Sony Ultra Lightweight MDR-W08L Vertical In-The-Ear Headphones
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Sony’s MDR-W08L Vertical, In-The-Ear Headphones get you ready to rock! Featuring a Super-Light In-The-Ear Design, Sony Acoustic Turbo Circuitry, a High Power Neodymium Magnet, and an L-Shaped Mini Plug, these headphones combine quality sound with a comfortable fit. This product also admits outside sound for added safety when you are listening on the go.
Main Features
Features
- Open-air, dynamic headphones which fit comfortably in the ear
- 13.5 mm diameter for small size and sound quality
- Nickel-plated mini-plug is L-shaped
- Slim headband to keep headphones snug
- 3.3 foot cord (1 meter) for ease of movement
- Dimensions (W x H x L): 7 x 1 x 10 inches
- Weight: 0 pounds
SONY Lightweight Ear Phones
I just received the headphones and so far I am pleased with the sound quality. I use them for running with my SONY armband radio. They are comfortable to wear. I hope they will last, however I bought 2 pair so I have one as a back up since the price is low.
Great but breaks too soon!
I am an avid fan of these headphone and have been using them for YEARS! They are cheap, small, light and fit my ears perfectly. I wear them when training, running marathons, racing triathlons, traveling, etc.
My ONLY complaint, and this is a big one, is the durability. After a few months (3-9) months one of the headphones will stop working. I will move the wire around that connects to the earpiece and sometimes it’ll come to life but then, just as quickly, is dead again. There’s no warning that one of the wires is about to bite the dust. Next thing you know, after strapping on your running shoes and prepping for a 2-hour run you are only hearing music from one ear.
Since these headphone are cheap and comfortable I buy 2-3 paid each time I purchase them and while buying multiple pairs may be more expensive in the long run versus buying a more expensive set of headphones, I just can’t find anything as comfortable.
Very good
This headphone is as expected. It is very comfortable and the sound is clear almost all the time. Sometimes there is static when I am on the treadmill.
Long time user, love these headphones
I have been using these sony head phones for 5-10 years and love them. I am happy to see them on Amazon, the only other place I know that sells them is Target, for the same price (about $10). I use them for running 3-4 times a week. Throughout the years, I have tried other kinds, earbuds, the kind that wrap behind the ears, but these are the only headphones that stay on my ears when I run. My only complaint is that I wish they were more durable, I have to replace mine every 3-4 months because one of the ears goes out. I would pay more for a more durable pair. But for the price, you can’t beat them! If you intend to be a heavy user, I would recommend having an extra pair on hand. There is nothing worse than struggling through a workout and one side goes out!
Won’t use anything else
I have had several pairs of these headphones over the years. I have small ears, so the earbud headphones hurt my ears and don’t stay in. These fit perfectly, and they have great sound. The only complaint I have is that they are harder and harder to find as the ear buds become more popular. I hope Sony continues to make these. They don’t last that long if you pull on them a lot, so I now keep them in a pencil pouch in my backpack so that they don’t get caught on all my other stuff.
Best Running headset ever
This is the best it is my second one. It stays on my head and in my ears. I can’t use anyother headset when I workout.
Best headphones I have ever owned
These are the best headphones I have ever owned. They are very light with excellent sound quality. And they are also very inexpensive. They fit nicely in the ear and are the most comfortable headphones I have ever owned. I use them with my portabble CD player and my MP4 player. Unless you are an extreme audiophile, you will love these headphones. Unfortunately, Sony no longer produces them but they are still available on the internet.
Superb, but with one small modification
I’ve been using variants of this headphone for years now. For the price, the audio quality is absurdly good. It won’t replace $100 studio headphones, but for listening to music in most situations it is all anyone but the most snotty audiophile will need. Even modest (but cheap!) audiophiles like me are still impressed, again, especially for $10. This is almost certainly the best $10 headphones available in terms of sound quality.
However, the complaints about lifespan are valid. But they are surprisingly easily addressed. The root problem is that if you stand up accidentally or otherwise rip them off your head, you put a lot of stress on the ear bud connections. The solution is to make it so the stress is never transmitted so strongly. When you get these headphones, before wearing them, slide them to their largest size. Pick a side. Look at why they can’t slide any further; you’ll see a little bit of plastic on the inside that catches on a hook in the sliding earbud part. Using a sharp knife and some care, remove that bar on one side. Ideally, if you leave a bit of the bar behind, it will still catch on the settings so you can size it, but will fairly freely slide entirely off the top; in all the times I’ve tried this this happens “accidentally” anyhow, since a clean cut is very difficult. Now, if you accidentally stand up or whatever, instead of putting a lot of stress on the headphones until they pop out of the eigth-inch jack, they will simply come apart without much force being applied to the ear buds. Perhaps counter-intuitively, it is actually better that the headphones just come apart instead of resisting. This also helps prevent a lot of force being applied to the jack of whatever they are plugged into, which isn’t good for whatever that is either.
