The PerfectRec Earbuds or Headphones team Learn more
Updated April 10, 2024·
If you are looking for better overall sound quality and comfort for extended listening sessions, the AKG K361 headphones would serve you well, particularly for music and TV where they perform better. They also feature a detachable cable, are more durable, and fold for easier storage, making them suitable for air travel despite not being as portable as the Sonys. On the other hand, the Sony MDREX15AP earbuds, while not offering the same sound quality, are significantly more affordable, extremely portable, and offer very good comfort, which makes them a good option for casual listening, especially on the go. They excel in a specific area: watching TV and videos. However, neither set offers features like active noise cancelling, wireless capability, or an optimized experience for gaming and calls. Give Feedback
this description is based on the product variant with some specs and product variant with some specs. At the time of writing, the variant with some specs cost some dollars and the variant with some specs cost some dollars.
Advantages of the AKG K361
Good for air travel
Advantages of the Sony MDREX15AP
Very good for music
Excellent for TV and video
Key differences
Music
7.5/10
8.3/10
The Sony MDREX15AP is very good for music, while the AKG K361 is good.
TV and Video
7.8/10
9.3/10
The Sony MDREX15AP is excellent for TV and video, while the AKG K361 is good.
Noise Reduction
6.0/10
7.0/10
The Sony MDREX15AP is good for noise reduction, while the AKG K361 is only fair.
Cost
$100
$10
$0
$50
$100
$150
$200
The AKG K361 has a price of $100 and the Sony MDREX15AP costs $10.
"The K361 retains much of what makes the K371 such a winner, though it has a leaner sound, and the build changes made to trim the price down are immediately apparent. Still, it’s another excellent offering from AKG, and other companies in this fight should either be very worried or quickly designing updates to their old models."
"At the ultra budget $10 price-point (and we’ve seen the no-mic version go for as cheap as $7), I’d say these are a decent option if you’re looking for a passable pair of earbuds for basic use that’s as cheap as possible. I wouldn’t say they feel or sound as good as some of the ultra-budget alternatives out there – of which there are a few at this point – but some might disagree. I will say though that the cable is a little bit nicer than those of that same competition."
Get a great deal on the AKG K361 or the Sony MDREX15AP
About Sony
Sony is a multinational corporation, based out of Japan, with over 75 years of experience in the consumer electronics industry. In the audio market, Sony has been a trendsetter several times throughout its history. In 1979 they released the first-ever portable music player, the Sony Walkman, followed by the Discman 20 years later. Today, Sony is one of the leaders in the wireless headphone and earbud market, especially in terms of Active Noise Cancellation technology.
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This information was produced and vetted by the PerfectRec earbuds & headphones team. We are a product research and recommendation organization that meticulously reviews and evaluates the latest earbuds or headphones information and makes it digestible for you.
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About the Earbuds or Headphones team
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Joe is an entrepreneur and lifelong electronics enthusiast with a Ph.D in Economics from the University of Michigan.
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