US Numeric Size
Waist
US Denim Size
Hip
Chest
Sony Headphones ZX Series Wired On-Ear, Black
Sony Headphones Lightweight 1.38 in neodymium dynamic drivers deliver a punchy, rhythmic response to even the most demanding tracks. Driver Unit: Dome type.Specific uses for product : Travel The swiveling earcup design allows easy storage when you’re not using them, and enhances portability when you’re traveling Cushioned earpads for total comfort and enfolding closed-back design seals in sound The wide frequency range—spanning 12 Hz to 22 kHz—delivers deep bass, rich midrange, and soaring highs Plug: L-shaped stereo mini plug 3.5mm. Impedance (Ohm) 24 ohm (1KHz). Cord Length 3.94 ft
$50.00
Delivery & Return
We want you to be happy with your purchase and we apologize if it is not. For whatever reason that you are not satisfied, we would be most happy to provide exchanges and returns for all items purchased from us if the following conditions are met.
Rules
All exchanges and returns would need to be raised within 10 days of the invoice date for Singaporeorders, and 20 days for overseas orders. For local deliveries, there is an option to exchange at any of our boutiques within Singaporeor through our online portal at www.company.com. All requests for returns however, would need to be strictly made online at www.company.com for both local and overseas deliveries.
Interpretation and Definitions
All exchanges and returns would need to be raised within 10 days of the invoice date for Singaporeorders, and 20 days for overseas orders. For local deliveries, there is an option to exchange at any of our boutiques within Singaporeor through our online portal at www.company.com. All requests for returns however, would need to be strictly made online at www.company.com for both local and overseas deliveries.
XS
0 ( 000 )
23
32
44
55
S
24
23
32
44
55
M
25
23
32
44
55
L
26
23
32
44
55
M
29
23
32
44
55
L
32
23
32
44
55
M
34
23
32
44
55
Do you need help?
5-12 Days Delivery
Apr 20 Apr 27
Guaranteed safe & secure checkout
Reviews (33)
33 reviews for Sony Headphones ZX Series Wired On-Ear, Black
| 5 star | 100% | |
| 4 star | 0% | |
| 3 star | 0% | |
| 2 star | 0% | |
| 1 star | 0% |
Description
MDR-ZX110 Sony ZX Series Wired On-Ear Headphones
Maximizing your personal audio experience has never been easier than with SONY ZX-Series Monitor headphones. Built with comfort and performance in mind, there’s no need to compromise.
30 mm driver units deliver full, balanced sound for a complete listening experience from 12 – 22,000 Hz.
Swivel, folding design
Compact for portability yet affording listening flexibility, the swivel, folding earpads let you enjoy music in many ways.
The durable, 1.2 m y-type cable resists snags and tangles so you can get caught up in your music, not your cord.
Additional information
| Brand | Sony |
|---|---|
| Model Number | MDRZX110/BLK |
| Model Name | MDRZX110/BLK ZX |
| Built-In Media | Headphones, User Manual |
| Age Range Description | Adult |
| Package Type | Standard Packaging |
| Number of Items | 1 |
| Is Autographed | No |
| Series Number | 110 |
| UPC | 027242867086 |
| Global Trade Identification Number | 00027242867086 |
| Manufacturer | Sony |
| Best Sellers Rank | #57 in Electronics (See Top 100 in Electronics) #3 in On-Ear Headphones |
| ASIN | B00NJ2M33I |
| Headphones Ear Placement | On Ear |
| Headphone Folding Features | On Ear |
| Earpiece Shape | Rounded |
| Headphone Jack | 3.5 mm Jack |
| Connectivity Technology | Wired |
| Wireless Technology | 3.5mm Audio Jack |
| Control Type | Media Control, Music, Volume, Call Control |
| Control Method | App |
| Controller Type | Inline Remote |
| Additional Features | Lightweight |
| Enclosure Material | Faux Leather, Plastic |
| Specific Uses For Product | Travel |
| Antenna Location | Travel |
| Compatible Devices | Tablets, Telephones, Laptops, Desktops, Smart Speaker |
| Cable Features | Tangle Free |
| Water Resistance Level | Not Water Resistant |
| Is Electric | No |
| Color | Black |
| Theme | Music |
| Style Name | No Mic |
| Carrying Case Color | Brown or cardboard |
| Impedance | 24 Ohm |
| Noise Control | None |
| Sensitivity | 98 dB |
| Frequency Range | 10 – 22,000 Hz |
| Audio Driver Type | Dynamic Driver |
| Battery Charge Time | 16 Hours |
| Item Weight | 135 Grams |
| Unit Count | 1.0 Count |
Q & A
Q & A
Ask a question
There are no questions yet
net shopper –
5.0 out of 5 stars
Great price and very reliable.
