good headphone, May 20, 2011

By 

Mingyan Feng (San Francisco, CA United States) – See all my reviews

  

It’s comfortable, not too heavy circumaural closed headphone. Like all circumaural closed headpones, it seals tight and doesn’t leak any sound/air. Thus after prolong use (like an hour), my ears get a little bit warm. I have to lift up the cups and let the fresh air comes in.

The sound is laid back, with good amount of bass details and extension, and nice mid-range. In contrast, the treble is not as sparkling as some of the IEM’s (in-ear-monitors) I own. Overall, I like the whole fatigue-less sound package, especially for watching movies. The only lacking thing is soundstage, which is about average to below average. It doesn’t have the width.

The build, though everything is plastic, is very high quality. the plastic they use feel as sturdy as my Canon 100mm f/2.8 L lens(which is the first professional L lens uses engineered plastic for the body construction). It will definitely last a long time. The ear pads are soft pleather which feels very comfortable but not as plushy as the Sony XB500/700/1000 headphones.

I’ve not yet heard the flagship Z1000. but I would think at 1/5 of the Z1000 asking price, the ZX700 is definitely a good buy.

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Very pleasant sound, but big heads, be aware, November 20, 2011

Switching from Sennheiser HD-280 to this closed headphone. Usage is for generic use, music listening (portable devices, hifi-stereo, PC, laptop)

Positives:

- Warm, clear and balanced sound (for price point, i would give 4.5 stars for the soundwise only)

- Bass output is good as well (although, i use equalizator to boost it a bit. End result is excellent)

- Nice, smooth, flexible cord: for portable devices you can use cord without extension, it being just the right length. If it would providing only fixed, too long cord, it would be a hassle to use with portable devices.

- Easily driven with portable MP3-players, laptops: loud enough (these have low impedance which is important)

- Some sound isolation (not as good as in HD-280 though)

Negatives:

- Too shallow ear cups (for big heads/ears)!! Created very uncomfortable pressure to ears, since they were touching directly speaker elements with some pressure. Added own padding material to make ear cup cushions more thick and elevated (it was easy, just placing rolled cotton material/paper towel under padding, holds there nicely without glue). You really have to evaluate this point, before buying these, be ready to do cushion DIYs, if you have bigger head / ears.

- If travelling, these are not bendable design. Headphone is very light and medium size though, so it’s not taking too much space.

Summary:

Overall, i’m very pleased on sound of these headphones after Sennheiser HD-280. For pricepoint it’s a very good deal. Minus one star for possible comfortability problems, if you have bigger head / ears.

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Smooth vocal always in your face, is it a good thing?, September 6, 2011

(I have quite a few headphones, from Denon D5000, Sony SA5000, Sennheiser IE8, … to some cheapy ones.)

I am loving this one. It has one of most pleasant sound. Roll-off treble, makes music sound smooth and easy; stand-out mid, the vocal is particularly in your face; upper bass, thumb and thumb. But, a big but, the deep bass is not presented at all.

The best thing about it – it takes EQ very well, so, when some albums don’t sound good, change EQ.

The worst thing about it – this headphones seem emphasize certain notes, some music details “disappeared”.

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Awesome!!, January 20, 2009

I bought these headphones after trying the kind that stick in your ear – the little buds – and hating them! These are SO MUCH BETTER! They hook on your ear nicely and they’re very comfortable. The hook has a nice gooshy plastic on it so it doesn’t hurt your ears… I even sleep with mine on! The sound is great – very clear, and the bass is awesome, too! Out of all of the headphones I’ve gone through, Philips has always been my favorite, and these are my #2 favorite (second only to the first pair of Philips I had, but you can’t even buy them anymore… they were headband ones from 1999!).

I have had these for over a year now, and I have dropped them, stepped on them, caught the cord on corners, twisted them, kinked them… pretty much everything you could imagine, and the sound still goes strong in both ears! If and when they go out, I will definitely be getting another pair.

I HIGHLY recommend these to anyone looking for a comfortable fitting, great sounding headphone that won’t fall off every time you look left or right – like my old S*ny ones did.

The only thing I didn’t like about these was they are not good for exercising because they are too heavy, but they never claimed to be for sport and that’s not what I originally bought them for, so that’s not a big deal.

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my FAVE headphones, December 6, 2008

These headphones are my absolute favorite. The earclips fit easily, comfortably and securely… no constant re-adjustment, like the more popular earbuds. And they’re more portable than most earclip styles… without that bulky plastic around-the-head band, you can better fit them in your purse or bag… also makes them great for wearing with hats in the winter. The last pair I had lasted several years, so they’re pretty durable too… I travel a lot, so they definitely took a beating. Great sound too… not Bose for sure, but good, full, clear complete sound with more than ample bass. Great buy. I bought several pairs, to “stock up”.

