Soundcore Liberty 5
Sony MDR-E9LP
What Buyers Say
Soundcore Liberty 5
The Soundcore Liberty 5 earbuds receive largely positive feedback for their excellent sound quality, strong active noise cancellation, and impressive value for the price. Users praise the comfortable fit, six ear tip sizes, and the feature-rich Soundcore app, though some note the default tuning is bass-heavy and the sliding case lid feels wobbly and cheap. A few reviewers mention issues with touch controls and fit-test reliability, but overall, these are seen as a great budget-friendly alternative to premium earbuds.
Pros
- Excellent sound quality
- Strong active noise cancellation
- Great value for money
- Comfortable fit with six ear tip sizes
- Feature-rich Soundcore app
Cons
- Wobbly sliding case lid
- Cheap-feeling case plastic
- Bass-heavy default tuning
- Unreliable fit test
- Stiff touch controls
Sony MDR-E9LP
The product receives mixed feedback. Some users praise its comfort, affordability, and reliability, especially for those who get headaches from other earphones. However, many complain about poor sound quality, poor fit, and durability issues like one ear failing after 13 months.
Pros
- Comfortable for long use
- Affordable price
- No charging needed
- Good for headache sufferers
- Simple and reliable design
Cons
- Poor sound quality
- Poor fit for some ears
- Durability issues
- No microphone or controls
- Flat and bassless sound
Scores
Specifications
| Soundcore Liberty 5 | Sony MDR-E9LP | |
|---|---|---|
| Design | ||
| Form Factor | in-ear | in-ear |
| Wearing Style | true wireless | wired |
| Ear Tips | XXS, XS, S, M, L, XL | 2x earbuds |
| Weight | 0.01 kg★ | 0.02 kg |
| Audio | ||
| Driver Type | dynamic | dynamic |
| Driver Size | 9.199999809265137 mm | 13.5 mm★ |
| Drivers | 1 | 1 |
| Freq Min | — | 18 Hz★ |
| Freq Max | — | 20 kHz★ |
| Impedance | 17 Ω | 16 Ω |
| Sensitivity | — | 104 dB★ |
| Hi-Res Audio | ✓★ | — |
| Codecs | LDAC | Sony MDRE9LP/BLU Earbud Headphones, Blue |
| Noise Control | ||
| ANC | ✓★ | ✗ |
| ANC Type | adaptive | — |
| Transparency | ✓★ | — |
| Connectivity | ||
| Wireless | ✓★ | ✗ |
| Bluetooth | 5.4★ | — |
| Multipoint | ✓★ | — |
| Range | 3 m★ | — |
| Earbud Battery | ||
| Battery Life | 8 hrs★ | — |
| Charge Time | 4 hrs★ | — |
| Fast Charging | 10 Minutes for 5 Hours | — |
| Charging | USB-C★ | proprietary |
| Case Battery | ||
| Case Battery | 48 hrs★ | — |
| Case Charging | USB-C★ | proprietary |
| Wireless Charging | ✓★ | — |
| Microphone | ||
| Microphone | ✓★ | ✗ |
| Mic Count | 6★ | — |
| NC Mic | ✓★ | ✗ |
| Features | ||
| Voice Assistant | soundcore HearID 4.0 | — |
| Touch Controls | ✓★ | ✗ |
| App | soundcore App | — |
| Volume Limiting | ✗ | — |
| Bone Conduction | ✗ | ✗ |
| Water Resistance | IP55 | — |
Pros & Cons
Soundcore Liberty 5
- Strong anc (98th percentile)98th %ile
- Strong mic (97th percentile)97th %ile
- Strong connectivity (96th percentile)96th %ile
- Strong comfort (93rd percentile)93rd %ile
- Below average affordability (29th percentile)
Sony MDR-E9LP
- Strong affordability (94th percentile)94th %ile
- Strong comfort (93rd percentile)93rd %ile
- Strong social proof (73rd percentile)
- Strong sound (68th percentile)
- Below average user sentiment (6th percentile)6th %ile
- Below average mic (11th percentile)11th %ile
- Below average connectivity (11th percentile)11th %ile
- Below average anc (31st percentile)
Pricing
Sony MDR-E9LP offers 3.2x better value for money
Verdict
Scores 82 overall, wins 7 of 7 usage categories and 18 of 36 specs.