I use these with my lap top about 6 hours every day. I have a pair in each room I use my laptop–saves me from bringing the from one room to another. These are aa great product for the price: I like them so much I have a spare pair in case something fails on one of the pairs I am currently using. I found after several months, after a year with a lot of use and some abuse the plastic loosened and the headset was not as tight fitting on my head. However, these see a LOT of use with me and I am not always as respectful using them as I should be.
Kindle Customer –
5.0 out of 5 stars
Great for the price!
Good sound, perfect for the kiddo to use with her tablet. She can still hear noise around her which is important. Seems to think they’re comfortable.
Dog Soldier –
5.0 out of 5 stars
BIg sound in a small package.
For the size and the price these headphones provide excellent sound quality and clarity. Exceeded expectations and would absolutely buy again. And probably will…..
RMS –
5.0 out of 5 stars
Great value. Not for music heads. More for videos.
Got it for my dad. He loves YouTube on his iPad and goes through a pair every year or so. He doesn’t get how to fold the ear pieces when he puts them away, so they tend to snap. Used not product error. Great for $10.
Lisa –
5.0 out of 5 stars
Sony
Got it at a great price, and that was really my deciding factor, besides from the name recognition. I got it for my Yamaha digital piano, and instead of getting the more expensive Yamaha headphones, I decided to go with this. It’s just a headphone, but I like that the ear muffs can be turned so that they lay flat. Anyway, as far as electronic goes, Sony has the same repetition that Yamaha has. Japanese products are just better.
D Soselia –
5.0 out of 5 stars
Great for the price
I’m pretty happy, needed to do some repairs on my main headphones and bought these for the interim period. Was pleasantly surprised and occasionally still use.Pros:Great sound quality at the price, comparable or better than any other under 50 headphones I’ve come across.relaxed fit – does not warm or apply pressure, can wear for hours.Cons:No outside noise reduction, I have them at home, in a quiet setting.Little adjustability – I was fairly lucky with the fit, but if close to default doesn’t work for you there is not much you can change on it to fit.
One person found this helpful
Jack Christopher –
5.0 out of 5 stars
Great headphones for the price!
I bought these for my wife, and she absolutely loves them! She says they’re very comfortable, and the microphone is easy to use.
Sandman –
5.0 out of 5 stars
Better Than Bluetooth.
These headphones cost about 10% of what I’ve paid for a pair of earbuds. However, I use the headphones on whatever device has a port accommodating a 3.5 mm jack because the corded headphones deliver sound far superior to that of my cordless listening devices. Deeper, richer less distortion with greater volume.
One person found this helpful
L. Lord –
5.0 out of 5 stars
Good Economical Headphones, Comfortable
These were exactly what I was looking for. Comfortable, Adjustable, good sound. Great price! Lightweight for travel.
