these be the best mobile headphone I have ever use . not because of sound quality -lrb- which be excellent -rrb- , but because of fit , price , comfort , lightweight , durability and how it stick to my head even when run . not jogging - sprint - as in to catch airplane and bus . Mine break the other day after 3 long year of faithful service . if I do not turn around fast and crush it against my desk while it be fold up in my pocket , it would probably last another 3 year . it sound great with no buzz -lrb- even at high volume -rrb- right up until I break it . the cord 's length be perfect , I keep my mp3-loaded pocketpc in my left front pants pocket . it be long enough but not too long , and never catch on anything . as for the phone themselves , they go far enough into the ear to properly point the speaker forward , not merely inward like those annoyingly uncomfortable little bud thing do -lrb- how they justify the price for those thing , I 'll never know -rrb- . as for allow outside noise through , they do if you have they turn down low , but I can not tell what people be say when listen to stuff at `` normal '' volume . in other word , they be just as good as ear bud without the annoying lack of comfort or ability to keep from fall out . they do let loud sound in , however , which can disrupt what you be hear . for example , loud vehicle like bus drive past you at a bus stop will completely drown out what you be listen to . small price to pay for the thing stick to you head like glue in great comfort for hour on end . sound quality be great . the larger speaker provide for a very well-rounded sound , not just treble and bass like most ear bud . Perfect for anything from music to talk radio . the foldable design be a feature of importance to I because I be a long distance commuter by bus and ferry boat -lrb- 4 hour a day -rrb- . Compact , portable and lightweight be very important to I , even more important than sound quality . fortunately , I do not have to sacrifice a bit of sound quality by use these over bud . these headphone give great sound , be comfortable , be lightweight , stick to you head even when run , and they be very compact and portable . and for 10 measly buck ! you can have those over-rated , expensive bud and all the discomfort and `` fallout '' that go with they . do I mention I be here on this web site right now to buy two more pair of these ?