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What we think
The PerfectRec Earbuds or Headphones team Learn more
Updated April 11, 2024·
If you are on a tight budget and prioritize portability and comfort for listening to music, the Sony MDREX15AP earbuds would be suitable. They offer good noise isolation and are great for TV and video due to their excellent sound quality in that context. However, they're not ideal for calls, gaming, or use during exercise, with poor scores in these areas. On the other hand, the Turtle Beach Recon 70 headphones are better for gaming and calls with best-in-class mic quality and very good comfort. They are bigger and less portable, and while they are more expensive than the Sony, their durability and sound quality for various purposes may justify the price difference for you. 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 Sony MDREX15AP
- Very good for music
- Excellent for TV and video
Advantages of the Turtle Beach Recon 70
- Best in class for phone calls
- Very good for gaming
- Good for podcasts and audiobooks
Key differences
Music
8.3
7.1
The Sony MDREX15AP is very good for music, while the Turtle Beach Recon 70 is good.
Gaming
6.7
8.4
The Turtle Beach Recon 70 is very good for gaming, while the Sony MDREX15AP is only fair.
Phone Calls
3.5
9.6
The Turtle Beach Recon 70 is best in class for phone calls, while the Sony MDREX15AP is poor.
Podcasts and Audiobooks
5.4
7.6
The Turtle Beach Recon 70 is good for podcasts and audiobooks, while the Sony MDREX15AP is poor.
TV and Video
9.3
7.5
The Sony MDREX15AP is excellent for TV and video, while the Turtle Beach Recon 70 is good.
Noise Reduction
7.0
5.6
The Sony MDREX15AP is good for noise reduction, while the Turtle Beach Recon 70 is poor.
Cost
$20
$40
$0
$10
$20
$30
$40
$50
The Sony MDREX15AP has a price of $20 and the Turtle Beach Recon 70 costs $40.
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Key similarities
Build Quality
8.0
8.5
The Turtle Beach Recon 70 and Sony MDREX15AP both have very good build quality.
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How the Sony MDREX15AP and the Turtle Beach Recon 70 compare to other earbuds and headphones
Spec Comparison
 |  | |
| Sony MDREX15AP | Turtle Beach Recon 70 |
GENERAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | |||
$20 | $40 | ||
Brand | |||
Brand | Sony | Turtle Beach | |
Release Date | |||
Release Date | March 1, 2014 | May 1, 2019 | |
Form Factor | |||
Form Factor | Earbuds | Headphones | |
Connectivity | |||
Connectivity | Wired | Wired | |
SOUND | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Music Score | |||
Music Score | 8.3/10 | 7.1/10 | |
Phone Calls Score | |||
Phone Calls Score | 3.5/10 | 9.6/10 | |
Gaming Score | |||
Gaming Score | 6.8/10 | 8.4/10 | |
TV and Video Score | |||
TV and Video Score | 9.3/10 | 7.6/10 | |
Exercise Score | |||
Exercise Score | 4.6/10 | 4.3/10 | |
FEATURES | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Active Noise Cancelling | |||
Active Noise Cancelling | No | No | |
Noise Reduction Score | |||
Noise Reduction Score | 7/10 | 5.7/10 | |
Virtual Surround | |||
Virtual Surround | N/A | No | |
Mic Quality | |||
Mic Quality | N/A | 10/10 | |
BUILD AND DESIGN | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Build Quality | |||
Build Quality | 8/10 | 8.5/10 | |
Comfort score | |||
Comfort score | 8.4/10 | 7.6/10 | |
Size | |||
Size | Small | N/A | |
Weight (headset or single earbud) | |||
Weight (headset or single earbud) | 3.1 Grams | 309 Grams | |
Microphone style | |||
Microphone style | N/A | Boom | |
Shopping
Sony MDREX15AP
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Make It Sound Great
Pete Anthony | June 2022
"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."
Turtle Beach Recon 70
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Sound Guys
Sam Moore | September 2022
"There aren’t many considerations to make here. The Turtle Beach Recon 70 sounds decent, offers solid chat audio, feels good to wear over long periods, and it works everywhere. If you’re in the market for a simple plug-and-play option, you could do a whole lot worse (and spend a whole lot more money). Regardless, if getting something cheap that works well is the only thing you care about, this is a great option."
Get a great deal on the Sony MDREX15AP or the Turtle Beach Recon 70
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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Why trust us
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
Joe Golden, Ph.D
CEO and Earbuds and Headphones Editor
Joe is an entrepreneur and lifelong electronics enthusiast with a Ph.D in Economics from the University of Michigan.
Jason Lew
Staff Expert & Software Engineer
Jason is a staff expert and software engineer that has been making laptop recommendations for 7 years and moderates one of the largest laptop subreddits.
Chandradeep Chowdhury
Staff Expert & Software Engineer
Chandradeep is a staff expert and software engineer and expert in televisions and monitors. He’s been making monitor recommendations for ten years.
Luis Torres
Earbuds and Headphones Expert
Luis is a Mexico-based headphones expert. He’s been making headphone recommendations for five years and has close to 100 pairs in his personal collection.
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