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Review : Sony MDR-G52 Street Style Headphones
I know that I have been off on a digital audio player kick. But I just had to mention my favorite headphone design the Sony MDR-G52 Street Style Headphones . I first saw these during the dot-com days of yore. I needed a good set of headphones so I ordered a pair from the late Kozmo.com when I was ordering a DVD rental and a sandwich at the old Dot-com.
These were some of the first redesigned headphones that have the connecting band behind the head around the next instead of on top of your head. I am not a big fan of the kind of headphones that you have to clip on your ears or the mini-headphones that you insert into you ear. They just are not comfortable over long periods of time.
The MDR-G52 Street Style Headphones feel good for long periods of time and it do not pinch your ears but the band has just the right amount of resistance to keep the headphones in place without making you feel like your head is in a vice. They also do not screw up your hair and you can slip them off and on quickly. The plug is a compact L-Shaped plug and it works great in your pocket. The cord is about a meter long so you can have it in a backpack but you are not going to trip or get too tangled in it.
They are 20 bucks new and are just the right price without getting too pricey. The sounds quality is damn good and they can deliver a good base thump but not kill your eardrums.
They are perfect for notebook computers, MP3 players and portable game systems (but not the GBA SP without an adapter). These are damn good headphones and I think they are a testament to good usable form factor design
Jake at September 26, 2003 
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Comments
Jake--I've had this kind of headphone for years--I use it for running. mom
If you read this email me at school--I don't have your email address here.
Posted by: mom at September 26, 2003 12:52 PM
I have a pair of TDK knockoffs - they do the same thing, but more widely available in NZ.
Nobody I know really knows how to put them on properly.
Posted by: Matt at September 26, 2003 3:09 PM
you know, i've never been able to use the little ear buds that go right in your ear...after 10 mins my ears start aching...but the alternative was always crappy "over the head" headphones...i was so thrilled to see these come out years ago that i got TWO pair just b/c i loved them so...they're still my fave :)
Posted by: lilly at September 26, 2003 3:54 PM
Then again I can't understand the people that will spend $400 on an iPod but stick with the $4 headphones it comes with.
Posted by: Jake at September 26, 2003 4:52 PM
I have an iPod and I use Sony's MDR-G52 street style headphones.. to tell the truth, it sounds really good, but I wouldnt change the lovely earbuds coming with iPod if I wouldnt be snowboarding.. those are no $4 headphones! they worth at least 20€ in my opinion.. MDR-G52 is really good though, Bon Jovi sounds like he is just behind me singing "These Days" :)
Posted by: toughboy at January 12, 2004 2:21 PM
Well that is pretty impressive if it can make Bon Jovi sound good.
Posted by: Jake at January 12, 2004 2:50 PM
Does anyone know where I could get replacement foam covers for the ear pieces. after about 3 years of wear they are falling apart....
Thanks
Posted by: Chris at February 4, 2004 8:02 PM
Chris, I co-worker recently ordered a set of replacement foam covers direct from Sony. They are not on sonystyle.com, but if you call them they can hook you up with a set for $6 plus $2 shipping. Mine need to be replaced now too.
Posted by: James at February 22, 2004 12:03 PM
Omg.. Im so mad, I was trying to fix my sony headphones because it had a short in inside.. So I took it apart and I spent like 4 hours working on the stupid thing and I got angry and took the heapdhones off the table, through them on the floor and jumped on the stupid things! So now I have to buy a new pair of the G52's.. ANGRY! oh well.. lol
Posted by: Michael at March 17, 2004 2:48 PM
Sounds like you have a future as an electrical engineer.
Stay the hell away from my game systems.
Posted by: Jake at March 17, 2004 2:50 PM
You can also buy replacement ear pads at http://www.sony.com/accessories/
Posted by: Jay at May 3, 2004 9:00 AM
i've had these headphones for 3 years now. they are good but after all these years, i now could only hear the left side only. the right side cant hear no more. it was good while it lasted though
Posted by: Sarn Saelee at June 27, 2004 2:12 PM
Yeah I'm still using these great headphones from 3 or 4 years ago. I'd buy replacement foam pads, but I really can't be bothered beacuse they still feel and sound fine. =) They've taken quite a beating over the years and still perform like a brand new pair. A well designed product for sure!
Posted by: Karri at June 20, 2005 11:30 PM
FYI, November 2007 and the replacement earpiece covers are still available from Sonly online.
Posted by: jetdog9 at November 6, 2007 5:01 PM
