Klipsch X5 In-Ear Headphones

I have never used a better pair of earbuds, and I am no longer satisfied with any others. These stay in my ears better than the others like skullcandy and they do block noise, every type of noise. I can tell someone is speaking to me but can't make out what they're saying if they're right next to me -- imagine what that means for screaming babies on an airplane. Two warnings: don't put them in until you're at altitude and take them out before descending, because they'll make your ears hurt something awful if you let them keep your ears from adjusting to the pressure during those transitions. And don't use them while biking, driving, or doing anything else where you should be aware of your surroundings. You are a special kind of unaware, and dangerous to others, if you can't tell someone is shouting a warning at you. So, on the sound: music comes through pretty well. I am not an expert but I like the sound just fine. Like I mentioned, it blocks other noise really well, and that's what I really use them for. I can hear my music and not whatever else is happening around me. They tend to produce higher volume than other earbuds, in my experience -- I have to turn my computer volume down below volume level one on my mac (manually, by dragging the bar after clicking in the menu bar instead of using the keyboard) or else it is too loud for me, and similar adjustments have been made on my ipod and any other device I plug them into. The plus side is, I can listen to orchestral or other music that generally is at lower volume in recordings without testing the upper volume limits of my devices. Other things to note: I have had some static trouble when I'm moving around in a thick sweater while wearing these, and it shocks me in the ears. Just in case you find yourself in this situation, it's not a things-breaking shock, it's a you're-wearing-a-sweater shock. I have used these a long time without any technical difficulties. And on the pieces that mold to your ears, I initially switched to the skullcandy style squishy black earbud tips, and they worked well, but when I switched back to the set of clearish tips that came with the earbuds, I ended up liking them even better. Maybe it took a while to get used to the feel, I don't know, but I think they are easier to take in and out of my ears constantly whereas the squishy ones like earplugs need to be squished down, carefully inserted, and then left to fill out the space for a minute before they operate at top capacity. It's worth it if you're not going to be interrupted, and I do think they end up blocking sound a little more efficiently and being more comfortable over time, but at home I use the clear ones so I can yank them out of my ears at a moment's notice and put them right back in another moment later. Finally, another tip on the fit: insert a touch farther than you like, then pull out that small extra distance, to create a good seal and the right pressure. It tends to sound better after that little tug. And when you find they're full of earwax, if you lose the cleaning tip the set comes with, staple a single staple all the way shut and use that loop to clean inside the tips after removing them from the device. When they go back on, there's a line on the tips to line up with a line on the earbuds. I always find mine are skewed within minutes but I still try to straighten them when the fit doesn't feel right. My only complaint is feeling like my ears are itching all the time if I use them too long (all day). I suspect this is the ears not "breathing" at all and needing to air out -- might be a good chance to test other earbud tips as well. I can get several (6-8) hours straight of use out of them before this starts up, but once it does it's relentless and I need to stop using them for a few hours. I have used my Klipsch earbuds for about four years and they are still in top condition. A few pairs of earbuds have worn out or gotten lost, but the working part is like new. I have no intention of replacing them anytime soon, but when I do, it'll be a near-identical set. They have served me very well. I urge anyone else interested to also store them properly, coiling them and keeping them in a case of some sort (I use the one they came with) so they don't get tangled and put stress on the joints. I have kept it coiled in my pocket many times I have not wanted to carry the case, but I also lost an earbud tip one of these times.