David Carnoy
David Carnoy, executive editor with CNET, a division of CBS that is a leading technology news Web site. He has been reviewing consumer electronics for more than 15 years. www.CNET.com
It isn’t easy to select a pair of headphones or earbuds (a type of headphone worn inside the ear) to use with your portable music player, smartphone, tablet or other device. Spending more doesn’t guarantee higher quality—there are good headphones available for under $10 and bad ones that cost hundreds. Here are my top picks…
Panasonic stands out when it comes to offering quality earbuds and headphones for less than $50.
Panasonic RP-HJE120 have a list price of $10 and sell for less than $6 online, yet their sound quality is on par with earbuds costing $30 (for a savings of $24!).
Panasonic RP-HJE355 ErgoFit offer slightly better bass and sound clarity than the cheaper model above and have a thicker, more durable cord that’s less prone to tangles and breaks. They list for $40 but can be found online for less than $20.
Panasonic RP-HTX7 over-the-ear headphones offer good sound quality and comfort for a reasonable price—they list for $60 but can be found for around $30 online. They cover the ear, which blocks out background noise.
These cost a bit more but provide even better sound quality.
Klipsch Image S4 offer exceptional sound quality and comfort and do a very nice job of blocking outside noise. The S4’s wire is relatively thin, however, which makes them a bit tangle-prone and could increase the odds that the wire will break. They list for $80 but can be found online for less than $40.
Also: Comparable S4a (for Android) and S4i (for Apple) models include an integrated microphone and call-answer button for smartphone use. These list for $100 but can be found online for $50 to $80, depending on the model.
Audio Technica ATH-M50 Professional Studio Monitor headphones offer perhaps the best sound quality that you’ll find for less than $200. These headphones completely cover the ear. They list for $199 but can be found for less than $120 online.
Bose IE2 are for people who like earbuds’ portability but don’t like the feeling of them in their ear canals. The IE2 rests in the bowl of the outer ear. $100.
V-Moda M-100 headphones are a bit of a splurge at $310, but these rugged over-ear headphones give you incredible sound quality and can be folded into a small bundle.
Wireless listening: Outdoor Technology Bluetooth Tags over each ear and connect by a wire that hangs behind the neck, but they connect to your device wirelessly via Bluetooth. Sound quality is decent, not spectacular. They require charging via a computer’s USB port—each charge provides five hours of use. List price is $80, but they can be found online for around $60.