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Love them, November 9, 2011

I love these headphones. So much more hygienic than ear buds and more comfortable. My sons go through earphones really fast and then they borrowed my set of these ones. A year later they are still going strong! I had to go buy myself a replacement as I will never get my originals back — and now my husband wants them as well:)

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Perfect NYC commuting headphones, October 31, 2003

Kudos to Sony.These earphones offer the best combination of isolation, sound quality, comfort, and easy on-and-off design. I am a commuter in NYC, and twice a day I walk a few blocks, take a bus for about 15 minutes and a subway for another 20 minutes. I used to use Koss KSC-35′s, but their open-air design had me constantly changing volumes to deal with the various noise levels. I also needed to put the volume on very high to deal with the subway, and I was afraid that I was harming my hearing. I tried the Sennheiser PX-200′s and while real comfy, the isolation wasn’t enough. Then I tried the Shure E2C’s, but the only insert that would fit my small ear canals was the small foam pair. Since you need to take the time to roll these foam inserts up real small before inserting, then hold them in your ears till they expand, that made them very inconvenient for everyday on-and-off use. These Sony’s are also a little more comfortable than the Shure E2C’s. I have even tried the Koss Plugs, but they do not fit in my small ear canals at all and constantly came out. Thanks to these Sony earphones, I can now travel in comfort and musical bliss for my whole commute without the need to constantly change volumes. As with the Shure earphones, only the smaller inserts fit me on these Sony’s. At first, it takes awhile to get used to these, and my ears did get a little sore, but after a few weeks I got used to them. The material that goes into the ear is pretty smooth for easy insertion, and is fairly easy to keep clean. A word of advice: do clean the removable inserts once in awhile in soap and water and keep your ears clean! The sound on these is very good with solid bass. Perhaps not the best you will hear, but better than your average moderately priced headphones of any design and brand. Another word of caution: if you need to operate a bicycle or vehicle these are dangerous as outside sounds are really muffled or cut off. So don’t use these in environments where you need to hear sounds clearly.

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The proof is in the preference, June 29, 2004

First of all, I did ALOT of research on canal/earbud phones (including reading all of these reviews and many others on other websites) before settling on a pair for purchase. I am pretty much a audiophile however that doesn’t mean I expect pefection with every purchase, I realize there’s ALWAYS going to something that I wish sounded, worked or was designed better. I am also a bargain shopper not willing to shell out 0 and up for headphones, mainly because I cannot not afford it and I (like the rest of us) don’t like being overcharged.
That being said, let me start with that fact that I actually purchased the Sony MDR-EX51LP’s not the MDR-EX71SL’s. The reason? After my research I discovered there’s not much difference between the 2, save the short cord/extension problem you will read about later and the fact that they carried them at Best Buy which made it easier to return them if necessary (I came across comments that stated Amazon charges you if you decide to return the MDR-EX71SL’s).
Let me start by saying I am VERY satified with my purchase. I bought them about 3 weeks ago at Best Buy for .99 plus tax, roughly the same price Amazon is charging for the MDR-EX71SL’s. I was looking for earphones that would block a significant amount of exterior sound, fit snugly in the ear and not fall out as well as produce a quality of sound I would appreciate. I can say all of those needs are met with my MDR-EX51LP’s. There are a few things you should know about these earphones though.

#1 If you don’t like having to fiddle with little things to get great sound, don’t buy these. The multi size silicon earbud coverings take a little time to figure out. You must have a complete seal to hear clear bass so play with the sizes to see which one fits you. I actually lucked out and the medium size (which is already placed on the phones) fit my left ear perfectly giving me an understanding of how they should fit. My right ear wasn’t so lucky and after playing around I found that the large size was the solution.

#2 You must understand that these phones work like ear plugs. You have to fit these babies snugly in your ear or the bass is not distinct and the noises around you will be more audible and not as cleanly "Blocked out". A proper seal is a must!! Now this isn’t nearly as hard or annoying as it sounds and once it’s done you’ll be happy you bought these. As a side note, the silicon earbuds can get quite dirty if you don’t use q-tips often so clean your ears! Also this "ear plug" sensation will take some getting used to (For me a couple of days) so have patience.

#3 Part of the complaint I noted from other reviewers was the cord of the MDR-EX71SL, apparently it is quite short and designed for ipod users and players with arm band capability. Sony’s solution was to include an excessively long extension cord that again apparently caused problems (read the rest of the reviews) with its connector. The MDR-EX51LP has the same cord design as the MDR-EX71SL’s (Right side longer than the left so that the cord can sit behind your head) save one distinct difference. The cord for the MDR-EX51LP has one long cord like every other pair of headphones you’ve ever owned so it’s much easier to deal with. However, due to the similiar behind the head design (Right side longer than left), I do think purchasing a clip is necessary to hold the cord in place. I find the extra length of the right side has too much slack and either gets in the way or caught on clothing. This sometimes tugs on the phones themselves, particularly on the left side. This becomes a nuissance. Also the cord is pretty thin, no problems yet but due to experiences in the past with other earphones I fear it could be in the future.

#4 Most importantly, is the sound itself. Now this is where things get complicated. Everyone has different tastes as how their music should sound so you are going to get varying opinions. I find, with a good seal (I cannot stress this enough), the sound is much improved over standard earphones and earbuds. I found the EQ a little tinny at first but the balance can be evened out with a bass booster, this allows capabilty for heavier bass sounds. My player has 2 settings of bass boost and I find the first setting to be more than adequate, the 2nd was a bit too much bass for my liking. The external sounds around you disappear when music is playing and this allows for quiet listening as not to damage your now clean ears. This is key as I travel alot!

