Sennheiser HD 218i Supra-Aural Headphones Compatible with iPod, iPhone, and iPad

Good for the features and price, not for demanding ears
The competition is on.
Full headsets with microphone and remote are the way to go.
V-Moda, Klipsch, AKG and now Sennheiser have come up with decent products but this is the only one at a decent price.

The design is the best accomplishment.

Size, positioning of the mic, isolation and the rotating earcups combine the features that will please the average commuter. The supra-aural cups are the perfect size to isolate the noise of your commuter ride and prevent leakage to your fellow riders. The mic is positioned exactly at mouths-length on the one-sided cord. No need to dig into your jacket for the mic as with the Y-cords. Which is the reason why you want the mic on the cord in the first place: to answer the call promptly and easily. The earcups rotate flat should you need to rest your headset on your chest rather than strangle your neck (similar to the Klipsch design). The cable is light, although this maybe a weakness to some.
All in a clean,...

Not the best.

The headphones look nice. They sound good. They can be really loud if that's what you are into, but...they are too loud like everyone around you can hear them! The mic doesn't work like it's suppose to. I tried to have a conversation on them, but apparently it sounded like I was in a cave?! Also every time I take a step while wearing these I can hear the thumoing noise of my steps. Weird. I'm not stomping around either. So if you are pretty much going to be stationary while wearing these they might be a good choice.

Good sound, shoddy materials
Allow me to begin by saying that the sound quality on the Sennheiser HD218i headphones is pretty good. Nothing spectacular, but not terrible, either.

However, the biggest problem with them isn't the sound, but the design and construction.

The first time I tried them I noticed that the material for the earpads was kind of squeaky. I attributed this to the headphones being brand new, and proceeded to a 2+ month breaking-in period, using them on an almost daily basis.

What I have found is that the squeakiness has not gone away. Every time I move my head, even a tiny fraction of an inch, will result in a slight shift of the headphones and a squeak as it slightly rubs against my ear. It is quite loud, only the loudest music at the highest volume can cover it up (which, of course, is not recommended for healthy ears). If the slightest movement causes it to squeak, imagine what it is like when walking or exercising (say, on a treadmill or exercise bike)...

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