Altec Lansing UHP336 Snugfit In-ear Earphone

Comment: If these can be had for $40 or under, they're a really good deal.
The construction and durability is pretty weak, but unlike the last couple of reviews that had problems getting them replaced, I've had no problems at all. I purchased in April 2009 and I've had them replaced 2x with no problems at all.

The sound quality for the price (I paid $40 in April 2009) is great. *These buds need to be broken in* Plug your ipod in and let it run at low volume for a few hours or more. You will not get the bass quality right off the bat if you just stick them in and crank it.

Fit quality is good, not great. I use the foam, and they're version is just "alright". There are other foam tip you can buy that may be a better fit for your ear. Foam is the best way to go for isolation and comfort, imo.

Don't let the bad reviews fool you. There are so many earbuds that are just awful and these are a great value for the money ($40).

Comment: Bought in October 2009, based on price and user reviews.
The sound quality is acceptable enough if you can achieve a decent fit in the ear canal. However, it is not that simple for me. My canals must be small because the normal silicon buds usually do not seat well without considerable pressure. As often as not, they will loosen and sit idly near the point where they might just fall out. Chewing anything (yes, I might eat something while listening to podcasts and music) simply encourages their slippage out of the canal.
The cords are stiff and never got more supple. With the even stiffer portion that slips over the year, they constantly would become entangled and require two hands to unentwine.
I never had any durability problem at the buds, but the jack portion's reinforced section where the cord enters the jack became exposed. It did not affect the sound, so I used E6000 flexible cement to reattach the cord to the jack. This had to be repeated twice thus far, but it's an acceptable maintenance of the equipment.
My big frustrations with these earbuds are the stiff cords and the fit within the canal. I'm usually accommodating for shortcomings, but these make me not consider them for repurchase.
I also have Shure E3c earbuds, and find them a better fit, with more supple cords, and appreciably better sound quality, especially with foam buds.

Comment: Quality:
I was using this earphone for a few months. I enjoyed the quality - when I am on the subway (loud NYC subway), it does isolate noises pretty well and I can always keep the volume of my music low. Even for classical piano music, I only need 15-20% of the volume and I can still enjoy the music.

Durability:
After a few months, the plastic that wraps around the cable on the right ear started to crack open. It's the area with a curve that goes around your ear. It was a small crack at first, eventually the crack was too long that you can see 1 inch of the cable wires.

Customer Service:
I followed the steps for Warranty Return. I first emailed them with the picture and a brief description of the damage, and my proof of purchase. Got an automated email back from them saying I will get a response within 72 hours. I did not hear back from them after 3 weeks. I emailed them again and no response. Now I have this working but unwearable earphones sitting at home. The way this manufacturer/company handles damaged products under warranty is unacceptable.

Comment: I paid $80 for headphones that I could use for 3 months. I essentially paid $27 per month for these headphones. They have been falling apart for weeks, the wires are exposed because the shoddy plastic encasing has fallen apart, simply from normal use. Even at the lower price, I expect something that costs $80 to last for more than 12 weeks.

Comment: These are by far the best ear buds I have owned. I read several of the online review before making the purchase. Several reviewers commented on making sure you have a good snug fit. Nothing could be truer. Without a good fit they sound tinny. With a good fit the sound quality is great. For me, the replaceable foam seals work the best.