I'm no pro reviewer or audiophile but here's my thoughts.
As ordered, from UK online shop, shipped from HK:
'Sony' MDR-EX85 Red
Soundmagic PL-30 Black
Source:
Cowon D2, flat eq etc.
Psiko Garden - Alex Dolby, avg. -7.9dB track volume.
Cowon 30/50 volume level.
Ref:
Cowon D2 stock earphones.
Sennheiser HD25-BA/Concorde headphones. (300ohm)
The EX85.
Copies no doubt, no packaging as such just the earphones in a pleather bag with 3x extra sets of rubbers. The cable is plastic type, longer on 1 side. I think to look at them you'd be hard pushed to tell they were fake, there is a small recess on the bottom of the shell, I don't know if it's on the originals, for what reason or if it's a rear vent, on these it's just a sealed recess.
In use, they sound great. A big improvement over the Cowon stock. Lots of bass and good stereo l/r separation. The volume level is slightly less than the Cowon but the bass makes up for it. Some folks would probably say it's a muddy bass without clear punch. I'd say they sounds like the Sennheisers, an IEM with the closed back headphone sound.
Love the way they fit in the ear, down and twist locks them right in there, and once in they're quite comfy, a bit of pressure in the ear but that's no doubt a big help on the low frequencies and isolation. Dance music club bass sound with these.
Bargain at around a tenner. Should have bought them off the bay with the 'Sony' cable wrap/'leather' case.
The PL-30.
Proper packaging. Nice 2 part box with slide out tabbed inner. Inside there's a great hard shell case with an inner pocket. A rubber cable winder thing, handy. Extra sets of rubbers; Black SML, Grey (harder) SML, a set of foam plugs and a set of dual rubbers.
I bought the black 'phones. The black is a rubbery coating not just painted, it matches the rubber type flexible wire. The bass knob is rubberised too, as is the over ear cable tube. The finishes all match and they look nice. The bass knob is tightly fitted, no loose cheap wobble at all.
I'd say they're not cheap they're inexpensive, well made and well packaged.
In use, they sound very clear, I could hear more in the music than with any of my other 'phones. After listening to the EX85 there wasn't bass to speak of. The rubbers make a lot of difference, I settled on the small greys, these fitted best and the bass was back, not in bounds but I could hear it. The bass knob hardly makes a difference, just turn it to full.
After a break and coming back to the PL-30 they sounded much better, my ears must have recovered from the EX85s.
The sound is very spacious, much more like open back headphones. They sound wide, the music not so much inside my head. The bass is there but not massive, sounds smooth though when they're fitted right. The treble is crystal clear and plays well above the mid range which is just great.
The fitting is tricky to get just right, I think because they're so small. But, when they are in they're so light and comfortable it's hard to know you're wearing them. Taking them in and out you can move the bass knob, keep and eye on that. I do have a concern about the robustness of the cable entry as it does take some waggling and fiddling when fitting or removing the earphones and wrapping the wire in the tube around the ears.
All in all very nice indeed, making me listen to lots of old music again.
Bargains, both pairs. I'd recommend them.
