Sony MDR-EX500LP

Product Survey: In-Ear Headphones

Sony isn't really a major player in the market for in-ear headphones. However, on more than one occasion, the Japanese manufacturer has surprised us with high-quality, low-priced products that have the added advantage of being widely available. Sony's earphones look to have been flipped round 90° compared with the classic in-ear headphone design. This makes the earphones slimmer, and thus a good choice for users with smaller ears. The earphones come with a pair of classic silicone ear-buds and a semi-rigid case, in which the cable can be wound up for easy storage. It'll certainly keep your earphones safe, even if it is a tad on the large side. Apart from that, no other accessories are included. For a mid-range pair of earphones that are even listed as a 'Premium' product on Sony's US website, that's a little bit cheeky. We would have at least expected a few extra ear-buds or a couple of adapters. Anyone who's used to handling in-ear earphones will be able to tell straight away that the Sony EX500LP feature traditional-style transducers. Typically, then, the bass and lower-to-middle sounds are powerful and surging, although not always handled as well as they could be.