Headphones Reviews

After breaking these in these headphones still did not sound very good at all. They are, however, very comfortable, but feel like they would fly off my head at the slightest movement. Going back to the sound, in general most of it is pretty clear, but the bass gets distorted, while the mids are muddy and the highs are grainy. It does sound a little better with some acoustic music, but not by a whole lot. Definitely not one of the better offerings by Sennheiser. I give it a 3 mostly for its comfort level, but considering its price, I would say a 1 or 2 for its sound quality.

I am rather surprised at some of the negative reviews of this product, which IMHO is a fine product for the money. I bought them as a birthday gift for my brother (I already own a pair of Sennheiser 570's) and here in the UK the 490's are marketed as the Classic. The HD490 is a relative of the HD500 and HD570, all three of which are a bionetic design - made to ensure maximum comfort, and these are VERY comfortable 'phones.

Just like a pair of speakers, headphones need to be "run in" for a while to loosen up the components. OK, so they are not the best headphones on the planet but they do offer a very clean and spatial sound with good dynamics and excellent bass. After I'd run them in for a few hours, I compared them to my old 445's and the 490's were much better.

The only real criticism I have is that they are not as neutral as my 570's and seem to push the lower frequencies , resulting in a slightly uneven bass on some material although it has to be said it's entirely dependent on the recording itself.

My brother listens to mostly reggae and bassy ghetto music (hip-hop, rap, etc) so these are ideal headphones for that type of music although I tested wth all sorts of music and they sounded fine to me. I listened to RUN DMC's Walk This Way (a typical bass-heavy ghetto track!) and I could hear all sorts of low-level detail which my old 445's simply blur or miss out. Likewise when I played some tracks from Bob Marley's Natural Mystic compilation CD, I ended up enjoying it so much I sat there for hours listening to the CD over and over!

Give these 'phones a break you negative reviewers and learn how to use them properly!!! These are really very good headphones for the money but make sure you run them in (at least 24 hours) and, if you want to hear them at their best, use them with your domestic hi-fi amp. I would not recommend using these with portable equipment.

A great value for $60. Excellent sound reproduction and a good bass response. Perfect for listeners who enjoy powerful rock or pop music and enjoy the atmosphere of a live performance (me!). Compare with my friend's Beyerdynamic DT 831, I feel that the DT831 is a bit thin. The 831 does sound better in other areas, particularly the clear, accurate highs, but it also costs about $180. For $60, I am quite pleased with the 490.

This radio has very good sensitvity to FM, MW and Shortwave. Its sensitivity is almost as good as my Grundig 400PE, but some of the other specs aren't quite as good which I would expect for a receiver that is about half the price of the 400 PE. Its power consuption is better than the 400 PE too. It's smaller size (than the 400 PE), very good designed, easy to use controls, good sound quality along with an excellent read out offers a good value. I like this radio's abliliy to quickly get to the frequency I am interested in. This is a fine little radio--- four stars.

I might have only given this radio three stars, but I think it gets a fourth for the performance it delievers at it price level.

AM and FM reception are quite good for a little radio like this. Shortwave reception is mixed. On one hand, you can pick up many stations, not just the big high-powered broadcasters that you get on low priced radios (BBC, CBC, etc.). On the other hand, they come with a lot of noise and fading distortion, and you get nothing but a local/DX switch to try to improve the situation. There's no ability to micro-tune, switchable audio or bandwidth filters, etc. I therefore feel that this is definintely an above-average radio on SW for its price, but that enthusiasts should spend more money and get something that will make distant or weak stations more pleasant to listen to. (Then again, I have come to believe that internet broadcasting is going to render SW obsolete in the U.S. and similarly developed countries, so maybe a mega-buck radio is just an unncessary expense.)

Sound quality through the internal speaker is poor. I assume this is because Grundig made a design decision to minimize battery consumption, size and weight, but that comes at the expense of a decent audio section. The sound is adequate for desktop or bedside listening of voice broadcasts. But music is tinny and the radio doesn't have enough juice to play across a mid-sized domestic room without distorting. Headphone listening is significantly better. If you think of it more as a walkman-type radio with a courtesy speaker for when the phones are inconvenient, you'll probably be pretty satisfied.