Father of 10 –
5.0 out of 5 stars
Happy Girls make Happy Dad
I bought these for my daughters and they like them very much. If they are happy with them, then so am I.(But honestly, I haven’t used them at all…)
Fred Ialacci –
5.0 out of 5 stars
Computer
Works well
Rocky –
5.0 out of 5 stars
$10 work great
PERFECT for $10 come on now!!! sound quality is good enough but again for $10 if you expect a booming bass and clarity ah…..I used it to listen to music and also to ply my guitar quietly perfect for that.
bmicales –
5.0 out of 5 stars
Nice
Nice
Pickleball Player –
5.0 out of 5 stars
Great buy.
Very happy with this product.
anthonique –
5.0 out of 5 stars
Long cord
Works well not very loud but it did its thing cord very long used mostly with my computer
dyan –
5.0 out of 5 stars
Great sound quality in corded Sony headphones.
This corded over the ear Sony headphone has great sound quality. I use them mainly at work and it’s better than earbuds, since coworkers can easily see that I have them on (rather than earbuds). It has an adjustable headset, labelled for left /right side, and the earpieces flip inside for easy storage to lay flat (and easily in a drawer). The cord is long enough to plug into my laptop and wrap in a way that they don’t get in my hands way. They do cause some ear discomfort if I wear them too long — from pressing on the back part of my ears, but that happens with most of this type of headphone for me. Not sure if they offer different colors, but my headphones are all black as listed in the description.
Stacey –
5.0 out of 5 stars
Great
Bought 3 pairs for my school aged children. It is now mid March and they have lasted since the start of school in September. Seem to be good quality, very sleek. Would buy them again if needed.
Allen –
5.0 out of 5 stars
Comfy yet useful
Good clear sound emerges from these headphones.
PAUL RUPP –
5.0 out of 5 stars
GREAT
THE SOUND IS GREAT. THE EARPIECES FIT COMFORTABLY AND DROUND OUT OUTSIDE NOISE.
Dangerboy –
5.0 out of 5 stars
Decent Cheap Headphones
Needed something for occasional use on the PC. These work very well.
B. Hinote –
5.0 out of 5 stars
LOVE THESE !!!!
Just got these and they are amazing. Going to order 2 more for back ups. I wear hearing aids and these are so comfortable with my aids…The sound seems rich and clear for me…Very very nice headphones and the price is awesome!!! I am 71 and need headphones for watching shows on my laptop.
cl –
5.0 out of 5 stars
Reliable and great sound quality for the price
I first brought these headphones 4 years ago and found it to be very reliable. The quality of sound, comfort of fit, and ease of use at this price point is amazing. I used the headphones daily with no sound/audio issues, but I had to get a new one recently because the wires got too tangled and twisted after years of use. The new pair I got has the same great features as before – so worth it to buy these headphones!
One person found this helpful
BFam3 –
5.0 out of 5 stars
Perfect for travel
I purchased 3 of these for my families trip to Hawaii. They work perfectly for flight screens and fold up well to fit in backpacks. I ended up purchasing an adapter and using them with my phone when my ears get sore for AirPods as well. They are very comfortable.
ronan johnstonronan johnston –
5.0 out of 5 stars
comfortable with a good sound quality, though not very noise cancelling. amazing for the price!!
