I bought these on a whim after my waterproof bose earbuds started making this crazy high pitched beeping sound mid-workout two days before a race... I needed something quick, slightly cheaper and from a brand I typically have not had any issues with. Let me tell you, I am pleasantly surprised! I actually prefer these over my entire experience with my bose ones.

Now, I do agree with other reviews that say the controls are kind of a pain - there is definitely a learning curve. However after a little practice, these work just fine for me. As far as what I mentioned about noise-canceling - definitely play with the different size earbud tips. (Just like with any other brand, too small and you'll hear surrounding noise. Too large and your ear will hurt after a bit.)

As for sound, I really do love bose quality - but these are definitely comparable and in my opinion, were a lot louder. I actually had to turn down the volume.