gshan
Headphoneus Supremus
- Joined
- Feb 11, 2005
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Please note: I love EX's- I've owned ex70s, and now the 71s. They are very fun to listen to, and isolate just enough to drown out audible conversation completely, or at least into muffled mush (whatever that means, but u get the picture). On to my review...
The Packaging
Nothing special here besides being able to see all the main goods. Please note that Panasonics also come with 3 sets of buds, S/M/L. They look identical to Sonys, but feel maybe 25% flimsier? (Oftentimes I can't even tell the difference, to tell you the truth.) If you hold both brands' buds up to the light, the Panasonics will be slightly see-thru (in a translucent kind of way - the blackness turns a little bright grey). Sonys are still black throughout when seen next to light. Btw I did swap buds with brands, which was very easy to do since they are identical in design. I didn't notice any sonic differences right away, and chose to do this review of the HJE50's with it's native buds, ignoring that factor.
Back cover removed, revealing extension cord and a drawstring pouch. (A pouch is little better than EX71's included mini plastic box, but still not as useful as the also included driver housing with the EX71s:
It doesn't fit the RP-HJE50's =(.
Design and Construction
The Sony cords are smooth feeling, while running a finger along the Panasonic cords results in a lot of friction (it feels like rubbing the smooth side of an eraser). Both cords are a little stiff and bent at many places (due to packaging), but loosen up and straighten out after a few days of usage and hanging (I hang my earbuds up behind my door on little sticky hooks to keep them straight). Even though the Sony's are smooth to touch, they still tangle up just as easy as the Panasonics when stowed away in a pocket:
Untangling on a bus or while walking down the street is teh suck.
The outer shell of the EX71 is rubbery and flexible. The HJE50 is solid plastic. Both are very lightweight and cause no irritiation. When wearing either, the only thing I feel is slight (and soft) pressure from the silicone in my ear. And good news, EX7x fans! - RP-HJE50's have a metallic piece in the outer casing that is just as shiny and cool* looking as the EX's! (*Please note that not everyone will think shiny earing-like headphones are cool looking, but I sure do.
)
A little joint comparison for ya'll. Sony's looks more flashy and maybe even more "expensive" looking depending on taste, however the HJE-Y looks more solidly built because it appears as if the three cords and centerpiece are melted into one. Who knows what's going on beneath the Sony silver hood =).
Panasonic mini-plug on top, and a little bigger. The Panasonic extension cord is also 2.5" longer than the Sony one. The "short-length" between joint and mini plug is about the same length between both designs. Panasonic left-ear length is 2.5" longer than Sony's, and the right-ear (behind the neck) cord is 5" longer than Sony's. (The right-ear/neck cord sounds extremely long, but it hasn't bothered me one bit. It's probably because the cord is already pretty darn long.) Btw in the third picture to the far right, the Panasonic extension female end at top, Sony one bottom. All 4 male plugs are gold plated.
Whoosh I need a break, but the REVIEW MUST GO ON...must not let fellow head-fiers and GoofyFoot down...
(drum roll) and now...The Sound
I tried to be as honest as possible with this Panasonic review/comparison with the Sony's. I purchased and auditioned the RP-HJE50s for about a week and a half, for a few hours a day minimum. Here's the gear I used:
Sony MDR-EX71SL ($45 USD paid)
Panasonic RP-HJE50 ($20 USD paid)
-and-
Along with the RCA mini splitter, I did tests on the flash player with songs by A>B-ing carefully selected song excerpts (whether it be vocal, heavy beats, instrumental, etc.). I will not list general conclusions till the end, but one warning first - BOTH the EX71 and RP-HJE50 have a slight static sound when plugged into my Chaintech AV710 and IRiver flash player during moments of silence in songs or during soft vocals/instrumentals. The EX71 static is so quiet that I can barely hear it when I'm in a quiet room, so naturally I did not even notice it until I did this comparison with the HJE's. The HJE static, however, is easily noticeable when in a quiet room, or listening to low volumes/soft music. Here's the good part: Use the Panasonics in an area with just a little bit of ambience (ex: in the street, on a bus) and you'll no longer notice the static. If you listen to heavy beated music, or rock/pop/dance, or simply some sort of continuously flowing sound (even classical works) you'll also not take notice to static.
alright already, talk about the sound!-
First, I will tell you my impressions with specific songs (and the type of music they are associated with):
1. Revolution and Tekn - Do You Know (female vocal trance, breakbeat) [2xx kbps, VBR]
-Both have a lot of bass, and performed well for this genre. The Sony's bass was slightly muffled sounding compared to HJE's.
-The beat and vocals are clearly separate sounds with the Panasonics, while the EX's present vocals that are slightly veiled in sound, and slightly recessed. The beats and thumping are closer to front stage here on the Sony's. I keep using the term "slightly", because it really is slightly in my ears (and mind).
-Overall sound is slightly muffled on the EX71s. The vocals might sound better if not for the spotlight hogging bass.
