MDR-A35G $20 ;the reviewed model
MDR-A34L $20 ;your preferred replacement
MDR-W25G $16
MDR-W20G $16
MDR-W24V $15.50
MDR-W14L $13
MDR-W08L $10

Since I don’t care much about sound quality, I’d be willing to try any of these. But I’ve a notion I might buy some toothpicks and super glue and see whether I can brace up the headband, first.

Meanwhile, someone tell Sony they have a good product whose rep is going bad quickly. Surely they’d do something about it if they knew!

I’m again a Sony “fan” to the extent I think they have the best headphones. I wouldn’t want to have to navigate my way through their support, though.

I don’t mind trying things that hook over or stick into my ears, but they DON’T stick — maybe my ears are the wrong shape — so I guess it has to be over-the-head. And I’m tired of foam and other coverings — I never dreamt until I used those for an hour how much heat a human radiates through his ears — so I much prefer something in the ear. (Besides, as jburka says, I don’t want to block outside sound, in the office or outside.) Quality of sound reproduction counts for very little with me; any old cheapie is good enough. I guess I’ll try those MDR-A34s.

To Andy Lee: I tried writing a note about this to Sony, but when I press the Send button on their form, nothing happens. I found this column because I’m looking for a real email address I can complain to; I’m like Mr Jalkut, I prefer to buy a headset like this one, from Sony if I can, but without the trick snapping-headband, and I figure the best way for that to happen is to be sure Sony knows about the problem.

But that would really be crazy…

Sound quality wise, they all beat the Sony.
Reading your post, build quality they’ll beat the Sony too, although the KSC75 does feel a little fragile.

My choice:
1-PX100. All you could want. Very durable, best sound quality-price ratio (extreme good sound quality), folds up and has an intelligently designed case (http://www.dansdata.com/images/3senns/cases280.jpg).
http://www.headphone.com/guide/by-manufacturer/sennheiser/sennheiser-px-100.php – 5 out of 5 rating

2-KSC75. For me: best wear (altough you say you don’t like clips…I don’t feel them but that’s up to you), slightly worse sound quality than the PX100 but still ridiculously good for its price. Durability would be the biggest con; all feels a little fragile. But Koss has a life-long guarantee so you basically buy once and can break all your life :)
http://www.headphone.com/products/headphones/clip-on/koss-ksc-75.php – 4 out of 5 rating

3-CX300. Good quality, but they go IN your ear, blocking all noise (including traffic about to run over you) and not too comfortable for all. Sound quality is ok but lacking in the high range, so if you’re a rock-lover, not the best choice. The are however tiny, and they will stay in your ear no matter what.
http://www.headphone.com/products/headphones/all-headphones/sennheiser-cx300-b.php – also 4 out of 5

To me the PX100 is really the obvious choice, since it has no down points. Couldn’t think of one and looking at the Sony’s you had, these would “fit you best” I think :)

Conor: You may be right, mayeb the Radio Shack just has a terrible batch. Maybe I will give the Sony’s one more shot. Also, I didn’t realize there were others in the same product line – might be nice to try something similar but slightly different.

Aaron: walking is both a choice and a circumstance. I live in a semi-urban area (Cambridge, MA), where it’s reasonably easy to walk everywhere. Also, I commuted by car at least 40 minutes each way the entire time I worked at Apple. That pretty much took “driving” off of my enjoyment list forever. :)