[dashfield]

Sorry to be a pain, as i know some of these headphones have been mentioned on other threads, but i just can't decide on whats best.

They are to go with ipod video, i find the standard headphones very uncomfortable and rubbish with bass. I use my ipod at my desk at work (which means i can't have too much noise leakage) and in the gym (which means it would be good to have something that drowns the stupid music they play in the background )

The cx300 appeal because you all rave about them, but i am worried that in-canal earphones will be uncomfortable for me and not really right for the gym. Some people seem to rate the ED31s well and they look comfy, but others seem to slate Sony's sound and build quality.

Lastly the PX10s look quite comfy, but i am worried they will leak alot of sound, therefore annoying the people sat around me at work and loosing some of the quality.

I couldn't find any of these i the shops today to get an idea of size etc, so really relying on your help guys.

[willy the pimp]

Just purchased the AKGK26P,what a revelation.Difference is like night and day tried the sony in ear broke after a week overpriced crap,The AKG have excellent bass extention,try maddonas latest album,sound leakage is to a minimum.I cant stess enough how chuffed I am with them ,£26.99 inc vat and p&p from nusystems and 2 year warranty.AKG have been making headphones for close on fifty years so they deffinatly must know what they are doing,I know they dont come up on this forum very often it,s usualy senn this and senn that or sony this and that give them a try I guarantee you wont be dissapointed

[dashfield]

Thanks for the heads up about AKG, but they look a little on the big side for the gym. No doubt they would sound great though.

[rozzr]

After hearing a fair amount of praise for the Senn CX300 headphones i decided to buy a pair.

I will let you know my verdict on them sometime soon!!

Thanks

[StevieDvd]

Originally Posted by willy the pimp

Just purchased the AKGK26P,what a revelation.Difference is like night and day tried the sony in ear broke after a week overpriced crap,The AKG have excellent bass extention,try maddonas latest album,sound leakage is to a minimum.I cant stess enough how chuffed I am with them ,£26.99 inc vat and p&p from nusystems and 2 year warranty.AKG have been making headphones for close on fifty years so they deffinatly must know what they are doing,I know they dont come up on this forum very often it,s usualy senn this and senn that or sony this and that give them a try I guarantee you wont be dissapointed

Pleased you got a good pair but before extolling their praise too much people shuld realise there are some good batches of them and some bad. BAd ones are bass bloated and won't improve and get terrible reviews, others like some of the older batches are good.

Have a search here or at head-fi.org before you chance it, unless you can a refund easily.

Steve

[willy the pimp]

Just a short comment on Steviedvd observations on some batches of the akg being base blotted,there must be several factors that come into play when evaluating headphones or speakers.The age of the listener must play a part,as hearing will detoriate with age,the age of the recording was it digitaly recorded or was it an anologue recording.Was a broad spectrum of music used,bass would be of more importance if say you want to listen to rock.Any test has to be subjective,any two people listening to the same headphones would offer a different opinion.Istill think the AKG offer exceptional sound quality for the money,base bloated or not bring it on.Apologies for going on a bit.

[Reano]

Are you saying the e31's are overpriced they are about £17.50 are you thinking of the e81's or 71's. Anyway based on your spec that you want maybe you only have a choice of the e31's or senn. The senn 100 leak too much. The senn cx300 will isolate you quite a lot but do you want to hear the phone ring or a person call your name? If no then go for senn cx300 if yes then go for sony 21's or 31's. Note the 21's are £12.50 from Amazon you just can't go wrong at that price. I have now received some audio technica at 3/4 times the price and I'm going to compare these vs the sony 21's vs senn mx500 and write a review soon.

[dashfield]

Thanks for the replies so far. I wasn't saying the ED31's are too expensive as i think they're pretty cheap. I was just saying that some people on here aren't keen on Sony sound or build quality. But then others say these headphones are great, so it'd hard to know who to believe.

