Sennheiser PX100-Iii Folding iOS Headset

Not quite an audiophile but could be said that I'm somewhere in the ballpark. I refer to myself as "mid"fi". I admit I listen to 320 KBPS MP3s over FLAC given the disk space I save. I use a solid state headphone preamp, and don't own vinyl. I own Grado SR80is, Ultrasone HFi-580s, and use entry-level audio equipment like the Fiio E9/E7 combo pream/DAC with my Audioengine 2 powered speakers, and a Cowon J3 DAP. Play electric & acoustic guitar and audio quality matters to me significantly. So you may hate me because I'm not analog enough for you, but I'm okay with that. WHY THE PX100IIi? Sick of IEMs and dozens of earphones that would last a maximum of 1-2 months, I figured I'd give the Sennheiser PX100IIi a shot for use with my iPhone. Yes, I'm well aware that the iPhone has horrible audio quality. But I needed a headset with remote volume and button functions for managing calls and music. When I got the PX100IIis (I'll refer to them as the PX for sake of brevity), I was highly concerned with the thin cable gauge. Figured these things would last as long as the other 30 or so IEMs I've purchased that all lost a channel due to cheap cable design -- especially at the point of contact with the TRS pin or earphone. Well lo and behold, this headset lasted me an entire year of daily use before it lost a channel from cable issues. That in itself is extraordinary, as I used these daily for guitar practice, music and phone calls. They were on my head more than they were off. Most portable headphones last me less than a month, and I'm not abusing my gear. SENNHEISER STANDS BEHIND THEIR PRODUCT - THANK YOU :) Sennheiser has a brilliant 2-year warranty, so when my right channel went after about a year, I sent in the headset and about a week later received a brand new replacement set. Easy peasy. I am simply enamored of their excellent customer service. If anyone from Sennheiser is reading this, you've just earned yourselves a loyal new customer. Time for some brass tacks. Let's break down the good bad and ugly about this model: SOUND QUALITY Better than any IEM I've used. This was the first attribute that impressed me because I was not expecting high-end sound from a portable on-ear headset, despite the Sennheiser name. While it cannot be compared to my higher end Grados and Ultrasones, the drivers and their housing do a remarkable job delivering rich, balanced sound, decent bass, good headroom and clarity/detail. Next best thing to top of the line headphones. I listen to many genres, but mostly blues and blues rock/funk, and these headphones are aces for mid-range, while staying balanced. When I plug them into a decent DAP like my Cowon J3, they shine at delivering quality sound and really show off their capabilities. As you know, your audio source itself is probably the single most important factor, so make sure you choose a quality recording to appreciate these headphones. Again, I wasn't expecting such quality for portable phones. DESIGN *OPEN BACK I really like the fact that these are open backs -- the design really contributes to nice headroom, realism and experience, and I also think it's healthier for your ears. Not a big fan of closed backs despite their ability to nullify leak (to others). This was one of the contributing factors for choosing this model. Unless you require 100% sound isolation, 0 sound leak for quiet environments, or particularly thundering bass for your dubstep, I can't see why I would ever go with closed backs. I'm a big Grado fan, and I'm sure I'd like the higher end over-ear Sennheiser / Bayer Dynamic products. *SINGLE CHANNEL CABLE (can't recall the audiophile term for this, but you know what I mean) I Like that they use a single cable from the left channel as opposed to a Y cable. I love my Grados but if I could find a single complaint it would be the awkward Y cable design, which can be annoying beyond words. *MOLDED TRS RUBBER JACKET The TRS is fitted with a sturdy molded rubber jacket that certainly is one of the factors that extended the integrity of the headset for the first year. The TRS and the earphone interfaces are the two places where I have traditionally experienced the highest number of wiring failures in other brands. So despite the thin cable gauge, these held up marvelously. *MOLDED RUBBER HOUSING AT LEFT CHANNEL Again, an inherent weak point was addressed by Sennheiser. Where the cable meets the left earphone, there is a small molded jacket that certainly helps maintain durability of cord tugs. SMART FOLDING DESIGN What's cool is that not only do these fold, but they snap into place when folded due to an interlocking groove design. Moreover, each earphone conveniently flips 90 degrees, so that once folded, it is flat as possible. They are very light, but they do not feel cheap. The plastic housing feels like some high quality composite material (perhaps not as durable as the nylon polymer used for plastic handguns, but certainly different than cheap, flimsy plastic). The composite seems to be durable in the way of flexibility as well. While I wouldn't try wishboning these, I would expect they can be pulled to angles that exceed most envelopes for plastic. This is important because snags are going to happen. The metal hinges feel sturdy and give a satisfying resistance and snap when pulled into or out-of place. The sliding adjustable headband sits inside a composite plastic chassis, and the band itself is some sturdy thin metal alloy -- likely aluminium. The undercarriage of the headbands provide two aesthetically pleasing and comfortable pads that have the appearance of leather. While not actually leather, I was surprised that they never degraded or fell apart on me as do most such materials. COMFORT I find this headset very comfortable for long listening periods. Not too tight. not too loose. Easy to adjust. They do not sit well, however, if I wear them any other way than directly over the center of my head. If I'm wearing a brimmed hat, I need to angle them on from behind my neck, and they do tend to slip. Not a big deal, and I'm sure I could find some hack to keep them on. EAR CUSHIONS These will need to be replaced eventually. They will fall off or lose their grip around the drivers. No big deal -- Sennheiser sells replacements. SUGGESTIONS No matter how careful you may be, wires will always get snagged on something. I plan to purchase some type of break-away interconnect/patch cable so that the burden of any pulls is absorbed by the patch, and then separates. Saw a product like this, need to research. Next suggestion would be to purchase an alligator clip for the cable. Just another insurance policy to help reduce snags, and keep the cable close to your body. CABLE LENGTH Unlike most casual users, I prefer longer cables because their added versatility allows me to use them with my guitar gear like headphone amps. This chord is a standard length. Haven't measured it, but it's not long. I have a quality patch extension cable, so this is not an issue for me, but wanted to mention that the chord is average albeit adequate length. If I had to guess I'd say 3 feet. AESTHETICS They are modern and good lookin; stylish without making a statement like large over-ear headphones. Nice matte black finish with tasteful silver accents (Senn logo and the adjustable headband). I feel like an alien wearing my Grados in public, so these are the model of choice when in public. iPPHONE FUNCTIONS The remote control always worked for me, and my callers always heard me clearly, unlike the many other headsets I've gone through. The remote is well built, and seems to have a larger mic screen at the top than other remotes I've seen. The buttons are sturdy and give you a satisfying click. They are not vague or spongy. Best remote performance I've found on any iPhone headset. So there you have it. A summary of the best portable headphones I've ever owned -- and also the best remote/mic headphones I've used with the iPhone. I was concerned about their price given the standard life cycle of other portable headphones I've owned, but their surprising durability paired with Sennheiser's dependable 2-year warranty service have more than justified the price. I love these. Do not hesitate on this one. It's a no-brainer IMHO.