SonyMDREX15AP In-Ear Earbud Headphones with Mic, Black (MDREX15AP/B)

I have literally been buying these for over 10yrs. I don't even remember how I got the original pair, but they lasted a super long time just using them for music at school. I use them to sleep because the wireless ones are 1. expensive and 2. constantly get lost. the description says "tangle free," which I realize now I've never had tangling be an issue. I get new ones about every 1/2 - 1 year.they will hold up for longer than you expect if you use them for normal use instead of sleeping on them every day like I do. the cord will probably develop an issue where you have to have it a certain way or one of the earbuds will go quiet. this doesn't really matter to me since I'm a side-sleeper and only use one anyways. it's also not a big deal at all if you're at a desk or something.I have Letshuoer S12 pro wired earbuds and wireless Galaxy Buds Pro 2. obviously these do not compare at all to them, however I'm not offended whenever I go from listening to music with the S12s to listening to random YouTube videos with these. the main issue I can see anyone having with these is that the cord noise can be distracting while you're moving around if you're not used to tuning it out. the sound is not insane, it's just really good for being $10. there is no tinny noise to me and I can see someone making them sound a lot better if you're into messing with audio settings. I would say they are very balanced in terms of sound, like they're not super bass-boosted or anything.while there may be better earbuds for music around the $20 price (Moondrop CHU II DSP), the combination of being extremely cheap (you won't cry when they break), lasting for long enough to not be annoying, having no notable annoyances while just listening to stuff, and how lightweight & comfortable they are makes me recommend them to everyone - ESPECIALLY if you're mainly listening to YouTube videos.

> MUSIC QUALITY – The sound-quality of music using the Sony MDREX15LP is very good – with typical earbud base. That’s just a matter of physics, earbud drivers are simply to small to produce good base. ("Base boosted" earbuds produce louder base (which smothers the high- and mid-tones), but "loud" (lacking any detail) is not the same thing as "good"). Suggestion, use the earbuds when you are out, but purchase a Sony ZX headphone set for listening to music at home -- and enjoy the base.> VOICE QUALITY – Clean, clear and crisp in the voice-range, without fiddling with an equalizer – largely because the base is poor. So these (or similar) earbuds are clearly the choice for listening to audiobooks, podcasts, talking on your phone, etc. Listening to music, with base-rich music, can be very enjoyable -- but Sony ZX headphones produce far better base than any brand of earbuds, at any price.> Loud vs efficient. Sony MDREX15LP earbuds are very efficient --- the volume is loud at low volume settings -- not TOO loud, there is plenty of room for adjustment, but louder than many other earbuds and louder than most headsets, at the same volume settings. Practically speaking, "efficient" means that the earbuds do not drain the battery on your battery-operated device as quickly. "Efficient" is a good thing. Also, if you pay attention, you can usually lower the volume, and the sound quality will be just as good -- and your battery will last longer. Always play music at the lowest setting that you can hear well. Or you can crank up the volume and plan on being deaf by the time you are 50 --- 40 if you use garbage "base-boosted" earbuds.> EXERCISE, ETC – Stays in place better than most earbuds. But, if you engage in strenuous exercise, consider Panasonic ErgoFit, which fit deeper in your ear. The down side of the Panasonic ErgoFit is that they fit so securely that it is difficult to get them out of your ear quickly, to answer a phone, etc.> SYMMETRY – The Sony MDREX15L are close to being bilaterally symmetrical – It doesn’t really matter if you put the put the left earbud in your right ear, etc. However, the Panasonic ErgoFit are not, they fit deeper into the ear, and are shaped differently to match your right and left ear canals. It can take a while to get used to inserting the right Ergofit earbud into your right ear, and the left into the left.> ISOLATION – All truly in-the-ear earbuds, with cup-shaped rubber cushions, are good at reducing outside noise, better than headphones – often good enough for air travel (depending on the aircraft and the location of your seat). Many earbud brands claim to feature “noise cancellation” but do not actually have any noise cancellation circuitry. Passive isolation (such as provided by the Sony MDREX15LP earbuds), is NOT noise cancellation. Feedback reduction (on wi-fi earbuds with microphones) is often called noise cancellation, but isn't. Beware that while true noise cancellation works moderately well for aircraft engines (and similar sounds), it doesn’t work at all for screaming children or random noise. If your earbuds feel loose in your ear, you may need to install large cushions on the earbuds, to get them to seal in your ear canal good enough to provide good isolation.> COMFORT – The secret to comfort when using earbuds is to use the smallest cushions which work for you. Three sets, small, medium, and large are included with the Sony MDREX15LP earbuds. You might be most comfortable with smaller cushions. It a can also take a while to build up tolerance. So, if earbuds hurt your ears, build up slowly wearing them a little longer each day. It can take weeks to get to the point that you can wear them all day long without pain. Changing, or replacing, earbud cushions is easy -- just pull the cushion off, and push the new one (or cleaned one) back on.> PLUG – The plug is angled, at 90 degrees, unfortunately. If you pull on the cord, you won't easily pull the plug out the socket, but you will put on strain on the cord (where the cord attaches to the plug), and potential damage it. In my experience, this is how most headphones fail.> PACKAGING – The Sony MDREX15LP earbuds that I purchased came in wonderful frustration–free packaging — in a small plastic bag in a small easy-to-open cardboard box. But, I can’t promise that you won’t get a horrible retail anti-theft pack. Amzn used to promote and feature frustration-free packaging -- but, sadly, doesn't anymore.> SLEEPING – The Sony MDREX15L don’t stick out as far as some other brands, and so, may be more comfortable when resting with your head to the side (or inside a helmet). Panasonic ErgoFit fit deeper in the ear, and are a little more comfortable in such situations. APTEK offers a nice earbud set for sleeping that is even smaller–but the cushion is built-in, so you can’t choose the cushion size. However, even with the APTEKs, I cannot comfortably sleep with an earbud in the ear that is on the pillow. My solution – I just use one earbud in the ear that is NOT on the pillow. In fact, I recycle earbud sets where one earbud has failed, by cutting the failed earbud off, and using the working earbud, shifting the earbud from ear to ear if I change sides.> TIP – CLEANING EARBUDS – The build up of earwax is a serious problem. It can actually muffle and distort or block the sound, and when it gets that bad, effective cleaning is difficult or impossible. The best and simplest strategy is to take a look at your earbuds every few days, and vigorously scratch/flick the open hole of the cushion several times. That breaks loose the wax into flakes, which you can then just blow away. Wiping (such as with a Q-tip) doesn’t work so well (unless you take the cushions off, clean them, and reinstall them), because wiping with a Q-tip may just grind wax into the little screen in front of the speakers, which is then impossible to clean. Caveat, Sony MDREX15L earbud cup-cushions are a slightly different shape from other brands, with a smaller hole, and seems to collect less earwax -- even so, regularly checking and clearing earwax is a good thing to do.

The Sony MDREX15AP In-Ear Earbuds are an affordable option for those looking for simple, no-frills wired earbuds. The sound quality is decent for the price, with clear mids and highs, though the bass is a bit lacking. The earbuds are lightweight and comfortable for extended use, but the build quality feels somewhat flimsy. The inline microphone is a nice addition for calls, but it picks up background noise easily. Overall, these are a solid choice for casual listening or as backup earbuds, but don't expect premium audio quality