Sony MDREX71 > Reviews (6)

Back in May, on my birthday, I received a nice silver iPod. I'd wanted one for sometime - its compactness, ease of use, and capacity were all appealing. However, what really sold me on an mp3 player was its size. It can be tucked easily in a pocket - even in jeans pockets (and I, probably inadvisably, wear my jeans tight. In the interests of portability, the iPod comes with small in-the-ear budded earphones...which are hideously uncomfortable, and mediocre sound quality.

Now, I have very small ear canals, so after a very short time, my ears are in agony from the pressure of the Apple (or indeed any standard rigid earbuds) earphones. So when I flew to the States in August, I visited the duty free shop in order to purchase new earphones.

I didn't want over the head headphones, as they won't fit into my pockets (especially as my jacket pockets usually contain everything but and sometimes including the kitchen sink), but I really do find the standard earbuds dreadfully uncomfortable. So what's a girl to do?

Despite the fact that shops frown on you opening the packages and trying out the earphones before you buy, I bravely plucked from the shelf promising looking 'soft' silicone earbuds. I bought the Sony FontopiaMDR-EX71SL 'headphones' (that's what Sony insists on calling them) for around £25.99 duty free.

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Description - first impressions
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The earphones come in the usual 'bubble' packs you get, hanging from a hook in the store. They come with earphone holder, case and extension cord, three sets (in different sizes) of grey silicone earbuds (they fit over the speaker bit of the earphone), an instruction leaflet and a warranty leaflet. The 'case' is a grey fabric drawstring bag, and the 'earphone holder' is a plastic 'pill'. Its use wasn't immediately evident to me.

Although the picture above shows black headphones, mine are in fact white, with chrome-effect trim and grey earbuds.

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Description - opening the package and preparing for first use
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The first thing you need to do is to fit the silicone ear buds onto the headphones. There are three sizes. I initially tried the medium size, but after long term use, I found them uncomfortable. I used instead the smallest size (they are more comfortable).

Being female (ha!), I read the instructions for use. The first thing the instructions tell me are the specifications - most of which might as well be written in Swahili as far as I'm concerned (though I have to say I didn't realise the gold coloured L-shaped stereo mini-plug and min-jack on the headphones and extension (or, as the booklet spells it 'extenshion') cord are in fact gold plated). I've no idea what an 'OFC litz cord' is when it's at home.

Next, it tells me how to use the earphones. This is classic. I quote: "Wear the earpiece marked R in your right ear and the one marked L in your left ear". Mastermind specialist subject, the bleedin' obvious.

In any case, since I do not have one of those little remotes that plugs into the earphone jack, I plugged the extension cord into the iPod and the headphones into the extension cord. The cord for the right earpiece is longer than that for the left - the idea is you drape the cord around the back of your head (so the left earpiece goes directly into the ear, and the right around your head into your right ear).

The next section tells me how to use the pill (or capsule)-shaped holder - it seems that it's not all that good for the cord to simply wrap it around the iPod. Instead, you're meant to wrap the cord around the holder (which opens), and tuck the earpieces into little receptacles for that purpose. I did that for the first couple of months...and now I wrap the cord around the iPod. The capsule is easy to lose, and the cord and earpieces don't fit comfortably together.

The remainder of the English instructions tell you how to install the earbuds correctly and how to clean the earbuds. There is also a blurb warning you not to listen to music at too high a volume. The instructions are then repeated in ten further languages.

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The Earphones in Use
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Having established that these earbuds are far more comfortable (particularly over the long term) than the earphones supplied by Apple, the next question is how is the sound?

Now, you have to understand, I am not a stereo anorak. I don't know my channels from my woofers from my fidelity. I do know, however, if something sounds distorted at high volume, or tinny at low volume. I know if the bass is muted or distorted, or if the balance is uneven. I am pleased to report, then, that none of those issues apply with these earphones. The sound is crisp and clear at all volumes. The bass is especially noticeably good, and notably superior to that of the Apple supplied headphones.

The silicone ear buds fit snugly so they block external sound supremely well, even when your music is being played at low volume. I sometimes listen to my iPod at work, at low volume, and I still struggle to hear my phone ring (although I do have the phone set at very low volume). However, a side-effect of the noise cancelling abilities is that 'internal' noise is amplified - by that I mean chewing, swallowing, scratching your head, talking to yourself. You do not want to be using these earphones whilst eating a meal - you'd be revolted by the sound effects.

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Recommendation and Conclusion
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I wore these Sony MDR-EX71SL headphones for the whole seven hour flight to the States. I have to admit that after five or so hours, my ears did start to ache...but I don't normally wear earphones for such a long time at one stretch. Also, I have VERY small ear canals, so have a special problem finding earbuds that fit at all and don't fall out, never mind fit painlessly and comfortably.

I am, by and large, very happy with these 'head'phones.

They are comfortable for long(ish) periods, and have excellent sound, especially, I think, for the price.

Recommended.

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Technical Features for those who care
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I got these from www.sony.co.uk, so any questions on the technical specifications, ask them, not me. These are the listed features - there is a whole page of specifications - I'd suggest a visit to their website for the tech-heads amongst us.

1. Super sound quality
2. Closed earphone structure enables powerful bass reproduction
3. Ultra small 9 mm driver unit and the soft silicon earbud provides a stable and comfortable fit
4. 400 kj/m3 high-power Neodymium magnet is used to reproduce powerful bass and clear treble sound
5. Short 0.5 m lead to connect conveniently to any remote commander
6. 1.0 m extension lead supplied
7. Long bushing for stable and comfortable wearing (what the heck is bushing? Answers on a comment or postcard, please)