So overall, I’d say that Sony has done a great job. If you want really great sound with the small size and convenience of earbuds and you are tired of tinny treble driven phones then these are for you. But if you expect pristine quality sound and bass that bumps you out of your chair I suggest you stick with over the head headphones or if you’re willing to shell out 0 + for the top of the line then go for it…

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Great sound, terrible design, January 18, 2005

I own several pairs of headphones- Koss’ “The Plug,” Creative’s earbuds, a pair of over-the-ear studio headphones from Sony, and this set. This set excels in some features, and fails miserably in others. First, the good:

SOUND

The sound quality in this pair is excellent. It blows all my other pairs away, hands-down. The sound is remarkably clear and crisp, and reproduces everything from Slayer to Debussy in incredible quality. The bass response isn’t the same as Koss’ The Plug, but unless you are an absolute bass fiend, you won’t really notice. Once properly fit into the ears, these also create some passive noise reduction that helps quite a bit.

COMFORT

The rubber pads are far more comfortable than The Plug’s scratchy plastic-and-foam design, which constantly hurt my ears. They’re still in-the-ear, which can feel invasive to some people and can get tiresome after some time. However, this is the most comfortable pair of in-the-ear buds I’ve ever seen. However, note that even with a perfect seal, the rubber means that if you sweat quite a bit, the earbuds tend to come loose.

And now, the bad:

DESIGN

Where this set excels in sound and comfort, it fails miserably in design. I wish Sony hadn’t tried to get all fancy on this set, because the poor design has relegated this pair to gym-only usage for me.

First, Sony somehow thought that consumers wanted a cord that went around the back of the head instead of hanging in front. As a result, the left cord is much shorter than the right- the right earbud is designed to go around the back of your neck and then into the ear. I knew this going in and thought it sounded cool. In practice, it isn’t. The metal nub where the two cords come together is just heavy enough to constantly be tugging on the wire, so the left earbud always feels like it’s being pulled out of your ear. I ended up “modding” my pair by doubling up the right cord and using a twist-tie to make them effectively the same length. It solves the problem, but looks bad.

Second, Sony manages to get the total cord length wrong…twice. The package comes with the initial cord, which has the standard jack and the earbuds. This is about 1′ long, which isn’t even long enough to connect to a MP3 player in a front jacket pocket without the earbuds being yanked out. The package also comes with a 3′ extension cord, which then makes the total cord length 4′, a foot longer than the basic set of headphones. This extra foot is annoying; it hangs too low when attached to something in your pocket or on a belt clip, which means it gets caught on things easily and yanks out the earbuds.

Additionally, the cord manages to be both too thin and too heavy at the same time. Like Koss’ The Plug, this cord is very thin and tangles very easily, particularly given its extra length and uneven earbud cords. While Koss’ set at least then has the virtue of being nigh-weightless, the Sony pair’s extension cord uses large gold connectors which add significant weight to the set and, again, make them feel like they’re being pulled out of your ears.

Finally, the package comes with two cases. The “carrying case” is junk. You have to wind the cord so tightly it makes a thousand kinks to store it inside, and it takes about five minutes to accomplish this should you for some reason want a cord which resembles an accordion. By contrast, the earbud case is well-designed and the one bright spot on this otherwise dreary design plan; I wish my other headphones came with one of these.

OVERALL

These aren’t going to cause you to pitch all your other headphones. They’re good for a dedicated purpose, but they’re too unwieldy to be the kind you pop in and out of your pocket throughout the day. When Sony makes a version of these with just a basic, no-frills 3′ straight-line cord, I’ll be the first to buy it and recommend it. Until then, proceed with caution.

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Not good quality for Philips brand, September 23, 2011

I bought this considering Phlips brand name but loss of sound and quality of sound is bad. I do not recommend to buy.

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WOULD RECOMMEND!, January 11, 2012

I GOT THESE AS A XMAS GIFT FOR MY SON AND SO FAR SO GOOD. HE HAS BEEN HAPPY WITH THEM, USES THEM ON A DAILY BASIS AND HAN’T COMPLAINED ABT THEM YET. THEY FIT WELL AND COMFY OVER HIS HEAD AND EARS. SOUND IS JUST AS GOOD AS THOSE PRICEY HEADPHONES WE’D BEEN SHOPPING AROUND FOR AND FIT IS WAY BETTER.

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Skullcandy Hesh Headphones, December 28, 2011

The Skullcandy headset is an excellent buy especially considering the cost benefit. It has great sound quality and a distinctive style.

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Sony remaps the land of high-end headphones once again, April 8, 2005

I’ve owned quite a few high-end headphones over the last few years, but this new model from Sony take a page from Metallica, and kills ‘em all. The comfort and design are unparalleled, and the materials used are top-notch, outclassing similarly priced and even more expensive cans. The sound is unprecedented, certainly among sub-00 dynamic headphones. The frequency spectrum is amazingly well balanced, from the deepest bass to the highest treble, with no readily apparent gaps or peaks. The frequencies transition very smoothly, which results in virtually no listener fatigue. Detail is excellent, surpassing all other dynamic headphones I’ve heard, rivaling that of the expensive, esoteric electrostatic models. Individual instruments and sounds are rendered wonderfully, each with it’s own distinct static place in the spectrum, and are placed with pinpoint precision around your head.