[Reano]

Believe me not them I have only just got a headphone (Audio Technica 7) to challenge it at the moment (for non-isolating in ear) and they are three times the price. Somebody also brought on my recommendation and say they were better than the senn mx550 costing more. What hifi gave them 5 stars when they were in the £20's. For the price £12.50 (see amazon.co.uk) it isn't going to break the bank. So you need to decide whether you can deal with very high isolation (sound) or whether you need to hear noises around you. isolated phones will sound better imho but they are not always practical. You say you need them for work, well I have the shure e5c's and sometimes I'm just lost in the music but I see people looking at me and I realise the phone is ringing ... not good If im in a lab on my own no worries shure e5c everytime but if not then the Sony's (and now maybe the Audio Technica).

The sony's don't hardly leak either. No one around you will hear. Now go and buy them for £12.50 (resistance is futile) and come back saying how good they were or get the Senn cx300. After that, kiss your wallet goodbye ..... as believe it or not there is more sound out there. The sound is out there....... just are you prepared to hear it ........

[dashfield]

Thanks Reano

You've persuaded me. I'll be opting for the Sonys and will let you know how i get on.

[Reano]

You may want to go for the Sony 31's I think £5 more also from Amazon someone here says they are better built and have gold plating on the connectors so go for those. Please come back and comment on them.

[StevieDvd]

Originally Posted by willy the pimp

Just a short comment on Steviedvd observations on some batches of the akg being base blotted,there must be several factors that come into play when evaluating headphones or speakers.The age of the listener must play a part,as hearing will detoriate with age,the age of the recording was it digitaly recorded or was it an anologue recording.Was a broad spectrum of music used,bass would be of more importance if say you want to listen to rock.Any test has to be subjective,any two people listening to the same headphones would offer a different opinion.Istill think the AKG offer exceptional sound quality for the money,base bloated or not bring it on.Apologies for going on a bit.

Hey you calling me old!! - just kidding.
You'll find it hard to get someone over at head-fi to give these a good word. I too defended them based on the pair I still have. And I was up against some of the more well respected members.
I agree with your comments about subjectivity but base my warnings on the AKG26p not on my personal observation but on a weight of evidence. Another member actually tried my pair out and agreed they were OK and then bought a pair himself which he sent straight back as they were completely different.
Since we have a less prolific headphone section here than head-fi.org, where I also join in, it is accepted practice to refer to head-fi for more information, reviews and opinions.
My post was to give balance to any glowing reviews of the AKG26p not out of personal dislike but to give the potential purchaser more information so they can make up their own mind.
You may not have meant it but your response sort infers that I'm getting on a bit and listen to old stuff. I'll have you know I have a broad range of music from trance to classical and from Abba to ZZ Top, my kids (20 & 22) are always borrowing my CDs. But don't worry I'm not offended and this is not a hostile reply to be taken in any manner other than friendly!

Steve

[gerbilly]

Originally Posted by dashfield

Thanks Reano

You've persuaded me. I'll be opting for the Sonys and will let you know how i get on.

Hope you have not bought these sony earphones, the stock i pod earphones are better!!!
The sennheiser phones are far superior.

[dashfield]

Originally Posted by gerbilly

Hope you have not bought these sony earphones, the stock i pod earphones are better!!!
The sennheiser phones are far superior.

I haven't purchased yet, what is wrong with the Sonys?

Which Sennheisers would you suggest?

[gerbilly]

Originally Posted by dashfield

I haven't purchased yet, what is wrong with the Sonys?

Which Sennheisers would you suggest?

The treble on these Sony21 phones are awful. I had them for 4 days and I couldnt stand them. I have the Sennheiser PX100's and they pee all over these in ear sony's. However they leak sound so I dont use them. I use the white Sennheiser MX500 phones and they are excellent. They are not in the ear canal type phones but they are good.
I am hearing very good reviews for the new Sennheiser in ear canal phones (CX300). At £25 quid I might give them a go myself.

