Best Earbuds-Buyers Guide To Finding The Deals On Earbuds, Earphones And Headphones

by Jeff on November 11, 2009

Finding the best earphones in your price range can be difficult. If you have decided to acquire a set of earphones, you probably already know there are literally hundreds of models available. The number of earbud and earphone products on the market is huge and new models are constantly being added. On one hand this is great for the consumer, but it can make it difficult to make an informed decision. The purpose of this guide is to provide an overview of the types of earphones available, describe some of the features that are commonly offered and distill some of the confusing terminology that one encounters in reading product literature.

There is an extremely wide range of prices when it comes to earbuds and earphones. Replacement earbuds are sometimes available for less than five dollars, while audiophile phones can cost several hundreds of dollars. A huge investment is not necessary to realize an improvement over the default phones that come with portable music players; spending as little as $12 can often result in a better listening experience.

There are times when purchasing a set of cheap phones makes perfect sense. Inexpensive phones are really the best earbuds for children. Children have a tendency to be careless and break things. Inexpensive earphones are great for kids; they can be considered disposable and if they are lost or break little is lost. I caution against purchasing a $3 pair because the build quality in this price range is suspect, and usually will not operate for more than a few days without breaking. In my opinion about $10 is the minimum necessary to acquire a serviceable set of phones. The best way to determine the toughness of a particular set is to read the reviews of owners at a website devoted to offering earbud information and reviews.

If you are looking for a set of earphones to use during exercise, there are a few unique requirements to consider. Many people in a gym environment like the freedom that a set of wireless or bluetooth headphones offer. The freedom from having to deal with wires is certainly appealing. The downside to going wireless is that the cordless format adds a layer of complexity to the music system. Instead of directly piping the music to your earphones through wires, the signal has to be transmitted from the source (usually a portable player such as an iPod), and this signal has to be picked up via a receiver integrated into your phones. There are limitations regarding the distances and obstructions this type of system has to overcome.


A third option and one I happen to prefer, is to use a micro-player such as an iPod Shuffle, along with a earbud set that will accommodate the player. Since these players weigh only a few ounces, the additional weight is hardly noticeable, and there are no wires to limit your exercise activity.

For iPhone use, you will obviously need to restrict your search to those phones with a microphone included. In many cases there will be two versions of an earbud design-one without a microphone and one with. In most cases the model number is the same except a suffix letter such as “M” is added to the models with a microphone included.


For many, the primary purpose intended for their headphones is for listening to music, with perhaps occasional use in the phone mode. If telephone use is heavily anticipated, be concerned with such issues as microphone clarity, microphone volume adjustments, and ease of initializing and terminating calls.

For those looking for headphones for the primary purpose of deriving maximum enjoyment of listening to music, in my opinion, there are two primary considerations. The most obvious attribute is that the earphones should reproduce the music in a manner that is pleasing and non-fatiguing to the listener. Needless this is a very subjective, and is subject to personal opinion. For example, some listeners are concerned with the base frequencies, so they should look for a set that is known for strong base reproduction. Of course the audiophile purist is looking for accurate reproduction across the entire audio frequency range.

The second primary objective is to find a set of earphones that are comfortable . No matter how well a set of headphones perform at sound reproduction, it is all for naught if they are uncomfortable to wear. Most of the moderate and high-end earphones will include several sizes of earbud tips in order to offer a personalized fit for the user. Since a good seal between the bud tips and ear canal is necessary for proper sound, a tight fit is required. Tips that are too tight present an uncomfortable sensation to the listener. This is where learning from the collective experience of present owners will aid in evaluating the comfort part of the equation.


The process of finding just the right earbuds can be a difficult task. The selection process can be simplified by first considering a few primary factors. The first step and probably the easiest is to determine your budget limit. Personally, I feel the range between $15 and $80 offers many options with enough choices to satisfy most buyers. The next step is to determine the primary activity or type of use you anticipate. And finally look for a set that has a good track record for durability, audio quality and comfort.

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