overall – 4.5 starsmy main complaint is the noise cancellation but looking past that these headphones are honestly amazing for only $10. they’re great budget headphones for average use, but don’t expect them to be anything fancy (i see a lot of people complaining about the lack of bass. the bass sound comes through perfectly and is still there, it’s just not boosted.) they’re definitely not crap quality headphones, these are probably the best headphones in their price range.sound quality – 5 starsi think a lot of personal preference goes into sound quality but as someone who’s never had a super expensive pair of headphones i LOVE the sound quality in these. the bass comes through well (it’s not anything boosted though, but i don’t mind as i didn’t expect it), plus it really does sound like a small stereo next to your ear. the quality still holds strong at loud volumes as well. in songs where they split parts of the audio between two ears i can make out both parts clearly. vocals also come through beautifully!noise cancellation – 3 starsi listen to music pretty loud so this may be mostly personal preference but the noise cancellation is pretty bad lol, though they’re not over-the-ear so i somewhat expected this. when i take off my headphones in a quiet room with my computer volume halfway up, i can still hear my music clearly. despite this i don’t think it’d bother another person across the room, maybe someone closer to you though. when i have the volume all the way up in a quiet room and i take my headphones off, the music is perfectly clear and sounds like its coming from a phone at a low volume.fit – 5 starsI am a 14 year old boy, these headphones fit my head perfectly with no discomfort. when i turn or shake my head lightly they don’t slide around, but when i lean my head forward they start to fall. they surprisingly fit my ears very well though! i can wear them for an extended period of time without my ears starting to hurt. the foam on both speakers is comfortable as well.quality – 4 starsthey seem kinda flimsy but that’s what i’d expect with $10 headphones, especially the part that connects the two speakers. the foam over the speakers looks well made, and it’s firmly attached to the plastic on the speakers. the wire also looks sturdy, it’s a third the thickness of my pinky (again, 14 year old boy). the headphones fold up so that they’re flat, and you can also wrap up the wire well for storage as it doesn’t get tangled easily. the headphone jack looks sturdy and not easy to damage.look and feel – 5 STARS!!! 10 IF I COULDby far the most aesthetically appealing headphones I’ve worn or owned. they don’t look clunky on my head or around my neck. they are light and don’t weigh down my head. plus the speakers are flat so they’re perfect for decorating with stickers and paint and such (something i plan to do) they are made with soft foam and a matte feeling plastic, apart from the outside of the speakers which is a more smooth and slightly reflective plastic (perfect for stickers lol)headphone jack/plugin – 5 starsits a standard 3.5mm jack, so this means it’s not directly compatible with most newer phones (anything above an iPhone 6, anything above a Pixel XL, and most new androids made past 2018). despite this it works with pretty much all computers and gaming consoles (works with my nintendo switch fine). and even if these headphones don’t plug directly into your phone, you can buy headphone adapters for your specific phone model.lifetime – unratedi have yet to use these headphones for a while, but from what i see from other reviews these can last 2 years if you’re careful with them which is great. they also seem like they’d survive a while from the quality, but I’ve seen mixed opinions about how long each speaker lasts. despite all that i’m pretty sure these should last a while if you’re mindful of how you handle them.
170 people found this helpful
Mina –
5.0 out of 5 stars
Small but mighty
These might be cheap and small, but they are definitely not cheap. They are mighty totally gonna buy some more. These are a great back up set of headphones I may just use as my main set lol
tom h. –
5.0 out of 5 stars
For the Price YES
I have no compliant with these headphones. I use them with my computer to not annoy others around me. Good sound for the money. So lite you forget you have them on. Due to my desk set-up, I did buy a 36-inch extension because it only comes with a 48-inch cord. I feel they are a bargain and would buy again.
Matt –
5.0 out of 5 stars
These are exactly what I U
My last pair of these headphones lasted 5 years or more. I use them to plug into my phone to watch TV at night. I can barely sleep, and these headphones meet my needs for a great listening (stereo) experience. These headphones are old school but they cost $10.00 so who cares? No bluetooth, over the ear covers. These are not made cheaply. They work well, they cost $10.00, and they do exactly what I need them to do. For $10 bucks you can’t go wrong. Warning: They are not wireless. You will need an adapter for 1/4 jacks. This is not a problem for me.
Kindle Customer –
5.0 out of 5 stars
No complaints/ works perfectly
Purchased for my 10 year old son to use for school. This is the second year he has used them for school and they are still in great shape. The sound is perfect. I have no complaints!
Statistician –
5.0 out of 5 stars
Real nice smaller on-ear headphone
Wanted a smaller cheaper headphone i wouldnt mind losing to keep in my backpack. Glad i got these, they are comfortable and sound great.
