Sony MDR-EX15AP review: left your Bluetooth headphones at home? These wired earbuds will get the job done
Sony MDR-EX15AP review
this sony The MDR-EX15AP are a pair of dirt-cheap wired earbuds—the kind you pick up at the airport after forgetting your pesky Bluetooth headphones on a flight (or leaving them charging at home). They’re listed for just $19.99 / £10 / AU$29.95, but prices are often lower. So I think it’s fair to say that you can’t expect great audio, noise isolation, or build quality from the Sony MDR-EX15AP. But what you want is clean sound, a comfortable fit, and an attractive design—and for the most part, you get it here.
Let’s start where it matters most: audio quality. Many ultra-cheap earbuds emit weak, harsh, or even muffled sound, but luckily, the Sony MDR-EX15AP gave me no such issues. For the most part, the audio is fairly clean and doesn’t sound distorted or harsh. That’s not necessarily the case in top-tier sales, and admittedly, things can get a little edgy, but I rarely feel the need to crank things up to 100 percent.
But does that mean you can get impressive audio? Not exactly. When listening with the Sony MDR-EX15AP, the soundstage can be a bit confusing. For example, I tuned to summer soul Cero’s production, found the vocals not to stand out enough and sometimes had to fight with other sounds in the midrange to get my attention – something you don’t encounter here. The best wired earbuds.
The same is true when listening Come on, Sister Todd. In Arianne’s work, the sound can get bloated during the song’s climax, in part because of imperfect instrument separation. For example, the monotonous bassline is a bit muddy with the lead vocals and backing vocals near the end of the track, while the rhythmic handclaps don’t have the crisp snap that more premium headphones can provide.
So, again, the audiophiles among you are likely to be nitpicky in the audio department here, but few will get a nuanced listening experience from such cheap earbuds. In terms of basic functionality, these wired headphones perform well. For example, when listening to ruthless Created by Grant Nelson, the high-pitched percussion elements are performed quite well – it’s not until I get to the top end of the volume range that I get that harsh, harsh effect. exist i want you With Moloko, I also found the bass to be pleasantly warm and relatively impactful, even if the buds struggled to reveal the intricacies of layered synths, vocals, percussion (and more) to my ears.
So overall the sound is pretty average, and for the price, it suits me just fine. But what about noise isolation? Now I have to say, this does surprise me a bit, as the Sony MDR-EX15AP actually blocks external noise very effectively. Will these provide the isolation you get from certain places? The best wireless headphones With the ANC? Won’t. But the gel earbuds (available in small, medium, and large sizes) create a pretty solid seal, which ensures that the sounds of coworkers chatting, typing, and the hum of the air purifier are all fairly muffled.
Another thing that impresses me is the appearance of EX15AP. I really like the glossy finish of the buds themselves, and the multi-tonal blue colorway I tested looked really classy. You can also choose from black, pink, or white buds, so there’s an option for everyone. The build quality may not be the strongest, though; I found the wires to be quite flimsy and look a bit cheap, but that doesn’t take away from the bud’s elegance too much.
However, what I don’t really like is the EX15AP’s remote control and microphone. This is the only difference between this model and the slightly cheaper Sony MDR-EX15LP, but it’s not surprising. First, the controller only has play/pause buttons and no volume controls. This means you have to reach into your pocket to adjust the volume of your source device, which can be annoying if you’re out walking or running, for example. The microphone isn’t great either – my voice sounded almost underwater when recording, making the built-in controller rather lackluster overall.
Another design issue is that these headphones don’t have a waterproof rating. Many recently launched models have an IPX4 or higher rating, meaning they are sweat and rain resistant, making them suitable for outdoor listening. But you’re not getting any promise of resistance to the elements here, so if you’re looking for some rough-and-ready buds suitable for all environments, you’ll have to look further.
So, overall, the Sony MDR-EX15AP are a decent pair of earbuds that offer adequate but unremarkable audio, a pleasing design, and impressive noise isolation. Aside from the super low price, there’s nothing particularly standout about it, but it doesn’t have to be. If you just need a spare pair of wired headphones or need a quick solution to keep your music flowing on the go, you could certainly do a lot worse.
If you have a little more cash to play with and have a device with USB-C, I’d go with Sound Magic E80DIn my opinion, they are still one of the cheapest wired headphones on the market. apple Device users may prefer Apple headphones USB-CLightning or 3.5mm models – but for those on a slightly tighter budget, these popular Sony headphones are still worth considering.
Sony MDR-EX15AP review: Price and release date
- Priced at US$19.99/£10/AU$29.95
- But the price is usually lower
- Launched in 2014
Sony doesn’t always like to keep product names simple, and the Sony MDR-EX15AP as a moniker is no exception. This model is basically the same as the Sony MDR-EX15LP; it just adds a microphone to the mix. To get the privilege, you’ll have to spend a little more: the EX15AP is listed at $19.99 / £10 / AU$29.95.
Of course, they are still very affordable, especially coming from a trustworthy name called “audio”. However, you can usually find them for less. They usually sell for less than $10/£8 Amazon Available in the US and UK respectively, so they’re perfect as a small gift, or if you forget your wireless headphones on a flight and need a cheaper option.
Sony MDR-EX15AP review: Specs
| driver | 9mm dynamic |
| weight | 3 grams |
| frequency range | 8Hz-22kHz |
| Waterproof level | without any |
Should you buy the Sony MDR-EX15AP?
| property | notes | grade |
|---|---|---|
| feature | The sound isolation is very good, there is no volume control, and the microphone is poor. | 3/5 |
| sound quality | Average audio, fairly clean, but lacking in nuance and can be a bit cluttered. | 3/5 |
| design | There’s a nice sheen on the buds, a good color selection, they’re cheap, and they’re not waterproof. | 3/5 |
| value | Super low prices, you get what you pay for (in some areas). | 4/5 |
Buy them if…
Don’t buy them if…
Sony MDR-EX15AP review: You can also consider it
| Row 0 – Cell 0 | Sony MDR-EX15AP | Sound Magic E11C | Skull Candy Set USB-C |
| price | $19.99/£10/AU$29.95 | US$43/£39.99/AU$68 | US$31.99/£29.99 (approximately AU$50) |
| driver | 9mm dynamic | 10mm dynamic | 9mm dynamic |
| weight | 3 grams | 15g | 15g |
| frequency range | 8Hz-22kHz | 15Hz-22kHz | 20Hz-20kHz |
| Waterproof level | without any | Unspecified | IPX4 |
Sony MDR-EX15AP review: How I tested it
- Tested for two weeks
- Use in the office and outdoors
- Mainly using Tidal for testing on FiiO M11S
I spent two weeks testing the Sony MDR-EX15AP. I usually listen to music with them on Tidal on my Windows laptop, but I’ve also tried them on my Windows laptop using Spotify Samsung Galaxy S24 FE. I tried out the EX15AP in the office, at home, and while walking near busy roads to judge the noise isolation capabilities.
After plugging these headphones in for the first time, I made sure to browse the tracks on TechRadar’s test playlist, which features songs from a variety of genres – although I also spent a few hours tuning into songs from my personal library.
- First review: January 2025
- Read more about How we test
