Lots of static if your listening to audio books/ podcasts. Just be aware of what you are getting in to with regards to the warranty. However, stiffness is not like the efficiency of a carbon XC sole, but they are made for downhill not uphill. Updated to 5 stars, you can push the head phones in far enough to make them stick, and work like the original You might have to give a good push to snap then in place before mounting on your car. I would recommend using a lubricant and then something (a short piece of narrow tubing or the like) to extend the short end of the hex wrench for better torque. I used it in the gym and running, it is very stable in the near and never drop. it fits very small almost childlike. It has removed features that the iPod Classic had, and which I came to depend on. Im a little frustrated that I paid around $115 for these shows that may or may not be authentic.