Sony MDREX100APL In-Ear Headphones Earbuds (Blue)

I'll cut right to the chase here: If you only intend to use these for phone calls and/or listening to spoken-word audio, then Amazon probably has a cheaper alternative that will suit your needs perfectly (see below). If, however, you intend to use these to listen to music, GET THESE. Period. End of story.Alright. Now that that's out of the way, I'll go into a bit more detail:Two months ago, I got a pair of Panasonic RPTCM125A headphones (Link: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00E4LGTYC/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o01_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1 ) via Amazon, as they were one of the best rated (and most heavily reviewed) sub-$20 sets of headphones on Amazon. In general, I was pretty pleased with them especially given their (roughly) $11 price point. I mean... that is CHEAP for something that 200+ people have reviewed, and have given an average of 4.5 stars. That said, I listen to fairly bass-heavy electronic music (trance, house, techno, etc.) while working out, and while the Panasonic headphones did admirably well given their low price point, I wanted a richer sound.Enter the Sony MDR-EX100AP/L, which I picked up for just under $16 (so $5 more than the Panasonics).Here's the deal: If you listen to music of any kind, the Sony MDR-EX100AP/L is definitely worth the extra five bucks. No question. They put out a far richer, fuller sound (highs, mids, but ESPECIALLY lows) than the Panasonic RPTCM125A, and that alone - in my opinion - is worth a lot more than the five bucks that separates them from this set of Sony headphones.Now... if you just intend to use these for phone calls and/or listening to spoken-word audio (audiobooks, talk radio, podcasts, lectures, etc.), then maybe the aforementioned Panasonic set is the better bet for you. I mean... I can't argue with saving the five bucks if you don't need to spend it. That said, for everyone else - more specifically for anybody who intends to use these for music of any kind - definitely go with this set of headphones over the Panasonic set. For less than $16, the Sony MDR-EX100AP/L really do put out some impressive sound. Oh... and call quality (via the built-in mic) is quite good as well; I'd say *at least* on par with the Panasonic set.

I'm a musician. I play guitar. I'm 49 years old, have been playing music for a long time, and listening to music for longer. Naturally, I'm picky about tone, and sound. These earbuds totally blew me away! I'm not into super-heavy bass, but I do like bass. These buds provide just the right amount for me, and if I need more I can alter the eq settings on the device I'm listening to (usually and iPhone 4S). What astounded me was the clarity in the mids and highs these buds reproduce. I've been on a kick listening to the Stone Temple Pilots self-titled album (that opens with "Between the Lines"). Using these buds, I can clearly hear and understand lyrics I couldn't with my previous, more expensive buds.They fit well, the mic works well on calls, they are lightweight and stay in my ears. I did rob a clip from another pair and put on these, because I run the cable under my shirt (phone in a belt holster) so it doesn't interfere with what I'm doing or working on, and any buds have a tendency to pull downwards when worn like that. With the clip clipped to my collar, they stay put.The only con I can think of off hand is the button. You have to train yourself and the proper speed to double click to skip a song. It often just single clicks and pauses, so I end up double clicking, waiting for the next song, not hearing it start, then single clicking only to find out I've paused instead of skipped. Not a deal breaker, just learn the correct speed with which to double click and you're golden. Well, I don't think they came with a collar clip, either, or I lost it if they did. Still, not a deal breaker.LOVE LOVE LOVE these buds. I've had mixed feelings about Sony, since going through the "blue blob" deal with my old Grand Wega TV, but they came through on that mostly to my satisfaction. See, that's the thing. The designers don't run the company. That being said, they have hit a home run with these. Don't tell anyone, because if demand increases so may the price! LOL

Until this pair, I'd been buying Ultimate Ears (UE) brand earbuds, which sounded great but started cutting out (I assume due to a loosened wire) after about a year of daily use. So I decided to try these Sonys because they're roughly one-third the price of the UEs, so even if they don't last forever, they'll be cheaper to replace. I've had these Sonys for a month, so I can't speak to their durability. But they are very comfortable, and the rubber (silicone?) tips form a good barrier from outside noise, and the buds don't tend to slip out.Regarding sound quality (through my Galaxy S4): The bad news is that, unmodified, they produce way too much high end. It's not that they lack bass, but high end can be painful to hear when overdone. I actually listen to 95% podcasts and 5% music, and the letter S comes through like an amplified piccolo when people are speaking. The GOOD news is that when I set my phone's EQ to custom and lower the three mid- to high-range faders, the sound becomes wonderfully rich for both music and spoken word.The microphone built into the cord, I'm told, sounds fine from the other end, and has a pushbutton that can be programmed to perform pre-selected functions when single- or double-pressed. (E.g., one press for play/pause, double-press to back up 5 seconds on what you're listening to.)So, as long as you're comfortable setting your own custom EQ, I think these buds are a fantastic value. If not, I'd pass on them.

Great. Thanks