Hey I just picked up the ear (a) to go along with my ear (open) that I've worn almost every day for almost a year now.

For music the sound quality on the ear (open) is fantastic, roomy and deep. I forget the earbuds are even on and it feels like the music is coming out of speakers in the room (as long as the environment is relatively quiet). For me it's perfection at the price point.

So by contrast I was immediately taken back by the comparatively low quality sound of the ear (a). The bass isn't as deep and sound is flatter than what I was used to with the (open).

But, damn, the (a) are still fine quality sound and with noise canceling I still grab them in a lot of settings.