The radio is pretty easy to operate, looks good, and doesn't feel cheap. The sleep timer is a nice convenience. There are a couple things that bugged me though. One is that you have to shift between high and low shortwave bands, and cycle through FM and AM to get from SW2 down to SW1. Annoying and anachronistic. The second is that you lose your presets and clock time when your batteries go dead. I wouldn't have minded some more presets either, since I like to set favorite short-wave braodcasters on several of their frequencies to pick the clearest signal at any given time.

The radio is a good value, especially when it is discounted. With the "PE" version, not only do you get an above-average radio for the money, you get the ac adaptor, headphones, wire antenna, cheesy case, and a booklet, too. Some of their competitors make you buy this stuff separately for a good $20 or so.

Finally, a word of warning. There is some older stock of this radio floating around that appears identical to current production but has less frequency coverage than the current model (and may lack some other electronic impovements too). I actually got stuck with one of the older ones.

During any given week, I probably listen to more radio than I watch TV. Public radio and shortwave might be my main sources of broadcast news and current events.

The Yacht Boy 300 PE is among the better battery-powered portables I've come across when it comes to FM reception, and it compares well with Tivoli and Boston Acoustics radios, which are excellent. I can't speak for the AM section, since I rarely listen to it. Some here have been critical of the sound from the 300's speaker, but I have no complaints. You can't expect high volume or big bass from such a small radio.

The 300's shortwave reception is very good for the price. I listen almost exclusively with just the built-in whip antenna, but there is an external wire antenna included that improves reception in some cases. A local/DX switch provides attenuation on strong signals to avoid overload, and all 13 broadcast bands are covered. Sensitivity is very good, and selectivity more than adequate.

The 300 comes with everything you need in the box, so you get a good bit for your money. The radio comes with an AC adapter, batteries, earphones, and a carry case. Like all Grundig radios I've seen, a guide to shortwave listening is included as well; a nice touch.

I tend to prefer analog tuners to digital, despite their supposed inconveniences. To me, scanning the bands is just easier with analog, or at least a rotary knob. The 300 has the usual push-buttons for tuning, but that's likely to appeal to listeners who aren't old-fashioned like I am. At any rate, the controls are logically laid out and easy enough to operate. Even I have to admit the presets are sometimes handy, and the clock and sleep timer are nice to have.

Battery life is good, but like any digitally-controlled radio that has a clock, some current is consumed even with the radio turned off. Take the batteries out if the radio isn't going to be used for a while and unplugged from AC.

Overall, I'd recommend the YB 300. The build quality seems good, all the accessories are included, and its reception is good. No radio in this price range is going to be perfect, but I give it at least four stars for what it does at its price point.

Despite all the talk about satellite and Internet radio, I had been hunting around for a small shortwave that could also handle FM stereo and was happy to come upon the Grundig 100 Mini PE Portable Radio.

The 100 is the smallest world band receiver I've come across, similar in size to Sony's Walkman-style radios. This is an analog, dial-driven set that can use either a built-in (mono) speaker or stereo headphones. It features six shortwave bands (49, 41, 31, 25, 19, 15 meter bands) plus AM and FM Stereo. The 100 has a telescoping antenna and is very compact, measuring only 4" x 2 1/2" x 3/4" in size. My set included earbud style earphones, a vinyl carry pouch, two AA batteries, a four page manual, and Grundig's shortwave listening guide booklet.

Performance is an issue with this radio. Reception is reasonable for a receiver of this size, with many strong signals being heard at night, such as Radio France and Radio Havana Cuba. However, the 100 has no SSB or adjustable filters, even Am and FM can be spotty, and it is certainly no competition for a serious world band receiver such as the Grundig Yacht Boy 400.

I recommend the 100 if you need a radio while travelling or commuting, or as a gift to introduce someone to world band.