Dylan Chana –
5.0 out of 5 stars
Absolutely perfect. If you don’t have much to spend, these will surpass all of your expectations
Yooo so I just got these yesterday so I cannot comment on long-term reliability, however everything else is spot on.I cannot believe the price of these things man, like seriously. They sound just as good if not slightly better than those like $20 to $30 bluetooth earbuds that you can get on here from a million different brands. Except these are 9 dollars. Unbelievable. I love them. Volume is excellent, and while they’re not super extra ultra padded, they seem absolutely comfortable enough to wear for several hours. They’re not too tight to where you get that unwanted earlobe pain after a while, they just sit over your head nice and appropriately.If any issues arise in the future, I will be sure to update however I don’t foresee that happening. I just have a good feeling about these, as they seem incredibly nice for what they are.Lastly, I’m a music guy. So I use headphones for music and not much else if maybe a podcast here and there. My music sounds absolutely great as mentioned before. Just wanted to make sure and specify that if music quality is your main concern like mine was then you have nothing to worry about. I’ve had so many issues with the sound quality of cheap headphones at convenience stores like Walgreens or gas stations etc, I’m slightly picky and still have no complaints whatsoever.I’m really starting to love Amazon honestly, just so many products like these exactly that are coming out, and eliminating the need to buy expensive brands. I love it.Literally no issues at all, thank you to whoever makes these awesome things honestly for real. Not all of us can afford nice things but in this case the nice thing is affordable.
24 people found this helpful
Collin –
5.0 out of 5 stars
Great value, rich sound, comfortable design.
I have owned multiple pairs of Bose QuietComfort headphones over the years, so I am used to a more “premium” headphone experience. I was looking for a decent pair of headphones that I would be able to plug into my DAP and listen to music with, but I didn’t want to spend a fortune. These headphones truly exceeded my expectations. The bass really slaps without being overwhelming, and the highs are smooth, listenable and not shrill. I can hear every detail and nuance of my music, and the on-ear design is comfortable and able to be worn for hours. The only thing I wish it had was a little padded top, but these are so light that it is not a deal breaker by any means. I would also like to point out that despite the product description saying that they are made in China, my pair was made in Vietnam which was a very pleasant surprise. If you are looking for a quality pair of headphones for listening at home or on the go (I go for brisk walks with these all the time), then look no further.
2 people found this helpful
Tintin –
5.0 out of 5 stars
Paint me surprised!!!
I bought this headphone with mic used at 50% off for only one reason – to find out if amirm’s proclamation, in the Audio Science Review, that this headphone transforms itself from ugly duckling to audiophile-grade hi-fi wonder with just a bit of EQ?Paint me surprised, but I have to admit – a qualified, YES!The BIG qualifiers here are that you should pair the headphone with a good dac and headphone amp combined with a parametric eq system to realize this transformation at moderate listening volumes. This means using Windows with the free Equalizer APO installed (no free equivalent for Mac), a decent USB dac/headphone amp combo like the Hidizs S9 PRO (or the more expensive Cayin RU6 for a more organic/analog R2R sound), and the EQ config below. The total comes under USD 150/275 (given above dac/amp choices) not counting a windows laptop/source. I tried this with both the built in sound card in the PC (Realtek) and a Creative Sound Blaster Play! 4 and the transformation wasn’t sufficiently hi-fi enough for my tastes, but you can still give it a shot as a first step and decide if you want to step up the dac/amp.My “reference” headphone system is a Denafrips Ares II DAC (USD 850 retail) paired with a xDuoo TA-26 headphone amp (USD 320 retail) and Beyerdynamic DT 880 600 Ohm headphones (USD 200 retail), something together that I was able to get for roughly USD 1,200, though the Ares II DAC is primarily servicing my hi-fi speaker system and so is not something I would spent that much on just for headphones. Even that requires EQ (most headphones do since it is challenging for a single driver to do the entire frequency range