Sony MDR-EX15AP is the lite version of Sony MDR-EX155AP (Review) that we recommend as of today! This one, the “little” Sony cost half the price and gave surprisingly good results. Here’s our detailed feedback on the Sony MDR EX15AP review after 1 month of testing.
Under 1000 Rs, there are tons of wired earphones to choose from. We’ve tested many (mostly BoAt and others) but Sony hits differently. So, should you consider Sony MDR EX15AP or look for other alternatives? Well, that’s what we are for!
Here in this review, you will get to know the Built Quality, Looks, Grip and Comfort, Some Features, Audio Quality, Call Quality, and finally our verdict. So, this is the only review you need to know! With that said, welcome to PadhkeDekho, and let’s start with the Pros and Cons.
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With that said, let’s start the Sony MRD-EX15AP Review with pros and cons.
Built Quality (8/10)
Just like many wired earphones, it’s also a blend of rubber and plastic which is industry standard. It’s good thou! Sure, it seems delicate in the photos as well as while using. So be gentle with it. It just, not only goes for this particular earphone, most of the ones we have tested feel fragile.
Since earphones’ main objective is to be compact and portable, brands achieve it by using rubber and plastic. So, that’s the nature of budget-wired earphones.
But, one thing that Sony did better is the inclusion of L shaped headphone jack. It helps the wire to move in the direction of unwanted pull which ultimately prevents the wire from breaking.
During our testing, it got stuck in the zipper, pulled in the doors (many times), and unwanted stretching but the cable did not break, and neither got damaged. So it’s pretty durable.
We got a few messages about the built quality as few reviews claim the wire to be flimsy, weak, and break easily. Anything or any earphone will break if you intentionally try to do that.
With regular wear and tear, we’ve been using the Sony MDR-EX15AP for 1 month now and the Sony MDR-EX155AP for over a year now and we are just as happy with Sony MDR-EX15AP. Hence, 8.5/10 for built quality.
Looks (9/10)
With all the wired earphones, this one looks different thanks to the thin and small earbuds. You will not find any ear hooks on these. The buds are glossy and have Sony branding on both sides. Moreover, on the wire, you can also see the model number!
The overall design language is matte other than the earbuds which are glossy and it helps to enhance the looks. If you are going to Black color then you will feel that premiumness of what Sony feels like. We are coming back to Sony MDR-EX115AP from Blue to Black, and totally liked it!
As far as the cable goes, it’s a normal black with no texture. Since we went with the black color hence it looks simple but the other colors like Blue and Red spark up the price.
Hence for looks, Sony MDR-EX15AP gets a 9/10.
Comfort & Grip (9/10)
These are the most compact earbuds that we’ve owned. We did not have any issues with the size. It’s compact and can fit all ear types. Yes, we have tested it on around 10 persons.
Here, we have a blend of all ear types and no complaints of discomfort. For even better comfort, you get 3 silicone ear tips that will help you enhance the overall feel and comfort. As far as grip goes, the earbuds stay well put. Just make sure you put the right size.
As the cable is slightly long Sony has used a single cable that splits in two near the slider so you can adjust and marge the cables to one for better outdoor use. It clearly shows Sony did put A lot of thought process during the design.
So, if you have small ears or large ones, you can confidently pick the Sony MDR-EX15AP up! Hence, we gave it 9/10 for comfort and grip.
Some Features (8/10)
#1 9MM Audio Drivers: The earbuds are small but they pack in big drivers. Certainly, for the price, you don’t generally see this number. How well does it sound? Well, we did use it for 1 month with tons of songs, movies and podcasts. Here’s our detailed audio review section.
#2 L-Shaped Jack: Usually earphones come with a straight 3.5mm jack. Whereas, Sony and other big brands prefer the L-Shaed jack. Is it done just to look apart? No! It has practical differences. The L-shaped headphone jack prevents uneven damage to the cable. It allows flexibility to the cable rather than rigidness. Here’s our in the user experience section below.
#3 Compact & Lightweight: If you are looking for a compact and portable audio device for your outdoor adventures, this is one to get. You can wear these for hours and no pain whatsoever. The design is so perfect, it can fit any ear size. We’ve tested it on 10 ears before saying it.