If you listen to a lower-quality source or amp, the SA5000 might not be for you, as it will spit that garbage right back into your face. In that situation, more forgiving cans like the Sennheisers or Grados would be better suited. If you have some great sounding gear though, like my Benchmark DAC-1, then the SA5000 will give you the detail and transparency that other cans will hide.

Here are my impressions of a few other prominent high-end cans compared to the SA5000:

Grado RS1 (An ergonomic nightmare, and no benchmark for build quality, the Grado succeeds in making even a lowly MP3 player sound exciting to listen to. However, it achieves this through a bumped upper bass and upper mids, which can grow annoying when used on a high-class source and amp, which reveals these colorations. Also has the most distortion (sibilance) and least frequency extension of the group. It’s best attribute is that bass boost, which is quite thumpin’ with the right music.)

Sennheiser HD650 (This headphone makes almost anything quite listenable, with its slow, decay-oriented presentation, and muted high end, it takes the edge right off even the harshest recordings. This is good if you like your hi-fi to whisper sweet lullabies, however it makes the sound quite dull and lifeless compared to any of the other cans mention. The Zu Mobius cable helps fix this, and extend the lower and upper ends, but it is still no match for the detail and accuracy of the SA5000.)

Sony MDR-CD3000 (The SA5000′s predecessor, by comparison has bloated bass and a lacking midrange. The extreme frequencies are also underrepresented. Its only “advantage” is an artificially wide soundstage that can make a studio rock recording sound more like a live concert. The cans are also VERY large and bulky, which makes them a tad annoying to wear, though they are very soft.)

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Be Careful of the Hype…, March 15, 2008

I have been a serious audiophile for 5 years now, always specializing in headphones. I have auditioned a great many headphones over the years and have become a fairly discerning listener when it comes to audio quality.

SYSTEM:

-Harmonix Reimyo CDP-777 CD Player (w/mod by Upgrade Company)

-SinglePower SDS-XLR Balanced Headphone Amplifier

-Over 200 NOS tubes

-Sony MDR-R10s, Sennheiser HD650, Grado RS-1, AKG K701

-Grand Prix Monaco Modular Isolation System

-Virtual Dynamics Genesis Interconnects

-Virtual Dynamics Master Power Cords

REVIEW:

Tone: The SA5Ks lean towards the treble, and are a little bright. Neither the mids or bass seem more/less pronounced than the other, but the treble is definitely front and center for these phones. This is likely a bi-product of these phone’s emphasis on speed, detail, and clean representation.

Bass: The bass is a weak point for this headphone. Extension isn’t terrible, but impact is on the light side and the tone doesn’t have alot of body or bloom. These are very fast, clean headphones, and sometimes the result of increasing detail is losing tone and body.

Mids: Decent mids, but certainly nothing special. Of course, I’m very spoiled by my R10′s mids as they’re likely the best in all headphonedom. But again, very clean, and pretty accurate. But these certainly aren’t romantic headphones that will make you melt at hearing female voices or classical music.

Higs: Bright and piercing out of the box, but burn in has a way of bringing the highs under control. After burn in, the highs actually come across as a highlight – especially with fast, exciting music that relies on lead instruments often playing in high registers.

Detail: THIS is where these headphones shine. It’s likely due to the speed at which these headphones retrieve and deliver audio information, but they can make a claim to being the most detailed headphones on the market. It’s not just the fact that you’ll be able to hear everything, but that you’ll be able to hear everything presented in such a clean, transparent manner. They certainly won’t miss anything, and if it’s in the recording, it will fish it out.

Speed: Obviously as I’ve already said these are EXTREMELY fast headphones. But before you interpret that as an intrinsic, positive quality, there’s also a downside. Speed has to do with how fast a component transmits attack (the point at which a note enters) and decay (the point at which it fades/leaves). With phones of such speed what you get is attacks that hit very quickly, last very shortly, decays that end quickly, and a somewhat thin note “body”. This means that legato music (like violins and other strings) often don’t flow as well as they might. However, staccato music (think of fast metal riffing) is delivered on point without a “sludge” effect of notes running into each other.

An example might be if you were to listen to the E-string chugging of thrash metal bands (Metallica, Megadeth, etc). On a slower headphone it’s easy to miss the pick/attack of the individual notes – but that’s not so on the SA5Ks as they catch the attack of each rapid fire note and due to the quick decay are able to hit the next one with no note obscuration. This is also evident on the quick beats of techno and other club music.

Soundstage/Imaging: The soundstage is decent on the Y-axis (up/down), but weak on the X-axis (left right). The headphones also have a way of flattening sound images so you’re not getting much depth either. However, making up for this is the pinpoint precise imaging which presents images with clearly defined edges, allowing instruments to breathe despite the limitations of the X-axis. Again, this is likely due to the speed of the headphone which doesn’t allow for sound to be slowed and thus infringing into other sounds’ space.

Component Matching: They definitely work best with a system that can fill out their lean character; providing more body and punch. Don’t worry about slowing them down to the point where the detail and clarity is lost as I don’t think that’s possible. I’ve tried them even with very lethargic and sludgy tubes and the result is still a fast, clear sound that merely has better bass and fuller mids. One tube that goes wonderful with the SA5k is the Sylvania 6SN7W, which provides alot of body, dynamics, and “umph!”. Of secondary importance is finding components that can extend the soundstage.

