@Adrian Petrescu and others, I agree the durability issue is a problem. I eventually went with the sennheiser 25-1-ii http://www.head-fi.org/products/sennheiser-hd-25-1-ii-professional-headphone/reviews These headphones are breathtaking. They are closed back and supra-aural so you can't hear the person in the cube next to you. This also means you can reduce the volume to play it at to enjoy it, saving your hearing. ALL parts are user replaceable, so I've heard of pairs lasting 10-20 years (as long as the model as been out). I am fan of going with commercial grade quality if possible since they normally last longer than consumer grade material (at a higher cost of course). These are used in studios and TV's. They are well worth the investment if you are daily listening to music.