Sony MDR-EX81LP Bud-Style Stereo Earphones (Black) (Discontinued by Manufacturer)

For the price these earphones are a very good value. I mainly bought them for the noise blocking feature which works very well if you take the time to learn how to use them and to pick out the right size cups for your ears. I do not recommend them for the impatient -- if you want something you can just slap on your head and get on to the next thing you should get something else.The other key point is that you do need to be comfortable with something that is very close to an earplug. I am very familiar with the foam type of earplugs that go into your ear canal. These earphones are far more comfortable than foam earplugs yet still block a lot of sound. They won't replace the serious ear protection needed when doing very noisy work (like cutting steel with a circular saw) but will block out office conversation.The other caveat is that they are very light and should be handled with some care. Although not fragile I do recommend always using the included case. You can then toss them in with your "stuff" and not worry about them.When fitted with some care you do get good sound quality. I was very pleased with the sound after some modest equalization changes on my Sony Walkman MP3 player. If the fit is a bit off you will lose bass response but I had no trouble adjusting it. They are very comfortable even when fitted to get good bass response (you don't have to jam them into your ears like ear plugs).If you need to block out office noise or fly frequently these earphones are an excellent value.

Lots of folks have written about how great these earbuds sound. I'll agree to the extent that I know about earbuds. I just wanted to point out a couple of physical attributes I found to be noteworthy.First, they are larger than your plain vanilla earbuds. That might be great for sound quality, but don't try to go to sleep wearing them, unless you can sleep on your back without turning your head. I've tried everything I can think of to position my ears so they won't be jabbed, but to no avail. (I managed to put my ear in the cravass created between two pillows, but that works for only so long.) So, I just use my OEM buds for drifting off to sleep in.I also find the cord funky where it splits off to the L & R sides. The left cord is longer than the right. I'm not sure I get the thinking behind that. Especially if you're left-handed. Also, the cord doesn't wind up in the case evenly due to said funky cord split.To my old ears, they sound pretty good, with much improved bass response over my OEM buds. (My ears don't care much about anything over 11k, anyway.) They're cute in an ugly sort of way, but they stay in, which is why I bought them. Just don't try to sleep (in bed) with them on.

Caveat lector: I'm no audiophile, but I know what my ears like, and I certainly like these earphones. The sound they produce is well-balanced -- not too much bass, no muddiness of the highs or midrange. Everything comes through clear and reasonably loud. In terms of sound quality, these earphones are unscientifically leagues ahead of the white earbuds that came with my iPod.Comfort is another bonus. The flexible over-the-ear loops keep them in place while jogging, while the silicon caps do a good job of blocking out ambient noise. Properly inserted, I find these earphones very comfortable, almost weightless. This design seems to ensure that tugging on the cord doesn't pull them out of your ears. The cord itself is nicely finished with a rubbery plastic coating terminating at a gold plated L plug.A couple things annoy me though, which collectively contribute to my docking of a star from the overall rating. First is the split length cord. For those who aren't familiar, the cord to the right earphone is longer than the one to the left, the idea being that you loop the cord around your neck to prevent tangling on the front. However, this design means that my iPod is usually in my left coat pocket; putting it in my right pocket means that the cord is draped over my chest, which tugs at the cable a bit. I'd prefer an evenly split cable to avoid this nonsense. The different lengths of cable seem to contribute more to tangling, too.Secondly, while the included case is a nice touch, it is both chintzy and fussy to use. First you have to remove the cap, place the earphones in their specific little holders (you can't put the left earphone in the spot designated for the right and vice versa), wrap the cable around the body of the case, tuck the plug behind a little flap on the back that seems like it'd snap under the slightest pressure, and finally replace the cap. As a resonable person, I just throw the headphones in my bag and leave the case in my drawer at home. The case with the windup mechanism that's included with cheaper Sony earbuds is much better from a usability standpoint.I'm aware that I'm being nitpicky and that these annoyances in no way contribute to what matters the most -- the sound. And to that point, these earphones are completely solid. They sound great, they're comfortable, and they're reasonably priced. While I have no doubt that the much more expensive Shures and Etymotics of the world sound better, I also know I wouldn't appreciate the differences and subtleties enough to justify the expense. At this price point, I recommend the MDR-EX81s without reservation.