This is the only shirt pocket size shortwave radio worth buying. For this great price you get a pocket radio without any drift (meaning the station you listen to won't change to another station because of a loose or faulty dial), great stereo FM on headphones or ear buds (the buds that come with it are OK. Buy a better set and get ready for great sound), good AM reception, and Shortwave reception that is adequate for the big international broadcasts like BBC but poor for most everything else. The speaker is only good for talk radio. For music, this is a tinny and tiny speaker (about one inch wide). If you want a pocket radio that also gets BBC, Radio Canada, and Voice of America, this is the trick. Listen in on good earplugs and you will be happy with your purchase. It also has a good vinyl case. The radio looks sturdily built and will probably last for years.

I won't delve into all the technical specs listed in other reviews. I was looking for something small to listen to AM & FM and a little shortwave, and I figured you can't go wrong with a brand leader like Grundig. And I was pleasantly surprised by its performance...but if you're looking for a radio which pulls in stations that a $100+ SW radio does, this probably won't do the trick. So let's look at the radio:<br /> <br /> The internal speaker has decent fidelity and good volume, but little bottom end (understandable considering its size)...the included earbuds are slightly below average (scooped midrange), so be prepared to pick up a decent set of earbuds (I use a $10 Sony 16Hz-22kHz set) to improve your sound tremendously. FM reception is very good, with great stereo separation not found on radios this small and inexpensive. AM reception is also very good, and SW will pull in the major strong stations (VOA, BBC, etc.) adequately. A couple of unusual things to point out, to be fair...the tuning for all bands is right-to-left, requiring a little getting used to...and the headphone-in jack is peculiarly placed on the right side a little past halfway down...strange.<br /> <br /> But those a just minor niggles...for the performance it delivers, it's quite a bargain for a radio this small. I'd give it five stars except for the earbuds and the headphone jack. But I'd still recommend this to anyone looking to get their feet wet in the world of SW radio, with very good AM/FM performance for a low price...and a vinyl pouch and brief listening guide are also included...nice touches.<br /> <br /> Pros: great FM sound, easy to use, decent SW reception.<br /> Cons: marginal included earbuds, headphone jack poorly placed.

i wont know il you ship two headset for motorola talkabaut

...There are quite afew out there that are more bulky looking. This particular one is more compact. Its features include: an earbud with a mic and PTT (push-to-talk). THe cord is a bit short; however, with my height (5,6), it stands to be just right. I was told that an extension can be pick up at a local Radio Shack.

I ski (or board) all day with this earbud and a 280SLK on a NiMH battery. I have used TalkAbouts while skiing for a few years - but just got the 280 and the earbud, and it makes a WORLD of difference! The 280's lock feature lets me pack it down under layers. The earbud and wires stay well under layers (hat, shirt, etc) as well. Only the mic sticks out from the side, which I can click to talk at any time. It has been over a foot under the snow with my head when I blow a 360 - and still works perfectly. This earbud is a *must* for skiiers (or boarders! I do both.)

They look neat, sound fair, and tangle quite easily. Despite their appearance, they really are not well designed for active people. While running, sweat somehow manages to run down the plastic clips and "flood" the ear buds. It did not long before they started to sound weak, and lose bass response. Finally my right side blew, even though my MP3 player has a pretty mild sound output.

I got a few months of use out of them, and am debating getting a new pair. I don't like the idea of disposable hardware; I expected much better from Sony.

I love sony, however these headphones are barely above par. I wear glasses so they don't fit correctly and consequently don't feel comfortable at first. I'm use to them now but they are very sleek and I barely notice them now. I like them because they're not in my hair. I like the tangle free design though it's much better than finding knots in the after taking them out of my bag.

The sound quality is fairly good. However along with all the rest of the reviews, the bass is not very strong. I am also not really into pumping the bass up, but I like a little in my electronica/dance music. It is adequate but I'd like more. Considering that they have only 13.5 mm drivers, it's to be expected. I would advise at least 30mm drivers for you bass people which you won't find in these "in-ear" headphones.

