not to insert. to properly insert, you should insert until it reaches your eardrums, if you sense it touches to your eardrums, you should pull it a little back slowly (unless you want your brains pop out). its isolation is great, i can give it that.   if you listen at low volumes and have large air canal, this would have been a deal for $30, if it had not so much microphonics (and you can't wear it cable up configuration), you can listen it at so low volumes (if you stop breathing that is) that you can't believe it, but you probably don't and you...