Cost-performance wise I think this is the best pair of earbuds anyone can buy. Great sound for $25 dollars. Just MAKE SURE you find the right size of buds to use. Then it will sound superb.

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Product Description

Sony's first closed-type Fontopia design reduces outside noise for high-intensity listening, helping to generate powerful, resonant bass response. So exercise, dance, or skate with the new MDR-EX51LP Fontopia headphones. Featuring a super-light in-the-ear design for a snug, comfortable fit inside the ear - eliminating the headband, super-small 9 mm drivers, and soft, silicon earbuds, these headphones were created to enhance your on-the-go listening. Two sizes of earbuds are also included. So move to your music with the MDR-EX51LP.

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Product Details

• Brand: Sony
• Model: MDR-EX51LP
• Number of items: 1
• Dimensions: 1.00" h x 3.80" w x 8.80" l, .20 pounds

Features

• Closed-type headphones reduces outside noise
• Oxygen-free copper cord for corrosion free performance
• Four-foot neck-chain cord included
• Handles up to 100 watts of power
• Includes two sizes of silicon earbuds and compact case

Amazon.com Product Description
These Sony headphones feature a closed-type design which reduces outside noise for high-intensity listening. The Sony Fontopia design also helps to generate resonant bass response. The lightweight, in-the-ear design provides a snug, comfortable fit inside the ear. Super-small 9 mm drivers, and soft silicon earbuds provide futher quality and comfort. Two sizes of earbuds are included.

What's in the Box
Headphones, compact case and optional earbuds.

From the Manufacturer
Sony's first closed-type Fontopia design reduces outside noise for high-intensity listening, helping to generate powerful, resonant bass response. So exercise, dance, or skate with the new MDR-EX51LP Fontopia Headphones. Featuring a super-light in-the-ear design for a snug, comfortable fit inside the ear--eliminating the headband, super-small 9 mm drivers, and soft, silicon earbuds, these headphones were created to enhance your on-the-go listening. Two sizes of earbuds are also included. So move to your music with the MDR-EX51LP.

Features:

• Fontopia Headphones In-The-Ear Design fits snugly, yet comfortably inside the ear; eliminates the headband so you can enjoy music while exercising, skating, or dancing
• Sony's First Closed-Type Fontopia Design reduces outside noise for high-intensity listening; helps generate powerful, resonant bass response
• New, Super-Small 9 mm Drivers are a key enabling technology; ultra-compact drivers produce powerful sound with space left over for the sonic isolation of Sony's newly-designed silicon earbuds
• Soft, Silicon Earbuds reduce outside noise, provide long-lasting comfort, hour after hour; the earbuds are washable, removable and replaceable
• Two Sizes of Earbuds accommodate a full range of ears
• Long-Throw PET Diaphragm for deep, extended bass down to an incredible 6 Hz; low mass for extended high frequency response all the way out to 23,000 Hz
• 400 kJ/m3 Neodymium Magnet for maximum energy in minimum size; ounce for ounce, this high-power Neodymium is far more powerful than conventional samarium cobalt or aluminum magnets; even with the small, 9 mm drivers, Neodymium achieves 100 dB of sound pressure output from a modest 1 mW input power.
• Oxygen-Free Copper (OFC) Cord for high signal transmission, low noise
• Stylish, Neck-Chain Cord
• Gold-Plated Mini-Plug for exceptional corrosion resistance, superb conductivity, low noise
• Streamlined, Compact Case neatly stores the ear-buds and headphone cord when not in use; vivid purple styling; high-impact case is ideal for carrying in a pocket or backpack
• New Case Design minimizes cord tangles; partial winding can shorten the effective cord length during use
• Type: Lateral, In-the-ear, Closed, Dynamic
• Driver Unit: 9mm diameter
• Diaphragm: PET, long-throw
• Magnet: 400 kJ/m3 high-power Neodymium
• Cord: OFC; Neck Chain, 4 feet (1.2m)
• Plug: Gold-plated, L-Shaped, Stereo Mini Plug
• Impedance: 16 ohms at 1 kHz
• Sensitivity: 100 dB/mW
• Power Handling Capacity: 100mW
• Frequency Response: 6 - 23,000 Hz
• Weight: 0.1 oz. (4 g) w/o cord
• Supplied Accessories: Compact case, second set of earpads

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Customer Reviews

Comfortable, great for bass heavy music
I recently bought both these and the Shure e3c in-hear headphones (which cost about six times as much). The Sonys are for the gym (where they will surely take a beating and eventually need to be replaced) while the more expensive Shures will be used for my daily commute on public transportation (a generally less violent activity).

