SE-CLX7
The SE-CLX7 are ear-bud headphones from Pioneer that have ear-tips to help prevent the leakage of sound. The SE-CLX series has two models, the CLX9’s priced at approximately 200.00 usd and the CLX7’s priced at approximately 100.00 usd for your MP3 listening pleasure. Based on price, you could say these are these Pioneer headphones are equivalent to the Sony MDR-EX90 and Victor HP-FX300 earphones with ear-tips.
Taking a look at the stats….
Type: balanced armature
Max. input power: 100mW
Impedance: 32 ohms
Sensitivity: 105dB
Freq. response: 20 Hz to 20,000 Hz
Plug: 3.5mm gold-plated mini-plug
Weight: 8 grams without cord
Cord: 0.8 meter
…and the accessories are…
Earphone tips (S/M/L/LL)……..2 each
Ear holders (S/M/L/LL)…..1 each, L/R
0.7 meter extension cord……………1
Carrying pouch………………………..1
Looking through the lid at what is inside, there seems to be more than just your standard accessories that come with earphones that use ear-tips. Let’s remove the box…
The top row on both sides are the ear-tips that go on the stem to prevent sound from leaking out your ear. Sure the box designates them as “left side ear tip” and “right side ear tip” but we know that doesn’t matter…an ear-tip is an ear-tip.
In the center are the earphones, lets have a look at those…
…and on the bottom row are the ear holders…
…which is something you may have never seen offered before with with ear-tip headphones. The ear holders go on first…
…so you can get an optimum fit for the buds to sit in the ear. Like the ear-tips, the ear-holders come in S / M / L / LL, and the buds come from the factory with a set of M-size holders and tips already mounted on the buds.
The sound of the SE-CLX7’s
To talk about this set, I need to compare it to something similiar and in this case the MDR-EX90 earphones with ear-tips from Sony. Plugging both the CLX7’s and EX90’s into the same source, the CLX7’s are louder, perhaps this is what is meant by the term “brighter”. I don’t have to adjust the volume any, it is just that the music seems louder.
The CLX7’s do bring out more detail in the music. Background sounds such as drumsticks hitting the rim of the snare drum and subtle chords from the rhythm guitar step up in the soundstage with more volume and clarity.
I consider comfort a part of the overall sound since I won’t use uncomfortable headphones / earphones. I don’t find the adjustable earpieces to provide me any more comfort than the aluminum ear-holders of the EX90’s. I use the M size ear-holders which is equivalent to the size of the EX90’s but for people with larger or smaller ears, the adaptable ear-holders will make a difference.
Would I recommend these to a friend? Yes, if the friend enjoys the signature sound of earphones such as Victor, Audio Technica, pretty much any brand but Sony. Sony’s signature sound is mellow with a nice emphasis on bass and I think someone who prefers that sound would find these too bright.
Looking around on the net, none of the usual import shops have the SE-CLX7’s available. There are three exporters who are selling them and the prices I’m quoting include EMS shipping in the total. The Japan Direct Shop has them for 145.00 usd. Yesasia, has them for 125.00 usd but the least expensive is the J-pop store for 110.99 usd.