Sony MDR-AS50G

The basics

The Sony MDR-AS50G Ear-canal neckband sports earphones come with multiple sized earbuds, two lengths of cable and gold plug. They weigh 15g.

The good

Sony headphones come in two varieties – banging and extra-banging. These sports earbuds fall into the more restrained category but still serve up a double helping of bass with a splash of rumble on the side. Between the deep-diving silicone earbuds and the flexible neckband, they feel extremely secure (and don’t even look too weird). The AS50G’s comes with two lengths of cable, so armband users shouldn’t get tangled up in yards of cord.

The bad

Getting the Sonys to fit perfectly can be hit or miss, and if you miss, both sound and comfort will suffer. We’re also not convinced their budget build will last as long as more expensive headphones, especially the slightly flimsy cable. They can also be tricky to squeeze back into their carrying case.

The bottom line

A huge step up from the earphones that come with your player, but probably more attractive to power-walkers and gym dodgers than hard-core athletes.