[dashfield]

See this is exactly my quandry - mixed views about the Sonys. I guess it just comes down to taste.

I haven't read anything negative about the CX300s, so may be it is a safer bet going with them.

[dashfield]

See this is exactly my quandry - mixed views about the Sonys . I guess it just comes down to taste.

I haven't read anything negative about the CX300s, so may be it is a safer bet going with them.

[Reano]

Originally Posted by gerbilly

The treble on these Sony21 phones are awful. I had them for 4 days and I couldnt stand them. I have the Sennheiser PX100's and they pee all over these in ear sony's. However they leak sound so I dont use them. I use the white Sennheiser MX500 phones and they are excellent. They are not in the ear canal type phones but they are good.
I am hearing very good reviews for the new Sennheiser in ear canal phones (CX300). At £25 quid I might give them a go myself.

There is absolutely no way the mx500 beat the Sony's 21 none what so ever!! I did not say the px100 would beat the Sony's they sould do at nearly three times the cost! Like I advised before isolated headphones usually beat the normal in ears thats why I prefer the shure e5c but I have given the mx500 and 21 to all people I know and none have said the senn's win. Hey you should go for the senn 300's as they get good reviews. Be safe and go with Senn's no worries to me Note other people on this forum that have gone with the Sony's having owned the mx500/550, etc have stated they beat the Senn's and are much cheaper. In your original post you wanted one of three the px were out because of the leaking so it just depends how much isoaltion you want. If you don't care to much about not being able to hear the phone ring or similar go with the Senn 300 no doubt. If you do care then go with the Sony 31's (slight improvement on the 21's for £5 more). Note I have also owned the px100 and still have the px200 senn's

[gerbilly]

Have to disagree on that mate. The Sony's were one of the worst set of earphones I have used and bass was no better than with the senn MX500's. Most of the magazine reviews have the mx500 as the best earphones below the £40 quid mark and I would agree with that as I have tried about 2 different sennheiser pairs, 2 sets of sony's including the 21's, an in ear canal panasonic earphones (not bad better than Sony and the stock i-pod ones) and even some cheap JVC ones.

Still to get a hold of the cx300's as I have not seen them in any shops yet.

[Reano]

No worries with disagreeing it's what forums are for? If you mean what hifi they rated the 21's as best for the price and under. The only thing I have heard that sounds better in ear (non-isolated) are now maybe the Audio Technica 7 costing £40. I am truly amazed that you found them that bad really. You are the first that I have heard compare them to the senn mx500 and say they lose. Hey anyone else out there had good or bad experience of the Sony 21/31's vs the senn mx400/500/550. Or stock Ipod phones as mentioned here. Are your ears sensitive to treble? <--- Genuine question? The mx series are comparable in price too. All the other ones are more expensive at least twice the price. I have a pair of senn mx 500 right here now with the Audio Technica 7 and Sony 21's I just don't use the Senn's there in the nice egg shaped box. They have very low output in bass. The treble is ok no problem but to say they have better bass I just can't see how really unless you had faulty headphones.

My next in ear isolated headphones will be shures e-500 by all accounts the best in-ear headphones in the world (thats not me saying that I haven't heard them) even beating the ultimate ears, shures own e5c (my current in ears) and others in that bracket. Will cost a bomb but for me worth it... Check it out here http://www.mobilewhack.com/reviews/s...r_control.html

[gerbilly]

Reano you may be like some of the Sony HD3 and 5 fanatics I used to have little disagreements with. I tested this before I bought my i-pod and I found the bass to be very flabby sounding and too heavy. This is why I went for the i-pod vocals were clear as a bell, treble excellent and bass just right (for me).
When I got my sennheiser px100's the difference in bass was stronger and more powerful but as you know they do leak sound and annoy the hell out of people on trains, buses etc.
I then got the Sony 21's in a nice wee white colour and once I got used to the fit I started using them. I found the treble constrained and just unusual. The bass was almost too much just like the HD3 and 5 players themselves.
When I got my Sennheisers MX500 I loved them from the start and the bass and treble are excellent and I would even say they are better sounding than the PX100's.