2. Josh Groban - Mi Mancherai (male vocal, opera-ish) [192 kbps]
-The orchestral violin intro. brought out the shame of the Panasonics: you could clearly hear a little static hiss in the background. However, the Panasonics seemed to present a more full, clear, and natural sounding instrumental. I also found out that the RP-HJE50 present louder sound than the EX71s. I increased the volume by two notches when using the EX71's for a better comparison. Upping the volume on the Sony's definitely increased some overall detail in the music, but clarity was still not on par with Panasonic. Things just seem slightly veiled.
3. Josh Groban - Caruso (same stuff) [192 kbps]
-This is a fairly quiet song compared to the previous one because there is less constant music flowing. More obvious static and hiss from the Panasonics during quiet times.
-More notes taken that the Sony EX71 is quieter than the HJE's. Increasing volume helped with comparison once again.
-The high notes coming out of Josh on the Panasonics seem to go higher. There is a little more extension in vocals, and more impact on the high notes - Is this more natural sounding? - Depends on the listener I suppose. I'm not one to know how Josh sounds in person. (watched his concert on PBS, but don't remember too much about performance)
4. Boyz II Men - Thank You (R&B, fast a-cappella with beats) [2xx kbps, VBR]
-Sony vocals are noticeably veiled/muffled when in comparison. Bass is also less tight, and less controlled.
5. Sarah McLachlan - Adia (female vocal, alternative) [320kbps]
-This song was very hard to compare with. I A>B'd the same clip maybe 200 times. No kidding. I certainly have no golden ears, heh. There was no obvious recession in the vocals on the Sony's this time. It was very enjoyable on both earphones.
-Eventually I did find a slight difference though: On the Panasonics, Sarah's voice seemed to have a little more impact and slight extension, like in one of Josh's songs. It is not easily noticeably unless the vocals are monitored very closely.
6. Celine Dion & R. Kelly - Angel (female/male vocal) [320kbps]
-Celine's singing is very, very slightly veiled when the volume is cranked a little higher than normal listening level on the Sonys.
-The beats on both earphones sounded clean and tight, with the Sony's having a little more thump than the Panasonics.
Conclusion
The Panasonics are overall better sounding than the Sonys, based on my tests. Keep in mind all this was done with my own music, in my own formats, and listened off my own player. Things could sound a lot different with a another setup.
There is no way I can ever be called a Sony fanboy now. I officially love the Panasonic RP-HJE50s. For <$20 USD, they are definitely worth it. Why is there so much static noise? - I don't know, but I don't really care because I usually use these on the go and the ambience takes care of it nicely.
I'm not going to put my EX71s into a drawer. They are fun to listen with, and I will continue to use them. Mental and/or physical burn-in really works on them. They sound a lot better with time. The only problem now is to figure out how to share time between them and the HJE50's.
Got questions? - Let me know! And thanks for reading.
-gshan
The Packaging
Nothing special here besides being able to see all the main goods. Please note that Panasonics also come with 3 sets of buds, S/M/L. They look identical to Sonys, but feel maybe 25% flimsier? (Oftentimes I can't even tell the difference, to tell you the truth.) If you hold both brands' buds up to the light, the Panasonics will be slightly see-thru (in a translucent kind of way - the blackness turns a little bright grey). Sonys are still black throughout when seen next to light. Btw I did swap buds with brands, which was very easy to do since they are identical in design. I didn't notice any sonic differences right away, and chose to do this review of the HJE50's with it's native buds, ignoring that factor.
Back cover removed, revealing extension cord and a drawstring pouch. (A pouch is little better than EX71's included mini plastic box, but still not as useful as the also included driver housing with the EX71s:
It doesn't fit the RP-HJE50's =(.
Design and Construction
The Sony cords are smooth feeling, while running a finger along the Panasonic cords results in a lot of friction (it feels like rubbing the smooth side of an eraser). Both cords are a little stiff and bent at many places (due to packaging), but loosen up and straighten out after a few days of usage and hanging (I hang my earbuds up behind my door on little sticky hooks to keep them straight). Even though the Sony's are smooth to touch, they still tangle up just as easy as the Panasonics when stowed away in a pocket:
Untangling on a bus or while walking down the street is teh suck.
The outer shell of the EX71 is rubbery and flexible. The HJE50 is solid plastic. Both are very lightweight and cause no irritiation. When wearing either, the only thing I feel is slight (and soft) pressure from the silicone in my ear. And good news, EX7x fans! - RP-HJE50's have a metallic piece in the outer casing that is just as shiny and cool* looking as the EX's! (*Please note that not everyone will think shiny earing-like headphones are cool looking, but I sure do.
A little joint comparison for ya'll. Sony's looks more flashy and maybe even more "expensive" looking depending on taste, however the HJE-Y looks more solidly built because it appears as if the three cords and centerpiece are melted into one. Who knows what's going on beneath the Sony silver hood =).
Panasonic mini-plug on top, and a little bigger. The Panasonic extension cord is also 2.5" longer than the Sony one. The "short-length" between joint and mini plug is about the same length between both designs. Panasonic left-ear length is 2.5" longer than Sony's, and the right-ear (behind the neck) cord is 5" longer than Sony's. (The right-ear/neck cord sounds extremely long, but it hasn't bothered me one bit. It's probably because the cord is already pretty darn long.) Btw in the third picture to the far right, the Panasonic extension female end at top, Sony one bottom. All 4 male plugs are gold plated.
