Sony ZX Series Wired On-Ear Headphones, Black MDR-ZX110

I bought the Sony ZX Series wired headphones and for the price, they’re really good. The sound is clear with decent bass and highs, and they work well for everyday music and calls. They’re lightweight and foldable, which makes them easy to carry around. The ear pads are comfortable for short use, but after a long time they can feel a bit tight. Build quality is okay, not super strong, but for the cost they’re worth it. Overall, a great budget headphone if you just need something simple and reliable.

I have bought this many times since it is super good for my children's schools, it is comfortable for them and the sound is not so loud, it is comfortable for their ears.

This is a fairly good headset with decent sound that does an adequate job at music reproduction. They are fairly inexpensive, so going with the old accepted 'wisdom' that you get what you pay for, I really hadn't expected much from them when I made the purchase, so they've pretty much lived up to that lofty expectation. Anyway, I've used them pretty much on a daily basis for months now without really given them much thought, so I've been happy enough. After all, they were affordable. They aren't particularly uncomfortable. They didn't sound horrible and they seem to be all I need for the use to which I put them. I unplugged the old set, put 'em away, plugged in these and that was that. Because I wasn't expecting much, I never considered doing any sort of quality testing or comparison listening when they arrived. That was a mistake. With clear hindsight, I'd now say I'd already pretty much convinced myself they would do when I ordered them, so I never bothered to check if they actually were. Naturally they sound okay, since I wasn't expecting much, but they're being used almost exclusively for non-critical, background listening to music on my tablet while I'm doing other things (almost anything instead of watching the idiot box while my wife is in the same room, online and talking with her coworkers and clients and trying to concentrate on her new full-time, off-site job). So, since I haven't really been thinking about anything more than whether or not they reproduce music, they're okay. Not awful, not great, but okay. That's what I expected so that's pretty much what I got. I should have been more careful.A couple of days ago my wife was out exercising before starting her work shift, so I took advantage of the opportunity to test-drive some new music I was thinking about purchasing. I needed to be more discerning in my listening and I needed to be online, so I moved over to my desk so I could use my souped-up PC and Klipsch Promedia 2.1 speaker system, a combination that reproduces music pretty well for me. I realized from the outset I couldn't expect to favorably compare my inexpensive Sony 'phones to that, but I was completely surprised even so. I'd never checked, so I never realized just how much of the music I'd been missing with the new headphones.Now I started thinking about my headphones a bit more critically, the old and new. Yes, the old set was a bit long in the tooth; after all, it was quite a few years old and had seen a lot of use. Even so, I'd replaced it not because of a problem with the sound reproduction, but because the connector cable was wearing out and getting a bit ratty. Worse, it had developed a somewhat quirky connector that often required reseating in the jack to work. A pain in the butt, but when they worked, they still sounded quite good. I then remembered listening to music and thinking about just how great it sounded on a brand new laptop I used recently (with the old headset). At the time, I attributed the great sound pretty much entirely to the new sound chip in the costly new Dell, but maybe it had been more than just the laptop.Time and past time for action! I pulled open the junk drawer in my desk and started digging around, movin' aside all the old serial cables, card readers, cabled mouses (mice?) and such until I found the cloth bag I'd stored my old headphones in when I got the new set. I disconnected the Sony's, set 'em aside and plugged in the old ones. Rats: same old problem. I reach up and jiggle the connector around this way and that, push it in a bit further and pull it out a skosh until it's just right and finally, sound! Wow. I noticed immediately that the music was much more detailed than it had been with the new headphones. I was clearly hearing vocals and instruments as distinct individual elements, instead of, or rather, in addition to the one musical whole produced by the entire band I heard with the Sony headphones. A very noticeable difference. So I listened carefully for awhile, unplugged the old set and tried the newer Sony set again for a couple of songs, then unplugged them again and reconnected the old headphones. There was absolutely no doubt about it -- the old no-name headset (only about $20 more expensive than the new Sony's) absolutely reproduced the music with more clarity and even a deeper low end.Now what to do? Well, when I'm not paying close attention to the music, the Sony headphones and my Samsung tablet are fine, so I have those in the living room beside my easy chair (to use while my wife is working). If I want better sound while she's at work, now I have the option to move over to my desk and use my old headphones on my desktop. Not ideal maybe, but it works for me. I still have the problem with the connector on the old set every now and again, but unless and until it breaks down completely, it works.Bottom line? These inexpensive Sony headphones work, they're not uncomfortable, they're not even close to being awful, so they may be perfect for listening to music in the background or other such offhand use where not too much attention will be paid to the details. Folks that aren't too picky about music or really don't care about all the subtle little nuances that better, more expensive headphones reproduce accurately should be happy with this inexpensive choice. Again, they're not awful, they're not great, but they are okay. On the other hand, for some being merely okay really might not be all that okay, so if that's you, or music in all its multifaceted, heavily nuanced glory is more your thing, it might be better to think about something better.

