great sound for those who bother to listen
340756
more than any other attribute, good vacuum tubes allow the three-dimensional quality of recorded music to be heard, both width (soundstage) and depth. in good recordings, individual instruments are audible; in fine concert recordings, the bowing of a single violin may be perceived. The CJ amplifier is such a product -- its simplicity means there are fewer sound-changing components in the signal path.. next to three-dimensionality, this preamp has the ability to make high-frequency sibilants audible without glassy glare or messy distortion (e.g., turning ssss into shhh). Don't look for phony low end boom or ear torturing solid state highs here, thank you -- just listenable music that sounds more like the source than any other preamp I've heard (including my audio research electronics) . warning: you will hear what has been recorded onto your sources -- if the piano is overmiked, it will sound 10-feet tall; if the hall is reverberant, then you will have echo in your living room, but only because it was there on the recording. Summary: if you like  natural music and are willing to match it with good speakers and amps, you will appreciate the CJ classic 2.
276974
The sound and the fit are top notch.
They just stop responding to commands, and there is no way to reset them.
So if you don't mind missing calls, being unable to pause music or skip an annoying track these are perfect for you.
2666857
They're inexpensive speakers, designed for basic applications. Audio connoisseurs and serious gamers will probably want to buy a more expensive set.  But most of us, who don't need something expensive, and are perfectly happy with "good-not-great" sound quality, will like this sound system a lot. I mainly just need basic sound on my computer, but once in a while, I'll dust off an old game and play it. These do just fine.
4313980
Very good sound and comfortable when extended listening
2677918
This product is made for the audiophile that wants to squeeze every bit of sonic quality out of their music that they possibly can get.

I had been using the outstanding Denon AH-D600 headphones for the past year after rocking Sennheiser headphones for the past decade+ and was amazed at how much BETTER my listening experience could get, going from a Mercedes to Rolls Royce for my ears.

With the SONY PHA-2 that Rolls just got a new set of tires.

This device isn't made for everyone and if you already have a great pair of headphones you might not get the sonicgasm you expect but there is no doubt that this amplifier will take an A grade and turn it into an A+.  Bass is easily more apparent, there is more depth to the music I listen to (and my main genre is soundtrack/classical so this is a great test case) and I can't see myself NOT using this device from now on in the office.

The main con of the PHA-2 is that you can't charge it while in usage (this makes no sense to me whatsoever) and my iPhone 5 won't charge while connected.

I really, really, REALLY like the fact that SONY is going back to their roots and has made a device that is innovative and DIFFERENT from what you normally see on the shelves of your local big box retailer.  I'm surprised the device ever got green-lit in the first place as it's very expensive and you are talking about a very select set of listeners that are going to pick this up.

***** HIGHLY RECOMMENDED
3262361
After a string of headphones that sounded fine but broke easily, I got these about 4-5 years ago.  After a little break-in, the sound was great -- enough bass, but not overwhelming, and crystal clear on the higher end.  These headphones can pump out volume -- hooked up to a laptop you could practically use them as speakers.  The open-ear design isn't for everyone, but for me it was ideal -- I can walk through New York with the volume up, but still hear enough of my surroundings to be safe.

