I first try a pair of Shure E1C earbud and hate they ; I think they make everything sound tinny . then I try the Sony and think exactly the same thing , and could not figure out why I get better sound out of the $ 10 pair of earbud I buy at the Sony Outlet . after a couple of subway and airplane ride , I finally figure out the whole thing : - fit be everything with deep-insertion ear instrument . earbud , hear protection , whatever . fit be everything . once I finally get they seat correctly , they isolate outside noise very well and sound clear , keep in mind that I be not expect the same visceral reaction to earbud that I have to my over-the-ear akg phone . - use CD quality source material for you first listen . I think it be the bud -lrb- both Shure and Sony -rrb- that be make my source sound tinny , and then I rip a cd of 128k mp3 and decide that I hate what the compression do to the music . I simply fail to pay attention before I start use a portable device . not to plug , but WMA format cure a lot of the compression problem to I . -lrb- Apple format also sound good on my friend 's ipod . -rrb- - would have like a inline volume control . I know that eat into fidelity , but whatever ; make a control with gold plate contact already . - the whole cord extension thing be a disaster . too short with , too long without . do not even get I start on the `` case . '' mostly , I like these earbud ; Sony certainly have other `` high resolution '' earbud but if you can get these around $ 30 , it be a decent choice .