We compare products from their published specs and features; the verdicts below are our independent editorial opinions.
Updated: 2026-09-18 · 6 min read · Independent comparison
If you want a retro-styled wireless pair with swappable ear cushions, three EQ modes and a two-year warranty, choose We Are Rewind EQ-001; if you need a wired, on-ear workhorse with an inline mic and a folding design — and you'd rather have four pairs in one box — choose Sony-Dropship MDR-ZX310AP.
• We Are Rewind EQ-001 — biggest strength: Bluetooth 5.1 freedom with 12 hours of playback, three equalizer modes, and three interchangeable ear cushions (orange, yellow, black) so the look is yours to change.
• We Are Rewind EQ-001 — biggest trade-off: It's a plastic over-ear with no active noise cancellation, a micro-USB charging port rather than USB-C, and 40 ms of Bluetooth latency that wired headphones simply don't have.
• Sony-Dropship MDR-ZX310AP — biggest strength: A 3.5 mm wired connection means zero latency, zero charging, and 30 mm dynamic drivers in a swivel-folding frame that survives being thrown in a bag.
• Sony-Dropship MDR-ZX310AP — biggest trade-off: It's a four-pack of wired on-ears with no Bluetooth, no EQ modes and no rechargeable battery — it also ships as a 1.6 lb multipack, not a single pair.
• Who each pick is for: Pick the EQ-001 if you want wireless listening, style customization and phone-call controls in one retro package. Pick the ZX310AP if you want a no-fuss wired headset — or a stack of them.
The EQ-001 is built around a simple idea: headphones you can restyle. We Are Rewind ships three interchangeable ear cushions in orange, yellow and black, so the same pair can read as loud retro or plain black depending on your mood. Under the plastic over-ear shell sit 40 mm dynamic drivers, 32 ohm impedance and a 20 Hz–20 kHz frequency range — standard, sensible specs for everyday listening rather than studio work.
Wireless is the whole point here. Bluetooth 5.1 gives you roughly 33 feet of range and about 12 hours of playback per charge, and a full charge takes around two hours over the included micro USB cable. The GO button handles play/pause and calls with a single click, and a double-click on the built-in MEMS microphone wakes Siri or Google Assistant. There are also three equalizer modes — Signature, Balanced and Bass Boost — which is more tonal control than you'd expect at this end of the market. The EQ-001 also pairs with We Are Rewind's WE-001 cassette players, which is the detail that makes this a lifestyle product rather than a generic pair of cans.
Buy it if you want cable-free listening from your phone, you like the idea of changing the look without buying new headphones, and you'd rather tap a button than dig your phone out of a pocket. Skip it if you need noise cancellation, you want USB-C charging, or you're sensitive to Bluetooth lag — the 40 ms latency is fine for music and podcasts but is the kind of thing gamers notice. Also note the 2-year WE ARE REWIND warranty covers the pair itself, which is a longer stated term than the ZX310AP offers.
The MDR-ZX310AP is the opposite philosophy: plug in and go. It's a wired on-ear with a 3.5 mm jack, an integrated microphone, and a Y-type cable ending in a 4-conductor gold-plated L-shaped plug. That L-shaped plug matters more than it sounds — it's the shape that survives being jammed against a pocket or a phone case, and gold plating is there to resist corrosion over time.
Inside, 30 mm dome-type dynamic drivers do the work. Sony's ZX Series has always been about a lightweight, adjustable housing with rugged durability, and this model adds a swivel-folding design so the earcups rotate flat for compact portability. Volume control is on the cable. There's no battery, no pairing, no charging — which also means no charging cable to lose.
The catch is in the packaging: this listing is a four-pack (Pack of 4), and the item weight of 1.6 lb reflects that. The stated warranty is 1 year. Buy it if you want a reliable wired headset for calls and commuting, you dislike charging things, or you need multiple pairs — for a household, an office drawer, or spares. Skip it if you want wireless freedom, EQ customization, or a single pair rather than a multipack.
• Best for wireless freedom → We Are Rewind EQ-001. Bluetooth 5.1 with a 33-foot range and no cable to snag.
• Best for zero-latency audio and calls → Sony-Dropship MDR-ZX310AP. A wired 3.5 mm connection has no pairing delay and no 40 ms lag.
• Best for battery life → We Are Rewind EQ-001. 12 hours of playback on a roughly 2-hour charge. The ZX310AP has no battery at all, which some people will call the real win.
• Best for style customization → We Are Rewind EQ-001. Three interchangeable ear cushions and three EQ modes (Signature, Balanced, Bass Boost).
• Best for durability and portability → Sony-Dropship MDR-ZX310AP. Swivel-folding earcups and a rugged adjustable housing that's made to be folded and stashed.
• Best for multiple users or spares → Sony-Dropship MDR-ZX310AP. It arrives as a pack of four; the EQ-001 is a single pair.
• Best for retro character and cassette-player pairing → We Are Rewind EQ-001. It pairs with WE-001 cassette players, which nothing else here does.
• Best for plug-and-play simplicity → Sony-Dropship MDR-ZX310AP. No pairing, no charging, no app-adjacent fiddling — just a plug.
In my opinion, the We Are Rewind EQ-001 is the pair I'd buy for myself. The combination of Bluetooth 5.1, 12 hours of playback, three swappable ear cushions, three EQ modes and a 2-year warranty is simply more headphone for everyday modern use — and the retro angle gives it personality that most plastic headphones lack. I'd only steer you to the Sony-Dropship MDR-ZX310AP if you specifically want wired reliability, no charging routine, or a four-pack to spread around the house. Check the current price on Amazon for both before you commit, because the value math changes once you're comparing one pair against four.
FAQ
Both have a microphone. The EQ-001 uses a built-in digital MEMS mic with a GO button for answering and a double-click shortcut for Siri or Google Assistant. The ZX310AP relies on its integrated inline mic and cable volume control. For hands-free wireless calls, the EQ-001 is the more convenient setup.
No. They're wired only, connecting through a 3.5 mm jack with a 4-conductor gold-plated L-shaped plug. That's the trade-off for never needing to charge them — and it also means no Bluetooth latency.
About 12 hours of Bluetooth playback, with a full charge taking roughly 2 hours via the included micro USB cable. There's no fast-charge claim in the specs, so plan the charge time accordingly.
Yes — it's designed to be compatible with WE-001 cassette players as well as smartphones. That compatibility is unusual and is one of the main reasons to pick it over a generic wireless pair.
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