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Editor's note: We have changed the rating in this review to reflect recent changes in our rating scale. Click here to find out more.
In the late '90s, Sony's Street Style headphones became the first neckband models, sometimes referred to as back 'phones. The Street Style MDR-G72LP, listed at $40, takes the concept a step further with a folding neckband. This innovation makes the G72LP a highly portable alternative to earbuds, which tend to offer inferior sonics.
Indeed, mobility is one of the G72LP's strong points. The headphones collapse to about the size of a tennis ball. We readily wedged them behind a laptop in a crowded carry-on bag, and they emerged undamaged.
Since it runs from only one earphone, the G72LP's cord is less tangle-prone and more exercise-friendly than dual-side options. It terminates in a straight (that is, shaped like an I as opposed to an L), gold-plated 1/8-inch minijack. The headset's snug yet comfortable fit prevented slippage during our jog. And unlike headband 'phones, which press against the scalp, the G72LP didn't cause irritation when we got sweaty or flatten our hair.
Ample volume was on tap when we drove the high-sensitivity (106dB) headphones with our portable MP3 player and our laptop. We auditioned Outkast's new CD, The Love Below, and the G72LP didn't distort until we'd cranked the volume to an unbearably loud level. The jazzy piano line of "Love Hater" had a surprisingly natural, airy quality, and the soundstage displayed respectable depth. Vocals came through detailed yet smooth. The track's low electronic-bass line could've been more pronounced, but that's not a huge knock since most portable 'phones don't deliver powerful bass. For audio on the go and laptop applications, the G72LP performs well.
