Pros

Sounds Great.  Sony usually doesn’t disappoint in the sound department and while the bass won’t blow you away it’s definitely a quality sound output.

Plug and Play.  It’s super simple to just drag and drop your favorite songs onto the MP3 player and then you’re ready for the gym.

Cons

Must Memorize Controls.  Similar to Bluetooth devices the controls are on the MP3 player which is attached to the earbud.  At some point you will have to memorize the controls layout in order to use it efficiently.

Full Review

Sony has come a long way with their famous Walkman…

We all know the old Sony Walkman was one of the single most popular electronic devices of all time.  The question is can the new Sony Walk man compete?

Before we get into the review the technical name of this Sony Walkman is the NWZ-W262 in case you were wondering.

Okay, first things first.  These are headphones, but at the same time they aren’t headphones.  Say what?  We’re just trying to say that they don’t fit the same way a pair of headphones would.  They’re super light, but they still hold a little more weight around the ear than typical sports headphones.  They fit somewhat similar to the Jaybird Freedoms if we had to make comparisons.

All the controls are found on the MP3 player, which is attached to the earbuds.  So, at some point you’ll likely need to memorize where the buttons are or you’ll be forced to take the headphones out of your ears to check.  It really shouldn’t be that big of deal to remember where a few buttons are located.  To help counteract that a little bit the MP3 player is equipped with a program called Zappin that allows you search through songs for quick playback by simply holding down one button for about 4 seconds.  Once you find a song you like just hit the button again and it will play.

We were pleasantly surprised with the sound quality, but Sony usually checks out well in this department so maybe we shouldn’t have.  Typically most workout headphone manufacturers focus on producing a lot of bass, which we usually like, but you won’t get that with these headphones.  Overall though the sound was crisp and clear.

One last note is Sony made sure to make the headphones sweat resistant and to some degree water resistant.

The bottom line is workout MP3 players are not for everyone, especially those who just can’t leave their iPhone at home.  But if you’re interested in getting rid of external devices and combining your workout devices into one then our picks are either the Sony Walkman or the JLab GO.

 The Sony Walkman MP3 Player comes in several different colors.

Click here to see all available colors.

Specifications

• Weight: 1.2 ounces
• Battery life: 8 hours
• Play modes: normal/shuffle
• Charge time: 3 minutes of charge = 60 minutes of play time

What’s in the Box

• Sony Walkman (NWZ-262) MP3 Player Headphones
• USB cable
• Owner’s manual

Where to Buy

Click here to get the Sony Walkman MP3 Player now

The post Sony Walkman MP3 Player Headphones Review appeared first on Workout Headphones Pro.

Pros

Unique Style.  One of the first things that came to mind when we saw the Sony XBA-S65 was the unique ear hook style.  The ear hooks are completely adjustable as well.

Water Resistant.  Don’t worry about sweat damaging your ear buds during workouts as the Sony drivers are moisture resistant.

Balanced Armature Drivers.  Without getting into too many details, essentially this means you’re going to hear a lot more of the “details” in your music.  All of the subtle sounds you might not normally hear with some headphones you will definitely hear with the Sony XBA-S65.

Cons

No In-line Controls.  We expected to see the majority of new sports earphones to offer an in-line controls or microphone option since it has been so incredibly popular to workout with your iPhone.  If you don’t plan on taking calls during your workout or don’t mind adjusting volume or changing songs directly from your iPhone or iPod, then this is no big deal.

Full Review

The Sony XBA-S65 Sports Headphones aren’t like anything we’ve seen before.  They utilize a clip on or ear hook style support, but with a slight change: the positive connection is actually a full loop that is completely adjustable, allowing you to tighten or loosen the loop around your ear as you need to (see the picture to the right).

This is a big deal when it comes to workout headphones, as often times you’ll need an easy way to make adjustments for comfort, especially if your workouts tend to be a bit longer than most.

While we love our music we’re not audiophiles.  Our main concerns are typically durability and comfort as those are the two hardest features to find in workout headphones.  So, when we started reading about the balanced armature we were intrigued.  We spoke to our resident Audiologist about this feature, and she quickly pointed out that while it’s not new technology in general, it is new technology for workout earbuds.  She also noted it’s pretty cheap for this type of technology that is included in hearing devices, such as hearing aids for thousands of dollars.

The balanced armature design also affords the listener less sound leakage.  While they’re not noise cancelling, they are noise isolating which allows the user to still be aware of their environment during the workout.

In addition to all of that the Sony XBA-S65 include all the standard features of a great workout headphone, such as comfort (adjustable ear hooks), quality build (high grade materials), and sweat resistance.

If you’re serious about your workouts and your previous headphones lacked a bit in the sound quality area then these may be the perfect pair for you.

Specifications

• Weight: 0.43 ounces (without cord)
• Drivers: balanced armature (as opposed to dynamic drivers)
• Higher frequency range and increased sensitivity

What’s in the Box

• Sony XBA-S65 Headphones
• Carrying pouch
• 4 pairs of noise isolation earbuds (SS, S, M, L)
• Clip
• Cord adjuster

Where to Buy

Click here to see the lowest price on Amazon

The post Sony XBA-S65 Headphones Review appeared first on Workout Headphones Pro.

Pros

Low Price.  These one of the only pair of sport earbuds that retail below $20 and can consistently be found even cheaper.

They Won’t Ever Fall Off.  One thing is for certain you won’t be losing these earbuds anytime soon.  The ear clip fits comfortably and securely around the ear creating a very secure fit.

