Koss CC_01 Isolation Earbud Stereophone (Red Gray)

The Koss CC_01 isolating in-ear monitor-first stereophone to create a perfect fit with unique Custom Fit dial. Rotate knurledknob-ear cushion expands to provide a custom fit. Designed to produce a perfect seal-variable matched transducer couples w/the eardrum for greater accuracy/efficiency across entire frequency response range. New state of the art in ergonomic and acoustic design. Transducer is specially crossmatched for balance across entire musical spectrum resulting in an up-front, exacting performance w/instruments retaining their size and scale on the musical landscape. Specially padded cloth covered cord serves as a wrap around protable digital music players and comes with both a soft leather carrying case and a hard travel case.

Owner Reviews, Ratings, Comments and Criticism
I was not sure about spending this much money on Koss earphones, but I had good luck with the cheaper versions for just doing yardwork and casual listening, so I took a shot and bought these. I am really glad I did: I was blown away by these earphones. From the packaging, which includes not one, but two carrying cases - a metal one and a leather one - to the actual sound, these earphones exceeded my expectations. One thing about these earphones that is a little different is that they are kind of large - not the part that goes in the ear, but the outer part - it is probably twice the size of the V-Moda Vibe and Sennheiser earbuds I already own. However, they do not look freakishly large, and with the adjustable inner part (the part that goes in your ear canal), it is easy to make these snug, but not too tight. The cushions are not the rubber "mushroom cap" style - they are foam cones. I think using foam, combined with the adjustible fit, creates excellent noise isolation. It is the closest I have experienced to full headphone sound isolation in an earphone. I was also impressed by the thick cloth covered cord with integrated clip, designed to wrap around an MP3 player and protect it when not in use. It is very clever and does not tangle nearly as bad as some other earphones I have. The cable also appears to be MUCH more durable - my v-moda's are already cutting out intermittently due to cord issues. On to the most important issue: The Sound. Bottom line, these earphones have the richest sound of any earphones I have used. I did a comparison to my v-moda vibe and $50-ish Sennheisers, and there was no doubt that the Koss earphones were clearly better. I tried bass-heavy songs and quiet acoustic guitar songs, and in each case, the CC-01's brought out details and created a full, lifelike listening experience that I have never heard in an earphone. Just spectacular. I am not sure if it is because of the larger outer part providing more room for a larger driver or what, but it almost sounded like putting my head between two top quality compact speakers when I would put on the Koss earphones. By comparison, the other earphones sounded almost tinny, even though they are quite good for $30 - $50 earphones. Overall, these turned out to be a really pleasant surprise, and I would recommend them to friends without hesitation. As an added bonus, they come with a lifetime guarantee!