Add to Chrome
Add to Edge
Add to Firefox
Add to Opera
Add to Brave
Add to SafariWhen comparing Sony MDR XB50AP vs Marshall Mode, the Slant community recommends Sony MDR XB50AP for most people. In the question“What are the best earbuds around $50?” Sony MDR XB50AP is ranked 4th while Marshall Mode is ranked 6th. The most important reason people chose Sony MDR XB50AP is:
The low frequencies are what stand out from the sound signature. Bass goes pretty low and with good punch too. Also, the full deep end bass is achieved without muddying up the mids. The mids are smooth and clear, allowing vocals and guitars to be clearly heard. The highs are present, though slightly recessed, giving these headphones an overall warm sound.
Specs
Question Ranking
Pros
Pro Great low end complemented by clear mids and fairly good highs
The low frequencies are what stand out from the sound signature. Bass goes pretty low and with good punch too. Also, the full deep end bass is achieved without muddying up the mids. The mids are smooth and clear, allowing vocals and guitars to be clearly heard. The highs are present, though slightly recessed, giving these headphones an overall warm sound.
Pro Cable does not tangle easily
The XB50AP's cable is flat and fairly thick, yet flexible. The cable does not tangle easily even when chucked into a bag or pocket.
Pro Light weight and soft ear tips make these comfortable to wear
The XB50AP is fairly lightweight. Combined with the high quality ear tips that are soft and flexible, there is not much pressure in the ear canal, making them great for wearing for straight periods of time.
Pro In line remote allows for convenient smart device control
There is a single button remote control which allows you to answer/end calls as well as pause/play tracks. This minimizes the need for you to pull out your phone or media player to do these functions.
Pro Great sound for the price
While the Marshall Mode does not offer a lot of features or top-notch build quality, it makes up for it with great sound quality. The bass has a slight emphasis which gives the sound good power and punch. The mids sound natural and slightly forward, while the highs are able to deliver a good level of detail without getting harsh. These earphones sound best for rock music, but can also deliver great low-end performance for hip-hop music and similar genres, and crisp highs for those who love classical music.
Pro Lightweight and comfortable
These earphones won’t cause comfort issues, even when worn for for several hours straight.. The earpieces are light so they don’t put a lot of weight in the ears.
Pro Many ear tips to choose from
With the Marshall Mode, you’ll be able to get a good fit and seal in your ears. You get 4 pairs of ear tips in different sizes to choose from. The ear tips are also of decent quality, as they are not too squishy, so they should sit well in the ears and last a reasonable period of time as well.
Cons
Con Earpieces are quite bulky
The earpieces are quite big and stick out of the ears a bit. It is possible that you will find these to be straining on your ears. Also, these can hurt when you are lying down on your side with these on.
Con Microphonics can be distracting
It produces noise when the cable moves around while you're wearing them or when it rubs against your clothes. This can be quite distracting, especially if you like to focus on your music.
Con Treble can sound recessed
While the bass in these headphones is powerful and full, the treble has taken a bit of a step back. While there is a good level of clarity on the high frequencies, these do not have the airiness and sparkle that more detail oriented headphones have.
Con Single button remote
Controlling smartphone and music functions is limited with the Mode’s inline remote. Only a single button is present, so you can only answer or end calls, play and pause music as well as skip tracks. You can’t control volume nor can you go to previous track.
