Rosewill RHTS-12008 3.5mm Gold-Plated Connector Canal Premium Passive Noise Isolating Metal Earbuds Rosewill RHTS-12008 3.5mm Gold-Plated Connector Canal Premium Passive Noise Isolating Metal Earbuds

Pros: Braided cable to help product longevity. Cable is just about the right length.

Cons: Seriously the first time I took of the original bud to put the larger size on the small metal grille inside on the right bud came off. I hadn't even put the earbuds on to listen to anything yet and something broke. I tried to put it back in, but it didn't want to stay. It didn't seem like it would fit through the bud and end up in my ear so I laid it on and put the larger size bud on and it stayed in place. It came off immediately again when taking that bud off again. Like another reviewer, the metal piece that isn't adjustable (but should be) is starting to come unglued on my earbuds as well.

Sound is flat. Bass lacks depth and highs seem compressed/tinny.

Other Thoughts: I'm sick of the terms "premium" and "passive noise isolating". 9 times out of 10 if you need to put the word 'premium' in the title of your product, there's nothing premium about it. "Passive Noise Isolating" - ...really? Well duh if I put something in my ears it will make it harder to hear noises around me. My car has 'passive noise isolation' as when I'm in it I sounds from outside aren't as loud. I honestly can't recommend these buds unless on a shell shocker well below the $10 mark, and even then the buyer should assume the risks about the quality of the buds as the other reviewers have noted here (ie. don't be upset if something breaks within a day or two of ownership). Perhaps us reviewers got the first batch and quality will improve...?

Pros: Three different sizes of cushion are nice, ensuring that most people will find a comfortable fit. Noise isolation is quite effective, at least as good as my passive Shure buds that cost quite a bit more than these. The carrying pouch will fit easily in most any work or laptop bag.

I've used these on my work iMac. The cable is just the right length to allow for a decent range of movement around my cube, but it's not so long that it gets snagged on anything.

Cons: While the braided cable feels reasonably sturdy, anytime it brushes against my clothes, I experience annoying rustling feedback through the buds. This could be mitigated if the cable were adjustable, but it's not.

It might be a problem with the unit I received, but one of the cushion sets did not fit securely when I was trying to fit the right ones for my ears. One of them ended up getting stuck in my ear canal.

Though I'm no audiophile, I found the sound quality of these buds to be merely OK. It's pretty much exactly what I was expecting for the price. Bass response was decent, as were the highs, but the mid-range felt muddy and flat.

Other Thoughts: My biggest concern with these earbuds is long-term durability. I've not always had the best luck with Rosewill products, and I'm already seeing a couple issues after a short period of ownership. There was the poorly fitting cushion set I mentioned above. The other problem is the that the silver plastic ring that covers where the two cords join is coming unglued. I can slide it completely off the earbuds. This doesn't bode well.

These might be inexpensive, but I would feel more comfortable paying a bit more for another product.

Pros: A confession: I was prepared to not like these earbuds. My previous experience with buds in this price range was either with the freebies bundles with phones or as temporary replacements for better options. For example when an overly enthusiastic TSA agent separated bud from cord while "inspecting" my suspicious mp3 player or when I simply forget to pack any earbuds for a flight. As luck would have it, the Rosewill earbuds arrived minutes before I left for the airport and a cross-country flight.

My first impression was that these buds are remarkably comfortable and do an impressively good job of noise isolation. Not in the same league as active noise-cancelling headphones, but you can buy 20 pairs of these for the price of one set of Bose QuietComforts. Just plugging the buds into my ears reduced the jet noise to a more tolerable growl. Even after six hours of sitting in a sardine class seat, my ears felt fine. Would that the rest of my 6'2" frame did as well. I did not have problems with the earbuds falling out either while sitting or on morning runs.

Sound quality is remarkably good. Much better than stock iPod earbuds. The elongated body of the Rosewill buds gives truly thumping bass for an earbud. Overall clarity is also reasonable and there is very little distortion even at deafening volumes. Midtones and higher notes do get muffled, at least in comparison to Etymotic or Shure buds. Again, given the price differential, it's hard to argue with Rosewill coming out on top in a sound-for-the-price comparison.

A handy carrying case is also included - always a good thing if you are not treating the earbuds as a disposable commodity - and not a feature usually found in low-priced kit. The fabric braid on the cable resists tangling better than generic vinyl sheathing.

Cons: The issue noted by other reviewers of noise generated by any movement of the cable is present. Until you actually start playing music, it's downright annoying. The combination of stiff cable and the aluminum housing make for echo chambers in your ears. With even moderate music volume, however, I did not notice the cable noise while sitting still. On a jog, unless I really cranked the volume - not the safest thing to do in traffic with this level of noise isolation! - I did hear occasional cable rubbing noises. Although the cable is stiff it still did not hook securely behind my ears. These earbuds are not the best option for working out or jogging.

