Freak369's Full Review: Sony MDR-E827G Consumer Headphones
When is comes to portable audio, picking out a good set of headphones is just as important as what you are playing your CD's or cassettes on. You can have a $200.00 piece of equipment but with cheap headphones, the music will sound pretty horrid. I generally go through a set of headphones in about six months if they are mid range, less if they are cheap and a little longer if they are above $25.00. Sony has always been a name that I trusted when it came to music so when I came across this pair of ear buds I decide to give them a try. The behind the neck headphones are great for when you are walking but tend to move around a lot when you are running and the sound quality isn't all that great since you can't get a snug fit. Vertical headphones are a great option when working out but if the cord get caught on something, they'll rip off your head quicker than you can say jumpin' jack flash. I've used ear buds in the past but sweat was always something that ended up killing them, these were water-proof [or at least that is the claim from Sony] so I thought they might last a little longer.
If you’ve never used this type of headphone, they are a little different from the vertical ones that come with most portable CD players. These are placed inside the ear rather than being supported by a head or neckband. There is a small membrane that covers the bud and this set comes with an extra set in case you lose one or it develops a tear. Getting them off and on is easy but you do need to be careful that you don’t rip or stretch them. The cord is standard length, thirty eight inches, so you will have a lot of freedom when using these but just like the verticals – if you get the cord caught on something it is rather startling to have the buds ripped out of your ears. Using the ear buds instead of verticals allows you to get more sound from your headphone but at the same time you are cutting out a lot of background noise so it is extremely important to wear these responsibly. When roller blading, riding a bike or jogging, don’t have the volume so high that you won’t be able to hear car horns, sirens or other sounds.
Sound Quality
These will work well with almost all types of music. Techno, house, industrial and metal sound good but over time the strong and sharp tones will take their toll on the buds. These are particularly great for classical, opera, spoken work and audio books and deliver clear, crisp sound. One of the real perks of ear buds over verticals is that you can remove one of them from your ear to have a conversation and leave the other one in. While this really cuts down on what you are hearing, it is easier than having to remove the entire headset. These do not have a flow through sound – meaning that it does block out a good majority of surrounding sounds so you have to be careful when using these outside. When playing these at a moderate level – 5 to 6 – you can expect to have about 75% of the surrounding outside noise cancelled out and the louder you play it, the more surrounding sound you are removing. This also means that you are increasing the level that others will be able to hear so if you are in a quiet environment like a library or public place, you will want to remove the ear buds, place them on a table on in your lap and place your hand over them. That way you will be able to see how much music is 'leaking' out and determine if you will be annoying those around you.
Durability
The durability of these ear buds all depends on how often you use them and how well you care for them. If you use the provided case there is a chance that you’ll be putting pressure on the cord and possibly weakening the connection resulting in that annoying cut out sound. That is usually the first sign that your headphones are on their last leg. The case lasted about a week before it cracked and was tossed in the trash. After that I opted to tuck them inside the neoprene CD case so they wouldn’t get tangled in my gym bag. If you use these with a system that has a dynamic bass enhancer you will start to hear them going down hill after a few months of moderate use. If you are a bass junkie, opt for a pair that will be able to handle the added power and sound.
Ease Of Use
These are extremely easy to use. Pop open the case and remove the headphones, insert the jack into your audio component and place the ear buds into your outer ear canal. Don’t try to shove them into your ear or you will be losing a good majority of the sound. The face of the ear bud has the audio venting on half of it, on a diagonal slant. This allows you to move the bud around and adjust it so you get the sound that you want from it, something that just can’t be done with vertical or neckband products. The upkeep on these is minimal; check to make sure there aren’t any kinks in the cord before storing them, check for knots on the cord, eliminate situations where the cords may be in a bent position for an extended period of time and allow the ear buds to dry completely after working out or if they have been exposed to water or rain.
Price
These have a retail price of $19.99, which I honestly feel is a bit steep for what you are getting. The “waterproof” feature is rather misleading and tacks on an extra $5.00 to the price of the standard model. For whatever reason, Target had these listed at $12.99 so I decided to give them a try. Either Target caught on to the mistake or chose to no longer carry this style because I haven’t seen them there since my initial purchase. They carry others in the series, but not these. As I have said a few times, these are good but not great and you have to think about how often you’ll be using them before you make a purchase. If you are a hard-core person you will want to go with something that will be able to keep up with you and not die after a few months of use.
Things To Know
There are several different models of Sony Fontopia Ear Buds on the market. If you don't need the waterproof feature, you can save a few dollars by purchasing MDR-E829V [$14.99] or the bare bones MDR-E828LP [$9.99]. It all comes down to what you will be using them for, how much you want to spend and how often you will be using them. If you are planning on using these for outdoor activities, I’d have to say spend the extra few dollars and go for one of the water proof versions, they won’t stand up to a drunk in the ocean but they will hold up against a light rain and sweat.
The Bottom Line
These are a good but not great. You will get a nice sound from them but the connections to the buds and jack do take a beating over time. These can last about six months with moderate use but if you use them on a daily basis or when exercising, look for three to four months tops. The perks are that they are compact and don’t take up much room but with that comes the added pressure on the wires and connection. There are worse headphones and ear buds on the market, but make no mistake, there are better as well.
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