So if you looking for an inexpensive headphones and you don't wear glasses or want big bass, then these are great. Otherwise Sony has tons of other headphones that could fit your needs.

A LITTLE BACKGROUND:
These are the third set of headphones that I have purchased in 4 years. I also have earbuds from Sony with "mega Bass" capability, and another pair of ear-huggers from Sharp. I use my Sony MDR-J10s for the gym and when I go jogging. I use an RCA MP3 player with DSP capability (bass inducer)

PROS:
-Cheaper than other versions of ear-huggers
-Variable colors allow personalization
-Sound quality is not as 'tinny' (compared to my pair by Sharp), but this might be dependent on the device you use. Not as good as 'megaBass', but if you're outdoors it's good enough.
-The ear 'hooks' are strong/durable enough to withstand small tugs to the headset.

CONS:
-Like most ear-huggers they constantly get tangled. I've yet to see a set withi a good storage case.
-Non-gripping, smooth plastic of the 'huggers' don't always cling to your ear.
-For people with small ears, there is no guarantee they will fit.

OVERALL:
Don't expect superb sound since Sony doesn't claim any 'megaBass' improvement. Ear huggers are designed for active people, but don't think they'll stay in your ears if you pull really hard! They're cheap, and work for my activities. If they break, just buy another (or the better ones that come out in the future).

They look neat, sound fair, and tangle quite easily. Despite their appearance, they really are not well designed for active people. While running, sweat somehow manages to run down the plastic clips and "flood" the ear buds. It did not long before they started to sound weak, and lose bass response. Finally my right side blew, even though my MP3 player has a pretty mild sound output.

I got a few months of use out of them, and am debating getting a new pair. I don't like the idea of disposable hardware; I expected much better from Sony.

I love sony, however these headphones are barely above par. I wear glasses so they don't fit correctly and consequently don't feel comfortable at first. I'm use to them now but they are very sleek and I barely notice them now. I like them because they're not in my hair. I like the tangle free design though it's much better than finding knots in the after taking them out of my bag.

The sound quality is fairly good. However along with all the rest of the reviews, the bass is not very strong. I am also not really into pumping the bass up, but I like a little in my electronica/dance music. It is adequate but I'd like more. Considering that they have only 13.5 mm drivers, it's to be expected. I would advise at least 30mm drivers for you bass people which you won't find in these "in-ear" headphones.

So if you looking for an inexpensive headphones and you don't wear glasses or want big bass, then these are great. Otherwise Sony has tons of other headphones that could fit your needs.

A LITTLE BACKGROUND:
These are the third set of headphones that I have purchased in 4 years. I also have earbuds from Sony with "mega Bass" capability, and another pair of ear-huggers from Sharp. I use my Sony MDR-J10s for the gym and when I go jogging. I use an RCA MP3 player with DSP capability (bass inducer)

PROS:
-Cheaper than other versions of ear-huggers
-Variable colors allow personalization
-Sound quality is not as 'tinny' (compared to my pair by Sharp), but this might be dependent on the device you use. Not as good as 'megaBass', but if you're outdoors it's good enough.
-The ear 'hooks' are strong/durable enough to withstand small tugs to the headset.

CONS:
-Like most ear-huggers they constantly get tangled. I've yet to see a set withi a good storage case.
-Non-gripping, smooth plastic of the 'huggers' don't always cling to your ear.
-For people with small ears, there is no guarantee they will fit.

OVERALL:
Don't expect superb sound since Sony doesn't claim any 'megaBass' improvement. Ear huggers are designed for active people, but don't think they'll stay in your ears if you pull really hard! They're cheap, and work for my activities. If they break, just buy another (or the better ones that come out in the future).

Just got them in the mail...opened them, put them on and they were a little tight around my head...pulled on them to stretch the plastic a little (like most wrap-arounds do), and the things broke in half! Can't comment on sound quality, since I never had the chance to hear them...