Music Best/Least Suited For: They’re best suited for fast, complex music that doesn’t rely on slow, toneful, emotive passages too much. Genres like progressive metal or techno sound excellent on these cans. They are also excellent with rock and other metal, even though I still often prefer Grado’s kick and presentation. They’re least suited for classical, emotive vocal music, and anything that…

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precise sound, November 13, 2006

Review system:

Cd Transport: Spectral SDR-3000

DAC: Spectral SDR-2000 Rev C

Headphone amps: Krell KSA-5V, Ray Samuels Emmeline XP-7

Cables: Spectral Spectralink, Omega Mikro Planar Ebony Active RCA, Nordost Vishnu power cords

A/C: Furman IT Reference, #10g 20 Amp dedicated line

These headphones need very good upstream gear- I would suggest a source and that can deliver a full range sound, from the deepest bass to extended highs.

A dedicated amp is required for the 5000′s to perform at their best. Transient attacks, treble extension, and detail are hallmarks of the design. A microscope on the recording with tremendous resolving power, but this headphone requires careful attention to setup. It is very easy for them to become bright and sibilant if connected to pedestrian equipment.

I use both a small battery powered amp as well as a pure class A power headphone amp with the Sony’s, and there is to say the least a huge difference in the qualities that these headphones will deliver. The Ray Samuels Emmeline XP-7 amp, which uses 2 9V batteries provides transparency and clarity that lays any recording bare, but at times can be a bit unpleasant, i.e. thin and squeaky, depending on the quality of the recording. The mid-range and bass are obviously not as fleshed out and extended with this setup.

With the Krell KSA-5V, the 5000′s will really let you realize the merits of class A power. It can make the sensation of wearing headphones disappear. You get the sense of space and air that the recording took place. This combo is the most immersive, near virtual reality sound that I have experienced, conventional speakers included.

Criticisms of weak bass and bright or piercing treble is purely dependent on your setup, with the appropriate equipment, the dynamics and extension of all frequencies is without peer.

Both the Grado 325′s and Sennheiser HD600′s saw use for several years and I have found that the 5000′s can combine the midrange and smoothness of the Senns with the explosiveness of the Grados while exceeding either model’s strengths.

I am reminded of using electrostatics, but with dynamic slam when listening to them. In a nutshell the MDR-SA5000′s are a superior headphone, being the most neutral and transparent component for reproducing sound.

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A big step back, April 14, 2009

By 

Terry Mesnard (Bellevue, NE) – See all my reviews

  

I was expecting an awful lot, getting my hands and ears on Plantronics new 777 Gaming Headset. I still, to this day, absolutely love Plantronics 3D Surround Sound Gaming Headset (USB Full Range Stereo) (Audio 770), which you can find my review for here at Amazon. That headset is probably the most comfortable I’ve ever owned, had great sound quality and was just an all around good headset, minus a few annoyances.

So, when I had the opportunity of trying the new GameCom 777 Surround Sound Gaming Headset, I was hoping for huge improvements. Instead, I’m finding myself liking it but putting it aside for the 770.

First, the good. My biggest complaint with the previous 770 model was the USB connector that stood out a few inches. It’s easy to knock into and I’ve had a friend break his on accident, basically ruining it. The 777 model comes with a similar dongle, but, as you can see from the pictures, it’s a small square that hangs from the USB connector on your PC. This makes it a lot less easy to break and works fine. Another step up is the fact that the mic actually stays in place (my 770′s mic started drooping and won’t stay in place now) and also has an extender. I also like the fact that it’s difficult to accidentally mute yourself since it’s an actual sliding switch as opposed to an easily-pressed button.

So that’s the good stuff. Unfortunately, everything else feels like a step back. I don’t know why they changed the actual design of the headset. It envelopes my ears like the other one, which is nice, but I find the bottom of the earphones snaps shut like jaws on my jaw, pressing hard and eventually giving me headaches. Likewise, the top of the headset has a nice cushion, but it’s nowhere as comfortable as the previous design which might have looked like a torture device but felt like air. The comfort factor of this one is better than some of the Logitech’s I’ve had the displeasure of wearing, but it’s nowhere near the comfort level of the 770.

Then there’s the sound quality which is decent but it isn’t surround sound, don’t let it fool you. The previous model also promised surround sound and didn’t deliver, but when you have the product page telling you it’s 5.1 dolby surround I expected something more than I got. The sound doesn’t feel as full as the 770 and voices if you use a VoIP like Ventrilo don’t sound as nice; they sound a bit on the tinny side.

Finally, there’s the biggest offense. I’m not a tech newbie, but it took me forever to set up this device (which comes with no directions, mind you). When I plugged it in, my PC discovered three different audio choices (speakers, headset and some other sound device). Thinking the obvious choice was headset, I spent forever trying to get them to register sound. After they wouldn’t, I eventually migrated to the other choices and discovered that speakers was the one you’re supposed to use. But the problems didn’t stop there. Every time I turn on my PC it’s a crapshoot whether the PC will register the headset. I’ve had to unplug and replug the USB dongle in more than a few times just so it’ll register, sometimes necessitating me working with the audio settings again since they sometimes reset. I’ve never had that problem before and I don’t have it with any other device, audio or no.

