Sony MDR-ED21LP Groove Shaped Earpiece headphones
Posted by Notcot on Apr 13, 2010 in Portable Sound & Vision |
- Super-light In-ear Headphones
- Bass Boosting Earpiece Shape
- 2 x 16 mm driver units
- Acoustic Twin Turbo Circuit for enhanced sound
- High-powered Neodymium Magnets
These are the latest in the list of successors to the Sony MDR-ED228 earbuds (which I’ve owned for roughly 7 years now and are still going strong), and it tells a little of their success in that Sony have continued the product line for so long! A product that seems to be standing the test of time in a constantly changing marketplace.
Sound:
The bass response is from these buds is excellent for their size and design, due somewhat to the oddly shaped rubber enclosure, and highs are still very clear and distinct. The ED21LP’s block out a lot more of the background noise than standard earbuds and allow music to come through clearly even at low volumes. Don’t expect the same kind of frequency response as in-ear-canal designs from Shure or Etymotic, but these earbuds almost seem to provide deeper and heavier bass response than professional grade earbuds. Excellent for dance tracks.
Design:
I don’t personally get along with standard earbud style headphones, as due to their size and shape they irritate my ears over extended periods; however the ED21LP’s earbuds seem to fit perfectly and are are easily taken in and out without working loose by themselves. The earbuds are also very lightweight, and I find them perfect for cycling or running. The soft rubber enclosure doesn’t irritate at all, and fits snugly in the entrance to your ear canal without sitting too deep. This design feature also means that once you’re familiar with them, it’s incredibly easy to tell which earbud goes on which side without looking!
Conclusion:
If you’re looking for something quite a bit better than the standard flat earbud headphone, and don’t want to go to the extent (or expense!) of full-ear cans or in-ear-canal headphones, then these are for you. Overall, they’re one of the best audio purchases I’ve made – highly recommended.
Rating: 5 / 5
When I finally decided to give up on the headphones that came with my old CD player and buy some decent ones I had pretty specific requirements: they had to be comfortable, small and portable, able to block out some of the outside sound and have excellent sound quality with good strong bass, and all without breaking the bank.
These fufill all those requirements exactly. They won’t leave you completely dead to the outside world but they cut out enough noise that you won’t deafen yourself trying to hear your music over passing traffic or the chatty couple behind you on the train and the sound quality they deliver is excellent, better than anything I’ve ever had before
Rating: 5 / 5
Over the years I’ve had 4 pairs of these headphones and have tried many other ones also. These are simply the best for sound quality and design. I always had a problem finding in-ear headphones which didn’t fall out of my ear whilst I was walking. These stay in no matter what. I found that you only need to reposition them for a week or so before they become moulded to your ear structure – but after that you won’t notice them at all. The bass response is better than any other in-ear headphone I have tried in 15 years! And the clarity of sound is exceptional. The only fault with the design that I can see is the cord. It houses some high quality cable but is extremely prone to wear and tear and needs a lot of looking after if they are to last. Hence the reason I have had 4 pairs so far. However if they are well looked after they are well worth the money and enjoyment you’ll get out of them.
Rating: 4 / 5
I’ve had these for about a year and a half (I paid a lot more though, be sure to get them from Amazon), and they have served me very well in terms of sound quality and comfort. The bass response, as others have said, is extremely good, as is the sound quality.
However, and this is a big drawback (hence only 3 stars), the cord is made of horrible rubber which can easily wear if you aren’t careful – I’ve been lucky not to have this happen. I found that the connector gets worn when it is plugged into any input and so can cause crackling since there seems to be an imperfect contact (also the connector is not gold plated as with some alternatives). The worst problem is that the rubber mouldings that fit in your ear gather dirt and wax which is impossible to clean, and this eventually causes the rubber to split, ruining the essence of the earphones.
If you are willing to keep buying new ones every year, then you won;t complain about the sound and comfort – however, if you want a lasting pair of headphones, look elsewhere (as I now need to after mine split).
Rating: 3 / 5
After reading the comments below, I decided to take the plunge. I’ve had them for 2 months and they’re working well with my ipod. Good all rounder and still stay in my ears when I’m out running.
These earphones were rated 5* by What HiFi magazine in 2003.
Rating: 5 / 5