In-ear headphones sony mdr xb50ap. Review of the Sony MDR-XB50BS Bluetooth headset. Set and design

Inexpensive Bluetooth headset for sports and daily use in a variety of conditions. In fact, the Sony MDR-XB50BS is a very nice thing; among budget stereo headsets it is generally one of the best...

Contents of delivery

  • Headset
  • Attachments and temples
  • Cable
  • Documentation

Design, construction

In the modern line of Sony wireless headsets, this is the youngest model; if you follow such things, you probably recognize the good old AS600/AS800 headphones in the Sony MDR-XB50BS; they are very similar in tips and form factor in general.

I won’t say anything bad about them, as is almost always the case with Sony; for the money they are not bad and are worth buying even now. The budget model Sony MDR-XB50BS does not replace them, but complements the line; it is a kind of sports solution, as it has comfortable arms, attachments, and splash protection. That is, if you are looking for something inexpensive for walking or running on a path, on the street, then you can safely buy it. I can say this already now.


My second piece of advice concerns the arms and attachments themselves. Despite the fact that the headphones are inexpensive, there is no smell of cheapness here. Small nozzles differ from large ones in the color of the sleeve inside; large ones are green, small ones are red. This is convenient because real life there's no mistaking it. But do not forget that the temples here are also of different sizes and, having chosen the best option, it will be convenient for you to use the Sony MDR-XB50BS both in the gym and in public transport.




The third tip is that the headset is suitable for a wide variety of smartphones, tablets, computers - and it will be suitable for a variety of situations. That is, it is not necessarily a sport; the “fiftieth” will perform well both in public transport and in the office.

Now let's get back to the design. The device is available in three colors: dark grey, red and blue.


In the official photographs you can see how the headphones sit - in general, they are clearly visible.





By the way, I’ve never seen Sony in my gym - mostly people go with Beats, EarPods, AirPods, and I’ve seen Bose SoundSport a couple of times. Probably, someone at Sony needs to instruct consumers in more detail in the spring that there are wireless sports headsets in the line and they can be purchased (this is true).

The design is standard: two cups connected by a thin noodle cable. It is unlikely that you will be able to confuse the sides, although there is no usual Sony highlighting of the right channel in red - everything is black. On the right cup there are rewind and Play/Pause buttons; on the packaging there are instructions for operating the device - the rewind buttons on the rocker are combined with volume buttons. The multifunction button will help you answer a call, pause the sound, or activate pairing mode; to do this, you need to press it and hold it for a few seconds until the indicator light flashes red and blue alternately.





The headphones are comfortable to wear, let me remind you about the correct selection of tips and temples. Try different ones. During an hour and a half of training in the gym, I didn’t feel any discomfort, which already says a lot. Eat basic protection from water, that is, from splashes, sweat, you should not swim with the Sony MDR-XB50BS.


Working hours

The stated operating time is 8.5 hours when listening to music at full volume, in reality it is about 7.5 hours. For charging, a regular microUSB connector is used; another cable is suitable. The battery cannot be changed; charging time is about 2.5 hours.


I've been using the headphones for about a week. If you listen to music for an hour and a half a day, the battery will last for about five days. When paired with an iPhone, the headset charge indicator appears in the notification bar. By the way, the product name in the Bluetooth menu and in the player is displayed as it is, Sony MDR-XB50BS.

Sound

The quality of voice transmission is not very good; when trying to talk, the interlocutors asked questions and asked to use a smartphone. I can also hear people strangely, as if I was in Fallout and there I’m communicating with survivors on the other side of the continent by radio. Interference and stuff.

About the music, the operating range is about four to five meters indoors, as much as I didn’t like the quality of speech transmission, I liked the music so much. Great for an inexpensive headset. There is bass, there is a volume reserve, it is pleasant to listen to a variety of tracks, both downloaded from iTunes and those found in Vox. What does it mean? This means that engineers selected speakers and tuned the sound for the most different devices. It turned out to be a miracle when a budget headset sounds more interesting than some even more expensive devices.



conclusions

In retail the device costs 5,990 rubles, for this money it’s very good offer. The advantages include ease of wearing, convenient controls (the thumb rests on the buttons itself), good time battery life, good quality sound. Cons: Talking isn't great.

