[PICS ADDED] my new Sony EX90 earbuds

[WaywardTraveller]

Well, that does it.

The other day my last pair of el-neato refurb CAD15 Mongolian EX71s went the way that so many of my other Sony earbuds have gone...down the toilet. Yep...left-channel decides to go on permanent vacation: over listening to it briefly over a couple of days I could actually hear the left channel dwindling, fading...not with a bang but with a whimper.

So screw it...as much as I like the EX71s (aware of their flaws as I am), I decided to take the next step up (well, okay - two or three) and get my hands on Sony's EX90 stereo monitor earbuds at Melbourne's Galleria Sony Store. It was either this or a pair of the XD400s (same price - AUD199 - yeahyeah, I know ). This is what happens when music/sound becomes an important part of your life! I was a bit hesitant, but once I made sure the EX90s use the same size ear-gaskets as the EX71s (they do, and I have truckloads of old 71 gaskets) I threw off my emergency MDR-E31s and grabbed 'em.

First impressions: opening the box, I got a dim sense that Sony was almost willing to treat its customer right! Even the packaging is very aesthetically attractive (it better be!)...frosted cardboard box, spare gaskets, and FINALLY a half-decent carrying case that seems to actually protect the buds - you put the buds in a rectangular plastic holder and wrap the cord around a robust plastic frame that fits snugly into a small rectangular Sony leather case. Sweet! Sony has also returned to the scientifically-determined headphone cord-length: no extension cords needed!

Now the buds themselves: Sony seems to have learned from the EX71s - holding the buds as if to put them on, the actual buds are tilted forward (i.e. in the direction you look) to a 45-deg angle (or something), which allows you to fit them into your ear much easier. The EX90s feel solid but not too heavy in your fingers (and your ears), and the headphone cord is sturdy - IMHO a vast, vast improvement over my other buds (maybe it's cos the EX71s were refurb, but in the middle of the night on a train in northern China the cord casing started peeling off with the consistency of melted cheese!). I find walking in the city much, much easier with the EX90s than the 71s as the buds slipped less in my ears (the old EX71s would never fit perfectly in my left ear).

Finally, the sound quality. Someone on these forums once remarked that the EX90s sound like E888s stuck in to earbuds. Owning a pair of E888s and actually not liking them (not enough isolation/they don't fit very well), I can't speak to that; but at risk of stating the obvious, the EX90s blow the EX71s out of the water. The EX90s' frequency response is 5-25K, and although this might sound close to the 71s' overstated bass, Sony has truly balanced the deep bass response (which is still there!) with very clear highs and crisp middles. Maybe it's just me coming off the EX71s, but the EX90s' high response is truly impressive. Sound in general isn't as muddy as the EX71s, and although the 90s don't seem to block out external noise quite as well as the 71s, once I got into listening to my music it wasn't discernible enough to be a big deal.

All in all: I got really sick of shit build quality on the 71s and wanted, "once and for all," to get good buds that I felt would last. Although I paid a little more than I would have otherwise (Oz can be pretty expensive sometimes!), I am quite happy with the EX90s and would definitely recommend them to anyone (depending on the price!).

Hope this helps some people out there looking for good buds. Anyone else have these?

EDIT: (Feb16) Sorry for the delay, but I finally found some spare time and took some photos of the EX90s. Sorry for the quality, but I don't have enough time to take the pics I'd like to ...I have included a CF card and mouse in the shots to ensure a sense of perspective.

I'll just make some comments that you can see for yourselves in the pics. The EX90 earpieces are made of sturdy aluminum, and as you can see the gaskets are at an angle to allow easy insertion into your ears. For those of us with EX71s, the 90s use the same ear gaskets, which definitely helped sell me on these as I have fistfuls of old EX71 gaskets. Inside the gaskets the EX71s had a little paper layer(?) which some pricked open with a pen or something for better sound - but the 90s have what looks to be a fine wire mesh similar to what you put in the bottom of a smoking pipe.

You will also see the leather carrying case supplied by Sony - it contains a plastic frame used to secure the buds when not in use (the L-shape plug tucks in under the case's bottom). At first I was skeptical (especially after dealing with that hapless E888 carrying case!) but the frame really DOES secure the buds (as you can see from the last pic) and slides easily into the case. The only reason I don't use the case as often is because I use the EX90s outdoors, so the buds are usually hanging around my neck - but it's ideal for when you want to put them away for a little while.

Hope these pictures help give people an idea of what the 90s are like. The sound on these babys is GREAT; havnig tried the 90s for a while I'd say I've gotten used to giving up the emphasized bass of the 71s for a full bass on the 90s, but with a solid and detailed overall sound.

peace

WaywardTraveller

Edited February 16, 2007 by WaywardTraveller

[Ishiyoshi]

Thanks for sharing your enthusiasm with us. Did you acquire the SL or LP variant?

[WaywardTraveller]

Thanks for sharing your enthusiasm with us. Did you acquire the SL or LP variant?

Mine are the EX90LPs. What's the difference between the two?

peace

WaywardTraveller

[Ishiyoshi]

Mine are the EX90LPs. What's the difference between the two?

Difference in cord lengths: SP variant has a shorter cord of 0.5m whereas the LP variant has a longer cord of 1.2m.

[Sparda]

And that is where the extension cords come in.

[tekdroid]

So screw it...as much as I like the EX71s (aware of their flaws as I am), I decided to take the next step up (well, okay - two or three) and get my hands on Sony's EX90 stereo monitor earbuds at Melbourne's Galleria Sony Store. It was either this or a pair of the XD400s (same price - AUD199 - yeahyeah, I know ).

