If you’ve only listened to your portable media player (e.g. iPhone or iPod) with the stock earbuds, you don’t know what you’re missing. There is untapped audio performance lurking within that little device that those cheap white earbuds simply cannot deliver to your ears. You don’t have to break the bank to replace them with quality “in-ear” ‘phones that will give you pure audio bliss – for less than $100.
You might want to know; How are “in-ear” phones different than earbuds, like the pair that came with your new iPhone? They’re mainly different in that they form a closed seal within your ear canal rather than resting loosely at the opening. This gives you a distinct advantage over earbuds in that it isolates unwanted, outside environmental noise – in some cases this means up to 35 dB of passive noise reduction is achieved. That’s a good thing, because with a much lower noise floor, you will hear more of the music at a lower volume setting. If you’re keeping score, that’s a win for your iPhone battery, a win for your peace of mind, and most importantly, a win for your long-term hearing health. One downside is that there might be an initial adjustment period for first time users. The in-ear phones may feel a bit uncomfortable at first and they won’t sound “right” until you find the correct seal in your own ears. Once you do, you’ll be rewarded with that “ahhh… moment” and then you’ll be hooked.
Personally, I like in-ear type earphones because they reward me with a high level of musical intimacy – with very little weight and expense. That is to say, they allow me hear inner details of recorded music on the go, that is hard to achieve otherwise without the use of my much more expensive and highly resolving home hifi stereo system. So, for very little relative cost, you get an entry into the audiophile world.
The under $100 pricepoint is a sweet spot for in-ear phones and this market segment is fairly crowded with quality offerings from a number of different manufacturers. That means you have wide range of options that will give you a whole lot of bang for your buck. Here is a short list of in-ear phones that make you stop and LISTEN like you’ve never listened to your portable music player before:
thinksound ts02 MSRP: $79.99, but can be found online for as low as $72.00. Here’s a review by Stereophile Magazine’s Stephen Mejias.
