I deal primarily with $ 200 - $ 500 circumaural audiophile headphone ... with dedicated headphone amp , lossless audio , the whole 9 yard ... but that stuff tend to be ill-suited for exercise and portable use . I want a good sound headphone that be portable and preferably cheap . well . . these headphone at low-medium volume decimate many other I have hear that go for $ 50 or more ... and at the moment they be sell for a mere $ 14 . I have own many brand of headphone and many level of quality , from consumer mp3 player stock earbud , DJ headphone , and many audiophile can , from Sennheiser , Denon , AKG , bose -lrb- bleh -rrb- , and Shure . there be no question in my mind that these be among the best there be for cheap , portable headphone . con : although the sound and value be phenomenal , they can be a bit awkward to put on or wear ... it just take some get use to . heavily recommend for anyone seek a first non-stock set of headphone , or anyone that need a decent quality headphone for the go . I be a audiophile snob , and I have no idea that I would ever see the day where I could get by on a pair of $ 14 headphone .