INTRODUCTION
To start things off, let me explain why I bought the Sony MDR-V300 headphones. I had just purchased the Sony Walkman D-CJ500 portable CD/MP3 player, and was not very satisfied with the shoddy headphones that came with it. They distorted when there was small amounts of bass, and if there's one thing I can't stand, its distortion. So, I got on ebay and found a decently priced pair of headphones - Sony of course. I bought them on ebay for $23, plus shipping made them $31.50... kind of pricey, but I wanted some headphones I could jam out in! To help organize this review, I will review the following categories: SOUND QUALITY, DURABILITY, COMFORT and SPECIFICATIONS.
SOUND QUALITY
When it comes to sound, The MDR-V300's were everything I expected, and more. Highs were crystal clear and there was a surprising amount of bass, with minimum distortion. I listen to all types of music: rap, punk rock, country, techno, and of course, the classics, like tom petty, eagles, floyd, etc. The gold-plated tip on the headphone jack ensured a constant supply of music without any interference. I have had headphones in the past that cut out when the cord was moved or the unit was bumped.
DURABILITY
Unfortunately, the MDR-V300s lose huge points in this category. Clearly these were designed more for comfort and convenience than durability. The earpieces are on a joint-type system that allows them to fold in and out, which is nice for storage, and one eared studio listening, but due to the cheap plastic material they can be broken all too easily. About 3 months after I bought these I had accidentally stepped on them while they were sitting on the floor, and even though I caught myself before all my weight went on them, it was too late. One of the earpieces broke right off! So moral of this story: if you tend to have a messy room and/or leave things on the floor, you may want to look into a diferent design styling for your next pair of headphones. Otherwise, I wouldnt consider it that big of a deal. I'm sure strength testing is not on Sony's top priority when it comes to headphones.
COMFORT
The MDR-V300s are very comfortable. I am in college, and I like to listen to music while I study. I have worn these for several hours straight without them hurting my ears too much. However I think wearing any pair of headphones for long enough will start to bother anyone...
The jointed system on the earpieces helps them better fit my large-sized head, and also allows them to take up less room when I throw them in my bag.
SPECIFICATIONS
Yes, here they are from Sony.com:
Features
•Supra-aural design for excellent listening comfort
㩒 mm diameter drivers for deep bass
•High-energy Neodymium magnets
•Reversible earcups for single-sided monitoring
•High-grade metallic finish
•Folding design
•Wide molded headband for long-lasting comfort
•Gold-plated UniMatch® plug
Price from Sony.com: $49.99 shipping
CONCLUSION
All in all I suppose I was satisfied in my purchase, until I stepped on them that is. If I could do it all over again, I would have payed more attention to the design to make sure I'm not paying $35 dollars for a set of headphones that can break easier than the shoddy pair that came with my Walkman. However if you are looking for a great looking, great sounding, comfortable pair of headphones, look no further. Just be careful where you leave them.
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