#4 Amazing Color Options: It comes in three colors; Black, Blue & violet. We bought the Black as we prefer Black or White for personal reasons. But, Sony, did a good job with the color schemes, the earphone looks quite premium in all the colors.
#5 Tangle Free Cable With Slider: Wired earphones get tangled and the process of untangling them is a mess. Brand’s moved to a tangled cable to rectify the issue. With Sony, you also get the tangled free cable. The cable is one solid piece from the headphone jack and spits up in two near the slider.
With that slider, you can keep both wires together to a point where you don’t lose comfort. This helps to further prevent the tangle-free experience.
So for features, Sony MDR-15EXAP does a decent job. Hence, 8/10.
Audio Quality (9/10)
Sony MDR-EX15AP comes with 9mm audio drivers which seem good for the overall size of the earbuds! So what to expect? Well, to start the audio profile is great for the price. You get sharp vocals, trebles, and instrument separation. This profile is perfect for content consumption like movies/shows.
As far as overall loudness goes, you will enjoy anything on these! Sony MDR-EX15AP goes very loud. On top of it, there’s no audio breaking or distortion that we experienced. The sweet spot is around 70 to 80% afterward, it leaks audio that you should watch out for in public.
What about bass? Well, the bass is good and goes well with the sound signature. Sure, it’s not bass-heavy but will get the job done. Out of 10, we would give 8 just for bass. If you need a thumping one then you can check out BoAt Bassheads 225, or JBL C200SI.
So for audio quality, Sony MDR-EX15AP gets 9/10.
Mic Output (9/10)
Sony and Infinity always impressed us with the mic output and this one is no different. The transmitted voice will be sharp with tons of detail. Sure, ambient noise will be transferred but focus on your voice will be prominent.
We did a lot of calls indoors as well as outdoors and we do not mind, using this wired earphone for calls be it professional.
1 more thing we liked about the Sony MDR-EX15AP is the original voice. There’s no auto-tuning or customizations to tune the vocals. As a result, the person on the call will not be able to guess whether you are talking on a phone or earbuds!
Therefore, just like the audio quality, we’d give the Sony MDR-EX15AP a solid 9/10.
Verdict
If you are looking for a budget-wired earphone under 1000 Rs that will fit all ear types, offers good distortion-free audio with a long cable, and a great microphone for calls then it’s the one to get.
For this range, we’ve tested other wired earphones mostly from BoAt and Sony’s quality is superb but lacks base punch. If you need all the above features and more bass then you can consider the Sony MDR 155AP (Review) which costs around 1300 Rs. Otherwise, this little Sony packs in power and is worth the price.
Wrapping up!
There you have it, folks! That’s our Sony MDR EX15AP Review after 1 month of use. if you have any doubts then feel free to ping us on below social accounts. We are always here to help.
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- Hammer Bash Max Review | The Best headphone Under 2500 Rs?If you are looking for comfortable over-ear headphones that you can wear for long hours, this is the one to buy! Other than comfort, the looks are quite spectacular too! What about other things? Well, here’s the Hammer Bash Max Review after 7 months of use! It packs everything a headphone around 2.5k should have like; USB-C Charging, Mostly fabric body, premium looks, Dual Bluetooth connection, etc. But still, there are many things that we experienced in the past 4 months. So let’s talk about that. If you are new to PadhkeDekho, we use a product for a month before publishing our statistics. All the testing was done indoors, outdoors, during transit, and in all the other places where users use headphones so that our readers get the best information. In this Hammer Bash Max review, you will learn about the Pros and cons, Specs, Unboxing experience, Built Quality, Looks, Comfort, Features, Audio Quality, Mic Quality, Battery Backup, and finally, our verdict on whether you should buy it or not. With that said, let’s begin the Hammer headphone review with pros and cons. Hammer Bash Max Specifications FeatureValueBluetooth Version5.3Dual Bluetooth ConnecitonYesTiltable/FoldableYes/NoAudio Drivers (MM)40Frequency Range2.402 GHz – 2.480 GHzBattery mAh3.7v, 500Charging Voltage5V/1AMedia ControlsTouch Panel on Right Earcup Color Options3Check More Specs onAmazon Built Quality (10/10) The moment you hold the headphones, it’s all cloth & soft fabric on your fingertips. Be it the headband or earcups you will feel like it’s a premium product. Other than fabric, you will feel some plastic for headband adjusters & tilt mechanism. The adjusters have a common slid-in and-out design