I've had my iPod for a year now, and I've loved it. However, as time went by one thing that was not holding up as much as others were the trademark earbuds. After almost 12 months, I think the rigors of traveling back and forth finally proved too much, and the sound quality had taken a significant downturn. A distinct buzz had started that got quite annoying, and the earbuds didn't stay in during active moments as much as I would have liked. So, I went out on the search for new headphones to use with my iPod.

I went in wanting three features - noise cancellation, over-the-ear style and decent sound. I went into Best Buy, and the salesperson suggested I try out the Sony MDR-Q22LP. Thus far, they've been pretty good.

[• let the MUSIC PLAY •]
When I got home, I immediately took them out to try them. The cord is fairly long (about 4.5 feet), giving you a decent amount of room between your MP3 player and whatever you are doing. One of the nicer features is that the two headphones are connected in serial fashion - the plug connects to the left phone, and then another cord connects to the right phone. I like it because it gives you the extra flexibility - including being able to take one off when necessary.

These phones also have an earpiece that goes around the ear, which means that these will stay in place even during more vigorous activity. The 'hanger' piece does move to allow it to fit snugly on a variety of ear sizes. The fact that it is a earphone instead of an earbud gives it a degree of sound dampening, although these are definitely not sound-dampening phones. They'll fit over your ears to lessen the background noise, but won't block it completely.

I don't know that these are the most stylish headphones on the market (to be honest, I actually liked the official earbuds), but I like them. Because there is no band between the phones, they are extremely flexible and easy to take with you when you go back and forth. By the same token, the length and looseness of the phones mean that they get tangled quite easily if you don't tie them up when you transport them.

When they're on, you'll barely notice them - they're light and they're remarkably comfortable around the ear. I've worn them for hours at a time without really noticing them.

The sound on these phones is pretty good - better than the earbuds but not as nice as my more heavy-duty Sonys that I use for the home stereo (which were unfortunately much too large to take with me on a daily basis). The phones do seem to lag a bit at the higher range, but I can't say how much of that can be directly attributed to the phones and how much is part of the limitations of the iPod itself (my guess is that it is a combo).

If there is any real downside, it is that because there is no 'headband' between the phones, they do get tangled much easier than more solid earphones. However, that's the price you pay for the flexibility and comfort of these phones.

[• tech SPECS •]
Type: Headphone-type
Style: Around the ear
Color: Silver although interchangeable blue metallic caps are included.
Power-handling Capacity: 1000mW
Impedence: 24 ohm at 1kHz
Sensitivity: 103 dB/mW
Frequency Response: 20 - 24,000 Hz
Cord: 1.5m neck chain style
Plug: Gold-plated stereo mini plug
Weight: 35g without cord
Warranty: 90-day Limited

[• final NOTES •]
These headphones are fairly inexpensive but have some good sound. You can spend more and you'll get more - these are a good low-price, flexible set of phones to replace the earbugs that come with iPods (and most other MP3 players). If you don't like ear buds or want something that is a little more snug around your ears, these are a good choice for the money you'll spend.

Recommended: Yes