Never owned their headphones but I have owned their speakers and I can't rave about them enough.

As for the Sony's, you're right... the 'sound quality' is outstanding... and you're ALSO right that that's the most important thing. But seriously.. they are, or at least mine are, so quiet I cannot enjoy the music I want to be LOUD at all.

i don't want to sacrifice sound quality, if that's the choice.

As for earbuds it's simple, I will lose one, or both. It's not a question of "if", but simply "When".