The main impression after using the Sony MDR-XB50BS is that it is a good, inexpensive thing. I highly recommend purchasing and using.

    10 /10

    January 31, 2016

    I've been using them for about three months and I can say that in this price segment these headphones require attention. It wins back its price. I use them on an LG G Pro with customized Poweramp presets and on a laptop with Beats Audio. Any genre plays at 5++, if the track is of course lossless, and if the regular MP3 is 320kbps, then at 5+ :) Very high-quality sound transmission. Even in the quietest moments where my previous headphones were simply silent.

    • + High-quality bass; + Rich sound; + Design; + Quality workmanship; + Price; + Comfortable, do not fly out; + Comfortable ear pads installed in the headphones by default; + Very, very high quality wire!
    • - In the winter season, they do not fit comfortably in the ears due to the hat they are wearing; - The “shiny” coating wears off over time; - Volume control is not enough; - It’s very scary when the wire clings to something and stretches

  1. Headphones

    May 17, 2016

    The headphones are good for everyone - the characteristics are excellent, the sound is good in reality, and they look beautiful in the picture... There is only one minus - they are heavy and huge! They stick out of your ears like the handles of a saucepan!

    November 21, 2016

    Indestructible, loud, NO bass at all (!) until you turn it up with an equalizer, so for those who think that the bass is coming out of the box here, don’t worry and buy, you won’t find anything better for this price. The mids and highs are excellent, the highs can also be raised as much as you like in the equalizer, which will cut your ears. At maximum volume they do not wheeze and work smoothly, and due to the loud bass, mids and high frequencies do not begin to come to the fore.

    • I've been using it every day for 4 years. 4 years old, Karl. After washing in washing machine didn't break. The wires are in perfect condition, the insulation has not come off anywhere. After four years of warming up, it seems that they play much better than before, although I haven’t compared them. They work like clockwork, I don’t know how to kill them anymore.
    • The Sony logos have worn off. It is advisable to have a powerful music phone/amplifier/player, since the impedance is 40 ohms

  2. 10 /10

    May 23, 2016

    I bought it based on reviews and was not disappointed. Despite the impressive size, the feeling is comfortable. They fit tightly in the ears. The set includes 4 pairs of ear pads for any ear canal size. Bass does not drown out other frequencies. The headphones have a reserve of dB sensitivity; at maximum volume they do not wheeze, do not click, or hiss. The headphones pay off. As they say - "Beauty, who understands."

What are the disadvantages?

Long gone are the days when Sony headphones labeled Extra Bass were remembered only for their drowning out bass and complete inability to clearly reproduce most styles of music, with the exception of dance and drum’n’bass. Fortunately, the engineers of the Japanese company came to their senses and the latest representatives of the XB line are distinguished by significantly greater versatility, without losing their bass sound. After seven months of active use, I can confidently say that the Sony MDR-XB50AP headphones are just such universal headphones for every day.

Sound quality

Of course, despite the significantly increased sound quality and versatility, all Sony headphones from the ExtraBass series are still very far from the budget audiophile's dream. Let's say, like most compact plug-in models, the Sony MDR-XB50AP does not convey the scene and volume in instrumental compositions well. But let's face it, most pop and dance music hits don't require that. And here the engineers did their best - popular music sounds just great in these little “plugs”. Low frequencies “bass” perfectly throughout the entire spectrum available for earbuds, without drowning out the rest of the range, but giving modern music volume and drive.

High frequencies The Sony MDR-XB50AP also paid a lot of attention, due to which the music does not sound dull, adding a lot of detail to almost any track. There are no complaints here. The only thing where the headphones may disappoint a little is vocals. Mid frequencies are present in just enough quantity so as not to seem drowned out, but also not to draw attention to themselves.