I have owned my headphones for 2 weeks. I have found the sound quality excellent and the bass adequate (which, for me, is perfectly fine). When I saw the pictures for the phones, I thought the phones were held on one's head by the loop things resting on the ears. This is not the case. Instead, the wearer's head is gripped by the plastic. This can become uncomfortable after a while, especially for someone with a large head. However, this isn't a huge concern of mine. As long as the phones are removed periodically during listening periods, the discomfort is very minor. On the other hand, for anyone with glasses I would not recommend these. I wear contacts but tried them with my glasses a few times, and had to remove them in minutes.
Overall, I was quite satisfied with my pair, until the right earphone began making a muffled buzzing noise with every sound produced. ... It comes with a lifetime warrenty, but if they break every 2 weeks, what good is that? I don't listen to overly loud music, so that couldn't have been the cause of the problem. I sincerely hope that this problem was one time occurence.

I read about these headphones at HeadRoom ( http://www.headphone.com/layout.php?topicID=2&subTopicID=14 ), and because my old Panasonic set had a faint but insanely irritating rattling sound, I decided that I'd give them a try. I figured that for $16, you really can't go wrong.

Like HeadRoom said, these things have amazing sound quality for the price. When I first got the headphones in the mail, I compared five of my best-produced albums (Shpongle - Are You Shpongled, Dream Theater - Train of Thought, Ott - Blumenkraft, Tool - Lateralus, and the remastered version of Pink Floyd - Dark Side of the Moon) between these KSC-55's, and my $150 set of Bose TriPort headphones. They were compared first on my vintage (and very well-maintained) Sansui G-6000 stereo receiver system running line-out CD audio from my Panasonic SL-CT800 portable MP3/CD unit, and then with the headphones directly in the headphone jack of the SL-CT800. All equalizer settings were kept flat unless otherwise noted.

For use around the house with my stereo working as a headphone amplifier, the differences between the two were virtually transparent as far as audio quality goes. The KSC-55's, unlike my set of TriPorts, are extremely lightweight, very comfortable, and well ventilated as well, which make them almost preferable to their much more expensive alternative. The only benefits that I noticed about the Bose set were things that only a larger size can produce: Greater acoustic isolation and smoother bass at extremely high (read: uncomfortable) volume levels.

While being powered by the amplifier in the portable unit, the sound produced by both sets of headphones were obviously inferior to that produced through the amplifier. The Bose Triports, being higher-end consumer headphones, want more power to produce the excellent quality sound that they're capable of, and unfortunately very few portable units are able to provide enough power to really take advantage of them. The KSC-55's, however were able to produce great sound quality, and as such, were far preferable to the TriPorts with a portable unit. The Koss headphones performed even better when equalization settings were enabled on the SL-CT800, whereas the TriPorts sound like trash whenever any sound manipulation settings are applied; their acoustic equalization is overpowering when anything is done before the sound reaches the drivers. When factoring in the great portability of these headphones, they are now a must-have to my collection of audio-equiptment.

The ONLY thing that I personally dislike about these is the cord; it feels a bit flimsy compared to that of my aforementioned Panasonic set. Regardless, the set is stunning.

If you are considering buying cheap headphones anytime in the near future, don't even consider buying a pair other than these. If you don't mind the horrible looks, poor portability, ultimate clunkiness, and increased price of the Grado SR60s, then they are the clear choice for amazing sound at $70, but if you want something that is streamlined, portable, attractive, or even just cheaper, then go for these. You won't regret it, and at this price, you can spring for 2-day shipping.

I can't even use these headphones for more than 5 minutes without experiencing horrendous pain. I can't really comment on the sound quality, because I can't concentrate at all on music when I have these things on. I wish I'd spent my money on something else. =/

NO PAIN!!! These aren't painful like everyone apparently thinks. I found them much more comfortable than my other headphones (Jensen behind-the-head phones). The only problem is they have a tendacy to stick far out of the ear, resulting in something that makes you look like on of the Jetsons or something like that. They are not ANYTHING like what the other reviewers think. The sound quality is awesome, they are NOT painful, and are compact because nothing attatches each phone to the other. Recommended to music lovers who want compact headphones.

