Which headphones - Sennheiser MX500 or Sony MDR-EX51 ?

[ronnie_macgyver]

I need a new pair of earbuds for my Creative Muvo TX FM. The ones that come with the Muvo TX are terrible. I had a nice pair of Sony's (about
7 years old, similar in style to the Sony 888's), but they broke last week.

I've narrowed my seach down to the Sennheiser MX500 or the Sony MDR-EX51 (the long cord LP version).

Of these 2 headphones, I'm trying to determine which will have better sound. Which would be more transparent? Which would have a better soundstage (or headstage as some like to call it)? Soundstage is important to me, so I want the best I can get in an inexpensive earbud.

Of course, if other aspects of sound quality are lacking, transparency & soundstage don't matter, but both these headphones are well regarded as
having good sound. I know the EX51's have good base, but I'm also interested in other measures of sound "quality".

I don't have the budget for anything more expensive. I welcome comparions between the MX500 and the Sony EX71, as it is almost the same as the
EX51. However I won't buy the EX71 because of the longer, split cord.

Based on the specs, I would expect the MX500's to be louder (impedance 32 ohms, Max SPL 125 dB at 1 kHz, 1 Vrms) than the EX51's (impedance 16
ohms at 1 kHz, sensitivity 100 dB/mW). However because the EX51's have more isolation and are further in the ear, you shouldn't need to turn
them up as loud. Is this correct?


Also, why does Sennheiser list their sensitivity as "db a 1khz, 1Vrms", when Sony (and most others) list it a "dB/mW"?

FYI... Anyone looking to buy the MX500's in Canada can get them at http://ncix.com/products/index.php?sku=11409.

This is a great site. I've been lurking for a few days. Thanks for the help.

 

[Andrea]

Hi, in my own experience with Sennheiser earbuds (I haven't heard any Sonys, except MDR-E21LP which were simply just wasted money), the new MX series (350, 450, 550) is actually a very welcome (for me) improvement.
In comparison with MX500, MX450 is much more refined and balanced in the mids and highs, while the bass is surely not stronger or deeper than in MX500 but definitely better in quality and not muddy nor boomy.
I still prefer to use them without the foams, though. The bass seems enough.
Plus, they're improved in the fit, a weak point of the previous MXs.
I don't see any good reason to buy the older ones...

 

[ronnie_macgyver]

Thanks for the info. The main reason I was considering the MX500's is that the MX450 and MX550 are hard to get in Canada. The Senneiser Canada web site doesn't even list them; it only has the MX400 & MX500. The on-line places with the MX450 don't seem to want to ship them to Canada (even Amazon.com - it says "this product only shipped with in USA").

Has anyone else compared the Sony MDR-EX51 with the MX500 (or MX450/550)?

 

[boodi]

If I might advice you .. I would step on the ksc35 / 75 or to the Sharp md33 (40$) for portable on cheap and look no further

There's a mini review of Sharp md33 in my sig

 

[Head Creep]

The EX51's don't seem like a good fit for you. If you really want earbud/in-ear headphones, look at the MD33's. I can't compare the MX500's to anything (I tried out the MX300's and they wouldn't fit, so I've never even considered trying the 500's), but you have to take into account that earbuds and in-ear phones are two different species. In-ear phones (EX51, MD33) are gonna block out at least some sound, which may or may not be good for you. I'll just repeat what booodi said, which is to look into the Koss KSC-35 and Sharp MD33.

 

[MdRex]

I own both MX400(essentially the 500 without the volume control) and the EX-51. I'll do a simple comparison of both.

Volume wise, the MX is capable of higher volume than the EX with the same level on my DAP(MuVo2).

Isolation wise, the EX wins as it is a canal phone, some may say that they don't isolate enough, but for daily commuting purposes, they are fine. I shove them real deep(use the small sleeves). The MX isolates well as well just not as good. I almost got ran over by a car while wearing them. Just remember to adjust them in such a way that there is a seal between the foams are your ear(noted by an increase in bass).

Value wise, the MX wins hands down. The sound awesome for the price(in fact, I am in school with a pair right now), they have become my daily phones for commuting. I only use the EX for instances where more isolation is needed. For less than half the price of the EX, the MX is at superb value.

Hope that helped.

 

[fr4c]

had the chance to listen to my friends ex51 through my iPod. the highs were a little too shrill for me and the bass didnt really stand out. i found it helped a bit when the treble was EQ-ed down. it was also harder to drive, requiring me to turn the volume to 2/3 while listening at the cafeteria.

i really enjoy what the mx500/550 has to offer. the mx500 has more bass to it and the mx550 builds on the clarity of mids and highs without sacrificing too much bass. overall i think the mx500/550 is a much better package than the ex51.

 

[Slimshizzy]

I've tried both and prefer the EX-51s.

I just don't like earbuds (senn 300s, senn 500s, iPod earbuds) and I don't think I'll ever go back now that I've tried canalphones (played with ex51s, etymotic er6s), and it's all about the comfort. I thought the EX-51s lacked detail but had plenty of bass and a good soundstage.

 

[kramer5150]

My friend just bought me EX51 and I am very surprised at the overall sound quality... for $30. First of all a tight fit is VITAL to ther sound. I listened to them all day listening to various prog-rock bands (see my signature) on my T40 laptop and Creative Jukebox. So far the smallest rubber piece fits me nice and snug. I shove them way in.

Note I havent burned them in yet. As everyone states they have very good bass response low tight and resonant. Mike portnoys kick drum tone is quick and solid. Yes bass tones are a little more pronounced from about 80-35Hz, and slopes off gently from there. Noticeably less bass then my MDRV6. Midbass is a little muddier than my V6 as well. John Myungs bass lines are very clear and distinct through my V6, and can be easily separated from the mix on my V6s. On the EX51, mid bass tones from 80-500Hz are a little less clear and harder to decipher from the mix of the band. Im hoping a few days of burn-in will improve this.

Mids are a little recessed. I guess its about 2-3 db down from 1000-5000Hz. Drastic opposite from my V6, which peak at ~3500Hz.

Above 6000Hz they tend to be a little bright, about a 4-5db boost above the rest of th espectrum. This is good and bad. Bad if your ears are sensitive to hi-hats and cymbal crashes. Good in that it adds a sense of air and presence. Live concert recordings have a nice sense of spatial ambience. The crowd noise has some nice width & distance to it. There is just a decent sound stage on these. Staggering considering their proximity to the eardrum. The soundstage and image you'll hear is there because it exists in the recording, and the EX51 most likely is adding very little. (The MDR-F1 I've heard had a HUGE soundstage, and certainly added some ambience of its own to all recordings)

I dont think they are difficult to drive at all.

IMHO their biggest flaw is their recessed mids (1000-5000Hz). It makes lead guitar, vocals and keyboards sound distant. If you ears are sensitive to these freq's you might find their balance pleasing.

 

[Mr. The]

I have the sennheiser 500 earbuds, they sound good with normal foamies, but with radioshack foamies they have even greater base. I recommend them for the price, they sound very good.

 

[terrymx]

they are two very different phones. i've heard the ex71, not much better than freebees earbuds soundwize. very bloated bass,

the mx500 really amaze me and smokes the ex71 in every area possible sound wize.

that said, there could be a reason to chose the ex series instead, since they are canalphones they are smaller and they isolates. the mx500 earbuds are know to be alittle big for some people and they do not isolate any noises.

 

[baies]

If the MX500's fit your ears they will beat the EX51's in every way.