Obviously, the engineers initially developed the headphones with an eye to the most popular equalizer setting - high bass and high, muffled mids. And they succeeded perfectly.


After seven months of use, the headphones are already noticeably worn out.

What I like most about the Sony MDR-XB50AP is their versatility. Yes, they don’t play all styles and genres perfectly, but for inexpensive, compact and comfortable headphones for every day that accompany you on the way to work, in the store or while walking, they do their job perfectly.

Not a single musical style sounds irritatingly bad or harsh in their performance; the sound is comfortable enough for long listening. A combination of Sony MDR-XB50AP and my smartphone Samsung Galaxy S7 has proven itself to be excellent.

Appearance and fit in ears

Comfortable fit in the ear is often a big problem for earplugs. Fortunately, the Sony MDR-XB50AP turned out to be surprisingly comfortable and almost imperceptible to wear. Headphones from the “set it and forget it” series. They do not fall out when walking quickly, do not clog the ears, do not rub, and become like part of the auricle. They can be used even during not very active sports - the fit is very secure and the headphones themselves are very light.

Unfortunately, paint that imitates metal, as is traditional for Sony and many other manufacturers, is not durable, so it is advisable to use a case for carrying. After several months of active use, the Sony inscription was erased and the paint on the ends was worn down to the plastic. The headphones look, frankly, rather shabby. Fortunately, this does not affect the sound quality. These abrasions are clearly visible in the photo..


The wire is made rather strangely - it doesn’t seem to have a round cross-section, but it’s not really flat either. As a result, he happily gets confused at every opportunity. In my opinion, Sony could make life easier for users by making the cable flatter and wider. I don't think it would make the design much more expensive.

The microphone housing, with an answer/switch button, is located on the left earphone cable. The universal key, in my opinion, is too small, which makes using it with gloves not always convenient. The voice quality of the microphone is average.

For some, the fact that the headphone cable is not asymmetrical may be a noticeable drawback. Nowadays, for some reason, the fashion for such cables has practically disappeared, but it was Sony who previously invariably gave preference to cables wound around the neck in their mass models.


Even if you listen to music at a high enough volume, people nearby will most likely hear almost nothing. The sound insulation of the headphones is quite good high level, sound leakage in both directions is insignificant. They can be used in the subway and other noisy places without raising the volume to the maximum.

The average cost of headphones, according to Yandex Market, at the time of writing the review is 1,947 rubles. In my opinion, they are a little expensive for them. Seven months ago I bought them on sale in Svyaznoy for only 1,190 rubles, but now the prices have increased significantly. However, I can safely recommend the Sony MDR-XB50AP if you are looking for versatile, comfortable, everyday headphones that do their job just fine. I strongly advise those who are thrifty to wear their headphones exclusively in a case, because of the extremely delicate coating - then they will retain their original appearance much longer.

What did you like about the Sony MDR-XB50AP?

  • High-quality and balanced sound for this price category;
  • Large neodymium speakers for in-ear headphones with a diameter of 12 mm (in most competing models - 8.5-9 mm);
  • Excellent versatility - almost all genres sound equally good on headphones;
  • The emphasis on bass is not as pronounced as in previous generations of Extra Bass - the sound is much better balanced;
  • The headphones have a well-thought-out shape and fit very securely and comfortably in the ear canal and do not rub.

What are the disadvantages of the Sony MDR-XB50AP?