But, sadly, after 4-5 years of daily, rough use (often 10-12 hours a day, through all kinds of weather), I've finally managed to wear a hole through the cord, killing one of the speakers.  But it took YEARS of hard daily use to do it, so I'll gladly lay down another couple of bucks for another set.
625442
I love music, but I have never been the type to need the ultimate sound.  This unit replaced a Kenwood that I had for about 20 years and is a great improvement.  I don't have the ability to have surround sound, but I did have an extra speaker, a KLM that I wired up in the center.  The radio receiver is better than I had before and there is a lott more wattage in this set. Sounds great and has coverage of sound from the bass to the treble.  Very nice for the average person.  The only gripe I have is the receiver somehow decided it would work off the TV remote, although I never programmed it, and it turns on and off each time I turn on the TV.
Ok if I'm wanting more speakers going with the TV, but most of the time I don't. Oh, well, I just turn it off if I don't want it.
4220328
To my non-audiophile ears (and come on, do you really believe half of what they say?), these are quite good, if a little lacking in bass. For me, this isn't really a bad thing, as I don't even like bass all that much, but I thought it worth mentioning. The highs and mids are very crisp and clear, and I feel more "present" while wearing these than any other headphones I've worn recently. The volume is good, I keep my device (Nexus 5) at one of the lowest volume settings for normal listening. They come with 3 different tip sizes in a airtight, sealed foil package. They stay in my ears well and are comfortable to me, but the hard edge on the backside would probably be uncomfortable for smaller ears (I do wear the smallest tips, so maybe this won't be a problem for most). The fit and finish is great, and I love the placement of the button/microphone: right at jaw-level, where it won't get lost in or blocked by whatever clothing you happen to be wearing. A solid 4/5 stars for the average user.
4713190
I really like these. First, they are extremely comfortable. I wore them yesterday for 4 hours reading, and no fatigue at all. I'm usually sensitive to such things, so that impressed me. Also, the sound clarity is amazing. I am no audiophile, but I hear things in songs that I don't usually hear. Listening to Diamond's Holly Holy was something else. And the Rolling Stones You Can't Always Get What You Want is truly spectacular. There are, however, two downsides that should give you caution. First, the drivers aren't terribly efficient. This means that if you're using a smartphone, it might not be quite loud enough for you. I listen to music relatively loudly, but even when I have the volume turned all the way up it's not always quite loud enough. This is especially the case on the subway, for instance. It works well enough, but it should be better. I shouldn't have to have the volume all the way up during my commute. Second, despite Sony's claims about bass, there isn't much bass. Bassheads definitely will hate these. But even for a lot of popular music, these don't quite work. The problem is that bass is just too subtle and underwhelming, and sometimes makes songs sound odd because of the lack of bass. So just keep in mind that these really don't do the best job with bass. I mostly listen to rap music and these remain tolerable= and I enjoy them. But for a lot of people than want even minimal to moderate thump, these aren't those cans. I am keeping these Sonys because there just ins't much on the market that's as good. And since I spend so much time commuting, the comfort of these win out in the end. They really are delightful on the noggin. Here are all the other headphones I have tried: Beats are overpriced crap. The Sol Republic Master Tracks ear cups are too small and they pinch the head too much. They sound okay, though. And for the money, if you find them comfortable, it wouldn't be unreasonable to go that route. The Sennheiser Momentums sound better than anything, but also the earcups are not as big as they should be and they are therefore uncomfortable. For $350 they need to be pillows for your ears. The JVC flats sound amazing for 15 bucks, but they're not that functional since they don't sit on the head quite right. But for 15 bucks you can't go wrong if you don't wear headphones that much. I also really like the Bose AE2, but I am tired of Bose stuff, frankly. They need something that looks better, not something that my grandpa would wear. I have also tried the Panosonic over ear cans for around 35 bucks. They sound good enough for the money, but they really pinch the head too much. It's unfortunate, because I would have kept them otherwise. But I just can't wear them for very long. And compared to the Sony's MDR-10R, they are impossible. Finally, I tried the Skullcandy Aviators, and they sound good and for 100 bucks they would be decent, but I think the problem is that I am just not cool enough to pull them off. They look silly on me. You have to be Derrick Rose or something to rock them right.
2976444
I'm an avid music listener with a broad range of genres that I enjoy. I've also never liked having things in my ears so most of my headphones are on ear.

Pros:
Clear, rich sound, very little distortion in audio quality.
Nice padding, the part that is on your ears is comfortable
Blocks outside noises really well for supra-aural headphones
Bass sounds good. Not so thumping that it ruins a song and not distorted
Sturdy- it's holding up very well to the abuse I'm inflicting trying to make the headband comfortable.

Cons:
The head band! I'm not sure if the sound is worth the way it feels on top of my head.
Placement of the volume control, but that doesn't bother me much because I'm used to adjusting volume on my iPod

The center part of the headband is really annoying. It looks okay, then you put it on and it feels like something flat against the top of your head. Other than that, it fits just fine. For casual music listening, it's just bothersome enough that I think I would stick to a pair of earphones that may not have the same sound quality but are more comfortable. I've tried re-adjusting the fit by reshaping the metal strip. For home listening, it's easier if I put the band behind my head instead of over it.
3524285
I agonized for quite a while about taking a risk on SQ.  I bought some overpriced SkullCandies as an impulse purchase, and when I heard the crap coming into my ears I shook with anger.  (I already knew the store wouldn't take them back.)  But I tried again - I trusted my previous experience with Sennheiser (I so miss my HD535 cans that I broke; I may never hear that loveliness again) and got the IE6s via Amazon.

