The result in detail:
Sound:
In the sound hits the RS170 RS180 clearly through a fuller sound and clearer picture in the room. The RS170 sounds still good and in my view, head and shoulders above the Sony MDR-DS6500. The latter was both digital as well as analog from different sources for me a disappointment for the price. He showed in my view no voluminous sound, sounding even slightly tinny.
Bass is important for me. The messengers of both the RS180 and RS170 to the same extent. The Extra Bass key while RS170 I have not tried. The Sony was compared to the Senn hoarse bass weak.
The sound in school grades:
RS180: 1
RS170: 2+
Sony: 3-
Comfort:
In comfort the listener differed somewhat, but not dramatically. The RS180 has velvet ear pads which sit well in my case. The RS170 and the Sony have ear pads leatherette. In the RS170 this act cheaper. In all three the earpads umschliest the ear, so that it is including warm in summer. Somehow I feel even with the RS180 the seat on the ears more than, say, the old Sennheiser HD575.
In grades:
RS180: 2
RS170: 3+
Sony: 2-
Perceived quality:
The perceived value is in my view the Sony far forward. Everything looks solid and does not have the plastic touch the mediate Sennheiser unfortunately. The RS180 works through the finish of the plastic, as well as by the velor upholstery something valent than the RS170.
In grades:
RS180: 2
RS170: 3+
Sony: 1
Operation:
The Sony can be the way you use expected. He has on listeners a knob for volume and a button for switching, and an LED indicating that it is on.
The Sennheiser took the knob unfortunately plastic buttons on the handset. This can be more difficult to operate than the dial of Sony. Further, the on / off switch between the louder and provider switch is positioned so that it can happen to anyone and that you turn off the phone, rather than switch quieter. The RS180 also has balance button on the handset, which complicate the operation in the mounted state even further. I see it in the iPhone era as absolute stupidity of Sennheiser to, but was able to after a day or less get used.
In grades:
RS180: 3+
RS170: 2
Sony: 1
Reception / noise:
All three headphones have around me no problems with the reception or with noise, despite wireless router, etc. nearby. There was a maximum of a wall / ceiling by stealing. I particularly like that I no longer hear the cell phone reception Noise in digital, which I had heard in my analog wireless headphones.
In grades:
RS180: 1
RS170: 1
Sony: 1
Extras:
The Sony has a Toslink digital input and various Dolby / DTS Surround settings. He has to my knowledge Li-Ion batteries. The surround settings at Sony have the sound changed but delivered no acceptable sound for me.
The Sennheiser have no digital input and no Dolby / DTS Surround settings. They are fed in each case via two Eneloop 750mAh AAA Akus. The RS170 provides a surround button and a bass key that I have but both untested. The RS180 offers an ALC (automatic volume adjustment) button, which I have tested but not exhausted. I do not need that. In addition, the RS180 has an analogue output on RCA connector, the I do not need. In addition, all have an input level switch (0dB / -8dB).
In grades: Since this is absolutely aimed at personal needs, will include an evaluation is not effective.
Summary:
The clear winner for me is the RS180 because me the sound is simply more important than the 30 price difference for RS170. The price difference is already justified itself from the difference in sound for me, the slightly better perceived value comes on top of it.
The significantly poor service and the cheaper perceived value vs.. To Sony I take this gladly accept, because a headset does not sound good does not fulfill its core discipline.
The RS 180 gets me 4.5 stars, 5 for the sound and a half deduction for the operation and the weak perceived value. Since Amazon anyway there are so 5 star rounding.