with 8 levels of adjustments. So far the headband adjusters work fine and there’s no squeaking or panel plastic noise. Just below the headband, you will see the tiltable earcups. Thanks to the design, you can flat out the earcups and rest them on the neck or in the backpack when traveling. On the right ear cup, you will see the touch controls & single button to control media or accept or end the call. It’s quite a neat headphone. What about durability? This headphone has visited the gym a few times, jogging sessions, late-night movie marathons, ruff handling, etc. and it’s in implacable condition. Sure, we will test it more and keep updating the article as time passes. So at the moment, the built quality is quite good and Hammer Bash Max gets a 9/10 in this department. Looks (10/10) Hands down, Hammer Bash Max is the best-looking headphone under 3000 Rs. Starting from the ear cups the headband design is very futuristic. The fabric on the headband (the top and bottom offer different designs) makes it look very premium. It shows attention to detail. The ear cup fabric speaks of quality. It is a soft and breathable material that snugs so well that you will not wish to remove it even after long sessions. We’ve talked more about it in the Comfort section. We bought Cool Grey color and the overall color scheme feels like a 5000 Rs headphones. It also comes in Apricot and Black color as well. Hammer has not offered any color combination, it’s pure single color but the plastic and fabric combination gives it a remarkable presence. I liked the “fake leather” treatment on the earcups fabric Hammer Bash Max looks great so here’s 5/5 for that! Comfort & Grip (9/10) When it comes to comfort nothing beats Over-Ear headphones. This statement is true for Hammer Bash Max as well. The ear cup padding is very soft, the fabric on the headband generates a firm grip and the best part is the clamping force, It is so firm that the headphones rest around the ears with utmost comfort. Since the earcups have tiltablity, you will find your sweet spot the moment you wear these. Hammer Bash Max is a very comfortable headphone that you can easily wear for 4+ hours. So if you are looking for an over-ear headphone that you can wear for long hours without a single minute of discomfort, this is the one to get. What about workouts or gym use? You can wear it to the gym. The clamping force is high and the headphones stay on even during high-intensity movements. I do a lot of cardio activities and it did not fall even once. It’s a different breed of over-ear headphones that check marks for comfort & grip during workouts. So, Hammer Bash Max gets a solid 9/10 for comfort & workout-centric nature. Features (9/10) #1 Dual Bluetooth Connection: Hammer Bash Max can be paired to two devices simultaneously. This is a great feature if you switch between two devices quite often. So, you are watching a movie on your laptop and get a call on your phone. You can accept it and take the call via the headphones. #2 Touch Controls: Usually headphones have physical buttons to increase/decrease the volume, move to the next track, or repeat. But Hammer added touch controls to this headphone and things are working quite well. You will need to spend some time before getting used to it. But before that please remove the sticker for an even better response. #3 Full-Tiltable Headphone: The headband allows 90-degree revolvable ear cups. As a result, you can tilt the earcups completely 90 degrees and lay the headphones straight in your bag pack. This helps in better space management during travel. Also, it will enhance comfort if you keep the headphones on your neck during travels. #4 Bluetooth 5.3: Under 3000 Rs many headphones offer Bluetooth 5.0. But the latest version is 5.3 and that’s what Hammer offered. We are not saying 5.0 is bad, but we have experienced better reception with a higher Bluetooth version of audio gear. As a result, we did not face audio breaking or disturbance even when the paired device was about 5 to 6 meters away in the bag while I was working out. #5 IPX3 Water Resistance: When a headphone can be used in a gym or for jogging some amount of water resistance is a must. Because water can cause damage in the long run with the Hammer Bash Max, you get IPX3 water resistance that will allow you to focus more on the workout than the water damage! Audio Quality (8/10) This is the first time we’ve tried Hammer headphones and it is good. Hammer Bash Max comes with a 40mm audio driver. As you know, we never boast an audio gear with the driver size as it is just marketing. What matters is how good the quality of the driver is. Let’s talk about that. The very first thing you will notice is the distortion-free sound signature. Yes, we’ve tested a variety of songs, podcasts, media content, etc, and nothing baffled the audio drivers. Kudos to