Design/durability: Stellar build quality is one of the highlights of the Rockets. Pretty much every feature of it seems indestructible. The L-shaped jack seems very sturdy and has enough strain relief. The cable is made of a fancy 'military-grade' material called kevlar and seems like it could withstand rough conditions, and the same can be said for the unibody titanium earpieces. They're tiny and seem crazy well engineered. The overall finish of the product is a very good balance between premium and rugged feel. One of the downsides of the Rockets'...

Design/durability: Excellent build quality as per always on behalf of Shure. The cable feels nice and thick, with a lot of strain relief, and is detachable which is a great feature in this price range. A good thing is that the MMCX connector feels rugged enough to withstand moderate use, unlike with some other brands. The earpiece is made of thick plastic, and the latter feels and looks sturdy. Overall a very good design and beyond expectation at that price.   Fit/comfort: Average. I am not fond of Shure's memory wire, as it tends to be pretty...

Design/durability: very good build quality as (almost) always on behalf of Sennheiser. The earpiece with its brushed metal faceplate is very good looking and has a sturdy 'unibody' feel to it. Finish is not plasticky and seems durable. The slightly thick cable feels good too, pretty stiff, doesn't tangle, microphonics are pretty low. The proprietary two-pin connector of the detachable cable feels very sturdy as opposed to most MMCX connectors used nowadays on the IEM market. And also, the bass dial is fairly unique and fun to play with. Update: the...

Design/durability: The earpiece seems very durable, although there are some light finish issues. The braided cable is one of the best in the industry: there are barely any microphonics, it feels robust but is light and supple at the same time. Now the issue occurs with the MMCX connectors and their connection to what is inside the housing: the female part of the MMCX connector rapidly becomes loose, causing the male part of the connector (the one on the cable) to move into the socket, and all these "movements" will eventually cause the red wire that...

Design/durability: The P5 is a truly gorgeous headphone. The all leather/metal construction and the "timeless and vintage" make it a winner in the looks department. The construction and finish of the product is very convincing and feels absolutely premium. However the P5's durability is actually pretty far from its luxurious appearances. One of the channels going off is one of the recurrent problems these cans have. I have sent them back to B&W's customer service (which is excellent btw) several times already. And the cable feels very cheap.  ...

Design/durability: The ER-4 have a robust feeling that reminds me of my old and faithful HD25. The earpiece is small and light, its housing is made of rugged plastic. The braided cable looks sturdy and is replaceable (with Westone cables for instance) with the use of an adapter. The stock cable is a bit heavy and a tad long for portable use. It is stiffer than most braided cables I've tried so far, and doesn't tangle much. Microphonics are low, considering that the ER-4 has to be worn down. Overall it has a very good and functional design, that can...

This is a review of the original B&W C5. Not the recently released C5 S2.   Design/durability: The C5 feature a really unique design because of the secure loop. The finish of the earphones is very nice (metal construction), and the cable *looks* sturdy. However sturdiness isn't the strong point of the C5. Actually, I have sent them back twice already because of cable defects. Every 6-8 months, one of the channels stops working due to faulty contact, as if it were pre-programmed. Build quality is definitely not up to expectations. B&W's customer...

Design/durability: They look professional. As for the build quality, these are certainly the most rugged headphones on the market. It is practically indestructible, and if a part comes to break it is possible just to replace the part itself (ear pads, cable, headband, you name it). They can be thrown in a bag and not be worried about. Designed to last a long time, if not a lifetime.   Fit/comfort: Average. Many complain about the clamping force of the HD25, but I find it to be okay after a few months using them. The headband becomes more loose and...

Design/durability: With an all aluminium and leather construction, the M500 feel really premium and durable, while being lightweight enough. The flat cable seems sturdy and can be swapped easily (there's a 2nd cable w/ remote included). Earphones can be folded.   Comfort/fit: Surprisingly comfortable, actually the most comfortable on-ear headphones I've ever tried. The leather pads are very soft, the memory foam adds to comfort, and clamping force is just right. Can be worn for several hours without hurting the ears.   Isolation: Just average. Not...

Design/durability: The earpieces' finish is good, and they do look stylish. However the built quality of the cable is very disappointing. I've successively had 3 early models of the SuperFi 5 (which all broke after a year of careful use), and although the cable doesn't tangle, it is very poorly made and cracks easily, leading to faulty contacts. Not built to last. At all.   Fit/comfort: Overall the SuperFi 5 are quite comfortable. The Comply foams are easier to use, since it is quite tricky to reach a good seal with the silicone tips. They are...

Design/durability: The SE425 feel very nice indeed. The silver finish looks very appealing. The earpieces seem very durable as well, and the cable is very thick and sturdy with a lot of strain relief. The latter is detachable, which is even better.   Fit/Comfort: One of the most comfortable IEMs out there, especially with Shure's olive tips. Easily forgettable when in your ears. Plus they don't stick out of the ears, meaning that you can almost sleep wearing them.   Isolation: Excellent, blocks out most ambient noise. Microphonics are low as well.  ...