Dissapointed with EX90s...

[nimbuscrenel]

So i just got some Sony EX90's yesterday and was really excited to try them out... but all I can say is wow, these are really disappointing. Maybe it's just me, but I think they sound really muddy. I wanted some earbuds with better highs than the cheap Philips HE590's I've been using, but I think the EX90's actually have worse highs than the HE590's! What's going on here? I even tried the Kramer mod (removing the screen from the sound tube) and it hasn't seemed to help much. I get good bass, and a lot of mids.... I seem to totally be missing the highs. Am I totally crazy here, how do HE590's sound better than EX90's?

EDIT!!!:
wow, i think i'm an idiot. i searched around a bit and i think the EX90's i got were fakes. at least they were really cheap, and i'm not going crazy- they really sounded like crap! for anyone who's interested here's a link to show the difference between the fakes and real ones:
Translated version of eBay Produktinfos - Sony MDR-EX 90 FAKES CAT:-1:LISTINGS:1

 

[milkpowder]

Welcome to Head-Fi!

Unfortunately, the EX90 is mediocre at best. Get some proper earphones like Etymotic, Shure, Westone, Ultimate Ears, etc...

Name your budget!

 

[nimbuscrenel]

i realize the EX90's are no where near the top the heap, but i really expected them to sound better than $20 headphones from WalMart....

i'm open to any recommendations in the sub $100 price-range (i realize this probably rules out the most popular phones around here). i want something with nice solid lows, and crisp highs.. isolation isn't that important

 

[wolfen68]

Get yourself some Koss KSC-75 or 35's and you'll see just how bad those Sonys are.

 

[soozieq]

The Denon C551 is about $100. I just got mine today (to go with my C700

) but haven't listened to them yet, although they're supposed to sound very similar. We'll see. . .

As for the EX90, I liked them when I had them (which wasn't for long because of the real lack of isolation) - but they don't sound nearly so good as the C700 and I'm assuming this will be true of the C551 as well. I'll know later.

 

[DKaz]

Well duh! They are Sony's!

Just kidding. Sony makes great electronics, but crappy speakers (and headphones) IMHO.

 

[nimbuscrenel]

Quote:

Originally Posted by wolfen68 /img/forum/go_quote.gif Get yourself some Koss KSC-75 or 35's and you'll see just how bad those Sonys are.

i haven't tried those, but i think they are in the same price range as the Philips HE590's i mentioned before which i think sound pretty darn good- better high's than the EX90's. i don't see much about the HE590's on here... anybody ever use them besides me?

 

[nimbuscrenel]

wow, i think i'm an idiot. i searched around a bit and i think the EX90's i got were fakes. at least they were really cheap, and i'm not going crazy- they really sounded like crap! for anyone who's interested here's a link to show the difference between the fakes and real ones:
Translated version of http://testberichte.ebay.de/Sony-MDR-EX-90-FAKES_W0QQugidZ10000000004647874?ssPageName=BUYGD: CAT:-1:LISTINGS:1

 

[ken36]

Welcome to Head-Fi!

This is much more about disappointment than triumph. We try and try to find the right sound and we do, for a while. Check out a few profiles and the for sale forums. We seem to sell a Lot.

 

[stacker45]

I wouldn't be suprised if they are fakes,because i like mine very much,and i'm sure i'm not the only one,i also think that some peoples tend to exagerrate a bit when they write their opinions

 

[wolfen68]

Quote:

Originally Posted by nimbuscrenel /img/forum/go_quote.gif i haven't tried those, but i think they are in the same price range as the Philips HE590's i mentioned before which i think sound pretty darn good- better high's than the EX90's. i don't see much about the HE590's on here... anybody ever use them besides me?

KSC-75's can be found for around $15. Search in the forums and you'll see that they have an illustrious history here for that meager price.

Another option is a set of Yuin pK-2's which will cost you 5x more.

 

[milkpowder]

Judging by how the real EX90 sounds, I don't want to know how the fake ones sound

Seriously though, the EX90 are acceptable, but not worth the MSRP.

Give the KSC75 a try. Cheap and cheerful.

 

[dura]

Quote:

Originally Posted by nimbuscrenel /img/forum/go_quote.gif i realize the EX90's are no where near the top the heap, but i really expected them to sound better than $20 headphones from WalMart.... i'm open to any recommendations in the sub $100 price-range (i realize this probably rules out the most popular phones around here). i want something with nice solid lows, and crisp highs.. isolation isn't that important

I got the EX85, came with my Sony A808 DAP, they are supposed to sound almost the same as the EX90, and they sound like you desire, clear and crisp with bass. Not perfect and not my taste, but certainly not bad.

 

[jayinhk]

I absolutely love mine. I was just lounging in the park eating a sandwich, and now I'm in Starbucks. I have some time to kill before I have to go back to work, and I knew I had to post about how much I love the airy sound of these bad boys. IMO they're seriously underrated.

Live recordings sound amazing on them. In comparison, my HD-280s sound like crap.