Price Paid:  $20.00 from Online dealer

Summary:
This is a review on the MX500, which is an upgraded version of the MX400, with a volume control. The strengths of this earbud lie in its extreme portability (nice carrying case also) and ease to power with a portable source (32ohms, excellent for portables). For most people, this is a possible replacement for the extremely cheap, poor quality headphones/earbuds that come stock with cd/mp3 players. For this purpose, these earbuds work quite well. Also, their relative inexpensiveness has to be taken into account. This is a worthwhile upgrade if you have very poor stock headphones, love portability and is on a very tight budget. As far as sound quality it concerned, the treble is rather harsh. It really tends to amplify this problem if the source is already harsh. The midrange is very respectable, especially for earbuds. Midbass is fairly accurate, but not percussive. Lower bass is lacking (but you can't expect this from earbuds, just be happy it's midbass is decent). I am less satisfied with the construction though. The volume control is poorly implimented and will produce problems over time (can already hear noise when adjusting it). Also, the wire attached to the earbud has a frail connection, one good yank and say goodbye. The bottom line is that for $20 (shipped) these earbuds are not bad. I would NOT, however spend the $40 that some in here have spent. If you can't afford any better then you won't be dissapointed with these, but if you could stretch it to $60, some Grado SR60s will certainly begin your initiation into audiophile bliss.

Strengths:
Decent midrange, comfortable, low impedence, cheap. Not bad midbass for earbuds.

Weaknesses:
Very noticable sibilance, harsh treble. Fragile, poor volume control construction (MX500).

Similar Products Used:
Sony fontopia earbuds, Senheiser HD600, HD 570, Grado SR60, Various Koss and Sonys

Summary:
It is quite unbelievable that such a sound can come out of earbuds - never heard anything quite like the MX-4. Simply loved the sound. However, after 9 months of use the input jack broke, and I got Maxell EB-425 as a replacement, thinking they were in the same category. Nothing could be farther from the truth - the Maxell sounded really terrible. The spec lists their range as 20Hz-23Khz - 23KHz, my left leg, sounds more like 10KHz. So I soldered the Maxell's input cord cord (with its built-in volume control) to the actual MX-4 earbuds, and got great sound with volume control. And, after the surgery, the volume of the MX-4 got much higher, for some reason - go figure.

Strengths:
Incredible sound quality for this price!

Weaknesses:
Not really sturdy - the input jack broke after 9 months of use; no built-in volume control.

Similar Products Used:
Maxell EB-425

Price Paid:  $18.00 from Headroom (www.headphone.com)

Summary:
I actually have the MX-500's. :>)

These earbuds are WAY better than the Sonys listed under "Similar Products Used:". The mids and highs are clear; the bass, though audible, doesn't squash the detail in the lower mids (unlike the Sony 828's and 848's, which suffer from boomy bass that tends to run into the lower portion of the mids). The Sony 827G's have detailed mids, also, but is almost completely bass-less in comparison to these Senns - and the Senns may need a bit more mid-bass output for best sound (the Senn MX-500's have some low bass, but the mid-bass is a bit thin). :>@ (EEK!)

The only other complaint that I have with these earbuds is the volume control. Though mine doesn't have a problem yet, it may develop a "scratching" sound with age. That's crappy quality control on that part. :>(

Overall, the MX-500's are still outstanding earbuds for the $18 price that Headroom sells them for; in fact, only the super-expensive Sony MDR-E888LP earbuds ($80) perform better (among open-air-type earbuds). :>)

Strengths:
Great mids and highs
Non-overpowering bass

Weaknesses:
Maybe these earbuds need a little more mid-bass...
Crappy volume control?

Similar Products Used:
Sony MDR-E827G, MDR-E828LP, MDR-E848LP

Price Paid:  $36.00

Summary:
Like the sound in midrange. Would have liked some more punch
in the bass region. Have the MX500 with volume controll.
Is's to easy to turn it up to loud, and thats when you'r ears crap out. But at lower levels it's good. If one as sensitive ears, should then go with standard headphones instead.

Strengths:
Nice full emboddied sound, bass not to profound.

Weaknesses:
Not enough bass at times

Similar Products Used:
lot's of crap

Price Paid:  $15.00 from www.headphone.com

Summary:
Excellent sound quality (for earphones) good value, just don't expect toooo much. Short cord. I gotta recommend this. (Oh, and I have only been using this for a week, not quiet broken in yet... who knows... it can get better)

Strengths:
I'm no audiophile, I don't know most of the technical terms and jargons, but I'd like to think I'd realize what sounds good and what doesn't. This baby works just fine for me. I got the Sennheisers cuz I just couldn't stand the panasonics's awkward design or the sony's weak performance, and I was satisfied. Decent reproduction of all low bass ranges, excellent clear sounds all around. They fit comfortably (for my ears) and comes with nice coverings and the roll up case. Best of all, they're not too expensive.

Weaknesses:
The bass is still not up to grade, but what can you expect from in-ear earphones? If you're like me and prefer earphones over headphones, this is as good as you can get under $20. Oh, the cord.... 3 feet, too dman short.

Similar Products Used:
Panasonic plug
panasonic RPHV279A
sony MDRE827G earbud