Review on 🎧 Sony MDR-EX71SL Fontopia In-The-Ear Headphones (Black): Immersive Sound Experience & Stylish Design by Jessica Holmes

UPDATE 12/31/08 I wrote the review below 4 years ago and headphone technology has come a long way. Prices have come down and technology has improved. At this time, the Sennheiser CX300 is the best choice for an entry-level IEM. The Sony has muddy bass, reduced imaging and muffled mids. The CX300 is significantly better than the '71 and I expect the CX300 will serve all non-bass heads better. Since getting the CX300 I've spent more money looking for better headphones and the Q-Jays are my favorite. best, ben These headphones are good for New Yorkers and should be part of every iPod owner's arsenal. I say this after rummaging through $500 worth of headphones to find what I wanted. Here is my experience that led me to my love for these headphones. I bought my iPod in December 2003 and quickly realized that white in-ear headphones were unacceptable. I already had several other headphones and they all didn't work.1. Bulky Sony headphones with poor sound.2. For Sony's ear, which was uncomfortable and sounded bad3. Grado 60s which sounded great but were bulky and not suitable for commuting with a 10ft cable.4. Sony headphones which were very similar to the Ipod.5 headphones. Koss headphones which were very comparable to the Ipod headphones. So my first purchase after a few hours of research was the Eytomic ER-6s. And while ER-6s are good, they have downsides. They block so much sound that they're dangerous, they're difficult to get in and out of my ear, and if someone accidentally caught the cord and yanked the headphones out of my ear, my eardrums would explode. Also, the headphones weren't powerful enough to be used with the iPod preamp. he just couldn't handle them well enough. Although I just spent another $150 on headphones I wasn't satisfied. Then I found Sony 71s and have been happy ever since. Pros: I can wear these headphones 5 hours a day and my ears aren't crazy at all. The bass response is amazing. Not fragile. Amazing cable design. If you wear a jacket and keep your iPod in your breast pocket - a short cable. For a trouser pocket - a long cord. Sound quality that exceeds my personal requirements for commuting. If someone pulls out the earpiece, the eardrum won't explode. Significant noise reduction. I reckon it will be around 10 to 15 dB. Cons: The tone depends on the size of the rubber ear applicator. I usually use medium-sized rubber headphones, but the large size reduces DB output by about 5dB and severely degrades bass response. The rubber ear applicators come off too easily when pulled. So I bought a second pair. They're strong enough to use with an iPod, but not as good as the Shure E2. E2s can blow in your ears, they're so loud. Note: I tried my Shure E2 friends. and they were better than the ER-6 in terms of efficiency and in-ear comfort. You sounded good. better than the Sony 71. but they didn't suit my needs any better than the Sony 71. I throw my headphones in my bag and don't bother with them. Shure's jelly-like earbuds pick up a lot of dirt and are more brittle than Sony's. They also cost significantly more and I didn't find them as comfortable as the Sony 71. However, for some people they will be a good choice. I have recommended the Sony 71 to about 10 people and given these headphones away. Everyone loves her. I don't understand the bad reviews on the site. I broke a few from crushing them but didn't expect a product to live up to those standards. After a year and a half of using this product, I have no hesitation in recommending it. 5 Stars. Best regards, Ben