Speaking of the cable, there are other flaws. The plug is both straight and long, making it annoyingly uncomfortable when connected in your pocket. There also is no volume or track control, and no provisions to answer a call nor a mic so you'll spend more time hauling out your mobile. Rosewill spent their money on making decent sound rather than the accessories.

These earbuds are not going to please an audiophile. The bass sounds unnaturally boosted in relation to midtones and trebles. If your musical tastes trend towards pulverizing beats, give these buds five stars. For classical or acoustic, look elsewhere. In comparison to any under $40 earbuds I have tried, however, the overall sound from the Rosewills holds up well.

Other Thoughts: I have yet to find a better set of earbuds for less than $40-50. At this price, one expects throwaway quality. Rosewill's focus on sound quality, comfort, and noise isolation paid off. Ergonomically these buds are not the best, but they certainly rise above the standard for this price range. If you want noticeably higher quality in a pair of earbuds, plan on spending 4x as much.

Pros: Amazingly durable cord, decent sound, great connectors, cool little carry pouch. Comfortable buds.
Bass is ample without being overpowering, highs are clear and distinct. Overall, sound is very good.

Cons: Sound is close to my Koss "the plug", but not quite there.

Other Thoughts: All in all, these headphones just became my new everyday, beat 'em up, take 'em anywhere ear buds.

Pros: These ear buds sound Great, it's hard to believe You can get such stellar sound for so little coinage. The bass response is very good but not so heavy that the mid range suffers. I like to wear them at the computer because the lack of outside noise really aids concentration and it's the one place I can enjoy music that I don't have to worry about the safety factor from removing the background noise and I can turn it up without bothering anyone else. I believe that the noise isolation works very well and that can be dangerous outside where the awareness of Your surroundings is so important. The cushions are super comfortable and make such a huge difference in the amount of time that You can wear them, I've found no limit there and I feel like I could wear them all day if the opportunity ever presented itself to do so. By adjusting My E.Q. I could accentuate the high and mid ranges and really test the harmonic distortion present and the results were very surprising, I've owned so many pairs of much more expensive Headphones that weren't as good as these little buds but then I've been around for awhile and all technology gets better with time. It's exciting to see the improvements in the gadgets we use and it's great to see Rosewill expanding their lines with another good product.

Cons: It's hard to complain about a product that works well at this price but there is room for improvement. If You need ear buds for activities that require movement I'm afraid the cable noise will stop You from using these at all because it is excessive. There is no volume control and the cables might not stand up to heavy exercise for too long. If Your player has no equalizer to adjust the tone with, You may find these buds just a tad too bassy, but if You like a lot of "Bottom" in Your music, You'll have it.

Other Thoughts: I really like these ear buds for listening to music anytime I'm seated or in a relaxed setting and though I haven't worn them while Flying, I'm guessing they would be Excellent in that role because the noise isolation is impressive, the sound quality is first rate and the comfort factor is so high that sleeping with them in would be a breeze. I will never take a Road Trip without them because they will save Me from the "Are WE There Yet's!" and We all know that's Priceless!

Pros: While there are some cons, these are in some ways the best headphones I've *ever* used, surpassing even my $1000 cans. Rosewill must have studied some high-end brands to make these. It's a real treat to hear new details (and new lyrics) on songs you’ve heard a hundred times before – not something I was expecting at this price point.

Complementing the high-end definition is some very solid bass, with every beat of the kickdrum transmitting to the eardrum. Bass freaks should have no complaints here. The strong low-end makes these ideal for low volume listening, where the ear is less sensitive to bass (like using the "loudness" button on a stereo).

Cons: Bass and mid-bass frequencies are too strongly boosted for my taste, which, as noted, becomes a problem at higher volumes. Most people prefer a boosted bass when using headphones, however, and I see other reviewers complaining about *lack* of bass. (Did they get a defective unit, I have to wonder?) For normal listening I had to cut the bass and mid-bass, or boost the mids (2K) and highs to get a reasonably flat response.

As noted in other reviews, cable noise is a definite problem, so these are maybe not the buds to wear during vigorous exercise. I'm guessing this is a side effect of the extremely responsive diaphragm, so it's a trade-off. There are ways to secure floppy earbud cables (I sometimes use a spring paper clip attached to my shirt), but be forewarned.

Other Thoughts: It's a happy time for earbud wearers – sound this good cost at least 10 times more just a few years ago. With a little EQ tweaking, these buds might please even a high-end aficionado.

Pros: - Good bass response once fitted properly, I was pleasantly surprised. 3 different size rubber fittings are included, the pre-installed medium ones fit me well and are comfortable.
- Well built with solid weight behind them. Braided cord is a nice touch with hefty metal piece at left/right cord split to help with keeping cord down where it belongs.
- Decent little carry pouch is nice for the laptop bag.
- Good passive outside noise blocking as advertised. Probably excellent on an airplane.
- 10mm driver is good for this price range, seems to provide accurate frequency response as listed: Good low bass, solid highs (when added by EQ, see cons below).

