Sony MDR-EX81LP/B Consumer Headphones

Pros: Sound! Bass response is fabulous for iPods.
Cons: Not sure about the over the ear design. However, it neither helps nor hinders performance.

First of all, I don't think any "in the ear" headphones will be good for the gym or exercising if you choose to buy the kind that only has the vinyl/rubber inserts. Those inserts get slippery when wet (from sweat). The foam one's will work best. Try ...

Pros: sound good, keep noise out, over-the-ear design
Cons: expensive ($50 retail), die after 6 months, 32 ohms impedance, 90 day warranty

I bought these headphones for one purpose only: to use while exercising with my iPod. I did a lot of research before purchasing them, searching google for reviews on various headphones for sound quality, prices, resistance to sweat, comfort, etc, ...

Pros: comfortable fit carry case is nice several bud sizes to choose from
Cons: horrible sound quality any OEM headphone will sound better

I'm happy to report that I was fortunate enough NOT to have had to pay for these headphones. They were given to me from a friend. His wife got them for him and didn't fit his ears, so he passed them along to me. $40+ loss for them... Nothing gained ...

Pros: Great balanced sound, stay in your ears, good noise cancel.
Cons: Could be a bit fuller sound.

I've read some reviews of these phones. Most criticize that they have the ear hooks but they don't hold well. They are missing the point. Some people like me can't wear buds - they fall out of my canals within 45 seconds after I put them in. With these phones, because the wire attaches to the end of the ear wrap, they are not meant or needed to hold tightly against your ear. They are a "shock absorber" between your pulling on the wire, stopping them from falling out of your ears. They stay on/in my ears as good as my Koss over the ear phones do, but provide much better outside noise cancelling and sound.

I also find the sound of these buds, once you find the right place for them in your ear, to be pleasant. I listen to them as much lower sound levels than I do others, and I find a excellent balance between bass and treble. Most other phones I find have too much bass or treble. All in all, an excellent ear bud phone, particularly for active folks like me who can't keep the buds in our ears.

Pros: Sound quality, isolation, dual length leads, cost, high sensitivity
Cons: Poor ergonomics. uncomfortable, not adjustable, asymmetric leads, leads tangle very easily

I bought these as replacements for a pair of cheap Ross headphones for the gym. My MDR EX71s are excellent, but they don't stay in very long, the cord tangles easily, noises are transmitted through the cord via friction, and the asymmetrical leads have an irritating way of dragging on one ear.

The EX81s look as if they solve the problem of the buds being pulled out. In practice, they only prevent the earphone from falling off the ear itself; the earbud (usually the left one on the short lead) works loose and the bud is left dangling from its hook on your ear.

The hooks don't adjust in any way, so if your ears aren't a suitable size, you may experience the same problem.

On the plus side, the buds have good isolation and quality (IMO), and their sensitivity means that my MP3 player needs only a fraction of the volume I have to use with other phones for good results.

Disappointing: an opportunity squandered to make these ideal gym phones.