These are my favorite budget headphones I've used so far. They work wonderfully, have great sound, and don't sound cheap at all. They are pretty sturdy too, they usually last about 1-2 years for me even with all of my hustle and bustle. A true friend for a cheap pair of headphones, they get the job done nicely and comfortably.

Great headphones with clear sound and comfortable fit. Lightweight and reliable for daily use. Excellent value for the price.

Great head forms for audio books! Good fit. Good sound and not jarring mt eardrums! Great price.

June 2023: Well another pair ... one of the pair I bought in 2022... has failed completely on one side at least. This is the second pair of these "110's" (look at the end of the model number) that has done this in say a year to a year 1/2 at best. I may have gotten lucky but I had a pair of the "100's" (sound basically the same, discontinued, and they have a thicker insolation around the wire .. aka a thicker cable) that lasted me for about 10 YEARS. Under the same condition these last two pair that broke on me were subjected to. I am on the borderline of saying "I cant recommend these" anymore ... but I admit for the right price I may get another pair and just KNOW these will not last and if i get even a single year out of them, that will be great. It stinks and I am NOT happy but, the other options I see do not sound as good in this price range or sound as good but are made even cheaper. I want a pair that sonud decent enough when eq'ed (I do like my music) but aren't 100's of dollars since alot of times i am in the hot Florida heat and humidity. That pair that lasted 10 years at least I am sure I even got them in a unintential rain storm or two over that time. These 110;s dont seem to last. Even the pair of Sony "300/310s" I have in red have an EVEN THINNER cable.Feb 2023: just noticed this yesterday but between that pair that seemed like it was tuned funny and another pair i use at my laptop (main computer i use alot) ... the earpads that NORMALLY flake to pieces in no time ... well in both pair they are a-ok and not even starting to flake off ... from an old pair that broke i still have some memory foam earpads that i can swap on anytime i want (they are more comfortable though the stock pads are decent enough too comfort wise) ... but credit where it's due on the not flaking to pieces issueJan 2023 Update for "Muddy" pair vs others EQ'd the same way ... well i have to go back and read my review ... I think i adjusted the mids somehow but i have been using this pair constantly and not only does the pair bought in Jan 2022 still work fine, the earpads which i expected to go by now, are still ok and also the sound issue ... EQ'ed thanks to Rockbox ... I dont notice any "issue" (granted my expectations of these NOT being audiophile quality sound but a good clear V-shape with decent mids .. not too back and not too forward) ... yeah i am ok with even that pair, nowFeb 2022 update to the newest Jan 2022 pair i mentioned sounding muddy. I have used them a few days and now i think I have the fix ... they need EQ help but they sound decent now, even if not "great". My fix was in Rockbox (Sansa mp3 players running Rockbox was always my main use-case) I left "Treble" and "base" alone and kept all of my prior sound settings I had for prior models sounding good. I kept the i want to say around the 1k and 2k EQ ranges that were at zero and i pulled them down a bit ... THEN I also (based off a youtube video suggestion on muddy sound) i pulled down the low end in the advanced EQ part, STILL leaving a boosted "base" in the individial "base" part .... hard to explain for those that dont know Rockbox but it's like an android EQ where you pull the low end down in the slider portion but also ENABLE a "base boost" toggle or something that an EQ app may have ... that sort of thing only you have more control over how much the "base boost" is "boosted".Not all songs sound great but that could be the source file ....even the one i am thinking of doesn't make me go "wow .. that is not the way i am use to these headphones sounding on that track" .... I still would prefer not having to do this and having them tuned the way they use to be tuned (maybe i got a bad pair) ... but they are usuable now and i like themJan 2022 Update: I recent bought a "backup pair" this past December and just tested them today ... I do like vs the 2016/2017 versions of the "110's" the cable from the split down to the connect it seems thicker (like the "100's use to be") ... though what I dont like is ... the tuning ... I still have those old 110's and I 100% notice a clarity difference ... turns out I cant return these if i wanted to (not saying I would ... ) but doing an A-vs-B comparsion I totally hear a clarity difference ... these new ones sound balanced, do not get me wrong, but they sound a tad muddy vs the old pair ... and I totally admit i do a combo of a U or a V shaped EQ when using the Sony 100's or 110's ... these dont sound great un-EQ'ed .... .but ... this exact pair while they work sound muddier than any 100's or 110's I have had before ... if this was my own experience with the MDRXZ 100's or 110's ... I'd be considering other brands in the same price range--------------------------------------------------This review is based on my first impressions with the "110's" on a number of mp3 player, and a number of "100's" (the previous model