SonyMDR-W08L Vertical In-The-Ear Headphones,Black

I just bought two more of these headphones for my grandchildren, but not because they need the great sound. The kids benefit from other attributes. I have some terrific in-ear headphones that not only deliver the goods sound-wise but block other sound. While that's perfect on the tractor, other times I want good sound with more ease and the ability to hear other things if necessary. The quality of sound these simple earphones deliver is astonishing. It does, however, depend on how you position them. You have to have them in right way around, of course. I like to wear them hanging under my chin so they don't interfere with taking my glasses on and off which I do a lot and they're so lightweight they stay in place well. It's quick off and on when necessary and they don't catch in my hair, but sometimes when I move my head down it moves the headpiece, which moves the earpieces and the sound isn't delivered as directly which makes a difference. It encourages me to sit up straight :). The sound is more consistent when wearing the headphones over your head as designed; it's just not necessary to wear them that way.For the kids, the headphones are replacing the earbuds that came with their little MP3 players. We've found the ones that came with them are a bit too big for their ears and won't stay in place reliably. After watching my granddaughter carrying her beloved little gadget around holding one bud up to an ear, I decided this type headset would be an improvement, and indeed it is. Since the headpiece is adjustable it works for her as well as for me. She can still hear us when necessary, but can also enjoy her music without fussing with the headphones, which is great, especially in the car. They work really well with the DVD player on trips since they don't take up much room in the case, are easy for the kids to put on and take off and are so lightweight they are comfortable. They've already learned the trick of pulling one earpiece out so as to hear Mommy better and letting it easily reset into their ear when the message has been acknowledged. This is so much easier than removing and resetting an earbud, I really value the ease as well.All that said, I love them for myself and although I carry earbuds with me, these are the headphones I use around the house. The first time I used them I couldn't believe I could get sound that impressive out of such modest headphones. I'd expect it from multi-hundred dollar headphones, but I think you'll find these are as good as the much bulkier noise canceling headphones. I highly recommend giving them a try. You might be as surprised as I was.

Of all of the headphones I've used to date, I've found that these ones definitely offer the most "bang for your buck!" I highly recommend them. In fact, I can't recommend them enough. I'm on my third pair, and I've consistently experienced the same quality from each.Here are the short, sweet points:1) Ninety percent of the time, I use mine for running and biking with my iPhone/iPod. I sweat obnoxiously, and they still hold up against the "moisture" (which is an understatement). They're definitely durable. If you're that athlete hunting for "the pair", these are a solid bet to go with!2) They really don't kid about the "ultra lightweight" aspect! These are amazingly lightweight and flexible, and that lends to an amazing fit. They don't hurt my ears (or head) from pushing or squeezing too firmly.3) The sound quality is great for my standards. These compare (or surpass) any I've used.4) The only (minor) issue I experience is that if they ever come out of my ears for a moment (i.e. I bump them or take them out to say "hey" to someone), sweat can get into my ear, and they sometimes run into issues. It's rare, and the results are typically minor, but it can create that "underwater" effect, reducing the volume and quality slightly. Usually, a simple re-shift or drying out of my ear will alleviate the problem.5) If was being really picky, I'd say they could also benefit from a cord management system (e.g. a free clip). However, relative to others, they have a pretty ideal cord length (i.e. as little excess as seems possible).If you've read this far and want my typical "wordier" review, read on for my follow-up points:1) Sweat/Life: Like anything, they're not invincible. They don't even claim to be waterproof, so more power to them! Typically after five to six months of using each pair daily, they eventually bite the dust. That's from one to two hour workouts, constantly being chucked in and out of a gym bag, and surviving whatever other wears come their way. Toward the end of their life, I'll eventually begin to experience an occasional short-out in one of the speakers during the "peak" of my workout (a.ka. the part where I sweat nastiest). However, they'll dry out by the next day and be good to go. After about another month of this routine, they'll become unusable. From my experience, that's a great lifespan- especially for the price you can find these at.2) Fit: They sit so gently set in my ear canals, yet they stay in so well. I've never had them come off unless I accidentally knock them off. Honestly, I've sort of "forgotten" I have them in at times. Because I don't think about them, I've gone to scratch my head or wipe sweat, and I've dumbly knocked them lose. They're design blows my mind. It's just so ideal. I've even gone through a number of hair-dos (ranging from longer to completely buzzed), and they still stay on just as well. They're very adjustable because of a precise range of ratcheted positions.3) Sound Quality: I can't say I've owned "premium sound" sound sport headphones, so this is always the toughest part for me to review. I like to think that I know good sound and appreciate high quality. Based on that alone, I say these are great. I pump songs with heavy bass (i.e. budstep, rock, etc...), and they sound great to me. More "objectively", I can at least compare them to other things like my premium car audio, Apple Earbuds, and so forth. Based on all of that, they sound just as good to me.4) Sweat (Part 2): I don't have much extra to say here. Basically, this is rarely an issue, but it's a point worth noting. Because they're not water proof, they don't have any special seals. I just make a habit of not taking them out until I'm done, and everything is usually fine. I just pause my music if I need to stop and hear something. And that's not to say I can't ever take them out. I've done so many times without any problem. It's just a rule I've made to avoid even risking it.5) Cord Management: I rarely notice this problem. I generally just let them hang and don't run into issues. Because of they're great fit, I can easily throw the cord behind me or wear it down the front- depending on how I'm working out. On rare occasions, I use a clip from an old pair of headphones, and that helps a lot. Personally, I just hate dealing with clips, so it's almost not even worth the extra effort.It might be important to note that I have used several various headphones over the years, and these are what I ended up on. To give you some comparison, I have tried various Apple "Earbuds" (i.e. Apple Earphones with Remote and Mic (NEWEST VERSION)[Retail Packaging]), Griffin TuneBuds (i.e. Griffin TuneBuds Mobile for iPhone 3G, 3GS (Black)), and even nicer Sennheiser sport sets (i.e. Sennheiser PMX80 In-Ear Sport Series II Behind the Head Earphones).