Sony EX Series MDREX155AP/B

The Sony MDR-EX155AP is a budget wired in-ear headphone with a mic that nails comfort and portability at around $35 USD. Sound quality is average and the mic is mediocre, but for a cheap backup pair or everyday beater, it's hard to complain. If you want wireless features or better audio, look elsewhere.

The 9mm neodymium drivers pump out a sound signature that's balanced enough for most genres but won't blow anyone away. Our sound score sits at the 52nd percentile, which translates to solid, middle-of-the-pack performance. Bass is present but not boomy, mids are clear enough for podcasts and vocals, and highs roll off a bit before they get harsh. For the price, it's a perfectly fine listening experience. If you're coming from cheap gas station earbuds, this will feel like an upgrade. If you're coming from a $150 pair of wireless buds, you'll notice the difference immediately.

The mic is where things get a little less exciting. It lands in the 37th percentile, which means it's functional but not great. Calls in quiet rooms are fine, but don't expect it to handle wind or background noise gracefully. The 16Ω impedance means these get plenty loud from any phone jack, and the 5Hz-24kHz range covers the full audible spectrum on paper. In practice, the low end doesn't dig as deep as the spec sheet suggests, but again, $35. The wired connection means zero latency, which is a nice bonus for anyone who watches videos or plays mobile games and hates audio sync issues.

Stacked against the JBL Live Buds 3 or the Sennheiser Momentum True Wireless 3, the Sony MDR-EX155AP looks like a toy. Those wireless buds offer ANC, better sound, better mics, and app support, but they also cost three to ten times as much. The comparison isn't really fair, and anyone cross-shopping these is probably confused about what they need. The more realistic comparison is against other budget wired options or entry-level wireless buds like the EarFun Air Pro TW230B.

The EarFun Air Pro adds wireless freedom and ANC for not much more money, but you're trading away the simplicity of a wired connection. The Sony's comfort score beats most of these competitors, which matters if you wear earbuds for hours at a time. And none of the wireless options can match the MDR-EX155AP's price-to-reliability ratio. A wired earbud doesn't have a battery to degrade or a charging case to lose. For a certain type of buyer, that's worth more than any feature list.

At $35 USD, the MDR-EX155AP is priced right for what it delivers. You're not getting premium sound or a great mic, but you're also not paying for them. The JLab JBuds Pods ANC and Soundcore P31i both cost more and add wireless convenience plus ANC, but they also add charging cases, battery degradation, and the constant low-level anxiety of forgetting to charge them. If you want a wired backup pair or something for a kid's first headphones, this is a no-brainer. If you want your primary listening device, you should probably save up for something better.

The Sony MDR-EX155AP is one of those rare budget wired earbuds that still makes sense in a world drowning in true wireless options. At around $35 USD, it sits firmly in the impulse-buy territory, and for that money you get a 9mm dynamic driver, an inline mic, and a 3.94 ft Y-shaped cord that won't tangle itself into a knot the second you put it in your pocket. This is the kind of headphone you grab when your fancy buds are dead and you just need something that works.

People searching for a cheap wired headset with a mic for phone calls will find a lot to like here. The integrated microphone and smartphone playback control mean you can take calls and skip tracks without fishing your phone out of your bag. Sony's hybrid silicone earbuds are genuinely comfortable, and at 3 grams, you'll forget these are in your ears. The 5Hz-24kHz frequency response and 16Ω impedance mean they'll play nice with basically any phone or laptop without needing an amp.

But let's be real about what this is. The MDR-EX155AP is not competing with the Sennheiser Momentum True Wireless 3 or the JBL Live Buds 3. It's a wired budget pick for people who want decent sound, a reliable mic, and zero charging anxiety. Our database puts comfort in the 93rd percentile, which is impressive for something this cheap, but sound quality lands right around the middle of the pack. That's not a knock, it's just the reality of a $35 wired earbud in 2025.

Skip the Sony MDR-EX155AP if you need reliable call quality in noisy environments, since the mic lands in the 37th percentile and won't handle background noise well. Frequent travelers should also look elsewhere, the travel score of 33/100 means these won't isolate you from engine noise or chatty seatmates. If you want ANC, wireless freedom, or a more durable build, the Soundcore P31i or EarFun Air Pro TW230B are better fits. And if sound quality is your top priority, save up for something like the Sennheiser Momentum True Wireless 3 instead.

Should you buy the Sony MDR-EX155AP? If you need a cheap, comfortable, wired pair of earbuds with a mic for calls and you don't want to think about charging, yes. This is a solid backup pair, a great gym beater, or a sensible choice for someone who loses things constantly. The comfort is genuinely impressive, and the sound is fine for casual listening.

But if you're looking for your main headphones and you care about sound quality, mic performance, or noise isolation, this isn't it. The mic is weak, the build feels cheap, and the travel score of 33/100 tells you everything you need to know about using these on a plane or train. For $35, it's a fair deal. Just don't expect it to punch above its weight class.