By Brian Jones

Don’t let cheap make you steer clear of these earbuds. Yes, they are incredibly cheap at less than 10 dollars, but they get the job done. Just don’t expect too much out of them. These are going to be great backup or throw around headphones. Something not to worry about. They come in an array of colors so you can get them to match whatever device you’ll be using them with. For $6.00 to $9.99 you really can’t go wrong with this choice.

Quick Specs

• No mic
• 3 ear fittings included
• 20Hz-20kHz frequency response
• 96dB, 16 ohms
• 9mm driver unit

Prices

Brian Jones has had a passion for photography and anything related for the majority of his life. One photography class in high school was all it took to get hooked on everything to do with the subject. He became more focused on learning about camera… See more about Brian

By Brian Jones

Another mid-range earbud, HA-FX67′s fail to disappoint. Comfort is one of the key features for this set. The ear cups are memory foam that fit snuggly into the ear canal and remain in place. A cord clip has also been included to help manage the extra length of cord that can sometimes be a pain. Sound quality is not bad on these earbuds. They achieve a very balanced sound that most listeners would be very happy with. These earbuds will set you back anywhere from $29.95 to $42.99 depending on where you pick them up.

Quick Specs

• Available in 4 colors
• 3 memory foam ear fittings included
• 10-23,000Hz frequency response
• 101dB, 16 ohms
• 8.5mm driver unit

Prices

Brian Jones has had a passion for photography and anything related for the majority of his life. One photography class in high school was all it took to get hooked on everything to do with the subject. He became more focused on learning about camera… See more about Brian

By Brian Jones

These award winning earbuds from RHA have a full aluminum construction and 10mm drivers along with superior noise isolation to create fantastic and rich sound. Their design is very simple and includes nothing flashy. These earbuds are built to perform and that’s what they do. You also get a 3-year parts and labor manufacturer’s warranty. The MA-350′s are reasonably priced when it comes to a decent pair of headphones. They sell for $39.95.

Quick Specs

• Fabric braided cable reduces tangles
• Carrying pouch and 3 ear fittings included
• 16-22,000Hz frequency response
• 103 dB, 16 ohms
• 10mm driver unit

Prices

Brian Jones has had a passion for photography and anything related for the majority of his life. One photography class in high school was all it took to get hooked on everything to do with the subject. He became more focused on learning about camera… See more about Brian

By Brian Jones

This pair of earbuds from Vsonic is definitely a worthy investment. If you are serious about sound quality in portable headphones, this might be the pair for you. They don’t have any bells or whistles like a microphone or remote, but that means more focus when into making them sound great. The lightweight dynamic 11mm driver units reproduce a full range of sound that is a pleasure to hear. These normally sell for $179.99.

Quick Specs

• Soft and Hard case included
• 16 ear fittings included
• Ear guides ensure a comfortable fit
• No mic or controls

Prices

Brian Jones has had a passion for photography and anything related for the majority of his life. One photography class in high school was all it took to get hooked on everything to do with the subject. He became more focused on learning about camera… See more about Brian

By Brian Jones

Sennheiser has made a great name for itself when it comes to headphone quality. These mid-range earbuds are no different. Sound quality and noise cancellation is what you get when you buy these earbuds. Sennheiser also included a 2 year warranty, so there is no need to worry about parts breaking early on. The CX215 headphones normally sell for $39.95.

Quick Specs

• 5 bright colors available
• 20 – 22,000 Hz frequency response
• 110dB, 16 ohms

Prices

Brian Jones has had a passion for photography and anything related for the majority of his life. One photography class in high school was all it took to get hooked on everything to do with the subject. He became more focused on learning about camera… See more about Brian

By Brian Jones

Many of our consumer products are becoming more and more eco friendly. Don’t let your earbuds be the exception. These earbuds have a rear wooden housing that not only reduces plastic waste but it helps to deliver a more natural and fuller sound in the lower ranges. The front housing is aluminum and completes the full range delivering accurate high frequency sound reproduction. These stylish and high quality earbuds sells for $89.99 – $109.99.

Quick Specs

• Eco friendly earbud option
• Compatible with many smartphones
• Cotton pouch with 4 ear fittings
• 20 Hz – 20 kHz frequency response
• 99 +/-3 dB, 16 ohms
• 8mm driver unit

Prices

Brian Jones has had a passion for photography and anything related for the majority of his life. One photography class in high school was all it took to get hooked on everything to do with the subject. He became more focused on learning about camera… See more about Brian

By Brian Jones

The SE535 earbuds are the best of the best when it comes to sound quality in a small package. With a price tag of $499.99 there are plenty of things to be happy about. Kevlar reinforced cable, superior sound isolation, a host of adapters, volume control, over the ear fit, and a 2-year limited warranty just to name a few. Inside these earbuds are a tweeter and dual woofers for create a full range of sound any audiophile would be happy with. Other than the massive price tag, there is nothing to complain about with these headphones.

