I have be happy enough with these headphone ; particularly when use on flight . they do reduce the hum of the aircraft engine , but replace it with a little hiss . the hiss be only noticable in silence . with a music\/other signal into the headphone I rarely notice the hiss . I use these on the subway , and they also reduce the train noise -lrb- but not the smell of the homeless guy next to I -rrb- . BIG ISSUE : the rubber ear-piece that form the seal around the headphone and you ear-hole ! these come off relatively easily . in the package you get 3 pair -lrb- a small , a medium , and a large pair -rrb- . I be not down to one individual small and one individual large - not comfortable -lrb- the small one keep fall out and the big one feel like a big wet finger be push in my ear -rrb- . so , if you want replacement rubber ear-piece , you ring Sony Parts . Sony part then explain the each rubber ear piece cost $ 4.95 plus tax -lrb- plus postage -rrb- . that be not even for a pair , that be for one . these thing be under 1cm large , and be a tiny , flimsy piece of rubber . bad boy Sony - rip off exist customer . oh , and if you want to shop around to source they elsewhere , ask Sony for the part number , and they 'll only tell you the part number if you pay they $ 5 for a research fee . -lrb- no joke ! -rrb- shame on you Sony ! nice product , a bit flimsy , poor rubber ear-piece design , profiteer on part cost . make you own decision . maybe stretch to a pair of Shure in-ear thing instead . Sony quality tend to be good , but they go non-standard with everything and you pay a premium at every point of ownership of they product .