In other words I am saying you are addicted to bass and it is distorting you from hearing things properly!!

As in regard to the Shure earphones I am sorry but I wouldnt pay more than 40 quid for earphones for a £200 quid i-pod, earphones will not make that much of a difference to justify that silly price!!!

[dashfield]

What about the MX550s? Are they an improvement from the MX500s?

[gerbilly]

Originally Posted by dashfield

What about the MX550s? Are they an improvement from the MX500s?

I think the only difference is a volume control.

I have just listened to my Senn 500's and the Sony 21 again and the Sony's are lacking in clarity while the Senns sounds far more natural. I would even say the bass is better with the Senn's as well.

Dash I would give the new Senn's a go as they will probably give you the best parts of the two types mentioned.
In the ear canal type like the Sony's with the better ear phone build like the senn's.

[dashfield]

Thanks for your advice gerbilly. When did a search on the 500s in Froogle, there were 32 product reviews from various websites and only 1 or 2 were lower than 4 stars, all the rest were 4 or 5 star rating.

My main point of getting new headphones is because i can't stand the standard ones i got with the ipod video, they can't hardly handle any bass.
So as long as the Senns are a decent improvemnt on that, i'll be happy.

[Reano]

Originally Posted by gerbilly

Reano you may be like some of the Sony HD3 and 5 fanatics I used to have little disagreements with. I tested this before I bought my i-pod and I found the bass to be very flabby sounding and too heavy. This is why I went for the i-pod vocals were clear as a bell, treble excellent and bass just right (for me).
When I got my sennheiser px100's the difference in bass was stronger and more powerful but as you know they do leak sound and annoy the hell out of people on trains, buses etc.
I then got the Sony 21's in a nice wee white colour and once I got used to the fit I started using them. I found the treble constrained and just unusual. The bass was almost too much just like the HD3 and 5 players themselves.
When I got my Sennheisers MX500 I loved them from the start and the bass and treble are excellent and I would even say they are better sounding than the PX100's.

In other words I am saying you are addicted to bass and it is distorting you from hearing things properly!!

As in regard to the Shure earphones I am sorry but I wouldnt pay more than 40 quid for earphones for a £200 quid i-pod, earphones will not make that much of a difference to justify that silly price!!!

Loler firstly I record music as part of my living loler so know what good bass is and isn't I won't go through all the kit I have to compare headphones as it's so boring but something in your previous list lets me think you have the wrong model as they don't do this model in white. Is it this Sony MDR-ED21LP
available here http://www.amazon.co.uk/exec/obidos/...614268-1419928

For £12!!! I kid you not these really beat the senn's. Also the mx550,500 and 400 sound the same the mx400 probably best as it has no in line volume control and is cheapest!!

The senn mx will sound better than the standard ipod in ears. Now gerbilly if you are talking about the Sony 71 and 81 then I also think the bass on these are blotted with poor mid's, etc and getting use to fit. The 21's you just put in your ears.

Note my usual monitors are Grado RS1's on the Gracie m902 headphone amp, etc this does not have distorted bass loler. Or for work the shure e5c on a mini amp.

Oh dear have you listened to the shures e5c? Then don't pass judgment till you have used the better kit. Thank God I get paid silly money from sound recording, etc to enable me to get the better kit so I can actually 'know' the difference between good headphones and not loler Don't mean to be funny but you probably cannot evaluate the headphones properly as you ridicule people that buy more expensive and 'better' kit!
You need to have proper headphones like the Grado, Senn and Beyer to know how far off the smaller and cheaper headphones are off. I answer you like this because your comments come with very poor argument saying I'm addicted to bass, etc

A bigger picture of the same is here

http://www.headphoneworld.com/HeadPhoneWorldSite/pages/product/product.asp?prod=SO07&ctgry=InEar&categorytracking id=6|SO07

Dash where do you live? If near midlands I can let you compare the two from your own kit.

