by Kate Gowers

Created on: March 18, 2008

My improbably small headphones

Product: Sony MDR-EX 70 SL

Advantages: Superb sound both in treble & bass - far more comfortable than rigid 'phones, blocks external sound

Disadvantages: You can hear yourself chew, swallow, breathe . .

On my birthday, I received a nice silver iPod. I'd wanted one for sometime - its compactness, ease of use, and capacity were all appealing. However, what really sold me on an mp3 player was its size. It can be tucked easily in a pocket - even in jeans pockets (and I, probably inadvisably, wear my jeans tight. In the interests of portability, the iPod comes with small in-the-ear budded earphones...which are hideously uncomfortable, and mediocre sound quality.

Now, I have very small ear canals, so after a very short time, my ears are in agony from the pressure of the Apple (or indeed any standard rigid earbuds) earphones. So when I flew to the States in August, I visited the duty free shop in order to purchase new earphones.

I didn't want over the head headphones, as they won't fit into my pockets (especially as my jacket pockets usually contain everything but and sometimes including the kitchen sink), but I really do find the standard earbuds dreadfully uncomfortable. So what's a girl to do?

Despite the fact that shops frown on you opening the packages and trying out the earphones before you buy, I bravely plucked from the shelf promising looking 'soft' silicone earbuds. I bought the Sony Fontopia MDR-EX71SL 'headphones' (that's what Sony insists on calling them) for around 25.99 duty free.

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Desc ription - first impressions
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The earphones come in the usual 'bubble' packs you get, hanging from a hook in the store. They come with earphone holder, case and extension cord, three sets (in different sizes) of grey silicone earbuds (they fit over the speaker bit of the earphone), an instruction leaflet and a warranty leaflet. The 'case' is a grey fabric drawstring bag, and the 'earphone holder' is a plastic 'pill'. Its use wasn't immediately evident to me.

Although the picture above shows black headphones, mine are in fact white, with chrome-effect trim and grey earbuds.

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Descri ption - opening the package and preparing for first use
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The first thing you need to do is to fit the silicone ear buds onto the headphones. There are three sizes. I initially tried the medium size, but after long term use, I found

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