They sound great.  They are a little boomy (bass-heavy), I think, but I'm not sure.  The main thing I listen for is clarity in the highs, and the IE6s gave me what I wanted.  My tinnitus has gotten worse lately, and I'm not sure why, and this probably affects my judgement.  But the difference with SkullCandy is like night and day.  If you are like me, afraid to buy earbuds without listening to them first to assure a basic level of SQ commensurate with price (currently $116), rest assured!  They probably don't deliver the clarity of a more expensive product, but they're great for everyday use.

The silicone tips didn't work at all for me.  When I finally got the Comply tips from Radio Shack, on advice of this forum, I was happy.  They have a semi-rigid inner tube and soft, reasonably durable (for a disposable product) outer surface.  Even with those, the ambient noise reduction is only 1/3 or 1/2 as good as ordinary foam earplugs.  Noise is reduced, but not by a lot.  I listen on the bus, and all I can say is it is much nicer than just listening to the bus noise alone.  I like the around-ear cable configuration.  The outer ear holds the weight of the cable and absorbs most of the "microphonics" and also this should protect the fragile wire connection at the earbud.

I am assuming (based on other reviews here) that mine will break in a couple years.  Pity.

I can't go without urging caution.  When you listen to speakers or live instruments, your whole body gets whacked by the sound.  If you seek that same adrenaline rush from earbuds you will overcompensate and destroy your hearing - and it won't come back!

The earbuds have very low impedance, and your player may not be able to adjust volume low enough (depending on ambient noise and the source levels).
4068621
Great sound for the price, no regrets with this purchase
4757805
Wonderful sound and functionality. I'm sorry I put up purchasing it for so long.
338950
Good sound
Great noise cancellation
Great fit, but takes a few days to get used to(with the standard buds)
Recommended
4288122
Like most of the people here I had less than grand audio experience from my laptop speakers and even the 3.5mm jack passed through interference and noise from the computer (hiss and pops and snaps). Now with this unit I get absolutely great sound through my earbuds and also on my powered speakers. The unit does get warm, that surprised me by it does't get too warm so far loving the device.
2305053
If you've only had iPod quality earbuds and midrange speakers like me, these will change the way you listen to music. The sound is warm, clear, distinct and enveloping. With the Beyerdynamic Earpads, they feel like a fleece for your face. The long, telephone style cable is excellent for fiddling, although it is a little bit of a pain to tuck it away if you're going for a walk. Which you really shouldn't be doing anyway because this sound is so enveloping that you won't be aware of a mugger until they have your money.

I guess the looks could be a downside for some people, but I get a bigger thrill from seeing professionals use my headphones than having them be clear of text, snazzily designed and a pretty color. Also, at least for me, you can't really comfortably sling them around your neck for a minute when someone's talking to you, you have to just take them off.
2539491
I just received my Sennheiser CX300 ear buds today. I've been listening to them for the past hour or two. They sound great for classical music, in which bass is sometimes not as strong as in a real concert hall. I'm listening to Simon & Garfunkel now, which sounds great with the Bass Reduceer EQ scheme in my iPod.

Pros:
Good sound, asymmetric cable is a good idea, small plug isn't too big for an iPod Nano, comfortable, attenuation of external noise is nice; just the thing to keep volumes reasonable despite ambient noise.

Cons:
Bass is overly strong. Not an issue for iPods, because we can just set the EQ to "bass reducer." No case provided, not even a cheap little vinyl baggie.

I gave this product 4 stars due to the overly strong bass. Sennheiser calls it, wait for it: "bass-driven stereo sound."

This is completely unnecessary, since most CD players and MP3 players have some sort of EQ that can boost the bass when desired.

Now that I think of it, I doubt anyone will even read this review, since there are 900+ before it. Oh well, I tried to help you!