The 770 was a five star product that had a few design flaws that brought the rating down. The 777 is many steps below that previous product and I’m feeling a tad generous giving it a three star rating. It’s a decent headset with okay sound quality and a nice mic with great mic quality for everyone else. But there’s even more design flaws and technical problems than the previous headset and I can’t recommend it as much as I thought I would. For my money, I’d purchase the cheaper and much better 770.

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The Python of Headsets, March 17, 2009

By 

Rhianna Walker “Rhi” (Northwestern US) – See all my reviews

  

I’ve been through dozens of headsets in my MMO gaming career. Cords get worn from rubbing on the edges of desks, chairs and hoodie zippers. Mics are always flimsy and in the way when not in direct use. So many have poor sound quality even in the + range. So finding a good headset is like trying to find the lost city of Atlantis.

Reading all of the features on this one though… you’d think it may just be the perfect one. The easy-to-adjust with one hand volume controls are a personal favorite. Any gamer knows you need both hands free the majority of the time. The ability to tuck the mic away in a safe place when not in use was actually what sold me on the headset and so far I LOVE it. I was worried it would be a right-side mic but it is a lefty (which I need) so if you prefer a right-sider this one won’t work well for you. The sound quality is excellent and the fact that these are made so I can hear the phone ring or my kids calling for me while I play is very much a bonus. No more listening to people gripe because I didn’t hear them talking to me.

BUT… after several weeks of using this headset and hoping that breaking it in would help… it’s just way too tight. My head is average in size and while it sits comfortably on top with the well cushioned padding, the sides pinch so bad they give me a headache after only a couple of hours. If they were just an inch or so less tight or perhaps just a little less rounded in plastic structure they’d be an excellent set for the money.

Unfortunately I think I’m gonna offer these to one of my kids who have a smaller noggin’ to cram into them and look for something similar without the brainsquishing tension. If you have a tiny head these may be perfect for you but I highly doubt anyone can wear these comfortably for more than a couple of hours.

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GameCom 777 Headset – Can Be Broken-In and Adjusted To Relieve Tightness, Non-Dolby Sound is Average, Dolby Sound Is Better, August 6, 2009

By 

Mark “Technology, Music and Movies” (East Coast) – See all my reviews

  

  

  

  

The Plantronics GameCom 777 Surround Sound Gaming Headset with Dolby Technology exceeded my expectations regarding comfort, which were admittedly quite low. I was really prepared for the worst because of all of the negative reviews of this product describing it like a “vice-grip” in the discomfort department. I had been in the market for a gaming set for PC gaming (think FPS) but I was reluctant to pull the trigger. I primarily buy headsets for music or general use. I knew I didn’t want to spend the dollars that most high end gaming sets would require. I got to try these out and am glad to say that I now have a pair of my own.

COMFORT

I find the cushions on the ear-pieces and the head-band to be nice and soft. They have a velvet cloth covering them. Whatever the reason, these are definitely more comfortable than many headphones I use regularly. So there is a possibility that because I have spent so much time testing and using entry level headsets that these feel comfortable by comparison. Either way, I cannot report the pinching tightness that others here have written about.

I originally wondered if those complaining about excessive tightness had actually adjusted the headset arms out from the center band. They are adjustable, and mine seemed to adjust on their own when I put them on. But after reconsidering it, I actually shortened the band all the way and noticed that it seemed to relieve the pressure on the bottom of the earpads instead of increasing it. That was my first clue that my case was unique. Luckily these never felt tight on my head. I used to think I had an average sized to slightly large head. Perhaps my head is just smaller than the average. So as far as tightness goes, I think the adjustable bands may only help a little. If these feel too tight, you really need to stretch out the band by opening this pair over something to relieve the tightness. Opening them over a few books and leaving them for a day or two would probably work well for that purpose. Try to expand out the earphones as far as you can, and if that doesn’t work I recommend having a friend with a larger head wear them for a while before you do.

SOUND

Sound quality is a subjective area. I tried these both with and without the Dolby digital USB dongle. Without the USB dongle, it’s hard for me not to notice that the sound quality was very average. Even my cheap pair of standby music headphones, the Sennheiser HD201 Headphones sound louder and clearer at the same volume settings. So for multi-media use, these are underwhelming using standard connections.

However, with the Dolby USB dongle the sound quality really does come alive for gaming. I was half expecting that dongle to have no impact, because it looks somewhat like a gimmick. Originally, I noticed that the sound didn’t improve on one of my laptops while it was noticably better on another. My first assumption was that the dongle required input from a system with a Dolby capable sound-card. Most new systems are Dolby capable, but you have to make sure it is activated. Now it seems like people are implying that the dongle itself has a Dolby processor in it. That surprises me because of the limited power output of USB2.0, but the truth is I am not exactly sure why the Dolby sound was so much better on the one system verus the other. I will have to look into this a little more.

It may depend what kind of game you are playing, but for FPS it seemed to make a noticeable difference. I still use a different set of headphones for music, but for gaming you almost have to use the Dolby in order to justify this purchase. So if you don’t notice a difference between the standard stereo sound and the sound with the USB dongle, rest assured that something needs to be adjusted because it should sound better.

