I buy my sennheiser in July 2011 and I be write in April 2012 . I have use these headphone on a almost aily basis in the gym and on plane and train . the sound quality be reasonable but be better with the noise cancel turn on . they sound distinctly flat when use without the noise canceling . the noise cancellation introduce a low volume hiss if it be use without a sound source . overall the best sound quality be achieve use the noise cancel turn up to the max and adjust volume on my mp3 player . the battery life of the nc be reasonable too . I never like the way they fold and most of the time do not fold they . I have give these a score of two star because they have break . the right hand speaker now only emit the occasional thump leave the left hand side in perfect work order . this be not relate to the cable as waggle they do not change a thing . so half my headphone have die within one year of use . these be not baby but nor be they abuse . I would like to recommend they but at full price I feel that they fragility let they down . I be glad I buy a extended warranty ...