  • The aluminum-look coating is not very reliable - when carried in a bag or pockets without a case, it quickly begins to peel off, as does the Sony inscription;
  • Picky music lovers should still pay attention to the older models - although the Sony MDR-XB50AP plays quite well for its price, you shouldn’t expect miracles;
  • Fans of really deep bass may be somewhat disappointed - despite the name Extra Bass, there is just as much low frequency as needed, without excess;

Sony MDR-XB50AP
★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

2017 Photo and text: Evgeny Ivanov. Renders from panasonic.com

An important clarification to these ears, I only came across a casual mention of this on one of the sites on the entire network, and I encountered this myself, so I just returned them today. Apparently, these Sony phones are not friendly with older smartphone models. I don’t know exactly why this depends, and what’s “wrong” with older models. In my case, this is smart Lenovo P770, first of all, the headphones sound crap on it, to put it mildly, subjectively like some noname earbuds for 300 rubles, that is, the sound is supplied with very large distortions. In this case, the headset does not work in the actual headset (microphone) mode, however, if you press and hold the headset button, then something in this block bridges and the headphones begin to play normally as originally intended. But this continues only when the button is held down; as soon as you release it again, there is a mess and a crash again.

Moreover, if you connect them to another sound source, for example to an iPhone 5s, or even a laptop, i.e. not on the phone - they play perfectly. Everything works fine on the iPhone. So keep in mind, it definitely doesn’t work with the Lenovo P770, what other models it doesn’t work with, I have no idea, I couldn’t find such data anywhere. Probably if you have a relatively new phone 2-3 years, you don’t have to worry too much. On the other hand, when purchasing, I would advise you to insist on checking it directly in the store, citing this feature of the model, because depending on the integrity of the seller and your “toothness” with returning or exchanging headphones, you may end up in grief.

In terms of sound, I only listened to them while I was figuring out why they weren’t playing and not very carefully, plus this is my first experience of communicating with earplugs in general, there’s nothing special to compare with. Compared to full-size ears, I agree with the review. Strong bass, honestly, I didn’t even think right away that plugs could play like that, but weak mids and highs. Although I like more bass, for me the other registers are too weak; in rock and hard rock there is a severe lack of detail. This is with the same sound sources, and approximately one price range, let’s say, when compared with the Sennheiser HD 202. On the other hand, I’ll repeat once again that these are my first “plug” ears, and it’s possible that in general it’s not entirely fair to demand that ears of such a design match the sound of full-size ones. And in comparison with alternatives in this price segment of plugs, they may well be very good, I’m not sure.

Regarding the comment by Past the Crocodile, I quite reasonably agree with him; indicating the sound source is important for understanding and assessing, as far as possible, without listening to the product yourself. On the other hand, for some reason he himself forgot to indicate his sound source, which for those reading it seems to me only added to the confusion. I would even develop this idea further by pointing out that the source must correspond to the level of the product in question. That is, if we are now talking about Sony MDR-XB50AP headphones, for 2000 rubles plus or minus (as of 2016), there is no need to connect them to an Astell&Kern player for 150,000 wooden ones, regardless of the results. Because it is not very clear then for which segment of consumers this review or review is for. As for me, as I already partially indicated, I use simple, user-generated sources. A home PC and a couple of laptops, all with a standard HD Audio source soldered to the motherboard, they are like that everywhere now. And simple smartphones one Lenovo P770, second iPhone 5S.

Best regards, Dmitry.

Are you used to listening to music everywhere - on the street, in transport, even at work? Therefore, you have to carry in-ear headphones with you at all times. This accessory is quite capricious - it constantly gets tangled, produces sound interference and quickly breaks down. Have you tried the Sony MDR XB50AP model?

It won the sympathy of music lovers with its high-quality sound and ease of use. Our review talks about all the nuances of the device and its “competitors” - in-ear headphones costing up to 2000 rubles.

Set and design

The device comes in classic packaging - a cardboard box with a handle. The headphones are placed in a plastic backing. In addition to them, the kit includes instructions, 4 pairs of rubber ear pads of different sizes and a textile case with ties.

The style of the device is laconic, with a touch of futurism. The bodies are elongated, narrowed downwards. The speakers are slightly offset to the side. The outer parts of the cups are decorated with the Sony branding and round chrome plated plastic with a concentric pattern.