All I can say is that for 200 bucks they better be good. Hopefully they last.

Was looking at these the other day and quite like the oldschool design (if it is real metal )

...and your description of the case begs for a pic or three

So, tell me... 'cause my first experience with in-ear-thingies was not positive. Cable handling noise in your ears, ear noise when chewing, etc.

Do these suffer from that? Or are they just like regular earbuds that don't slide halfway into your ears (as far as cable noise goes).

Another question:

Being a man of wayward travels, why didn't you get them overseas at a much more reasonable price?

[atrain]

that's why most australians import

[giki]

hi WT, mate just wanted to let you know that i am good friends and customer with mark, the manager at the galleria shopping centre on bourke st that you went to.they have a store in chapel st,sth yarra too.

i got my ex90s for 175 and that was 2 months ago.their prices go down after a few weeks a product has been launched.next time if you need anymore sony stuff lemme know and i can get you a decent discount,besides i am a sony member too.

So hows melb treating you so far.having fun i reckon.

[Stuge]

Congrats WaywardTraveller

[WaywardTraveller]

Thanks for the kind words ppl . Once I have a bit of spare time I will add some pics of the buds and their case. I'd normally love to wait to get something cheaper, but I was desparate for a good set of buds to instantly kill my ongoing curse with the 71s.

Having listened to a wide variety of music with the EX90s so far (including transcoded MP3s), I'd add that they really can bring out lots of detail in music you thought you knew so well before...including the odd artifact. However, all in all I'd say that my faith in transcoding (higher-end) MP3s to ATRAC has improved greatly, hearing the way they sound on these buds.

peace

WaywardTraveller

Edited February 1, 2007 by WaywardTraveller

[WaywardTraveller]

All I can say is that for 200 bucks they better be good. Hopefully they last.

Was looking at these the other day and quite like the oldschool design (if it is real metal )

Well, an update on the EX90s: I had to take my first pair back because the left-ear wire was beginning to come out of the three-wire junction holder (aw, you know what I mean!). It WAS *my* fault, though, as I had put them in at night and fallen asleep and probably given them a little too much wear and tear. Got them exchanged for a brand new pair no problem though. It IS real metal (aluminum), and I hope the pics will give you a better idea.

...and your description of the case begs for a pic or three

You got 'em .

So, tell me... 'cause my first experience with in-ear-thingies was not positive. Cable handling noise in your ears, ear noise when chewing, etc.

Do these suffer from that? Or are they just like regular earbuds that don't slide halfway into your ears (as far as cable noise goes).

I don't wear them when eating (my 71s used to slowly slip out of my ears so I ditched the habit), so I can't say about that - but the 90s DO have discernibly less cable-handling noise. It could also be because they don't move around in my ears as much as the 71s did.

Another question:

Being a man of wayward travels, why didn't you get them overseas at a much more reasonable price?

Believe me, I looked! I was hoping China would come through for me, but China can have some really strange pricing ideas. While units were average or a bit cheaper, Hi-MD discs (or ANY MDs for that matter) and other stuff can even be more expensive. Unfortunately, the one place in Beijing where I saw the 90s they were CAD200 (in RMB) - slightly MORE expensive than Oz! I was also driven to frustration/desperation by deteriorating 'phones and couldn't wait for sweet, sweet digital headcandy .

peace

WaywardTraveller

[tekdroid]

Well, an update on the EX90s: I had to take my first pair back because the left-ear wire was beginning to come out of the three-wire junction holder (aw, you know what I mean!).

The case looks like it really may protect the phones.

Hope the cable gives you no more trouble. Those are the things I fear with Sony phones, really (any phones). Just stuff falling apart and/or daily use making things crap out early.

Interesting stats on China! Hope you get a lot of use outta them.

Thanks for updating with pics!

[rayzray]

can those slanted ends be straightened out;; or,, are they permanent like that??

very interesting;; i (rayzray) like them;;

my favorite buds are those soft rubbery end type;; really locks in the Bass (and locks OUT my wife's rants)..

Edited February 16, 2007 by rayzray

[WaywardTraveller]

The case looks like it really may protect the phones.

Hope the cable gives you no more trouble. Those are the things I fear with Sony phones, really (any phones). Just stuff falling apart and/or daily use making things crap out early.

Yeah, Sony finally seems to have gotten the case right. You still have to deal with that little loop of cord caused by the left bud, but it's much more manageable than with any other Sony buds I've had.

rayzray: the slanted ends can't be straightened out; but although they may look a bit odd they fit in my ears better than the 71s ever did. Moreover, the slant makes the buds easier to grasp and insert/remove.

peace

WaywardTraveller

[rayzray]

thanks for the quick reply,, WaywardTraveller.. you have givem he another option in my "endless" search for the "Perfect Listening experience"..

it's always been (what the ear hears;; and;; how it sounds).. money is the second hurdle,, but always approachable..

i think i have more ear buds and headsets ,, now,, than ties.. so, the tie rack is looking nicer for storing my ear/blings..

[WaywardTraveller]

One more observation on the EX90s re: burn-in: At the risk of a drawn-out comparison with the EX71s, the 90s seem to do more with less burn-in time. The EX71s need quite a while to acquire that "warmer" sound to them - my offhand estimate being about 50hrs? The 90s, on the other hand, seem to settle for about 20-30. However, these numbers are more guesstimate than anything, so if anyone else has any different times feel free to mention them.

peace

WaywardTraveller