If you’re looking for mediocre in-ear headphones at a premium price, look no further than these. The sound lacks depth, even with equalization, and the definition is far from crisp. If your idea of good bass is a 100-watt subwoofer in your car trunk, these aren’t for you. Not bad for listening to podcasts or for voice but falls short for a brand that was built on an image of sound quality. Keep in mind that the quality of sound with this type of listening device is heavily dependent on the earbud tip and its placement in your ear. If you don’t get this right, they sound even worse. And since these are noise isolation (not cancellation), having the right tip is necessary to block out exterior noise. Also, the earbuds provided are inadequate for anything beyond moderate exercise. You’ll need to buy a (usually inexpensive) kit of tips and things like over ear hooks to secure them. Otherwise, if you run or exercise vigorously, they’ll keep falling out. You can buy an equally mediocre set of in-ear headphones at less than half the price of these – although these may hold up better. THey do have a longer lasting battery and great connectivity, which are important if your mainly using it for a phone. The Beats have more controls than the cheaper alternatives, but as others have pointed out, even after you get the hang of them, they are awkward to access, especially if you're exercising with them or driving.