Quick Specs

• Carrying case included
• 3 sound isolating ear fittings included
• 18Hz – 19kHz frequency response
• 119dB, 36 ohms

Prices

Brian Jones has had a passion for photography and anything related for the majority of his life. One photography class in high school was all it took to get hooked on everything to do with the subject. He became more focused on learning about camera… See more about Brian

By Brian Jones

These are going to be some of the best earbuds out there in the under $100 category. Sony has created an ultra-compact earbud that is feature-packed. The drivers are the highlight of these earbuds. Sony calls them the “Balanced Armature Drivers” that are micro is size but deliver a full range of sound. They are also very comfortable since they are so small. No need to worry about discomfort in the gym or while studying at school. The XBA-1′s sell for $79.99.

Quick Specs

• Carrying pouch included
• 5 ear fittings and 3 noise isolating fittings
• 5 – 25,000 Hz frequency response
• 108dB, 24 ohms
• 13.5mm driver units

Prices

Brian Jones has had a passion for photography and anything related for the majority of his life. One photography class in high school was all it took to get hooked on everything to do with the subject. He became more focused on learning about camera… See more about Brian

By Brian Jones

We all know what it means when we talk about a pair of bose headphones. Great sound. These are no exception. Bose took it a step further with their StayHear silicone tips that increase the level of comfort and stability in these earbuds. They have also incorporated an acoustic structure that reproduces more natural sound. For added peace of mind, the IE2 earbuds come with a 1 year manufacturer’s warranty on parts and labor. If anything goes wrong, Bose will take care of the problem. The Bose IE2 earbuds are resonably priced for a Bose product at $99.99.

Quick Specs

• Carrying pouch and 3 ear fittings included
• StayHear silicon tips increase comfort
• Triport acoustic structure enhances sound

Prices

Brian Jones has had a passion for photography and anything related for the majority of his life. One photography class in high school was all it took to get hooked on everything to do with the subject. He became more focused on learning about camera… See more about Brian

By Brian Jones

The 215 series earbuds from Shure are among the top performers on the list. Bass is one thing Shure had in mind when they were designing these earbuds. The range of sound is great but tends to be a little heavy on the low side, leaving the sound a touch unbalanced. This can be a good or bad thing depending on how much bass you are in search of. Noise isolation is another important thing these earbuds do well. The FitKit included 3 sizes of flex foam so you can find the best sound seal possible. The SE215 earbuds with the mic sell for $149.99.

Quick Specs

• Remote and mic function for iPhone and select iPods
• 3 ear fittings included
• 22Hz – 17.5kHz frequency response
• 107 dB, 20ohms

Prices

Brian Jones has had a passion for photography and anything related for the majority of his life. One photography class in high school was all it took to get hooked on everything to do with the subject. He became more focused on learning about camera… See more about Brian

By Brian Jones

We are constantly on the go in the world of today. It could be on the way to school, work, or some exotic location on the other side of the planet. No matter what the situation, we are going to have our music. Earbuds are a great way to keep your load down while continuing to enjoy your favorite music or videos on the go. We rated 10 pairs of earbuds based on the following criteria:

1. Sound quality
2. Comfort for various spans of time
3. Price vs value
4. Durablity of cords and speaker units
5. Included ear fittings, cases, or mic

Earbuds Buying Guide

Understanding Sound Quality When Buying Earbuds

Earbuds are the ultimate in headphones convenience for travel. They take up virtually no space, are usually light as a feather, are low profile, and can be pretty comfortable. Sound quality ranges from good to bad in earbuds more than any other type of headphone because of the space available to work with. Most of the time sound is not going to be issue. The trade off for convenience is sometimes more valuable anyway. Prices also vary in a big way. You can find a pair of earbuds for five dollars or you can spend hundreds. Options are always a good thing to have when shopping for a new pair of earbuds.

Whether you’re a casual music listener or a sound equipment aficionado, it’s worthwhile to know the finer points of sound quality in order to understand what manufacturers are talking about when they claim their headphones are the best.

Sound perception is different for everybody. The best way to select new headphones is to try them out. How else are you going to know what they are like? Since everyone has different shaped heads and ear canals, they’ll perceive sound differently. This is especially important since earbuds pipe music directly into the ears. Hence, it’s important to try on different headphones not only to see which ones are comfortable to wear, but to get an idea of the range of sound.

Consider the following questions:

• Are the earbuds small enough and light enough for what you plan on using them for?

• Does the sound come out clear with no distortions or muddiness?
• Is the bass clear, powerful, and controlled?
• You don’t want a bass so strong that it overpowers the vocals and lighter sounds.
• Are the high sounds tinny or smooth?

Understanding Other Sound Terms

Frequency: Earbuds capture the complete range of sounds that humans can hear, from 20 Hz to 20,000 Hz. The question is how well they reproduce those frequencies. Any low frequencies below 20 Hz aren’t audible, but you can sometimes feel them.

Sensitivity: Headphones measure their loudness efficiency in terms of decibels per milliwatt of power. You want a high sensitivity number of at least 100 dB if you’re using a portable device. The lower the sensitivity, the harder the headphones have to work to sound as loud as those with high sensitivity.

Impedance: Impedance is measured in ohms and it relates to how much resistance the headphones put on an amplifier. Most earbuds for professional and commercial use have impedance under 100 ohms. The higher the impedance, the more power you’ll need.

Brian Jones has had a passion for photography and anything related for the majority of his life. One photography class in high school was all it took to get hooked on everything to do with the subject. He became more focused on learning about camera… See more about Brian

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