Sony Ex71 v. E888?

I own and use both. I would first say that there is no difference at all between the EX51, 70 and 71, so would recommend the cheaper 51 over the 71 if cost is an issue, or unless you must have white...

The EX71 gives complete isolation, as you'd expect from an 'in-the-ear canal' phone. That's good if you need it (on the bus to avoid annoying your neighbour, at the train station to block out outside noise, etc.) but can be dangerous (you won't hear the truck that hits you!) and may not be good for long term hearing.

The E888 is a conventional earbud so doesn't give that kind of isolation.

With its three soft earpiece options which nestle in the ear canal, the EX51/70/71 is undeniably comfortable (if sweaty!).

The E888 is large, and has a slightly angular side, and may be uncomfortable in the smaller ear.

The EX71 sound is no better than adequate. Unless you are not very discerning, or unless you are already part deaf, or unless you are a complete bass addict you will find them annoying. Bass notes are reduced to a powerful but crude and unsubtle thump, cymbals hiss and swoosh, highs are shrill, and mids disappear down into the mix.

The E888 has had rave reviews in classical, hi fi and audiophile magazines. It gives amazing clarity and faithfully reproduces the music you play. The bass is natural and subtleties are conveyed, but it's not heavy. Highs are similarly sophisticated. For sound quality there is NO contest. This should not be surprised, you only have to look at the specs and you'd expect these buds, with their big drivers, natural diaphragms, wide frequency response etc to be great, and they are.

Sorry, I don't have the Koss 50s nor have I ever heard them. Bass on the E888 is about the same as on the Senny 4000 or 5000.

If you turn the bass right up, or have a huge subwoofer in the trunk of your car they won't be bassy enough.

But any reveiwer who describes the EX70 sound as 'pretty good' is either deaf, dim, or on a retainer from Sony!

Could be all three, of course!!!!!!!!!!!

I do have the E2C which is a good compromise earphone. It has good sound (way better than the Ex51/70/71 but not quite up to the E888, in my view) but with equal isolation to the EX51/70/71. Not vastly comfortable, though.

You'd need to be stupid, or overflowing with cash, to deliberately buy the EX71. Even if you want a Sony in-ear canal phone, then the 71 is poor value - the 51 is the same, but cheaper. Only if you're a fashion victim who must have white, the 71 makes little sense. The sound is different to that from the Apple buds, but it's in no sense better.

I have only tried Sennheiser buds (not phones) so I can't really comment on those. Personally I use EX 51s or 71s (I have both) where I need comfort and isolation and don't mind having crap sound (and it is really crap), E2Cs where I need isolation but won't be listening for more than one hour at a stretch, E888s when I want the best quality sound, and Sony G73s where I just want absolute comfort. I have the original Apple buds, of course, but rarely use them, nor do I find occasions when I'd prefer to use the Senny 4000s and Apple in-ears that I also own over the ear gear listed above.

If I could only have one after-market earphone I guess I'd buy Shures (for the isolation) and use the included earbuds when the Shures got too uncomfortable. If I knew I wouldn't need the isolation I'd get the E888, because I prefer the sound. And you only 'need' isolation for listening in public in confined spaces (bus, train, plane) to avoid annoying your neighbours and to cut out intrusive noise. You don't need that degree of isolation for walking/exercising/listening in your house, etc. and indeed it can be very dangerous. I'm also inclined to worry that over-use of in-the-ear canal earphones may be very bad for your long term hearing. So if you don't absolutely 'need' the isolation then get the E888s.

If I could only have two units, I'd go Shure E2C and Sony E888. If I could have another I'd add the G73.

I bought the EX70 early on, before I realised how poor they were. They were replaced by EX71s by a PR savvy company (I'm a journo) but these proved no better. I bought a pair of 51s in Singapore because they were as cheap as can be out there, and I only had E888s with me, and was faced with a long flight home in Emirates First Class. In those exalted surroundings, and since I knew that I was going to be upgraded for free, not letting my neighbours hear anything 'leaking' from my earphones was important.

If the Apple buds give isolation then so do the E888s!

Shure E3s are no more comfortable than the E2s.

To buy them try Audiocubes or

http://bluetin.com/audio/phones/earphones/sony%20mdr-e888.html

It depends on how much isolation you need. If you don't, then buy the E888. If you do, buy the Shure E-2s (unless you are going to be wearing earphones for more than two hours at a stretch - which probably isn't advisable with any in-the-ear-canal phone anyway). Buy the Senns as well, if you want, or buy them later.

But I see little advantage in throwing money away on the EX51 (let alone the 71) unless you need high comfort AND maximum isolation all the time.

You've spent a great deal of money on your iPod, why now buy headphones that sound worse than those supplied by Apple?

im debating between these two headphones as well. how much of a difference does this "isolation" make? does it simply mean that one bud would require a higher volume setting to get the same loudness?
do the 888s stay in your ear while running? do the 71s stay?

ive been reading about the fit of the 888s. do they basically fit the same as the senn mx300s for example?

I am pretty happy with my Senn mx500s. There are very comfortable and sound very good imo.

They were never available in the UK, but can be found on audiocubes, or via a marvellous site in Singapore.

I own a pair of E888's and in my personal experience, fit is the most important thing about these earphones. As a person with really big ears, I cant get these to fit properly, and would fall out if I were to tilt my head. The sound is amazing, I agree, but I dont think I'm getting the same experience as Jackonicko. I notice a great change in quality when I push the earbuds in my ears. Earbuds have never really fit properly in my ears. That's why I have considered buying a pair of EX71's and selling these off on Ebay.