WTF!
Ok, if this is the usual Sony-High-End-Sound, then I wouldn't recommend buying it.
They look nice, seem to be well made, BUT:
One dynamic driver, no matter how big the membrane is, in such a small enclosure cannot produce the sound a two- or three-driver IEM can.
That thing will produce a lot of bass, though.
But bass is not high resolution.

@mangochutney: I concur. With one large driver like this all that I think can come of it is a mushy-assed slop with a collapsed stereo image and a complete lack of detail in the upper-mids. They also don't look very comfortable, sort of like sticking a nickel into your ear sideways.

Thanks, but I'll stick with my SE-530's.

@john_nyc: I tried the EX90 and they were awfull compared even to the Westone UM1.

Right now I'm using Westone UM2s and Ultimate Ears Triple.fi 10pro.
The latter and your SE530s are high-res-in-ears, nothing else.

$300!!!!!

You know all those whiners who did an iPhone teardown and found, like, $99 worth of parts inside?

Do a teardown of these headphones and you might literally find two dimes inside.

@mangochutney: Nice to see another appreciator of fine in-ears on this site. Usually people's comments are along the lines that if a pair of earphones costs more than a happy meal, they're a ripoff.

I know that the UM2's are very highly regarded. I was thinking about getting a pair, but I fell back in love with the 530's. I think I also heard somewhere that Westone is coming out with a 3 driver model, so maybe I'll wait for those.
I tried the UE SF5 Pro's a couple of years ago and in my ears they were very uncomfortable. That's just me, though. I know that many people swear by the UE phones.

@ThriftyTechie: You apparently never heard of high end headphones. Instead of paying for parts, your actually paying for the output sound quality. Its odd to think of, but it makes sense that sound out of Shures or EM or UE are actually worth 100 - 500 when you actually put on a set.

The only way to tell if these are worth (key word worth) the money is to actually listen to them.

value, its all in the value, i own several high end headphones. i understand the differences in sound and appreciate quality fidelity reproduction. some ppl are happy with the ipod buds ... its all in the value for each person.

try em out at a store if you can, then pass judgement. you care enough to comment ...

@john_nyc: I have a pair of Klipsch Image IEMs, they are single driver, cost $300-$350, and sound great. I wouldn't go making generalizations about single drivers sounding "mushy". They don't have the separation and soundstage that my Senn HD595s do, but they have a more fun overall sound, while preserving detail.

@diabolusunknown:

I actually agree with you. I'm just pointing out how ridiculous those teardowns are...
They never include R&D, marketing, etc. and the whole excercise is moot because the price of a product of course should be simply what people are willing to pay for it.

For me personally, there is no headphone worth $300 (or $100, for that matter). Because I don't care if they sound perfect. I have better places to spend $300. Like food. Or a Blu-ray player. Or an iPhone...etc.

@baglunch: I'm not making a generaliztion on all single driver earphones, just ones that have a single driver that looks like it's the size of a nickel (and are made by Sony).

My 2nd favorite earphones are the ER4P and they probably have the most pristine image of anything I've ever heard (just a flat flat bottom).

Sony. High quality sound... since when? The last pair of sony headphones I tried were around $100 and had active noise canceling that caused splitting pains in my ears. And they hissed.

I'll stick with my two-driver Ultimate Ears Super-fi 5's, thank you, I love those headphones. And they're well worth what I paid for them. I'm a high school student and violinist (I've taken private lessons for 6 years) and own a beautiful 4.5 K sound system, so I'm fairly spoiled... There is most certainly a difference between my UE headphones and your average JVC marshmallows.

The magnesium part of those Sony headphones could be interesting if you have to solder new wires onto them, though, since they don't appear to have detachable cords.