Have always used Radio Shack's headphone radio but, after the same speaker broke for the (well over) 10th time, I went back & started using these (when I FIRST got them I thought they were weak on volume). Had left them in the closet for a year or so and, somehow, they seem to work better than I remember. Can't hear OUTSIDE (voices, machines, cars, etc.) as well as w/ the RS unit so that's good OR bad, depending on how you look at it. Sometimes I can't hear my customers (I work outside on folk's yards) BUT, also can't hear my machines screaming as loud as before.Bottom line: They're quality in that the speakers have outlasted the RS ones by MONTHS (usually within 3-6 months that same speaker ALWAYS died) & they are tough as I work in the heat, rain, whatever & they go through it all. Little tight but, like w/ the volume/noise reduction issue, it's a matter of perspective because these things almost CAN'T be knocked off like the looser RS model (which got scraped off my head from time to time by trees, branches, etc) but they didn't make my ears sore like these can after extended wear. This WILL BE my new brand - if they ever wear out.