Headphone Reviews

Earbuds and in-ear headphones are not the same thing. Earbuds rest on the outer concha ridge of the ear and let you hear outside sound. In-ear ’phones rest inside the ear canal and create a tight seal that keeps environmental noise out. They typically sound better than earbuds, especially in the bass department. Here are a few examples.

HiFiMAN RE-600S ($400)
The tiny earpieces in this model produce a big, full-bodied, yet highly transparent sound. Comfort level is high. The RE-600S can be ordered in a special “balanced” configuration to take advantage of the balanced amplifier circuitry used in some portable music players. hifiman.com

Etymotic Research hf5 ($149)
Etymotic is one of the few headphone manufacturers that doesn’t artificially exaggerate the bass, so the hf5 stands in sharp contrast to the legions of bass-heavy and overly bright in-ear ’phones. The two-year warranty doubles what most competitors offer, and isolation from external noise is above par with the right tips. etymotic.com

Beyerdynamic DX 160 iE ($119)
If you crave bass, you’ll love the DX 160 iE, but it’s not bloated or muddy. Definition is excellent, as is the midrange resolution (though I find the treble is a tad soft). beyerdynamic.com