I’ve had three of these things over the years. Two failed after 5+ years of service, which I can’t complain about, one of those failures because the *jack* end got worn down. I lost the third (which is also looking at 5+ years of service, note there’s some overlap in these years as I’ve had them in more than one location), which is why I’m looking to replace it and writing this review. Do yourself a favor, three minutes with a knife will go a long way towards turning months of service into years of service.
Good deal, longtime user
I’ve used these headphones for about 10 years (many pairs). Whether they work for you depends on your intended use. These I’ve used for exercise, while I have a different, nicer pair, that I use for everything else. They are perfect for running, or any other exercise you can imagine. Cheap enough to take out into the elements or into the sauna. They aren’t going to win any sound awards, but they sound way above average for a $10 set. Very lightweight and won’t fall out of your ears like earbuds. The con is that they last as long as a $10 set. Depending on use they seem to last about a year. One of the two earphones will go out first, followed by the other. Not sure if this is a flaw or merely because of the sweat that gets into them and the general rough treatment I give them. Would recommend as good exercise headphones.
Great purchase for a great price
The package arrived sooner than expected in a very good shape. These earphones are so light and comfortable that you don’t even feel them. Quality of sound is very good compared with the price. They are ideal for running and outdoor exercises.
All previous reviews say that they break after an average use of around 1 year. I had the same problem in the past. That’s why I bought 2 this time. I’d say this is a great buy! I hope you keep the price steady…
I LOVE these headphones!! Too bad less and less stores are carrying them…
I LOVE these headphones. I will go out of my way to look for them in brick and mortar stores. It’s upsetting that less and less stores are carrying them, so I have to rely on getting them online. It’s a rarity that I find them hanging in the headphone section in the stores. The sound is great, and, if well cared for, they will last a good eight to nine months, which I think is fair for the price. Other headphones, like earbuds and over the ear headphones make my ears bleed, while the behind the head headphones have uncomfortable ear pads, and these are the only ones I can wear comfortably. If they could solve the problem of the sound going out in one ear (which will eventually happen), I’d love Sony forever!!
Great value
I’ve tried using all kinds of headphones for the gym and for running, and I keep coming back to these – they’re cheap, but they stay in place (earbuds don’t stay in my ears when I run), they’re durable and they sound good (when working out, I’m not sure I could tell the difference anyway). Wonderful value for the price.
Great until they die
These are the only head phones that stay on while I run or go to the gym. Earbuds do not work in my ears and the ones with over the ear clips don’t stay in place. I can easily pull them out of my ear to talk to someone. If I want to run for a bit without music, they hang around my neck without any problems. The sound is great. However, like another reviewer, I have had 3 break on me. After several months, the wire connections break either by the ear piece or the connector. (If I wiggle the wire, I can get a intermittent response.)
Note to be fair. Of the 3 headphones that broke, only one was a MDR-W08. Another was a Sony MDR-W25 and the third Sony pair got thrown away.
I will buy two more pair and attempt to apply a dab of glue to where the wires attach to provide strain relief.
Finally! Earphones that don’t pop out of my ears when I run!
After years of frustration with earbuds that pop out of my ears while running and walking, I got these headphones. They’re great – lightweight and they stay put! Sound quality is good too.
Works for me
I typically use my iPod at the gym while working out. I have small ears and can’t use earbuds; I have yet to find a pair that will stay in my ears, so I am constantly readjusting earbuds and usually can’t hear well.
These headphones are light, comfortable and stay in my ears. Typically I listen to podcasts rather than music, and the sound quality is more than adequate for that.
I have used this type of headphone in the past, and they do have a finite life, but then again they are fairly inexpensive. This time I bought two pair so I have a spare if the first set breaks.
Defective wiring- don’t buy
I have owned two pairs of these headphone. Each pair has developed the same problem after about 90 days (just after the warrantee period). The right headphone speaker shorts out and stops working. After taking both pairs apart I found that Sony knots the wire inside the headphone to prevent it from coming out but in the process damages the wires inside causing a short. My advice, don’t waste you money on these.
Great Work Out Headphones
I find that buds never stay in my ears during workouts. These are great and stay in! I picked mine up at Target for 9.99 new. Better than the standard ipod phones. A good buy at $9.99. Works for me.
Great for listening to your music.
I loved these head phones. There so comfortable, the sound quality is very good and there very affordable. I would recommend a pair to anyone who is considering buying new headphones. There the best pair I’ve ever had.
Fast Walker Music
The Sony Ultra Lightweight MDR-W08L is much better than the ipod earbuds. They stay in the ears with only a few adjustments in a 30 minute walk. The sound is better than average and has met my expectations. I enjoy listening to music again while walking.
hard to find at bricks and mortar stores
Earbuds and behind-the-head headphones don’t stay put for me. This in-ear but over-the-head Sony model headphone does. Just can’t find it in bricks in mortar stores, anywhere. Glad I could get it on Amazon.