Long story short - the retro design looks great, and they sound really good for quieter settings and mellow music.  The sound is clear and good at moderate levels, but these are not designed to be cranked.  They're not good for loud rock, which is what I listen to mostly, but in quiet times with mellow music they are very good.  They are bulky with the older design, which was something I liked online but not when I put them on.  As an added bonus, you can remove the wire and dress up and look classy for your next steampunk party.