Price Paid:  $30.00 from Target

Summary:
I purchased these headphones to replace the ones that came with my cd player. At first I thought they were great but I found that after listening for more than 30 minutes, they began to hurt my ears. I found this is very distracting when trying to listen to music (not to mention painful). You have to be careful with them as they are plastic and if they are dropped too often or are accidentally stepped on, they may break. Also, after about a year of ownership, the cable began to short which caused the sound to crackle; not too big a deal, but annoying.

As for how they sound, you pay for what you get. I thought they sounded decent until I listened to a real pair of headphones (Sony’s MDR-7506, which I now own) and was blown away by the difference of sound quality. My main problem is that the highs do not sound crisp. There is little definition and it sounds as if there is a huge scoop to the upper range frequencies.

For casual use, try to listen before you buy. They WILL become uncomfortable after a period of use and try other headphones to get an idea of how well they sound.

If you are serious about wanting good sound, avoid these at all costs. The Sony’s I listed above currently go for $100 and are amazing for that price. Check ‘em out.

Strengths:
Volume dial on cord.
Long cord.
Realitivley inexpensive

Weaknesses:
Uncomfortable
Sound quality
Plastic material may break

Similar Products Used:
None.

Price Paid:  $29.00 from Target

Summary:
Wow! I think I got some lemon headphones, as everyone else lists "good sound" as a feature of the MDR-v250s. Wish I'd saved the receipt... I mean, I knew that I wasn't going to get stellar sound for $29, but these sound just terrible. In fact, I was convinced that Sony had taken the cheapie headphones they give out free with portable cd players and such, stuck some puffy earpads on them, and marketed them as "studio monitors." The sound is flat, one-dimensional and harsh, and the low end distorts badly at not-very-high volumes. I just bought Elvis Costello's new album, which is very heavy on the bass, and I literally cannot even listen to it with these headphones! ARG! If anyone from Sony sees this and wants to swap these for a replacement, I'd be happy to give the v250s another shot!:)

Strengths:
Price

Weaknesses:
Godawful sound (but to be fair I think there's something wrong with my set)

Price Paid:  $30.00 from Best Buy

Summary:
Although they may be a bit uncomfortable for large-headed users, the Sony MDR-V250Vs kick it. They come packed with 30mm drive units, 98 dB/mW sensitivity, 18-22Hz frequency response, and volume control with mono/stereo switch. The treble is nice until you hit ear-splitting highs and the bass is deep and hard (headache included) which is always nice.

I broke my pair a while ago and I'm still wearing them with rubber bands and tape. I tried buying the Aiwa HP-X222s but they were nothing compared to what I have now.

If it's value and great sound your in to, look no further.

Strengths:
Exceptional Sound Quality
Volume Control
Long-Lasting

Weaknesses:
Highs Limit
Rather Small
You Can't Sit On Them

Similar Products Used:
Aiwa HP-X222s and other Sony headphones.

Price Paid:  $30.00

Summary:
The things I like about this headphone are:
1. Sound is good.
2. Cord is nice and long.
3. There is a volume control inline with the cord which adds convenience.
However, these headphones are painful after wearing them for any length of time over an hour. They just hurt my ears, and I the only way to relieve the discomfort is to take them off for a while.

Strengths:
Good Sound, Long Cord, Volume control inline with the cord

Weaknesses:
Painful to wear for long periods of time
Sound cuts out on occaision. Perhaps the connection is not as solid as it should be.

Price Paid:  $30.00 from Lechmere

Summary:
I got these headphones to replace my standard headphones that came with my mp3 player. I enjoyed them at first as they were a cheap upgrade that was worth the price. The sound was greatly improved. I can't wear them for too long however as they just squeeze my ears and and very uncomfortable. If you have a small head, then this is a cheap solution but I need comfort.

Strengths:
Good sound for a small price.

Weaknesses:
Bad fit, low volume