Cons

Sound Quality.  There is quite a bit of leakage from the earbuds.  These earbuds sit right outside the ear canal and don’t create a perfect seal which sometimes causes you to turn the volume up a little louder than you should.

Full Review

The Sony MDR-AS20J are extremely comfortable.  At first glance we didn’t think the soft loop hangers would actually be soft, but they are quite pliable and fit gently around the ear.  We tested these earbuds with a quick run and they didn’t budget.

As we mentioned above the sound quality outside was a bit lower.  However, we didn’t allow ample break in time.  Many times it takes about 10-20 hours of listening to really break in the speakers, especially  dynamic drivers.  Typically any distortion will disappear after that.

Overall it’s going to be hard to beat this price.  These would make a great first pair of sport earbuds, especially for runners.

Specifications

• Weight: 0.46 ounces (without cord)
• Cord length: 3.9 feet

What’s in the Box

• Sony MDR-AS20J Active Style Headphones
• Sport clip
• Extension cord (2 feet)

Where to Buy

Click here to see the incredibly low price we found on Amazon

The post Sony MDR-AS20J Active Style Headphones Review appeared first on Workout Headphones Pro.

Pros

Sound Quality.  The Sony MDR-W08L utilize the Sony Acoustic Turbo Circuit which allows more balanced frequency reproduction and higher input level headroom from portable players.  What exactly does that mean?  Basically, they are designed to sound good on your mp3, iPhone, iPod, CD player, etc.

Comfort and Fit.  One of the biggest praises the Sony Ultra Lightweight headphones receive is comfort.  For many runners these are the only headphones they can run with.   The vertical design takes any added weight from the cords off your ears making the headphones feel almost invisible.

Price.  It’s going to be hard to beat a pair of top rated headphones that you can usually find for less than $10. (Update: It’s almost impossible to find these headphones, and unlikely you will ever find them for under $100)

Cons

Outdated.  While the Sony Ultra Lightweight headphones still continue to be a top seller after almost 10 years the technology is getting to be a little out of date.  Though we know runners that grab a couple pairs every year just to make sure they’ll always have them.

Full Review

The word ultra should really be emphasized when talking about the Sony Ultra Lightweight headphones because they are unbelievably light, especially for a pair of vertical headphones.  With every runner or gym rat sporting a brand new iPod or iPhone it is very rare to see vertical headphones these days, but they’re still relevant in the workout headphones world.

There’s not really a whole lot to say about these headphones.  They’re one of those headphones that you’ll find people may stock up on 10-20 pairs just to be sure they always have a pair to go when their old ones burn out.

Specifications

• Nickel plated plug to resist corrosion
• Warranty : 1 year

What’s in the Box

With the price being so incredibly low, you’re not getting the usual protective storage case or any other fancy accessories.  But you will get these amazing sports headphones.

• Sony Ultra Lightweight MDR-Wo8L Headphones

Where to Buy

As odd as it sounds, you CAN NOT find these headphones in stores.  However, Amazon still carries them (and has for the past 12 years!).

Click here to get the Sony Ultra Lightweight Headphones

The post Sony Ultra Lightweight MDR-W08L Vertical In-The-Ear Headphones Review appeared first on Workout Headphones Pro.

There isn’t anything much worse than crushing a hard workout and finishing a 5-mile run only to realize that all that hard earned sweat is now ruining the one thing that powers you through each workout: your workout headphones.  Or maybe you’ve been one of those unlucky people that left their ear-buds wrapped up neatly in their pocket, but forgot to take them out before they ran through the washing machine.

Nobody wants a pair of headphones that can’t handle a little, or in some cases, a lot of sweat or water.  So, we compiled the best sweat and water resistant headphones for you to grab before you next workout, or accidental laps in the washing machine.  Rain or snow, nothing will stop these amazing workout headphones.

Sony MDR-E827G Sports Series Fontopia Water-Resistant Ear-Bud Stereo Headphones

Super light is one of the best descriptions you want for a good pair of running or workout headphones, and the Sony MDR-E827G Sport Series Headphones are just that.  After a couple minutes of these comfortable ear-buds plugged in you’ll forget they’re even there.  As an added bonus Sony has included a handy carrying case so you don’t ever misplace your favorite set of headphones.

Philips SHQ4000/28 Neckband Headphones

The Philips SHQ 4000/28 Neckband Headphones are “tuned for sports”.  What does that mean?  It means Philips specifically designed these with the athlete in mind.  They have a comfortable neckband frame that isn’t just lightweight but is actually built out of anti-bacterial and sweat resistant material.

The next time you’re thinking about hitting the pavement for an easy 10K you’ll want to consider grabbing a pair of these bad boys.  You’ll also want to take note of the location of the cord as it exits out of the left ear-bud behind your neck, which means no more bouncing cord all over your chest as you run.

And if you’re worried about getting the ear-buds dirty, don’t.  The Philips SHQ 4000/28 Neckband Headphones ear-buds are 100% washable.

Panasonic RP-HS11 Water-Resistant Lightweight Sport-Clip Headphones with Washable Pads

Panasonic has managed to do 2 great things with their RP-Hs11 Sport Clip Headphones:

1. They created removable washable pads
2. They managed to develop some pretty quality headphones for super CHEAP

One thing I don’t believe Panasonic kept in mind when creating the removable washable ear pads, was that some people remove them just for comfort.  That’s right, if you don’t like them just pop them off and workout without them.  These may not have the same quality of a few other headphones, but for $12 it is hard to pass them up.

The post Best Sweat Resistant Workout Headphones in 2017 appeared first on Workout Headphones Pro.