The cable is symmetrical, 1.2 m long, equipped with an L-shaped gold-plated plug. The flat surface with a ribbed texture prevents wire tangling. A length limiter and a control unit with a microphone are attached to it.

The headset is available in 5 colors - black, white, red, blue and yellow. Color accents are made on the wire, metal inserts and ear pads. In terms of design, only the Sennheiser CX200 Street II can compete with Sony - strict and at the same time original headphones. As for convenience, the Yurbuds Inspire 100 model has an advantage here - it fits more securely in the ears, so it is more suitable for sports.


Sound quality

The device uses neodymium speakers with a diameter of 12 mm. They have a significant volume reserve, so the headphones can be used in public transport.

The headphones reproduce an unusually wide frequency range for earbuds - from 4 to 24,000 Hz. The model's marking contains the letters XB, meaning "extra-bass". The sound fully corresponds to the name - it is very deep low frequencies. This feature gives special expressiveness to rap and rock compositions.

However, boosting the bass slightly degrades the sound detail. Mid- and high-range frequencies sound slightly muffled, which depletes jazz and classical music. For these genres, Xiaomi Mi In-Ear Headphones Pro HD with accentuated highs are preferable.

Functions

The device is designed for use with portable players and latest versions mobile gadgets. The connection is wired and does not require installation of additional software.

For control, there is a remote control on the wire near the left earphone. On the back wall of the unit there is a microphone for telephone conversations. There is a button on the front for switching tracks, pausing and answering calls.

It is impossible to adjust the volume from the remote control; to do this you have to use the functionality of your phone or player. In this regard, Sony is inferior to many “rivals”, for example, Samsung EO-HS3303 WE - this model has separate plus/minus buttons for volume control.

6 Best MDR Headphones

Comfort

The headphone housings are quite large, which creates certain wearing difficulties. The instructions for the device warn that the earbuds should be inserted into the ear canals only in the straight direction. Remove the headphones by turning them smoothly, without jerking, otherwise you may damage your ears.

Despite the large cups, the device can fall out with sudden movements. To prevent this from happening, it is important to carefully select the size of the ear pads. Often the headset causes fatigue after 3-4 hours of wearing. It is especially inconvenient to use with a headdress.

In terms of comfort, Sony is inferior to its cheaper competitor SounMagic PL30. These Chinese in-ear earbuds feature memory foam ear pads that mold to the shape of your ears.

Advantages and disadvantages

Music lovers praise the quality of Sony MDR speakers, volume and impressive bass.

Here are some more important advantages of the device:

  • Excellent sound insulation. It allows you to listen to music on the subway, on a noisy street, or watch a movie at home without disturbing your family.
  • Reliable cable. Thanks to strong seals, it does not break at the plug.
  • Microphone quality. It provides guidance telephone conversations without sound interference.

At the same time, a number of disadvantages can be noted:

  • Build quality. After 7-8 months. use, brand logos and paint are erased from the housings, and the seals on the wires weaken.
  • Poor functionality. Music settings and even volume adjustments have to be done in the equalizer.
  • Limited compatibility. With gadgets released before 2015, headphones practically do not work.

Review of Sony MDR-ZX330BT headphones

Conclusion

The Sony MDR XB50AP model is aimed at youth and teenage audiences. The exterior design blends with modern fashion styles. The audio range with software frequency reduction is suitable for listening to genres popular with young music lovers - rap, electronic music, hard bass and dub-step.

The Xiaomi Mi In-Ear Headphones Pro model can be considered a serious competitor to Sony. It produces sound with rich bass and equally impressive highs. The sound of Sennheiser IE4 in-ear headphones is even richer, but they cost 1.5 thousand rubles. expensive.

Experienced users claim that Sony MDR sound depends on the gadget - the more powerful sound card, the better the headphones play. Preliminary “warm-up” also helps - immediately after purchase, the device must play music for at least 4 hours in a row. After this you need to make adjustments with the equalizer.

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