Whoosh I need a break, but the REVIEW MUST GO ON...must not let fellow head-fiers and GoofyFoot down...
(drum roll) and now...The Sound
I tried to be as honest as possible with this Panasonic review/comparison with the Sony's. I purchased and auditioned the RP-HJE50s for about a week and a half, for a few hours a day minimum. Here's the gear I used:
Sony MDR-EX71SL ($45 USD paid)
Panasonic RP-HJE50 ($20 USD paid)
-and-
Along with the RCA mini splitter, I did tests on the flash player with songs by A>B-ing carefully selected song excerpts (whether it be vocal, heavy beats, instrumental, etc.). I will not list general conclusions till the end, but one warning first - BOTH the EX71 and RP-HJE50 have a slight static sound when plugged into my Chaintech AV710 and IRiver flash player during moments of silence in songs or during soft vocals/instrumentals. The EX71 static is so quiet that I can barely hear it when I'm in a quiet room, so naturally I did not even notice it until I did this comparison with the HJE's. The HJE static, however, is easily noticeable when in a quiet room, or listening to low volumes/soft music. Here's the good part: Use the Panasonics in an area with just a little bit of ambience (ex: in the street, on a bus) and you'll no longer notice the static. If you listen to heavy beated music, or rock/pop/dance, or simply some sort of continuously flowing sound (even classical works) you'll also not take notice to static.
alright already, talk about the sound!-
First, I will tell you my impressions with specific songs (and the type of music they are associated with):
1. Revolution and Tekn - Do You Know (female vocal trance, breakbeat) [2xx kbps, VBR]
-Both have a lot of bass, and performed well for this genre. The Sony's bass was slightly muffled sounding compared to HJE's.
-The beat and vocals are clearly separate sounds with the Panasonics, while the EX's present vocals that are slightly veiled in sound, and slightly recessed. The beats and thumping are closer to front stage here on the Sony's. I keep using the term "slightly", because it really is slightly in my ears (and mind).
-Overall sound is slightly muffled on the EX71s. The vocals might sound better if not for the spotlight hogging bass.
2. Josh Groban - Mi Mancherai (male vocal, opera-ish) [192 kbps]
-The orchestral violin intro. brought out the shame of the Panasonics: you could clearly hear a little static hiss in the background. However, the Panasonics seemed to present a more full, clear, and natural sounding instrumental. I also found out that the RP-HJE50 present louder sound than the EX71s. I increased the volume by two notches when using the EX71's for a better comparison. Upping the volume on the Sony's definitely increased some overall detail in the music, but clarity was still not on par with Panasonic. Things just seem slightly veiled.
3. Josh Groban - Caruso (same stuff) [192 kbps]
-This is a fairly quiet song compared to the previous one because there is less constant music flowing. More obvious static and hiss from the Panasonics during quiet times.
-More notes taken that the Sony EX71 is quieter than the HJE's. Increasing volume helped with comparison once again.
-The high notes coming out of Josh on the Panasonics seem to go higher. There is a little more extension in vocals, and more impact on the high notes - Is this more natural sounding? - Depends on the listener I suppose. I'm not one to know how Josh sounds in person. (watched his concert on PBS, but don't remember too much about performance)
4. Boyz II Men - Thank You (R&B, fast a-cappella with beats) [2xx kbps, VBR]
-Sony vocals are noticeably veiled/muffled when in comparison. Bass is also less tight, and less controlled.
5. Sarah McLachlan - Adia (female vocal, alternative) [320kbps]
-This song was very hard to compare with. I A>B'd the same clip maybe 200 times. No kidding. I certainly have no golden ears, heh. There was no obvious recession in the vocals on the Sony's this time. It was very enjoyable on both earphones.
-Eventually I did find a slight difference though: On the Panasonics, Sarah's voice seemed to have a little more impact and slight extension, like in one of Josh's songs. It is not easily noticeably unless the vocals are monitored very closely.
6. Celine Dion & R. Kelly - Angel (female/male vocal) [320kbps]
-Celine's singing is very, very slightly veiled when the volume is cranked a little higher than normal listening level on the Sonys.
-The beats on both earphones sounded clean and tight, with the Sony's having a little more thump than the Panasonics.
Conclusion
The Panasonics are overall better sounding than the Sonys, based on my tests. Keep in mind all this was done with my own music, in my own formats, and listened off my own player. Things could sound a lot different with a another setup.
There is no way I can ever be called a Sony fanboy now. I officially love the Panasonic RP-HJE50s. For <$20 USD, they are definitely worth it. Why is there so much static noise? - I don't know, but I don't really care because I usually use these on the go and the ambience takes care of it nicely.
I'm not going to put my EX71s into a drawer. They are fun to listen with, and I will continue to use them. Mental and/or physical burn-in really works on them. They sound a lot better with time. The only problem now is to figure out how to share time between them and the HJE50's.
Got questions? - Let me know! And thanks for reading.
-gshan
