Why it's best: The Klipsch Image S4 headphones are an excellent value, delivering extremely impressive performance for an affordable price. These headphones sound exceptional, providing clear and precise sound at both the high treble and low bass ends. They easily compete with headphones that cost two or three times the price, making them a terrific bargain. They're very comfortable and fit most ears perfectly while isolating external ambient noise for even more clarity. The only design flaw is the thin flimsy cable which has been known to split in half, however proper storage in the included case and proper maintenance should prevent too much damage. If that's not enough, a two-year warranty and a cleaning tool are both included. These really are the best value earphones available and come highly recommended for their superb sound quality. See more reviews, photos, prices, and specs
Why it's a best pick: The Shure SE535 earphones, an upgrade to the highly-acclaimed SE530s, combine terrific sound quality with excellent noise isolation and a comfortable fit. Compared to the SE530s, these headphones feature a wider soundstage and clearer treble; the actual headphones themselves are also smaller and much more durable. The sound is likened to live performance music, with very clear separation of ranges (likely due to having 2 low- and 1 high-range driver per ear), which avoids the 'manufactured' sound of studio-type audio. Multiple rubber sleeves allow for a perfect fit to your ear with excellent sound isolation, even at moderate volumes, and helps block outside noise while on a subway, plane, or any other noisy environment. The over-the-ear design is very comfortable in extended use, with bendable cable for a few inches on each ear to help maintain the shape you choose.
One of the most talked about advantages of the SE535s are their new cable, which is thick, durable, and uses a swivel connector to connect to the drivers. This provides the ability to replace the cable if anything should happen to it, or the ability to use the heavy-duty cable with different drivers. The only complaint with the SE535s is price – the older 530s are currently on blowout sales, so the price is much more reasonable, but supplies on those will eventually run out. Overall, the Shure SE535s are an excellent set of headphones with nearly unparalleled audio quality in the price range. See more reviews, photos, prices, and specs
Why it's a best pick: The ER-6i's are a great pair of headphones designed to deliver the sound quality found on higher-end models at a lower price. Sound is exquisite with balance and clarity throughout. The ER-6i's deliver deep and detailed accurate bass, though fans of bass-heavy music may be pressed to try another pair. They're extremely comfortable and come with foam and rubber heads for a perfect fit and excellent sound isolation – so good that you could even use these headphones as earplugs. In addition, they come with goodies like a pouch, a shirt clip and a filter changing tool kit. Overall, the ER-6i in-ear headphones are an excellent choice for anyone looking for a great pair of headphones for a great price. See more reviews, photos, prices, and specs
Why it's a best pick: These affordable earbud headphones from Sennheiser sound great for the price and do an excellent job blocking outside noise. Mids and highs are very clear, and the bass is better than you might expect. Three ear adapters are included to ensure a perfect fit that will block out excess noise and the design is very lightweight to ensure comfort. The Sennheiser CX-300 earphones are great for any student, traveler, commuter, or casual listener on a budget. See more reviews, photos, prices, and specs
Why it's a best pick: These affordable in-ear headphones sound excellent with clear and detailed highs, rich vocals, and deep, natural bass. You'll need to properly break them in for them to sound their best, but once you do, you'll be rewarded with great clarity throughout the entire range. The Altec Lansing UHP336s are well-made and very durable, so they'll be able to stand up to daily use. While they might not fit all ears, they do manage to fit most comfortably and securely, providing a decent amount of noise isolation. Overall, the UHP336s are an excellent choice for anyone seeking an affordable pair of in-ear headphones that pack a lot of bang for the buck. See more reviews, photos, prices, and specs
Future sonics Atrio Earbuds are AMAZING as well. I own the shure SE530 and the Shure SE210 and the Atrio are by far the best for, noise cancelation,sound quality, and bass boost