Several of you emailed me in response to my less than enthusiastic review of Apple's In-Ear Headphones, suggesting that I try out the Sony MDR-EX71SL instead. Well, I did. And you were right. Sony's version of the sub-$40 in-ear earbud is a far superior alternative to Apple's model, even if it is only available in clash-with-your-iPod black (in the United States, anyway).

Sony's design is more or less similar to Apple's: Each earbud is fitted for a snap-on rubber sleeve that pushes into your ear canal and partially seals the canal from outside noise. The resultant effect is a combination of enhanced bass response and noise cancellation, both of which mean you can get better sound quality at lower volumes than with standard earbuds.

The Sonys aren't as good as more expensive offerings from Future Sonics and Etymonics (Sony also, of course, makes pricier models), but they are quite good -- and a lot better than the Apples. First off, the rubber sleeve fits much better. Where the Apple buds constantly felt like they were slipping out of my ears, the Sonys are nice and snug. Three sizes are provided to fit most everyone's ears -- the mediums suited me best. Second, the speaker drivers themselves are of superior quality in Sonys earbuds. Mid- and high-range response is somewhat better, but it's in the low end where the Sonys really outshine Apple's phones. I'll chalk this up to a combination of better speakers and better design; the better fit of the Sony phones enhances sound that's already superior.

My only real complaint with the 71SL's is the funky cord design. The phones come wired to a short 1/8" cable that falls to somewhere around my mid-chest when I have the earbuds in place. This isn't long enough to reach down to the lower pockets of my jacket, where I like to keep my iPod while I'm travelling. Sony includes an extension cable, which is nice, but this adds a full meter to the length of the cord. The idea seems to be that you can use your iPod's wired remote by inserting it between the primary and extension cables. Personally, I'd rather have one cable that's in between the two offered lengths. But, hey, what can you do -- sometimes modern life is hard.

The earphones also come with a silver ABS plastic carrying case and a smaller black case that can either be used to protect the earbuds themselves or to wrap all that extra cable up in. The MDR-EX71SL earphones are only available in black/silver in the US. However, should your need to be color-coordinated really overwhelm you, the Japanese-only white version of the earphones can be had on ebay for roughly $10-15 more. I guess you can't really put a price on style ...