I recently purchased a pair of Sony Fontopia headphones (Black MDR-EX71SL) to go along with the MP3 player I use when working out. Although the MP3 player did come with a pair of headphones, not only were they terribly uncomfortable but they inexplicably died within a few weeks. Within a couple of days, I had scoured the Internet and consulted with those "in the know" about what my options were. I had not purchased a pair of headphones separate from a device in years - however, my requirements were pretty simple: light weight, comfortable, loud enough to keep out ambient sound, good sound quality and reasonably priced. The Sony Fontopia headphones I purchased have met and exceeded my criteria.
You can visit the Sony site to read about the technical specifications as well as the sales pitch. I will instead focus on the requirements I listed above.
- Light weight: Since I planned on using these headphones for working out, a pair of cup-the-ear headphones was certainly not a viable option; both the weight and size makes those fail the light weight test. As noted on the aforementioned Sony site, the Fontopia headphones weigh in a 0.1 oz (4g). Check, that is light enough.
- Comfort: One of the main complaints I had about the standard earbud headphones included with my MP3 player and in my prior experiences with earbuds in general, has been one of comfort. When I had previously worn earbuds, they usually end up pressing uncomfortably into my ear, falling out, or providing too much space for outside sound to come in. When wearing them I often wonder whose ears they are made to fit.
Fortunately the Sony Fontopias correct this by using a pliable silicon cover. With this design, the earbuds slip right into the ear canal and not only are comfortable but also block out sound and wind. In addition, they come with 3 sizes of silicon covers which would seem to provide a good fit for nearly anyone.
- Volume & Ambient Sound: Will they be loud enough? That was the question I had when making my final decision. Volume interpretation is subjective, but for me, the answer is yes. The MDR-EX71SL headphones provide all the volume my eardrums can tolerate. I have heard from one person that they did not think the headphones were loud enough, but for me I cannot comfortably push past 75% on my MP3 player.
As noted, the same silicon buds that provide the comfort also do a great job of blocking out ambient sound. These headphones are certainly not noise cancelling, but when you are running outdoors, or in a health club with noise around you, the earbuds comfortably block out most of the sound around you... all the while providing a surprisingly rich and deep bass sound. - Sound quality: Again, much like volume, sound quality is highly subjective. That said, these are the best sounding earbuds I have ever used. Secondly, they are the best sounding mobile headphones I have worn (headphones made to be used on the move). Third, as the sales literature indicates, the Fontopias provide a very deep a rich bass sound I had not experienced with other light weight headphones. All of the sound has been crisp and not at all tinny as has been the case with some of the headphones I have used in the past for working out.
- Price: While researching my options, there is the usual low end all the way up to the $200 for Ultimate Ears. For my purposes, a ~$200 investment was not only out of my price range but would be overkill. Local stores sell the Sony Fontopia set for around $49. However, there are currently deals online in the $25 - $30 range. For me, the pricing was right in the range I was willing to pay, and tied together with the other aspects, made the MDR-EX71SL a great value for me.
Not everything can be roses though. The Fontopias have one aspect that can be annoying at times. As noted on the site the cord is not very long, as in a couple of feet. Anyone that plugs in the headphones to a device below chest level will have to use the extension cord and this is where some irritation can occur. On the plus side, the headphones do come with an extension cord, the negative is that it is about 3 feet long. The extension, combined with the original couple of feet, means you have to find a place to stow a couple of feet of extra cord. It is not that difficult, as the cord can be slipped inside a waistband or in a pocket, but on the rare occasion when the cord comes out while moving, it is easy to get twisted up or pull the headphones right out. I have had this happen two or three times, with one causing my MP3 player to go flying into a puddle of mud while out running. This is not a deal breaker issue (at least for me), but it is something to be aware of.
Ben
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