Are you used to listening to music everywhere - on the street, in transport, even at work? Consequently, you have to carry your in-ear headphones with you all the time. This accessory is quite capricious - constantly tangles, gives out sound interference and quickly fails. And you have not tried the model Sony MDR XB50AP?
It won the sympathy of audiophiles with its quality sound and usability. Our review tells about all the nuances of the device and its "competitors" - in-ear headphones costing up to 2000 rubles.
Set and design
The device is delivered in classic packaging - a cardboard box with a handle. The headphones are placed in a plastic liner. In addition to them, the set includes instructions, 4 pairs of rubber ear cushions of different sizes and a textile case with ties.
The style of the device is laconic, with a touch of futurism. The casings are elongated and narrowed to the bottom. The speakers are slightly off to the side. The outer parts of the cups are decorated with the brand name Sony and the round pads of chrome-plated plastic with a concentric pattern.
The cable is symmetrical, 1.2 m long, equipped with an L-shaped gold-plated plug. The flat, ribbed surface eliminates wire entanglement. It has a length limiter and microphone control box.
The headset is available in 5 colors - black, white, red, blue and yellow. Color accents are made on the wire, metal inserts and ear cushions. In terms of design, only Sennheiser CX200 Street II can compete with Sony - strict and at the same time original headphones. In terms of comfort, the Yurbuds Inspire 100 has the edge - it stays in your ears more securely, so it's more suitable for sports.
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Sound Quality
The device uses 12mm diameter neodymium drivers. They have a considerable volume margin, so the headphones can be used in public transport.
The range of frequencies that the headphones produce is unusually wide for an in-ear headphone, from 4 to 24000 Hz. The model has the letters XB in the marking that stand for "ectra-bass". The sound completely corresponds to the name - it has a deepened low frequencies. This feature gives special expressiveness to rap and rock compositions.
However, the bass amplification slightly degrades the sound detail. The midrange and high-range frequencies sound slightly muffled, which impoverishes jazz and classical music. For these genres, the Xiaomi Mi In-Ear Headphones Pro HD in-ear headphones with accentuated "tops" are preferable.
Features
The device is designed for use with portable players and the latest versions of mobile gadgets. It is wired and requires no additional software installation.
The device is controlled with a remote control on the left earpiece wire. On the back of the unit there is a microphone for phone conversations. On the front there is a button to switch tracks, pause and answer calls.
It is not possible to adjust the volume with the remote, you have to use the functionality of the phone or player for this. In this respect, Sony is inferior to many "rivals", such as Samsung EO-HS3303 WE - this model has a separate button "plus / minus" to control the volume.
Comfort
The housings of headphones are quite large, which creates certain difficulties with carrying. The instructions for the device warn you to insert the earmolds into the ear canals in a straight line only. It is necessary to remove the headphones with a smooth scrolling motion, without jerking, otherwise you can damage your ears.
Despite the large cups, the device can fall out with sudden movements. To avoid this, it is important to choose the size of the ear cushions carefully. Often the headset causes fatigue after 3-4 hours of wearing it. It is especially uncomfortable to use it with a headband.
In terms of comfort, Sony is inferior to cheaper competitor SounMagic PL30. These Chinese "earmuffs" are equipped with ear cushions made of memory foam plastic that takes the shape of the ears.
Advantages and disadvantages
Music lovers appreciate the quality of Sony MDR speakers, the volume and spectacular bass.
Here are a few more important advantages of the device:
- Excellent noise isolation. It allows you to listen to music in the subway, on a noisy street, watch movies at home without disturbing the family.
- Reliable cable. Thanks to the strong seals, it does not break at the plug.
- Microphone quality. It provides phone conversations without sound interference.
At the same time we can note a number of disadvantages:
- Build quality. After 7-8 months. use erase brand logos and paint from the housing, weaken the seals on the wire.
- Poor functionality. Music settings and even volume adjustment have to be done in the equalizer.
- Limited compatibility. With gadgets released before 2015, the headphones hardly work.
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Conclusion
The Sony MDR XB50AP model is aimed at the youth and teen audience. The exterior design blends in with modern fashion styles. The sound range with programmatic frequency undercutting is suitable for listening to genres popular with young audiophiles - rap, electronic music, hard bass and dub-step.
The Xiaomi Mi In-Ear Headphones Pro can be considered a serious competitor to Sony. It gives a sound with rich bass and no less spectacular "tops. Sennheiser IE4 in-ear headphones have an even richer sound, but they cost 1.5 thousand rubles more.
Experienced users say that the sound of Sony MDR depends on the gadget - the more powerful the sound card, the better the headphones play. It also helps to "warm up" beforehand: immediately after purchasing the device should play music for at least 4 hours in a row. After that you need to make adjustments with the equalizer.
Sony MDR XB50AP is recommended for everyday wear for walks and transport. For training, the model is not suitable because of the peculiar shape and large size.
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