Zagg Z-buds

Design

Both sets of headphones are pretty plain. The MM 50 iPs have a classy design to them that may or may not be visible while you’re wearing them, and the Z-buds have a colorful cord. The MM 50 iPs have a weird Achilles Heel situation at their plug, while the Z-buds have the potential for internal wire twist-ups. We think the Z-buds are probably slightly more durable overall, even though the way their in-line accessories are manufactured makes them seem a bit cheap.

Zagg Z-buds	Sennheiser MM50 iP

Frequency Response

The Z-buds’ frequency response is like an exaggerated version of the MM 50 iPs’ response. Both have a boost in the bass, although the Z-buds don’t have their channels quite in sync.

Zagg Z-buds	Sennheiser MM50 iP

Distortion

Neither channel shows much distortion.

Zagg Z-buds	Sennheiser MM50 iP

Tracking

The MM 50 iPs have much more even tracking.

Zagg Z-buds	Sennheiser MM50 iP

Isolation

The MM 50 iPs can block out a slightly more noise overall; the higher the green line in the graph below, the more sound is blocked.

Zagg Z-buds	Sennheiser MM50 iP

Comfort

We thought the MM 50 iPs were a pretty comfortable pair of headphones from the get-go. If you’re used to in-canal headphones, or you use the Z-buds’ soft plastic sleeves, the headphones will be comfort equivalents.

Verdict

The Z-buds don’t have the audio quality or isolation of the MM 50 iPs, but the differences aren’t staggering. The Z-buds, in theory, should be cheaper than the MM 50 iPs, making them about the same value. Since the MM 50 iPs have been out so long, however, their price has dropped dramatically. Overall, the MM 50 iPs are the better headphones.