect length for my shirt-pocket iPod use.
- Features I like:
- good sound quality, of course... comparing headphones side-by-side, you can tell there's a huge difference
- sturdiness... I sometimes sleep with my headphones on, and then toss and turn, and sometimes they get wrapped around me, and I'm a big thrashing guy
- works well with my iPod in my shirt pocket
- future: I've seen some headphones in Tokyo that split off at the center of the back of the neck... I'd like something that would be more stable sitting at the back of the neck, and hopefully that would make it easier to turn my head without feeling the cord tug too much.