Headphone Reviews

Earbuds rest on the outer concha ridge of the ear and let you hear outside sound. They are not the same as in-ear ’phones, which rest inside the ear canal and create a tight seal that keeps environmental noise out. Here are a couple examples.

Apple EarPods ($29)
The popular consensus is that EarPods sound a lot better than the older Apple earbuds, but let’s not get carried away: They’re not a great-sounding set of ’phones, when compared against similarly priced in-ears. Judged as entry-level buds, though, the Pods are decent enough. apple.com

Phiaton PS 210 i ($99)
The PS 210 i is halfway between an in-ear and an earbud design, with tips that protrude a little more into the ear than buds do. The sound is very detailed, clear, and immediate, and it’s less pinned to my ear and a bit more spacious than that of most in-ear designs. phiaton.com