Sony MDR-710LP

Summary: For the best review of these phones, see http://www.audiotstation.com/forum/showthread.php?p=346909

I own four folding closed phones: The Sony MD-710LP; AKG K27i; AKG K81 DJ; and Audio-Technica ATH-F55. Of the models I own, the Sony ranks a close second for overall clarity (behind the K81); second in efficiency (behind the K27i); first in small size, clarity of treble, and presence (that "live" sound). Bass is surprisingly good and clear for such a small phone. Mids are very present, terrific for vocals. However, the highs are a bit sharp and fatiguing, a trait that can probably be fixed by tweaking the equalization.

Unfortunately, in setting out to design the world's smallest closed folders, Sony's engineers created a contortionist design that requires more than a minute of wrestling to unfold, and forever and a day to fold. The headband appears to be sprung steel; it twists as soon as it's unsupported. The double-articulated arms can best be thought of as an elbow and a wrist; you literally must rotate two joints on each side. Because the sprung headband fights you as you fold, the "elbow" (the joint farther from the earcups) feels as though it's going to break. Even if you wanted to, you can't store the 710LP semifolded; the headband will twist like a pretzel, defying any attempt to store the phone in a slim profile.

Happily, it's fairly easy to achieve a decent seal. The seal works better at keeping your sound "in" that keeping the world "out." Even so, my cubicle neighbor can hear them from four feet away when I crank it up. Not so with my other three phones.

Those interested in low-cost, clear-sounding closed folders should also consider the Philips HP460 (HP-460), the Audio-Technica ATH-FC7 (sold as the Creative HQ1700 in Europe), and the Sennheiser PX200. All these models are discussed at length in the headphone forums of http://www6.head-fi.org/forums/forumdisplay.php?s=&forumid=2 .

In summary: Get the Sony if you need a closed phone, value maximum clarity in the smallest possible size, and don't plan to use the phone often. For everyday use, where convenience matters, there are better choices. If small size matters, go for the FC7, PX200, or K26p/K27i. If killer sound is paramount, you want the K81 DJ.