They do stick out of the ears a little and can look a bit like earplugs from straight on. The case smelled very bad after opening. I paired it with my O2-DAC-AMP and managed to ABX between 320kbps/256kbps CBR MP3s (I found it really difficult) if that means anything to you. These could easily be 100 or 125 but theyre a steal at $69! Also, it comes with the steel bar adaptor for womens bikes. So, please, BE CAREFUL with it. Does take a while to get used to with the front part and toes broke into them within a few days. Though I do wear them, they didnt compare to the great look and incredible level of comfort and support of the Kenneth Cole, Reaction line. Tip: straight out of the box, they are okay. My feet no longer hurt after standing for hours at my job.