I am a huge Sony fan, so when I thought I'd like to try sound isolating earbuds, I read the reviews and chose these for there supposed sound. I'd also purchased a set ofSkullcandy INK'D Earbuds - Dark Grey. The Skullcandy INK'D buds DO have two issues--they don't label L&R; and when the wires are jostled, the sound is conducted to the earbuds, probably due to the heavier wire than in the Sonys--but otherwise the Skullcandy buds, blow the Sonys away. These Sony earbuds have a very thin, anemic sound. The Skullcandy buds, on the other hand, come close to sounding like real headphones. The Sonys are going back and I'm getting two more sets of INK'D.