Design and features:This portable earbud model has a non-isolating design that doesn't muffle outside sounds so you'll be able to hear that door bell ring, train announcement, or car horn when you are wearing these earphones. They have medium-high sensitivity so they can provide satisfying volume levels when used with home audio equipment and even lower-powered portable audio devices. The MX 686G Sports has an integrated microphone and inline volume, music player function, and call connect/disconnect controls that work with Android, Windows Mobile, and some Blackberry mobile devices but that are not compatible with Apple mobile products (the Apple compatible MX 686i is also available). Although these earphones will provide audio with most mobile devices including those from Apple, they may not operate properly with some other audio equipment. The manufacturer claims that this model is water resistant, and it comes with removable shirt clip and a carrying pouch.
Sound quality: We found the MX 686G Sports delivers sound quality that falls in the fair range, meaning that it has sonic shortcomings that leave a lot to be desired when listening to music but don't rule it out for dialog and communication. The overall sound can best be summarized as neutral (neither full nor lean), busy, choked, and tinny. The bass (as in bass drums, bass guitars, stand-up bass, etc.) has so-so impact, mid-bass is recessed and deep bass is lacking; what bass it does have lacks detail. The midrange (voices, guitars, horns, etc.) is prominent, telephone-like, and at moderately high volume has a piercing quality. The treble (cymbals, the upper range of violins, etc.) is very muted. While the sound has a good sense of liveliness it is closed-in (sound-wise it is obvious that you have something blocking your ears), congested (like a sonic traffic jam), and constricted (think straightjacketed).
Comfort: We found that these earphones fit and stay in place with no problems, and the ear bowl support ear pieces are very stable even with vigorous head movement.
