Our Verdict
Mediocre for neutral listening. The small and closed-back in-ear design means they won't have the most spacious soundstage. That combined with their poorly balanced sound that favors bass over instruments and vocals make them sound cluttered, muddy and a bit boxy which may be somewhat okay for casual listening but won't be ideal for more neutral listeners.
- Above-average build quality.
- Minimal leakage.
- Mediocre-at-best control scheme.
- Bass-heavy sound, not for everyone.
Decent for commuting. The Sony MDR-XB50AP Extra Bass are lightweight, ultra-portable headphones that passively block a lot of noise. They won't be the best in very loud environments, but they can handle the level of most commutes, especially if you're listening to music at moderately high volumes.
- Above-average build quality.
- Minimal leakage.
- Mediocre-at-best control scheme.
- Bass-heavy sound, not for everyone.
Above-average for sports use. Although they're not as stable as some of the other in-ears, they're compact lightweight and decently comfortable. However, they do not have the best control scheme, and since they're wired, they might get yanked out of your ears relatively easily if the cable gets hooked by something.
- Above-average build quality.
- Minimal leakage.
- Mediocre-at-best control scheme.
- Bass-heavy sound, not for everyone.
Average for office use. They prevent a fair bit of noise from entering your audio. They also barely leak so they won't distract your colleagues in quieter environments.
- Above-average build quality.
- Minimal leakage.
- Mediocre-at-best control scheme.
- Bass-heavy sound, not for everyone.
Average for gaming. They have a wired connection, so they have negligible latency which is suitable for gaming. They also have a decent microphone that's compatible with consoles and PCs. Unfortunately, they sound overly bass-heavy and lack a good app to customize their sound profile like most gaming headsets. Their in-ear fit also won't be as comfortable for all listeners, especially during long gaming sessions.
- Above-average build quality.
- Minimal leakage.
- Mediocre-at-best control scheme.
- Bass-heavy sound, not for everyone.
- Above-average build quality.
- Minimal leakage.
- Mediocre-at-best control scheme.
- Bass-heavy sound, not for everyone.
Changelog
- Updated Nov 04, 2021: Converted to Test Bench 1.5.
- Updated Feb 17, 2020: Converted to Test Bench 1.4.
- Updated Nov 21, 2019: Converted to Test Bench 1.3.1.
- Updated Nov 21, 2019: Converted to Test Bench 1.3.
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Popular Headphones Comparisons
The Sony MDR-XB50AP are a decently versatile wired in-ear. They do not have the best sound quality and may a bit too bass-heavy for critical listening. But on the upside, they block enough noise to be suitable for commuting and they will easily fit into your pockets so you can have them on you at all times. They're also sufficiently stable for sports and working out although they won't be as good as some of the competing in-ear models below. See our recommendations for the best earbuds and in-ears, the best earbuds under $50, and the best cheap earbuds.
The Sony MDR-XB50AP Extra Bass are more versatile headphones than the Apple EarPods. They have a closed-back design that isolates more ambient noise and makes them more suitable for commuting. As their name suggests, the Sony have a very bass-heavy sound profile, while the Apple's open-design lack sub-bass, but don't lack detail in the treble range like the Sony do. Also, the Apple are more comfortable, if you can find a good fit. They have a decent in-line remote with volume control, which the Sony don’t have, disappointingly. The Apple have a decent microphone for calls, while the Sony are a more stable option for sports.
The 1More Triple Driver are slightly better wired in-ear headphones than the Sony MDR-XB50AP Extra Bass. The 1More are a bit more comfortable, have a better in-line remote that's easier to use, and come with a much nicer carrying case. They also have a better-balanced sound profile that still has a good amount of bass, but isn't nearly as bass-heavy and boomy as the Sony. If you use your headphones while taking calls, the mic on the 1More also has a better recording quality, though they both sound good. Other than that, the Sony block more background noise, and some people may like their very bass-heavy sound profile, especially if you listen to a lot of music that isn't vocal-centric or instrument-driven, like EDM or dubstep.
The Sony MDR-XB50AP Extra Bass are better headphones than the 1More Piston Fit. They have a more balanced sound, isolate more ambient noise, and barely leak. The Sony also feel more durable than the 1More. On the other hand, the 1More feel more comfortable thanks to their very small and lightweight earbuds, and they have a better microphone for calls.
The Logitech G333 are better headphones for most purposes than the Sony MDR-XB50AP Extra Bass. The Logitech have a much more comfortable fit and a better build quality. Their in-line controls offer more functionality and better feedback, and they have an in-line mic with significantly better recording quality. On the other hand, the Samsung are slightly more compact and leak much less sound. They also do a somewhat better job of passively isolating you from noises like background conversations.
Our How We Test Headphones article takes you behind the scenes in our lab. You'll learn how we choose and purchase products and dive into the details of our review philosophy, from testing and scoring to writing and editing.
You can also discover how we produce recommendations like this one so that you can find the best headphones (or earbuds!) for your needs.
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