MICROPHONE

The microphone worked fine for me. Once again, I was definitely sensitive to reports that the microphone was not very well situated for voice. I don’t use the mic often, but I have a recording application on my PC that I used to test the mic. It sounded good. I would make sure that there are no software issues distoring your mic if you have problems. If that is not it, you may want to replace your set as you likely just got a dud.

CONCLUSION

I have suffered the head-pinching feeling with other headsets before, so I don’t know why these didn’t bother me as much. All the warnings had me hyper sensitive to that aspect, but these headphones definitely were more comfortable than I…

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spectacular, October 4, 2005

I just tried these ‘phones on with my iPod in the Sony store

they are DEFINITELY much better than the 0 Bose

here are the pros -

1. Sound Quality — terrific sound quality — I almost forgot I was standing in a store, because I was so wrapped up by how great my tunes were sounding

2. Noise Cancelling — definitely makes a difference here – there is more pureness and depth within each tune, once cancelling is on —– however, the headphones still sound great even without Noise Cancelling on

3. Comfort —- the ear-cups on these things are terrific! I hated how the 0 Bose had a type of ‘suction’ element to them – these cups wrap around real nicely, closing in on your ear, but making it fine to rest your head upon them, as well

4. MONITOR BUTTON — this was really cool! These ‘phones have a button on the side (a sliver button) that upon being pressed, the music is elimated and all outside noises are allowed in —– thus, if someone approaches to talk to you, you can just press the monitor button and talk back, without even taking your ‘phones off

5. Detachable Cable —- I liked this — these ‘phones won’t get caught up in cable binds

6. Built in battery — not much to add here

7. Adjustments —- the ‘phones are easy to adjust and manuever

CONS —- sadly, a few cons

1. Portability —- the ‘phones are small enough to put in a briefcase, backpack, and most laptop bags…… however, they don’t fold up —- rather, they become flat, but the middle doesn’t fold in any way —- so they are not as easy to pack, as most headphones

2. Comfort/FIT —— personally, I have a BIG head, and one reason I abandoned my 0 Bose is because the snug fit gave me horrible headaches….. sadly, this Sony set seems to do the same —- if you don’t have this problem with other headphones though, then I doubt you’d have it with this one

otherwise though, for 0, these ‘phones are a bargain!

Definitely an upgrade in sound quality over Sony’s previous models —– and definitely even BETTER in sound quality, compared to the 0 Bose

HAPPY LISTENING!!!!!

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Noise reduction pretty good, depth of sound questionable, June 8, 2005

I recently purchased the MDR-NC50 headphones (~9) as an upgrade for Aiwa HP-CN6 noise canceling headphones purchased in the fall of 2003 (~). I’ve used the HP-CN6 on many flights. I also recently purchased Centrios noise canceling headphones for a family member (~). I haven’t tried Bose’s headphones yet.

Of the three headphones, the new Sony headphones do the best job at noise cancellation and are the most comfortable, while the Centrios doesn’t appear to knock out as much noise as the Aiwa. In addition, while you can typically hear some white noise when noise cancellation is in effect, the Sony headphone’s white noise sound is definitely much quieter than Aiwa and Centrios. The Aiwa’s white noise seems to be the loudest. You can appreciate the difference if you listen to quieter sections of music. For example, with the MDR-NC50 while listening to Mozart’s Horn Concerto #1, you definitely are not distracted by the white noise as you are with the HP-CN6.

Regarding a previous reviewer’s comments about audio volume being significantly less, I would have to agree. I tested the headphones with an iPod and a Roland electronic piano. The output was disappointing compared to both the Aiwa and Centrios. I also compared them to some old standard Pioneer SE-305 headphones. Even when you crank up the volume to 100% on the iPod while using the MDR-NC50, it still seems you lose out on some of the music. Using the Horn Concerto as an example, there are sections where the bass of the cellos appears muted in comparison to the other headphones. There doesn’t seem to be as much depth of sound while using the MDR-NC50s. From this perspective, ranking the headphones for subjective audio quality, from best to worst, I would have to say Pioneer, Aiwa, Sony, then the Centrios. I rank the Sony headphones before the Centrios, because sound seemed more muddled with the Centrios headphones. In addition, the Centrios seems to have trouble voicing the highest octave notes from the Roland electronic piano, while all the others, including the MDR-NC50 had no trouble.

Regarding a previous reviewer’s comments on “howling”, the Aiwa’s user instructions also stated the same thing. I haven’t heard any howling from either Aiwa’s or Sony’s headphones. I have tried putting on the heaphones backwards, skewed, etc., and haven’t had any problems.

In conclusion, I think for an airplane environment and at a reasonable price point, the Sony headphones are probably a good trade-off between noise cancellation and audio reproduction. For pop and rock music it’s OK. However, the depth of sound and volume issues are disappointing, in particular for classical music. The MDR-NC50 is as comfortable as my standard Pioneer set. Price wise, the MDR-NC50 is probably reasonable between 5 to 0.

