Monday, January 9, 2012

Sony MDR-EX500LP Product reviews

Sony MDR-EX500LP Review





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Category: Electronics
Brand: Sony
Model: MDR-EX500LP
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Sony MDR-EX500LP Reviews


Sony MDR-EX500LP Review by Tom "mimoid"

Let me first start with saying that although I don't like the over-pretentious word "audiophile", I am very picky about my personal sound equipment, and wouldn't touch those cheap and crappy earphones that so many music players come bundled with. Throughout the last decade I have been a great fan of Sony's in-ear headphones. My last earphone was the Sony MDR-EX71, but when it finally broke (as my earphones for some reason tend to do after a few years) I thought that I would try out something different.

So after having read some stellar reviews, I bought the Sennheiser CX400II - but even though it is generally considered a very good earphone, I found its high-frequency response seriously lacking, and its bass range much too boomy for my taste. I just couldn't stand it, so I was back to Sony again. For some time I pondered between the more traditionally designed MDR-EX77 and the MDR-EX300 - the slightly unorthodox vertical design of the latter seemed a bit intimidating and I was afraid that they would not fit my ears properly or keep falling out because of the weight of the driver unit.

But in the end I decided to take the plunge and went - not for the EX300, but instead its big brother, the MDR-EX500: the brushed metal design looked really nice and I hoped that they would have a slight edge in performance. Ironically, just after placing my order, I learned that these phones are now discontinued and being replaced by the (probably superior) MDR-EX510. But then again, who knows how long it will take before they are available outside Japan?

The EX500 comes delivered in a normal paper/plastic box, and not one of those horrible laser-welded hard plastic containers that require power tools for opening and which might cut your fingers in a heartbeat. Thank you Sony! By the way, I also noticed that the phones are manufactured in Thailand and not in China like everything else these days.

Inside the box are a the beautifully crafted earphones, the ubiquitous set of silicone buds (small, medium and large, all appropriately color-coded), a cord length adjustor gadget (just a piece of plastic that you can wrap your cord around if you would need to make it a bit shorter) and also a very neat nylon/leather carrying pouch with an integrated plastic winder. The pouch is actually really nicely designed and (if used) will surely help prolonging the expected life length of the earphones.

As you probably know, the cord to the right earbud is a lot longer than the one to the left earbud, as it is supposed to go around the neck behind your head. If you didn't know, it might leave you a bit baffled, but it is no big deal really. The only problem it causes is when trying to use the storage winder - since the cord to the right earbud is a bit longer, it doesn't "match up" around the winder without creating a small extra loop.

The main cord is medium length and does not require any extensions ("LP" in the product designation means "L-plug" and is usually the long cord version, while "SP" means "Straight plug", which normally is the short cord version). The EX500 has a tiny gold-plated L-shaped connector, but no integrated volume control, which I personally don't really see as a problem as it would inevitably sooner or later lead to cable breakage.

The cable seems a bit fragile and I am sure that it will need to be handled with delicate hands to stay in one peace. These are not the kind of earphones that you just throw into your bag together with your gym shoes and towels - they deserve a better handling.

A bit worried about poor fit, I carefully inserted the earbuds into my ears - and I was immediately relieved with nice and comfortable fit. The disc shaped driver unit part resides just outside the ear canal, but since it is so small and light, it doesn't feel a bit strange at all and is not heavy on the ears.

I however noticed that the silicone hybrid earbuds do not offer a total isolation from outside sounds. This might be an issue for somebody using these phones in noisy surroundings, such as during commuting. If you use the earphones in moderately silent surroundings such as the office or at home, it should however not be a problem. Sound leakage seems absent.

Earphones normally require a certain break-in period to achieve their optimal sound quality and especially the EX500's with their larger sized drivers, so after having played a few tracks on my iPod just to make sure that I hadn't gotten a dud, I connected the earbuds to my computer and left it running through a number of various albums in iTunes in an endless loop on normal sound level for a weekend, and tried to forget that they were there.

Finally I decided it was time to assess the sound quality of the EX500's. Well, I must say that I wasn't disappointed. The sound immediately struck me as having a purity and clarity of a pristine character - transparent, very musical and very pleasant indeed.

The bass is quite laid-back and never threatens to take over or drone out of control, like some other cheaper earphones often have a tendency to do. For some music genres, like heavy techno or dance, I have a feeling that some people may feel that the bass may be a little bit on the light side. For electronic, acoustic or classic music, the Sony's are just perfect. The Sony has a neutral and flat sonic reproduction without exaggerating any part of the frequency range.

If you initially think the bass is too weak, I would first recommend you to test the fit of the earbuds, and maybe try a different sized bud. I would also strongly recommend leaving the equalizer on your music player turned off and to stay away from any kind of "loudness" or "bass boost" functions, as they will just ruin the fine-crafted sonic balance of the earphones and may even induce some nasty distortion. Let your ears get used to the even and flat frequency response of these earphones, and you will no doubt discover a new world of sonic detail.

If you wish, you can purchase third-party earbuds to replace the original silicone ones, and these have been reported to emphasise the bass response while also improving the sonic isolation. So far I have been sticking with the originals, so I cannot tell.

The midrange and the high frequencies are incredibly clean and clear without ever sounding metallic or "glossy". The richness of the musical detail is simply breathtaking, and it would be a complete waste to throw low-bitrate music tracks at these phones, as they will relentlessly reveal every compressing flaw that cheaper earphones may get away with.

If I have to say anything slightly negative about the EX500's besides the lack of a complete sonic isolation, it is that they are not *quite* as comfortable as my other in-ear phones and will cause some slight fatigue like after an hour or two. But maybe that's a good thing, you need to give your ears a break from time to time. I have been using the EX500's while walking, and althoough they definitely do not fall out or cause any discomfort during moderate excercises, they are probably meant for relatively static usage and when listening to the music is your primary goal.

I am not sure about the differences between the EX300 and EX500, but I find it unlikely for anybody to go wrong with any of these earphones. Because of the slight shortcomings mentioned above, I cannot full-heartedly give a five star rating, especially considering that these earphones are probably out of reach for many people with limited financial freedom, but if you are serious about your music, I can nevertheless strongly recommend them.


Sony MDR-EX500LP Review by Stingray

These Sony ear-buds have very nice, crisp and clear sound. The bass response is quite goood. If you are looking for great sound for a portable music player, this would work great. The fact that they fit snug, helps eliminate noise as well.


Sony MDR-EX500LP Review by R. Carlson

i can say thease are nice,
owned many high dollar earbuds
thease are worth about 40$ thoe
clear highs deep lows expected and givem
thease seem to be on par with my sony midrange 40$ earbuds
sry 4 stars

More Reviews...

Sony MDR-EX500LP Vertical In-the-Ear Style EX Style Headphones:: Technical Details


  • Cord adjuster
  • Leather carrying case
  • Neodymium Magnet
  • Multiple-Layer Diaphragm For High-Resolution Sound
  • Sound tuned by hand for best sound
  • 13.5Mm Driver Unit For A Wide Dynamic Range
  • Constructed with metal material to minimize vibration
  • New hybrid silicone type earbuds for better sound, more comfort, and secure fit - three sizes (S, M, L)
  • Sonic Performance With Deep Bass
  • Item Dimensions: 6 x 4 x 2 inches; 0 pounds
  • Brand: Sony
  • Model: MDR-EX500LP
  • Product Type: Electronics
...Read more...


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