perfectly). This reference system does have a touch more “magic” going on for it, but all things considered, costs significantly more and not portable. So what do you get for all that extra money? Better soundstage and imaging, better headroom, real or imaginary magic to the sound, far better durability and out-of-the-box experience without eq., and more bragging rights. The Sony has one configuration that gives you a peek into hi-fi quality; deviate from that and the “budgetness” shows.To test this headphone, I used the Denafrip Ares II dac with xDuoo MT-602 for a headphone amp since the impedance on this headphone is 33 ohm which the xDuoo TA-26 cannot handle. I also tried this with the Topping L30 instead of the MT-602 and was just as good. Distortion becomes readily apparent at higher listening volumes or with bass heavy tracks. While Amir’s EQ recommendations were good, the one I like the most was from Maiky76 and pasted below. Install Equalizer APO on windows, update the config with these EQ values, plug in the headphones through a decent dac/amp, and you will find a very pleasing and full listening experience whether you want to call the sound hi-fi or not.Preamp: -7.9 dBFilter 1: ON PK Fc 40 Hz Gain 8 dB Q 0.38Filter 2: ON PK Fc 157 Hz Gain -3.6 dB Q 1.34Filter 3: ON PK Fc 1010 Hz Gain 4.7 dB Q 3.4Filter 4: ON PK Fc 2467 Hz Gain 4.27 dB Q 2.49Filter 5: ON PK Fc 8818 Hz Gain 5 dB Q 0.48Filter 6: ON PK Fc 8580 Hz Gain -3 dB Q 6
17 people found this helpful
Stoney –
5.0 out of 5 stars
>>> DOES THE JOB
IN SHORT> Great for the price. Very good sound quality. Very well designed. Comfortable.COMPARED TO EARBUDS> For most uses, mostly listening to audiobooks, I use Panasonic ErgoFit earbuds-HJE120K or Sony MDR-EX15LP earbuds. In comparison, I was blown away with the much greater base response of the Sony ZX headphones — even though I was expecting the fuller base (which indeed was my reason for buying the Sony XZ headphones to replace a pair of Sony headphones which were falling apart after 20 years of use). The greater dynamic range adds a dimension to most music, even for music which has little base.> GIVE THEM A CHANCE — My first impression was poor — they sounded muddy. Then I remembered that I’ve had similar first impressions of some other new headphones. It takes a while, maybe 12 hours of use, to “break in” some earphones or headphones (and/or there may be some rewiring going on inside your cranium, i.e., “learning”). So, don’t be misled by immediate reactions posted by some other reviewers — nor your own first impression.> After 12 hours of use (and now, about a year later), the mid-tones are still a little muddy, at least to my aging ears, in the music I listen to (Enya, folk, classical)— a little smothered by the base. I need to reduce the base by using a graphic equalizer (such as in Windows Media Player, or built into some devices) for almost any music to sound best to me—but that’s generally true of high quality earphones. That is, audiophile headphones have a “flat response”—meaning that they reproduce what was recorded, as is was recorded, without emphasizing the base, midtones, nor high notes. For listening, adjustment is often necessary. If you’ve never used an equalizer, you’ll be stunned by the difference that slight adjustments can make.FOLDABLE> Folds flat (to about 1″ thick X 4″ X 6″). Some other foldable headphones fold into balls, which are not easily carried in a pocket.CORD> The cord is 4′ and a few inches long. For me, that is long enough to reach my computer audio plug (but, I added a 1′ extension to make it easier). However, in my opinion, the cord is much too long to connect to a cell phone, etc. in your pocket. I’d prefer that the cord plugged into the headphones, so that I could simply purchase cords of the appropriate length.> ASIDE — if the sound is scratchy when you move the plug, or otherwise suddenly deteriorates, the problem may be a bad connection. A tiny bit of cheap silicon grease, well spread, can do wonders to improve any electrical connections—particularly low voltage connections—anything battery or USB powered.> The plug is L-shaped, angled at 90 degrees, unfortunately. That means that it won’t “cleanly” connect to an extension. If you pull on the cord, you won’t easily pull it out the socket, but you will put on strain on the cord where the plug attaches, and potential damage the cord. In my experience, this is how most headphones fail. So, I consider the angled plug a negative feature, and another reason that replaceable cords are desirable. {{Well, actually, my Senegal parrot is the main cause of failure of my earbuds and headphones, but that’s a different story.