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Geez … what’s all the whining about?, February 13, 2006

By 

Mark R. Wietstock – See all my reviews

  

About a month ago, I had my Bose QC2 headset (along with my MP3 player and 1GB CF card) stolen from among other personal belongings at a western states airport. Devastated, I dreaded the prospect of shelling out ANOTHER 0 to “Dr. Bose” for a replacement set of his mystical noise-canceling cans.

As luck would have it, however, both the Bose headset and the Sony headset are available as redemption “rewards” under a popular credit card that I typically use when I travel. At that time, I had accumulated enough “points” on my account to get the Sony headset, but I needed another 8,000 or so to get the Bose headset. At the rate I accumulate “points,” waiting to get enough points for the Bose set would have taken many months, and I just couldn’t wait that long to replace my noise-canceling cans. So … I decided to take a chance and get the Sony cans instead. Now that I have received the Sony headset and put them through their paces, I don’t regret my decision at all. I found the Sony headset to be a perfectly acceptable alternate to the Bose cans, and here’s why.

I used the Bose cans for about two years, and they were, in a word, EXCELLENT. Until now, because I was so supremely satisfied with the Bose cans, I never compared them to other noise-canceling headphones, but I absolutely loved their sound quality, particularly at the bottom end. I don’t think anyone has ever even matched Bose’s patented bass emulation technology, much less beaten it. In terms of bass response alone, the Bose cans flat-out kicked butt on my new Sony cans. From bottom to top, the dynamic spectrum also seemed a little better integrated in the Bose cans than in the Sonys.

However, that’s about it. The construction of the Sonys is FAR superior to that of the Bose. More meaty and solid head support, extenders, and earcups; firmer, thicker ear and head cushions; a little bit heavier than the Bose set, but not much. I’m a pretty big guy, so all these features are “money” to me. I like my audio stuff big, strong and solid.

In fact, about a year after I got my first set of Bose cans, one of the plastic brackets at the point where the extender comes out of the headrest broke. To their credit, when I complained to Bose, they gave me an RMA and replaced my entire headset, no questions asked. Bose standing up for their product like that was definitely cool, but let’s face it … a headset as expensive as the QC2′s should never have broken like that in the first place. Bose is making a KILLING on these headphones by having them manufactured with cheap labor in China, but they are not passing on one cent of their profits/savings to their customers in the form of reduced price. All the more reason to try the Sonys, and to tell Dr. Bose to take his overpriced cans and shove ‘em.

The Sony cans are operable with the noise-canceling feature turned on, or off. There is no such option with the Bose cans. However, there is a DRAMATIC difference in performance between the active (noise-canceling on) and the passive (noise-canceling off) modes in the Sony cans. For example, in active mode, the resistance level of the Sony cans is 40 ohms. Since Bose doesn’t publish specifications for its headphones, it’s impossible to know for sure if this level of resistance is comparable to the Bose set. However, judging from the volume levels I became used to in listening to my MP3 player, I would guess that if the resistance level of the Bose headset isn’t exactly 40 ohms, it’s somewhere pretty close to that, because I found the sound levels and dynamic range pretty near equal in both headsets, at every volume level on my audio player.

The noise-canceling function in the Sony set is every bit as good as the Bose set, if not better. I often found quite a bit of ambient noise audible through the Bose set. With the Sonys, a greater spectrum of ambient noise seemed to be effectively eliminated.

In terms of music playback, in active mode, the highs were crystalline and transparent, the mids, solid and well-defined. The bass response was warm and full, but not as punchy and tight as I would have preferred, or to be more accurate, as I had become accustomed to with the Bose. However, I was able to substantially tighten it up with a few simple EQ adjustments in my player, and I then found myself completely satisfied with the bass response in the Sonys.

In passive mode, however, the bass practically disappears, and the rest of the dynamics thin out considerably. That is due to the fact that in passive mode, the resistance level in the Sony cans jumps up to 100 ohms. For most portable audio players, pushing sound through 100 ohms resistance is something like pushing a golf ball through a garden hose. That doesn’t mean the headphones are somehow “defective,” or that they stop working! It just means that if you intend to use these headphones in passive mode, you need to…

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Good Headset for the Nokia E71x, October 8, 2009

By 

Ben Wong (Mequon, WI USA) – See all my reviews

  

I needed a pair of headphones for the Nokia E71x. This phone does not work with a lot of the 2.5 mm headphones/headsets out there. I found that you will only get sound from one side. This is one of the few ones that will work properly with this phone. Since I am not looking for great sound, just something so I can listen to music or talk hands free, this one fits the bill. If you are listening to music when a call comes in, it will get automatically interrupted and you can listen and talk using the headset without having to take it off. Quite convenient.

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This works perfectly for the Nokia E71x or any phone with a UHJ jack, September 24, 2009

This is a fantastic stereo headset with mic for people with 2.5 mm UHJ-type headphone jacks on their cell phone. I just got my pair from new egg and it works perfectly on my Nokia E71x with AT&T. I get sound in both ears and the mic works fine

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Good headphone, comfortable to wear, January 9, 2007

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Sean Lee (New York, USA) – See all my reviews

  

It’s a good little headphone. I use it on the BlackBerry Pearl, and it works like a charm. The ear plugs are surprisingly comfortable, even for long conference calls. I would definitely recommend it for its value.

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