Cons: - Muddy mid-range response in general but is acceptable enough for me to use these over my more expensive Klipsh's. As in my next con too, using the EQ helps immensely in this area as well.
-Response is a touch TOO bass heavy and flat when using no EQ/adjustments. Even as a fan of quality bass I have to add a little treble and mid using an equalizer for my taste.
- "Some" friction noise bleed from cord to ears when cord rubs objects during use but FAR from an issue as previous reviews suggested, I honestly think they have updated the braided cords to a much softer material and noise transfer is almost a non-issue.

Other Thoughts: These beat the Klipsch S3's I paid more for in both comfort and overall performance. Just remember to make sure you get a good snug fit with the provided different size ear pieces and you will get good bass response and noise isolation as advertised.

One egg off for muddy midrange but these are now my go-to buds over the more expensive Klipsch.

Rosewill is pretty much carried as Newegg's house brand and they have always been very solid quality and these are no exception. I truly believe they have updated some materials, especially the cord as my new review sample has a soft cord that transfers little friction noise. I have found these to be quieter than other ear buds actually.

Tested music: Gorrilaz, Muse, some old heavy "scream-o" - Vendetta Red, Radiohead, Tool, Sublime, Mumford and Sons and The Black Keys all @ varying MP3 bitrate of 160-320kbps

Pros: Rosewill has really expanded its product lines over the years and this is one of the many products I believe that they can do well. For an entry level headphone, these are very clear and crisp if maybe a little tinny. One area where the headphones really excelled was in speech/audiobook/podcast listening. The sound is not overpoweringly deep where the lower frequency takes away from the story. (i.e. Jim Dale's voice on the Harry Potter series) My wife particularly liked the comfort, especially with the three different sized in-ear sleeves. The braided wire offers an advantage over the standard iPhone earbuds due to the fact that they are less likely to tangle when raveled up and placed in your pocket. Hours later the iPhone earbuds come out in a knotted mess and the Rosewills come out pretty much untangled.

Cons: There are only two things I feel these headphones are missing that would make them a five-egg item. The first is that there is no buttons for music control or for volume. My opinion is that few people want to pull their device out of their pocket just to change the volume or pause the music. This is especially noticeable when I am listening to an audiobook throughout the day and people come in and out of my office and I have to pause. The other main problem I have is that if you are going to use these to listen to music, they perform very poorly on the lows. This became apparently clear during my side by side comparison which I explain in the other thoughts section. As I said before, they are great for any kind of speech, but music suffers from the lack of bass.

Other Thoughts: My comparison was conducted with two iPhone 4s' in which I used the iPhone earbuds on one phone and the Rosewill headphones in the other. I selected three different songs where I hit play simultaneously and listened to both headphones in alternating ears. I then lowered the volume in each ear, one at a time, and made the sound comparison. For the music, the iPhone earbuds had a much better full sound, but the Rosewill gained some ground back in clarity and highs. The biggest advantage came during the Harry Potter audiobook where the Rosewills were a clear winner with the clarity and crispness of the sound. Overall a good headphone for the price.

Pros: Raised ear bud end makes the fit more comfortable even for people with bad ear conditions like my girl friend. Braided thread is a very nice touch. its also doesn't make the cord stiff like other ear buds. Excellent sounds quality and loudness. even in noisy enviroments!

Cons: wire cord is a little thin so if your very active around objects like desks and cabinets or at work. these could get ripped quickly. or just wear them under your shirt like I do and that pretty much solves that problem

Other Thoughts: Nice quality metal construction, braided fiber cord covering a plus, gold contacts for analog devices.

Pros: The braided cord is well made and sturdy.

Multiple sizes of earbuds make it very easy to be comfortable - this isn't the way it is with many earbuds in this pricerange.
On the topic of the earbuds, goodness, if you put them in without music playing you can hear your pulse. They definately block external noise getting in!

Clarity is extreme.

The carrying bag is a nice touch.

Cons: As reported in other reviews, movement can produce noise. It's not an electrical noise, imagine plugging your ears and chomping your teeth together... like that! Not a big deal for someone who's relaxing - Not for someone doing jumping jacks.

Other Thoughts: As far as sound quality-

They're very responsive in the higher ranges which is to be expected. Playing a few lossless .flac files will allow you to hear things you normally don't through speakers.
Midrange is a bit muddy. Certain songs that I've heard 100 times sounded "new" to me - I heard small things that I hadn't in the past. Others seemed to become bland vs my larger circumaural headsets.
Bass is more or less nonexistant. If you're hoping to hurt your eardrums with Skrillex or Dj Magic Mike... well we all know buds aren't ever going to do that. Having said that, songs that don't include making your neighbors angry with rattling windows sound pretty darn nice in that 100-250 Hz range.

To sum up the capabilities of these buds:
Enya - most certainly yes
Pink Floyd- duh (of course!)
Gorillaz- hit or miss
Skrillex- no

Traffic- Please look both ways before crossing the street with these in, because you certainly won't hear it!