Home :: Audio :: Headphones :: Portable Headphones  

In-Ear Headphones
Noise-Cancelling Headphones
Over-Ear Headphones
Portable Headphones

Wireless Headphones
Sony MDR-E818LP Fontopia In-Ear Headphones (Black)

Sony MDR-E818LP Fontopia In-Ear Headphones (Black)

List Price: $8.99
Your Price: $8.54
Product Info Reviews

<< 1 >>

Rating: 2 stars
Summary: Uncomfortable!
Review: Female ears may not be large enough to accomodate the ear piece.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Great listening, don't drop in yer coffee!!
Review: I had a great time at the office using these little incognito ear buds. One day, I need to keep an ear out for the phone and somehow I dropped one of the ear buds in my coffee. I tried to dry it out, but to no avail. it is now crackly and sounds bad. I guess I will buy another set!!

Rating: 1 stars
Summary: Art's miniDisc
Review: I made a mistake here.
The cloth covers for the earbuds tore while installing them (cheap)
The earbuds are very uncomfortable. They don't fit into my ears properly & keep falling out.
From what little I could hear from them the sound seems v. good.
I just can't use them... Too bad since they look great.

I'll have to find something else to use w/ mz-n510 ck MD unit. The supplied phones are really bad!!!


Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Great Earbuds!
Review: SONY's Fontopia Ear Bud Headphones provide a wide range of natural sound. They have a sleek black and silver finish, a Y-shaped cord that is a little over three feet long, and an L-shaped Stereo Mini Plug. The ultra compact headphones fit snugly, and comfortably, inside the ear, eliminating the need for a headband. The MDR-E818LPs come with slip-on ear pads. These are in a small plastic pouch hidden behind the cardboard insert in the clear packaging. Be careful when you first open the container, as it would be easy to throw out the ear pads by mistake.

These particular headphones would be especially good for movement -- such as while jogging, mowing the lawn, running, or lifting weights. They only weigh 5 grams. After a few minutes, you will scarcely notice you are wearing them. The Silent Cap on the ear buds stops sound leakage, so you're less likely to disturb someone sitting next to you while you enjoy your music. I use these with my laptop if someone else in the room is watching TV, or sometimes when I take my laptop out to a cafe, eatery, or Starbucks

The MDR-E818LPs use Neodymium Magnets for powerful bass, and clear treble in a compact design. Neodymium is far more powerful than conventional Samarium Cobalt or Aluminum Magnets, two other kinds of magnets commonly used in the production of headphones and other personal electronics. Neodymium is also common in the production of bass amps, boat speakers, car audio products, computer hard drives, flat panel speakers, game systems, microphones, motorcycle parts, mp3 jukebox players, and travel speakers, in addition to headphones.

Neodymium is not just some marketing tag invented by SONY either, I did some research on the internet and found out it is actually a rare earth metal, and can be found on the Periodic Table of Elements (60Nd). Neodymium is a component of didymium used for coloring glass to make welder's goggles, Neodymium salts are used as a colorant for enamel paints, Neodymium is also used to color glass in delicate shades ranging from pure violet through wine-red and warm gray, and Neodymium is also used in doped glass lasers. Neodymium is also used in electric switches, lense filters, junkyard magnets, phone receivers, refrigerator magnets, magnetic or non-magnetic screwdrivers, and a host of other everyday products you wouldn't suspect. Considering it is a "rare" earth metal, I'm surprised that it's used in so many products.

Other brands of bass amps, boat speakers, car audio products, computer hard drives, flat panel speakers, game systems, headphones, microphones, motorcycle parts, mp3 jukebox players, and travel speakers also make use of Neodymium, such as: Altec Lansing, Apple, Audio Technica, Boston Acoustic, Coby, Creative, Directed, Dynaudio Acoustics, Hitachi, JBL, Kenwood, Koss, Labtec, Microsoft, Morel, Panasonic, Philips, Pioneer, Polk, Sennheiser, Skylon, Stanton, Tech 21, and others. It's not like this feature is unique to SONY.

Neodymium Magnets are apparently the strongest that can be found. I couldn't find a really technically proficient explanation as to why Neodymium produces better sound, but after a little research, I'll accept that as fact.

These SONY Fontopia Headphones were Made in Korea. If you need to exchange them, they can be replaced through the SONY Parts Center in Kansas City, Missouri. SONY has a toll-free line for frequently asked questions. Dial 1-800-222-7669 if you need to know more about their products. If SONY can't answer your question over the phone, you can always write them at their SONY Direct Response Center in Fort Myers, Florida.

I'd just like to point out that these headphones are actually a replacement for an older pair of ear buds from SONY that I can no longer find, and as such were purchased from FYE for only $8.99. They are the best little pair of cheap ear buds you are likely to encounter.

Specifications:

Product Type: Headphones
Features: Silver-plated plug, L-shaped plug
Form Factor: Ear-bud
Frequency Response: 16 - 22,000Hz
Impedance: 16 ohms
Magnet: Neodymium
Power handling capacity: 50mW
Recommended Use: Portable Audio
Sensitivity: 104dB/mW
Weight: 5 grams

Recommended: Yes

Amount Paid (US$): 8.99

Rating: 4 stars
Summary: Nice Sound
Review: These buds sound great. My only complaint is the short cord since I listen from a PC not a personal player.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Highly recommended.
Review: Try as I might, I simply can't find headphones that match these for comfort, price, and performance. My data:
- the wireless over-ear models like MDRIF330RK have too much electrical and RF interference
- The Sony MDR-EX70LP can't be worn for hours at a stretch (the funky ear rubber covers are to blame)
- The street style Sony MDR-G57G don't have the low end response that these do.

I'm continuously blown away by how well these stack up against other models way out of its price range.

This wouldn't be an unbiased review without some shortcomings:
- they are easily jarred loose with lots of bodily movement (good for desk jockeys and rollerblading, not running)
- they don't come with extra foam ear covers. Lose one and they're worthless.


<< 1 >>

© 2004, ReviewFocus or its affiliates