}}CUSHIONS AND COMFORT> The cushions do not look impressive nor luxurious — but they are very functional. They are quite comfortable — essentially unnoticeable — and they easily stay in place for many hours of listening. The “crinkled-tissue” surface material and the flat design help grip the ears lightly without concentrating pressure. In comparison, I’ve used other headphones with cushions which, least at first, gave the impression of greater luxury — but, I remember some headphones which would not stay in place, and gave me sore ears after a half-hour or so. Not the Sony ZX headphones, they stay in place and I can wear them all day long without getting sore ears.> The tightness is not adjustable, so the Sony ZX headphones might be loose on small heads.> How you wear the headset can make a difference on the quality of the sound. Although that’s probably dependent on the size and shape of your ears. For me, if I pull the “legs” out a little, so that the headset is barely touching the top of my head, and the earphones are angled a little bit upward into my ears, the sound is best. I use black gaffer’s tape to hold the legs at my preferred adjustment. I suspect that wearing the headset this way that I’m getting more “bone conduction” and therefore richer undertones.> Part of the comfort equation is that the whole headset is very light – it’s not going to press down painfully on the top of your head. You won’t have to adjust the tightness too tight (IF you could adjust the tightness) to hold the headphones in place.CAVEAT> (Apparently obligatory if you want to be taken seriously) “Of course, more expensive headphones, deliver higher (audiophile) quality.” Yeh, sure. In an era when almost everyone is listening to highly compressed mp3, or even more compressed streamed music. I doubt that more than 1 in 100 people, maybe 1 in 1000, can tell the difference between these headphones and “audiophile” headphones — and even then, only when listening to high-quality uncompressed recordings. But where are you going to find uncompressed recordings? — audio CDs are practically extinct (not to mention that vinyl freaks complain that audio CDs are over-compressed). SUGGESTION — If you’ve got a CD player, listen to a well-mastered recording, and then try listening to the highly-compressed streamed-crap version of the same music.> RECOMMENDATIONS> For most people, instead of fretting about audio quality, consider other features which may be important to you, such as a plug-in cord, wi-fi, adjustable headband tension, noise cancellation, etc. I’m not saying that you need these features — I’m just saying that IF you do, then they may be valid reasons to look at other brands and models. If looking at other models, don’t forget to consider foldability, and ear cushion comfort.> If you just want good sound (for music) at a good price, you can stop here. For voice (telephone conversations, audiobooks, podcasts, etc.) or when using a battery-powered device, I recommend considering earbuds instead. Sony MDR-EX15LP earbuds are cleaner, clearer and crisper in the voice-range, without fiddling with an equalizer. The Sony MDR-EX15LP earbuds (or Panasonic Ergofit) also provide better isolation (you hear less of the ambient noise around you). Also, the earbuds draw much less juice — that is, your battery will last MUCH longer.ASIDE—WHY?> There is a direct relationship between the size of a speaker and the sound waves it can best produce. Decades ago, even in home systems, base speakers (woofers) were 2 feet in diameter. Tweaters 1 1/2 inches across were used for high notes, with various size speakers in between for mid-ranges. It is extraordinary that headphones can reproduce base at all, and an engineering miracle that earbuds can produce even a hint of base. But still, the underlying physics remains. So, most audiophiles will insist on 50mm “drivers” in headsets — the Sony ZX driver are nominally 35mm diameter — much smaller. But “big drivers” means bigger, much heavier, magnets — so you have to wear the headphones tighter, and therefore get sore ears. Google it — there are dozens of websites about how to cope with “headphone ear pain” — but the best solution, for most people, is to wear lighter headphones, such as Sony ZX headphones.