https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B004WODP20/ref=oh_aui_search_detailpage?ie=UTF8&psc=1 ) that I have had and used over the years.Pro - Sound QualitySo far I DO notice more bass in these new (my first pair of the "110's") pair of headphones and unlike prior experience with Sony (and other companies too ...) earbuds where the "new great model" .. didn't sound as good as the prior ones did ...These 110's just add enough to the bass and possibly treble too, that makes it definitely sound better then the 100's though it doesn't fall into the trap I described above, when sometimes they add "more bass" and it turns out the bass is so strong, that it drowns everything else out. I have to say that this is not really a knock on the 100's .. I do still like them but for the same price on either ... I'd go with the 110's but if there is a "good deal" on the 100's and I was getting them again ... I am not against getting another pair of the 100's either.Yes these are "cheap" headphones and probably not as good quality wise as a really expensive pair though I do recall some reviews saying they tried these along side a pair of "$200 Beats" and while the did say their friend's Beats did sound better ... they personally would rather get maybe two or three pair of these and still have say $150 left over ... meaning "they do not sound price-vs-quality of the sound" .. 'that much better'Pro/Con - Build qualityThese ARE plastic headphones of course, though I do not agree with those that say "oh its like they are from the Dollar store ... the plastic is horrible ..etc etc"... just if your going to buy a much more expensive pair of headphones ... your will probably get better quality tooThe one downside that ... I admit I see in these, and are a problem in the pair of "the 100's" that was 100% caused by me ... AND EVEN THEN that exact pair, needed fixing but still sounds great ... I am using THEM while typing this review, is the part where the 100's and the 110's ear-cups move. I am not sure "how it could be made better" but that was the exact point of failure for my long-used pair (again 100% my fault for HOW the break,happened) .. note that if it wasn't for me they would still be fine and that is after 3+ years of HEAVY use and they still work ... so maybe it's fine for being able to fold (in both models I mean)Pro - FitI am not sure if i can say one way or the other "I have a big head" (100% not a small head) but they fit fine .. even out of the box. Heck after that DIY type of repair I did on my broke pair .. .I had to flip them backwards and .. they for the most part still fit great ... these 110's are no different.By the way I have glasses (regular and sunglasses used when wearing these) and just like the 100's, these are nice and comfy ... not too tight or too lose, if you ask me??? - The cordThe cord looks different from the 100's I have and I like the cord ... basically I think some of the cords on others are way way too small and that always leads to the problem of one of the two sides going out for good ... The cord on the 110's looks a tad smaller diameter wise but really if that doesn't mean that issue I just described DOESN'T happen .. I do not really care... I just want the headphones to work for a long time ... if the cord is different but there are no issues ... this change is fine by me.Plug - I will keep this review updated IF there is a change but I have no had these for long enough to comment on some of the reviews who keep having issues with the plug breaking ... NOT on this pair but my other pair of the 100's get plugged into and unplugged from stuff for over three years now and often too ... never had a problem .. but then again I cant comment on these. for now.SummaryI would recommend these no question ... though if your expecting a super high end sound (aka are an "audiophile") you MAY BE disappointed though as someone who loves his music ... I think the sound with the right equalizer settings, on the device or program your using... I do LOVE the sound of these.Update - After using a new pair of the "100's" ... aka the prior modelReally ... the 110's do have the slightly higher bass and that is not a bad thing either .... the new pair of the 100's I am using I actually thought were the 110's (I just forgot what headphones I was using)... THE POINT? ... they both have great bass and I think the pair that I use to wear daily (the broken pair that still works great.... just doesn't fit perfectly anymore)'s fit actually effects the bass ... that old pair I hold the earcups closer to my ears than how they "sit" now .. .and I hear alot more bass.Between the 100s and 110's ... if the way each one of them fold doesn't matter to you for say fitting them into a caring case .... I recommend both 1000% (no typo) ... find the best deal ... if you can get one a little cheaper than the other ...cool ... there is more bass by a little bit on the 110's but do not think I am saying a new pair of the 100's are weak in that department.

Nice fit, good design, as far as noise cancellation, they are just okay. No mic on mine. Mine connect via wire. I chose white this time because always had the traditional black. Thought I try something different. Not a bad look. Nice tight fit. Color not bad either. Not expensive headphones, but wasn't looking for top of line either, just looking for a good priced headphones and found them with these Sony's.