Personally I used before Altec ITE (last 5 years) purchased at the base in the same price range. Compared Klipsh these are excellent: they hold in the ears (finally !!! No obliged to put fingers in their ears every 5 minutes to put the earpiece in place), the cable almost never tangled, the finish is good. Its level I had read that said that tests low level it was rather flat. This is not true. But the sound is very clear and it is especially incredibly isolated from the world. At the office I set the volume on my walkman to 1 (20 to 30 ??) and I do not respond the first time when they call me. I work in my garden with a wind dehorning cattle: by setting the volume to 4 or 5 (really loud) I can barely hear the wind. If I saw a comment here as what the helmet was not strong ... I think it's a lucky shot on the wrong product because personally I use it at least 3 or 4 times a week to work in Supplies (not small jobs: saw branches, stumps, big big spring cleaning) and helmet holding up well.