> Also (grossly over simplifying), different frequencies of sound interfere with each other, especially on the cone (or emitting surface) of speaker. In fact, on multiple speaker setups (with tweeters, midtone speakers, woofers, and sometimes subwoofers), frequencies outside the optimal range for the particular speaker are filtered out before they get to the speaker — so the mid-tone speaker does not get high frequency signals nor base signals. So, if a speaker (such as an earbud) inherently has a minimal base response, the mid-tones will be cleaner and clearer. If you object, “I hear base on my earbuds” — well sorta, but that’s a magnified base with little detail, and never the undertones that you feel more than hear. So (all other things being equal — which is never the case): earbuds for voice, headphones for music, headphones with large drivers for audiophile quality sound (if you can tolerate the sore ears). In real life, it isn’t so clear.> Keep in mind that, for most people, headphones are “bling” — a fashion accessory, where prestige is the most important consideration, and the headphones are priced accordingly. The sound quality, comfort, etc. of “fashionable headphones” is often a secondary, or tertiary, consideration. Sony ZX headphones make the statement that, “I am a practical person who doesn’t care about fashion”. If that describes you, and music quality is important to you, and the mix of features fit your needs, then Sony ZX headphones are a an excellent choice for you among headphones priced under $200, and Sony ZX probably delivers higher audio quality than many $200 headphones.> SONY — In my limited experience, Sony design and execution is uniformly top notch. Not the fad-of-the-moment feature in every model—but a good balance of features in every model. Not the best possible at ANY cost — but rather, the best quality at the target price — and often (or usually) very competitive with much more expensive products from other brands. Not necessarily “better” than another brand or model — because the mix of features, aesthetics, and personal preferences can matter. But, if I had to purchase an audio gift for someone (not knowing their exact preferences), or if I had to grab an audio product when running through an airport for my own use, it would be Sony every time.NOISE CANCELLATION> The Sony ZX headphones do NOT feature noise cancellation, and you don’t need it just for listening to music. Beware also that so-called “noise cancellation” means at least four different things. “Noise cancellation” is mostly a highly-abused “buzz word” which is used in advertising copy — usually deceptively.> The “noise cancellation” touted for most earbuds is really just passive isolation — which the Sony MDR-EX15LP earbuds (or Panasonic Ergofit, etc) provide. The wifi earbuds for Apple and Samsung phones etc (round balls on sticks, without the cup-shaped rubber cushions) do NOT provide significant passive isolation.–> The Sony ZX headphones provide little passive isolation. Some other brands and models are better, but at the “price” of large heavy cup-shaped cushions which enclose your entire ear.> The “noise cancellation” touted for those “round balls on sticks” wifi earbuds, is really anti-feedback circuitry — which is necessary only because the microphone and the speaker are not significantly separated — but otherwise, the circuitry provides little, if any, noise cancellation. If you have earbuds with good passive isolation, and the microphone is several inches away from the earbuds (always the case with wired earbuds), you don’t need (and won’t get) anti-feedback circuitry.> The “noise cancellation” touted for many headsets is really the addition of “white noise” on top of the ambient noise, and on top of whatever it is that you want to listen to. This is cheap and actually works fairly well (about half as good you’d like it to work), when combined with passive isolation, in noisy environments. I use such a set for air travel. But, in my experience, it gives me a sick headache after a few hours.> True “noise cancellation”, more fully called “active noise cancellation” is limited, and is usually very expensive. It is good for low frequency constant or repetitive noise, such as aircraft engines, but is of no help at all for screaming children or other random noises. Caveat, just because the advertising copy claims “active noise cancellation”, does not mean that you actually get “active noise cancellation”. It’s kinda like “organic strawberries” from South America. No-one is enforcing “organic” standards for foreign produce. With electronics, it comes down to trusting the brandname. Especially in electronics, there are very few brandnames that are trustworthy anymore. To the best of my knowledge, Sony is one of the few trustworthy brandnames left.
283 people found this helpful