I really enjoy both headphones, but they are sonically worlds apart. The Sony headphones are a bit easier to insert and sit more comfortably in the ear than the Shures, whose cables have to be looped up and over each ear, newscaster-style. When it comes to ease of use and physical comfort, the Sonys are simply better. Sonically, it is hard to say one set of earphones is objectively better than the other. The Sonys feature a very prominent bottom end while the Shures have tighter bass response and much more mid-range clarity. I would say the Sonys have been engineered to sound "hot" (lots of bass and treble) while the Shures were designed to sound more neutral. In places where a sense of energy is more important than nuance (e.g., at the gym or out jogging) I'd recommend the Sony earphones. For longer periods of more introspective, careful listening, the Shures can't be beat.

Explanation of Recent Reviews
You're probably confused about the reviews you've read regarding this product. People either give these earbuds five stars, saying that they're the greatest thing since sliced bread, or one star, complaining about a cord made of jelly. And then there are the people who complain about the lack of bass, but that shouldn't be confusing at all: These people are not inserting the earbuds properly into their ear anal. You can ignore these reviews.

The confusion regarding the first two types of reviews lies in when the reviews were written. It seems (from my own experience, and that of others) that around February 2005, which I will from here on refer to as "Day X," the material of the cord was changed. I have no words to describe the digust I feel towards the new material: After a few weeks, it literally turns to mush and starts peeling off. I don't know what Sony is trying to pull, but it's unfair that so many people keep buying these earbuds after reading the good reviews, which happen to be written either before Day X, or before the disintegration starts. It's also quite annoying that those who bought the earbuds prior to Day X keep telling others to ignore the bad reviews on Amazon, as their earbuds have lasted them years. Of course they have! You bought 'em before Day X, people! Oy.

Like the others who are perfectly content, I was totally satisfied with the pair I bought prior to Day X. In fact, I almost went on Amazon to give them a five star review! After a month or two, I had an unfortunate accident involving the earbuds snapping off the cord. That had nothing to do with their quality: It was a fluke. I purchased a new pair around February, and after about a month, the wire resembled silly putty. Attributing this to my carelessness, I got a new pair. A month later, the same thing happened. I didn't have time to deal with the warranty, so I kept this up until I had wasted over $100 on earbuds. That's where I am right now, and I just don't see myself buying these things every month for the rest of my life.

I have to admit that, aside from this enormous issue, I really do love everything about these earbuds, and hence the two stars. The sound is phenominal, with enough bass to surround you in your music. They're so comfortable that once you get used to them being in your ear canal, you barely notice them at all. One cord is longer than the other, so that it can be wrapped around the back of your neck; thus, when you're not actually listening, the buds will dangle from your neck. Finally, they isolate sound amazingly well: If you're not facing someone, you probably won't know that they're talking to you. If only I didn't break my first pair of earbuds! They were made properly, and I would've been content with them for a long, long time.

I have to say that if Sony keeps this up, the horrible ratings of late will finally overpower the great reviews of the past, and once that happens, they'll no longer be able to sell this horrible material on the back of properly made earbuds. Again, I don't know what kind of scam they're trying to pull, but I'm fed up with it. I'm not going to waste $100 every six months for a $25 pair of earbuds. Not anymore, Sony.

Hopefully I've cleared up the issues for you. Do yourself a favor and, at least for now, avoid these horribly made earbuds. Let's hope that Sony clears up the problem so that we can all once again enjoy the great sound these earbuds produce, just as those who bought them a while ago are still doing.

Good luck!

These are the ones to get...
Initially I went out to find a pair of the 71's but bought these since I couldn't find them. I was really starting to like them when I lost them. Went to buy more and lo and behold they had the new snazzy white 71's, so I got them. I was a little concerned about all stuff I read here about the cord length, and rightly so once I opened the 71's up. No idea what Sony is thinking with that pathetically short cord with the horribly long extension. The connector weighs down the cord and pulls the left earpiece out, and the whole design is just downright annoying. Exchanged them for another pair of the 51's and am pleased as punch. Also noticed that the cord for the 51's is a little stouter than the 71's which I find reassuring. Sound-wise and "tech-specs-wise" they seem identical. Here's a tip for a carrying case: get some Altoids gum in the long/skinny tin box. The box works perfectly for these headphones.