Xdr-8000 Vertical in Ear Ultralight Sport Running Headband Headphones

I wear glasses and it's very hard to find a headset that is comfortable over long periods. Generally, after less than an hour my ears hurt and I have to quit. These are very adjustable, very comfortable, and have great sound quality - surprising for their size. They are so lightweight that you hardly notice you are wearing them and I have no problem wearing them for hours. Love these so much I bought a second pair in case something happens to the first one I bought.

So the last time I purchased these I purchased the added warranty, and I was definitely glad I did. The customer service was AWESOME. I got 2 pairs of headphones sent back to me after I returned the broken one. So the main issue with these headphones is that after awhile ( id say give or take 6-8 Months) the audio in one of the earbuds stops working. Its happened to every single headphone of these I've used. It may be that I just sweat alot lol but just want to put it out there that if you are looking for extremely durable headphones, look elsewhere. However, if you are looking for relatively cheap headphones that stay on your head while running or doing elliptical or what have you and don't make you look like a doofus with those GIANT over-ear bluetooth headphones that squeeze your ears to the point they feel bruised, then THESE are the headphones for you.

I started running years ago with Sony MDR headphones and those are my gold standard but they are now discontinued. I don't like bluetooth - I end up messed with battery issues, or connectivity issues, and instead of running, I'm just messing with my headphones. Wired just works. But I am apparently in very small company with my opinion because after Sony discontinued theirs, there are not a lot of alternatives. These SonXTronic are the best that I have found but I have a like/hate relationship with them. I like the fit and the comfort and the fact that it is wired. But I just go through them. The earpieces will snap off if you aren't careful and I have had the in-ear speakers go out if they get too wet (which happens frequently while running). I've gone through a lot of sets of these things. It feels like I buy one set a year for the last 7 or 8 years. At any given moment, I will have one working pair, then it will fail usually on the day of a planned big run - so I'll run in silence for like 2 hours - and I'll order another pair. Like I said it's a "like/hate" relationship. They just so flimsy. But they are the best that I've found. And the price isn't outrageous when you figure I use them twice a week every week for a year. But it feels like they should be a bit better constructed... and yet, as soon as I finish this review, I'll buy my 8th or 9th pair. Because there aren't a lot of choices and this is the best of a bunch of bad options.

I haven't had the opportunity to compare these headphones to the Sony ones that everyone seems to be raving about. Rather, I am comparing these to my old Apple earphones that I have been using. Because I have very small ears, it has been difficult to find an earphone that fits comfortably. These headphones are very lightweight, comfortable and stay in my ears without slipping. I have not tested them while running yet, however, they seem very secure when I shake my head quickly back and forth. The sound seems fine to me, I do not have high expectations, coming from an Apple earphone, but the sound these produce has a much higher quality and volume to those which I previously had. The cord is a bit long, which may prove to have its uses. There is no volume button, but that seems to be a feature on more expensive headphones. I really like the headband style, which allows me to rest the 'phones around my neck when not in use. This makes it easier to keep them in my ears, as the old bud-style ones were always slipping out and dangling around. A huge upgrade for a decent price! Update: 2 months later, the clip that holds the ear piece has broken off and the head phones are unusable. I ran about 15 miles per week with these. They were not comfortable, I had to keep adjusting them while running. The jack is very large and as such was hard to plug into my phone through my standard armband. I have contacted the seller about a refund. Still have not been contacted by the seller, so I am downgrading my review to one star. I would appreciate some of that customer service that I see others have received after their earphones broke in the exact same manner.