Sony MDR-E828LP Fontopia Earbuds with Winding Case (Discontinued by Manufacturer)

Ever since I got my first Walkman as a teen, I've used various incarnations of Sony's $30-range 30mm driver headphones. Even back then they had a well-balanced EQ and decent bass response, combining solid performance with near-disposable convenience and price. I was getting tired of the line in my hair from the regular headphones, and the ear-pinch syndrome of the "Street Style" sets, so I decided to try earbuds. These Sonys had the best specs, so I gave them a shot.If only they'd made these ages ago! Sony has somehow found a way to get 30mm performance from drivers almost half that size, and a quarter of the price. I had no idea earbuds, or anything for $7 for that matter, could sound so balanced and actually produce adequate bass.Granted, they're not studio monitors. The soundstage is still 30mm-limited, and they're a little high-midrange-y at high volume levels. But they respond beautifully to an EQ. Just when you think you're squeezing the most out of the little 828s, they willingly pump out a few extra notches of low end with a bass boost. For their size, the full sound is very impressive.Design-wise, convenience is the king with the 828s. The foam-ended earbud rests comfortably between your earflap and the bump over your ear canal (between your antihelix and tragus, for you trivia/anatomy folk), and isn't noticeable after a few moments. Falling asleep with them in is very easy (voice of experience), but they still fit snugly enough to allow a full range of movement, from walking to headbanging. Since they don't actually go into the ear canal and have a very tiny profile, they're very open/transparent. At modest volume levels, you're treated to the interesting experience of hearing your music balanced and clear, while still hearing everything around you at full volume.There's still room for improvement; the foam covers are difficult to get on the earbuds, and they come off easily if the bud gets caught on anything. And the wind case seems a little redundant, it'd be nice to see Sony offer these buds without the case, just to see how low the price could go.All in all, the 828s are $30 worth of sound for only seven bucks, with ease of use and openness that headphones will never match. Replace the cheap junk that came with your portable with these five-star winners from Sony.

I have read most reviews from this site and bought it.Most people say that it is good buy for its cheap price.Right! It is still cheap. When I bought my old Fontopia in 1992, it was $10 or so (it was made in Japan, though). This one is still $10 in 2007, which actually means the price got down.Overall, for its price it provides very clear and sharp sound, but the bass is not so good as my 1992 version, which is disappointing.One last thing that forced me to return this is its inconsistent assembly.I received a defective one with louder left channel. I know it is not general problem of this product, but the product quality should be consistent for all individual items.

It's really hard not to like these headphones. They have such excellent bass response, I was truly wowed when I first listened on them. The sound is rich and clean, I can barely believe it. My only complaint is that they don't hit the high range enough for my taste, but it's almost forgivable given the overall quality. They also have a pretty good volume level. They almost sound amplified, especially compared to a cheaper set of earbuds I purchased at the same time.I've had a pair of Philips SBC-HE215 earbuds for years. They have been a good set for me, came with a carrying case, and sounded good. My only complaint on those was a design flaw, where parts of the stem of each earbud could become separated. Otherwise I was happy, until the wires finally started to wear out and come apart. Knowing it was only a matter of time before the wire would break, I picked up two new pairs, this set of Sony MDR-E828LP earbuds and also a set of Philips SHE2641/27. I got both because I wasn't sure what I was in for, so I wanted to increase my odds that I'd get at least one decent pair. I'd say that paid off with these Sony earbuds.One other complaint about these is the carrying case. Compared to my old Philips carrying case, the Sony case feels flimsy and doesn't close securely. I'd just keep using my old case, but the Sony earbuds are a bit too beefy, and don't fit well in it.These headphones are pretty comfortable, coming with foam covers that you have to put on yourself. No extra foams came with my set, but I don't expect I need extras. Less to keep track of. As I mentioned, these are a bit beefy and fit snugly in my ears. They don't feel like they could fall out easily, and don't move at all when I shake my head (which I don't do regularly).Another reviewer mentioned an in-line volume control, but mine don't have that. I know sometimes Amazon combines reviews for similar products, maybe that's what happened here. Personally, I see having no in-line volume control as a plus.Technically, I'd give these headphones 4 1/2 stars, but since I have to round, I round down, only because they're not perfect. But they are very nice and I recommend them, especially when they're under ten bucks, and easily worth twice that.UPDATE Dec. 14, 2012 -- Have had these for months now, using them daily. They still work/sound great, even though they take some abuse. I can't tell you how many times I've accidentally yanked on the cord, HARD. One of the foam covers is beginning to tear a bit at the seam, so I'm thinking about buying some replacements. Not thrilled about that, but I understand they can't last forever. I do occasionally hear some crackling, but I know it's because of static charge I build up in my body and NOT a problem with these ear buds. It mostly happens when I'm at work. I can discharge it on my laptop (which scares me), or I just take my shoes off and my feet ground out, and no more crackling. I'm thinking if I didn't use the foam covers at all, it might mitigate this problem, but the foam covers help keep the earwax out of the speaker. Yep, I said it. Still probably my favorite set of ear buds I've had. By the way, it looks like you can presently get these from Amazon directly for a couple bucks less than the third party seller I got them from. Search Amazon for B0015AM30Y, which is a different product ID, but from what I can tell is the same product. And it's eligible for FREE Super Saver Shipping on orders over $25. If you don't go over $25, it's not your cheapest option. Good luck.

good

Got tangled when we tried to wind them up