Hammer for that. The overall audio quality is crisp and full of detail. The vocals, instruments, and trebles are the strong suit. The bass is decent, certainly not a bass-heavy headphone. You will enjoy media consumption or listening to music. Though the sound signature is good we felt the loudness could’ve been better. if you are coming from Infinity or BoAt headphones you will feel the volume is around 80%. This is not bad! Because it makes Hammer Bash Max a headphone with no audio leak you can wear it anywhere without worrying what people will “think” about what you are listing. We had never been so confident about headphones in the outdoors. So to sum up, the overall audio quality is quite good with plenty of details in vocals, instruments, and even trebles but the bass is decent not the best. Score Card ValueVocals9.5/10Treble9/10Bass7.5/10Overall Loudness8/10Overall Clarity9/10Best Buy LinkAmazon Therefore, Hammer Bash Max gets 8/10. Call/Mic Quality (8.5/10) Most headphones offer a microphone but only a few are good for taking calls and Hammer Bash Max is on it! Though there’s only a single microphone on the right earcup it picks up voice quite clearly. There will be no complaints of static disturbance or low volume from the other person on the call. Moreover, the mic is so responsive it picks up your voice even if you whisper. Since there’s no ENC (Environmental Noise Cancellation) mic picks ambient noise. Hence, if you have a lot of disturbance or people talking loudly in your proximity it will be transferred as is. During our testing of the mic indoors as well as outdoors, we found it quite good and did not have a single network disturbance or interference. So for calling, Hammer Bash Max gets an 8.5/10. Battery Backup & Charging (8/10) Over-ear headphones are known for their battery backup and Hammer Bash Max is no expectation either! It packs in a 500 mAh battery and can provide juice for about 18 hours. So, what are the real-world figures? You can expect anywhere between 12 to 15 hours even with Dual Bluetooth Connected Devices and max volume. If you use headphones for 2 hours a day, expect a little over 1 week. Everyone has a different listing pattern so can’t predict an “exact” number, however, if you prefer to listen to music at around 60 to 80% volume, then you will move closer to the claimed figures. In terms of battery backup, you will not be disappointed. However, you should also know that there’s no provision for aux-in. This means you will not be able to use this headphone as a wired headphone. This can be a deal breaker for many, so choose accordingly. So with lightweight, we have no issues with the battery backup. Thus, Hammer Bash Max gets 8/10. What About Charging? Hammer Bash Max comes with a USB-C cable and supports fast charging too. Though, that’s not mentioned anywhere on the website. On the user manual, it says to use 5V/1A voltage. I guess using a higher-powered charge can damage the battery. However, for the past 4 months we have been using a 20-watt charger, it reached from 10 to 100% in 2 hours and 10 mins. You can get even better results with 40 or 60-watt chargers. Do not worry it will not damage the headphones. New chargers are smart they “only” send “current” the headphone or audio gear can handle. if you are a casual user who uses headphones for 2 to 3 hours a day, you will be fine for a week. So we do not mind the battery backup. There could have been an aux-in mode. Should You Buy Hammer Bash Max? Yes, if you are looking for a comfortable headphone. Other reasons to buy it are the premium built quality, best in-hand feel, workout friendly, good mic for calling, overall good audio quality, dual Bluetooth connection, and more than a week’s battery backup! Why you should not buy Hammer Bash Max? There’s some latency during gaming and the lack of “aux-in” does pinch being a gamer. Another reason is bass. It’s decent but certainly not a bass-heavy headphone as the brand claims. As far as warranty goes, Hammer gives only 6 months of warranty which you should also know. With all the pros and cons, we think Hammer Bash Max is a good headphone for the price especially since the build/feel are the biggest highlight. This is the most premium headphone you can get under 3000 Rs. Is it the best for audio quality? Well, yes, if bass is not your only parameter. Out of 10, the Hammer Bash Max gets an 8.5/10 from us. We Are Wrapping up! This is the Hammer Bash Max review after 4 months of use. If you have queries, ping us on the social accounts below. We try our best, to help as much as we can. Does this article help you with decision-making? if yes, please support us by purchasing these headphones from Amazon using the button below. It will help us earn a small commission at no additional cost to you. Hammer Bash Max FAQ
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