[gerbilly]

Originally Posted by Reano

Loler firstly I record music as part of my living loler so know what good bass is and isn't I won't go through all the kit I have to compare headphones as it's so boring but something in your previous list lets me think you have the wrong model as they don't do this model in white. Is it this Sony MDR-ED21LP
available here http://www.amazon.co.uk/exec/obidos/...614268-1419928

For £12!!! I kid you not these really beat the senn's. Also the mx550,500 and 400 sound the same the mx400 probably best as it has no in line volume control and is cheapest!!

The senn mx will sound better than the standard ipod in ears. Now gerbilly if you are talking about the Sony 71 and 81 then I also think the bass on these are blotted with poor mid's, etc and getting use to fit. The 21's you just put in your ears.

Note my usual monitors are Grado RS1's on the Gracie m902 headphone amp, etc this does not have distorted bass loler. Or for work the shure e5c on a mini amp.

Oh dear have you listened to the shures e5c? Then don't pass judgment till you have used the better kit. Thank God I get paid silly money from sound recording, etc to enable me to get the better kit so I can actually 'know' the difference between good headphones and not loler Don't mean to be funny but you probably cannot evaluate the headphones properly as you ridicule people that buy more expensive and 'better' kit!
You need to have proper headphones like the Grado, Senn and Beyer to know how far off the smaller and cheaper headphones are off. I answer you like this because your comments come with very poor argument saying I'm addicted to bass, etc

A bigger picture of the same is here

http://www.headphoneworld.com/HeadPhoneWorldSite/pages/product/product.asp?prod=SO07&ctgry=InEar&categorytracking id=6|SO07

Dash where do you live? If near midlands I can let you compare the two from your own kit.

I have a pair of Grado earphones for home I will have you know!!
I think you are right about the Sony in ear phones. The Sony ones I am talking about are those type that fit straight into the ear canal with the three different size of silicone plugs for the ears. These have a 21 in the product code as well. As I have now seen the ones you are recommending and they are cheap I might give them a wee listen.
However I am a major fan of sennheiser and I will probably end up buying the CX300's also.!!!

Sorry mate you would have a wee journey, Glasgow for me!!

[Reano]

Thought so the 71's and 81's are not good headphones very heavy bass, etc. Give them a go at £12 you cant go wrong

[dashfield]

Thanks for your offer Reano, i live in bristol, so it's a bit far. I really do appreciate both your and gerbilly's comments. I am glad we have established we were discussing 2 different Sony Headphones, i couldn't understand how opinions could differ so much.

Now we have got that sorted, i'll go back to my original decision of the Sony 31s. I like their slight in ear design as they fall out alot less and hopefully sound a bit better than the normal design.

I will be getting a pair next week hopefully for my birthday and will be sure to let you know how i get on.

[windie]

Just changed from sony ex71's to the CX300. No contest in my humble opinion best sounding in-ear can's for less than £40. I have been using the Sony's during my commute to work on the train for the last 18 month's or so and I was very happy with them. Right side started to play up so I went to get another pair and was talked into trying the CX300's, brought them and can honestly say they are better than the Sony's, seem to have better bass and incredibly clarity.

They also come with a two year warranty

Just my two penny's worth hope you get what you want.

[gerbilly]

Originally Posted by windie

Just changed from sony ex71's to the CX300. No contest in my humble opinion best sounding in-ear can's for less than £40. I have been using the Sony's during my commute to work on the train for the last 18 month's or so and I was very happy with them. Right side started to play up so I went to get another pair and was talked into trying the CX300's, brought them and can honestly say they are better than the Sony's, seem to have better bass and incredibly clarity.

They also come with a two year warranty

Just my two penny's worth hope you get what you want.

Where did you get them Windie?