Sennheiser Sport Line PMX 70 Consumer Headphones

Shortly after breaking down and purchasing an iPod Nano 2G - largely for use at the gym and for running, it became apparent to me that the stock iPod earphones were not going to do the job: I'd be working every minute and a half to keep the things in my ears. Enter the Sennheiser Sport Line PMX-70s. I was immediately impressed. The sound was quite good: not audiophile sound, by any means, but quite good for my purposes and the $55 I paid for the phones, and best of all, the behind-the-neck band held the phones quite firmly in my ears. I can quite confidently say that my days of constantly adjusting earbuds while on a run were over; in fact, the PMX-70s fit so securely, I've never needed to adjust them at all: once they're on, they stay put until I take them off. As I mentioned, the sound was clear and crisp, and the phones seem to be quite efficient, not requiring me to use high volume settings. The lime-green color of the headphones and wire wasn't a bother to me at all: I got them for exercise, not for a fashion show, and frankly, I received more than one compliment on the color! I was quite prepared to recommend them to others looking for quality headphones which will stay put while running or exercising, and in fact, have recommended them to people.

I'd like to say that the PMX-70s are perfect, but there's one major flaw: after about 9 months of use, I noticed that the repetitive motion of running – both on the road and the treadmill – was causing the wire's insulation to split on both ends – where it plugs into the iPod (or other music player) and where it connects to the headphones, leaving bare copper wire exposed. I've had them for about 13 months now, and they still function (I had to tape the wire with electrical tape), but obviously, they look a bit less sporty now, and will inevitably need to be replaced in the near future. I'll probably buy another pair: I haven't found anything I like better, and $40-55 a year isn't too much to spend for headphones, but this flaw definitely gives them a finite lifespan.

I'll mention a few other things. First, some people might find the system of forward-facing speakers and neckband uncomfortable in the ears, although it doesn't bother me. Second, because the neckband protrudes a bit behind the head/neck, these phones are not ideal for exercises which involve lying on a bench or floor or pressing the head back against something, as those positions will dislodge the phones and push them right out of the ears. Lastly, while the neckband is quite flexible and durable, too much bending can cause cracks at the point at which the phones themselves attach to the neckband.