SonyMDRZX100 ZX Series Stereo Headphones (White)

I don't give 5 stars lightly, but this is about as good a deal as I've seen on headphones in a long time. I got these for a little under $16 (as Prime) and they were well worth that price. I do a lot of live sound work and I tried these because our videographer asked me for something low-end to monitor the audio feed I was sending him. He asked for "closed cans" because he wanted to isolate the feed from the ambient sound in the room. The Amazon description doesn't confirm that, so I went to the Sony site, which had them listed as "Closed supra-aural", so I took a shot. About the only negative thing I can say about these is that they are not true closed cup headphones, but with their noise canceling feature, they still served our purpose.The Amazon description is accurate, though lacking some information I would have liked to know up front. The answers to my questions were all pleasant surprises. The nicest surprise is that the 1/8" plug at the end of the cable is a 90-degree molded plug, with the typical crimp protection for molded plugs. If you work with as much live sound as I do, you know that 99% of all cable failures occur at the plug. The wires inside these cables are tiny, and repairing them is a major pain, so a failure usually means ditching the cable (or in this case, the headphones). A 90-degree plug goes a long way towards reducing the chance of failure because it keeps the cord in a low vertical profile to the jack it plugs into, and also reduces the amount of bend when the cable hangs down. The molded cover for the plug is slightly tapered where it meets the actual metal stem, which allowed it to fit securely into my iPhone jack without hitting the case. This is where I've seen many 1/8" plugs fail. Another pleasant surprise was that the cable, which is just under 4 ft long, has a nice, thick jacket, which can also be helpful in prolonging the life of the internal wires.The actual headphones were quite comfortable and light. These are "on the ear" phones because the cups are not large enough to be "over the ear", so if you need that level of isolation, these are not the ones for you. A few reviewers have mentioned the red band to help you quickly identify the right ear, but the headband also has a small "pimple" molded on the left side to help you identify the orientation by touch once you're wearing them. Not a big thing, but a nice touch.Audio quality was fine; especially for under $20. I often find the cheaper phones either over-accentuate bass (unnaturally), or are very bright. These seem to have a very accurate reproduction of the input. I was working with our videographer to chase down an annoying hum in the audio from the camera, and when we finally got it eliminated, he turned to me and said "These sound great. They'll do fine." Because I'm a bit obsessive about audio, I asked to hear, and they did sound just like the audio feed I was sending him. Since they aren't true isolation cups, I had to attribute the clean sound to the quality of the noise cancellation feature, since there was over 80db of ambient sound at the time. Keep in mind, these are less than $20.Some final tidbits for those who care about these things. The plug is a true 1/8" plug and it does NOT come with an adapter for 1/4" jacks. It also appears that the noise cancellation logic struggles when the input signal is low. This may be the "distant" or "muddy" sound cited by some other reviewers. I experienced the same thing with my initial tests before realizing the unit I had plugged into was actually sending a lower signal than normal. When I switched to other devices (including my iPhone) which put out stronger signals, the sound was crisp and clean. Some may also find the 4 ft cord a bit short, which would be true if you need to move around a stationary object while wearing them. For my specific need (in this case) or something like a mobile phone in your pocket, this is ideal because you don't have a lot excess wire swinging around. The unit also apparently has a lithium ion battery, but I did not see an obvious way to change it out. I'm sure this is to power the noise cancellation circuitry, so if it goes out, the cost of the battery will probably be about half the cost of replacing the headphones - and you'll probably have to tear them open to change it. Remember, $15. And finally, a curious statement printed on the back of the package: "If you use the headphones with WALKMAN that has a noise canceling function, the noise canceling function will not work." Curious, since Walkman is a Sony trademark.In conclusion, a great deal (in my opinion), with some nice touches. I've generally been happy with the Sony products I've used, but often found them a bit pricier than similar options. These headphones were a great value for the price.

This is what a good pair of cheap "studio" headphones is supposed to sound like. The Sony MDR series is precisely why brands like Skullcandy and Beats are a total waste of money. Get a pair today, give them an honest chance, and they will forever be your go-to for a cheap set of headphones.Summary:-These headphones do precisely what a set of studio headphones should. I had these headphones on while playing a game, and when I took them off I realized a major rainstorm was happening. This is amazing sound dampening, for such a cheap set of headphones. These are "the" headphones for if you need some music while you study, if you're on a budget. These headphones aren't sound canceling, you will hear background noise if you're looking for it, but the moment you're focused on your audio you'll swear these headphones are worth twice the price.Pros:-Good sound dampening. When you need to block out the background sounds of dorm life or the city while you're doing your own thing, these headphones do a wonderful job with general noise. I doubt they're good enough for a plane, but for a dorm or most bus rides you should be very isolated.-Good sound, with good bass. Things with a lot of high-end treble (audiobooks, low-quality mp3) don't sound too tinny or washed out. Things with lots of bass (movies, dance music) have good punch. The overall range is quite good and quite balanced, with a nod toward the heavy/dynamic range.-Good comfort. The ear cups feel a little plasticky going on, but get a couple songs into an album and you'll forget they're on.-Good build. My first set got me through most of a three-year stint at college before my continued abuse of the wires finally shorted out one ear. For this price, that's fine. Be gentle with these headphones and they'll reward you with a good life.Cons:-The wiring feels a bit heavy when you're focused on it, despite the wires not being all that durable. It's not something you'll notice during seated use, but when you move it feels awkward.-There is no tactile marker for which side is right or left, and the "L" and "R" are difficult to see in any light so I forget which one has the red marker. If one side just had a nub or braille I'd have a much easier time making sure they were on the right way (and this would also make them friendly for the blind).While I save up my money for that set of top-of-the-line studio headphones I've always wanted, my MDRs are my go-to headphone for when I want to immerse myself in audio. They're cheap enough that I don't have to worry when I take them on trips, but at the same time they're good enough for when I want to really listed to that Pink Floyd album I've been meaning to give a spin. Recommended for students, audiophiles, and gamers on a budget. Not recommended for jogging thanks to the heavy cables.