I LOVE these headphones, for me the sound Quality was great and they got pretty loud w/out gettings distortions, and the pain, i guess is based on the individual.....
My ears only hurt after wearing them for more than 1-2 hours straight......
i've had them for about 3-5 years(cant remember) and the Right headphone is now going bad.....(well, i also used them ALOT..)
well, for the $5 i spent on them, they were awesome and am very glad that they still actually have them.....

These headphones are one of the worst purchases I ever made. They look cheap, feel cheap, as if they're about to fall apart. The sound quality fades and gets staticy when my laptop moves. Sometimes you can even here the lowest level of static when the laptop is not moving. It's extremely annoying. Additionally, the headphones have terrible staticy base, and horrendous treble as well. You're better off with a 2.50$ set of headphones that fit in your ear, if you want to be cheap, or if you want wrap around headphones, get something else. This has got to be one of the worst purchases I've made in the last year.

I bought these maybe...three years ago? And I've had them ever since, and they've been good. I need to block out the annoying sound of the guy behind me at work--he talks up a storm, types really loud and loves to watch ... television with the volume up to 11. I also like to rock the rock to my own music. I'm back to buy another pair, because they're cheap, and they fill my needs, and I don't want to experiment with a new pair and be disappointed. Two caveats: The plastic covering over the foam around the ears has been peeling and flaking off just about since I first got them. There's a little left on the top of the right headphone, but other that than they're bald, except for the foam. It's not uncomfortable, but it is kind of lame. Hopefully that problem will be fixed when I buy this new pair. Also, I have to buy a new pair? Why? Out of the blue I'm suddenly getting a ton of static. Don't know, but I suspect something in the cord is busted. Ah well. Anyway, not a bad pair of headphones. I'm tone deaf and musically stupid so I can't tell you about the sound quality with any authority, but I can tell you that the very long cord is *great* for plugging into the back of desktop computers and having a full range of motion around my cube without having to take my headphones off.

I was pleasantly surprised by these headphones. They feature superb sound quality, and are quite comfortable. Highly recommended, especially at this low price!

These headphones produce great sound, but they make your ears bend in odd-looking ways. Expect to be laughed at, while wearing these in public, because I sure expect to.

The peculiar design of the grips only serve to make it difficult to put on. I spent at least a minute trying to get it right, and when I did get it, it still took about 10 seconds to put them on correctly! Not only that, but they don't feel right. I don't get that oblivious feeling, while wearing them, so it's annoying.

My advice? You'd have more comfort wearing the old MDR-G63LP model.

Okay, before i start, let me say that i am both and audiophile and a gym rat. So when i work out or run, its all about the music. I also listen to a variety of music; from simple guitars and drums to electronica. This is why i need headphones that are perfect. However, im not loaded, so i need headphones that are AFFORDABLE and Perfect.
Well, sony has done it again. They've become one of those companies who simply believes that if they stick their label on an item it'll sell. Unfortunately, thats true cuz when i saw SONY on a pair of headphones for 19.99, i bought them. These headphones are not a good deal for the price. First, they have no bass ports (little holes on the side of the headphones) which are usually needed to provide rich bass. Second, i hate this sliding-clip design. Just make the headphones click into place sony!!! you dont have to be unique about everything!!! The only thing i love about these and other clip on headphones by sony is there single cord design; where the cord goes behind then neck from the left to the right earpiece and then a single cord goes from the left to the cd player. No one else seems to copy this design, so i end up buying sony.
If your not a big audiophile, these earphones deserve 4 stars. I think the same clip headphones from phillips for 14.99 at target are a better idea.

These headphones are great. They are lightweight and compact. I can barely tell that I am wearing them. They are comfortable because a wire is all that goes behind your neck, no hard plastic. They are definately better than any earbuds. I had a pair of TDK earbuds that came with my MP3, but they hurt horribly! These are far superior, and worth the money.