# Decent cheap earbuds **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [September 11, 2008, 2:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/decent-cheap-earbuds/463058 "2008-09-11T02:26:41Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 10\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![thelurkinghorror](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/7c8e57/32.png) [@thelurkinghorror](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/thelurkinghorror)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2008, 2:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/decent-cheap-earbuds/463058/1 "2008-09-11T02:26:41Z")
My ipod headphones have given up the ghost on the left side, and so I’m in the market for a new pair of earbuds. While the ipod branded ones served me fine, and actually lasted way longer than I would have expected them to. I’m not going to buy new ones just to pay a premium for the white color, and the sound quality through them is passable but not great. I am looking for earbuds that are cheap; definitely in the double digits, preferably under $50. Decent sound quality would be nice, as well as comfortable and not painful in the ear canal if I am lying on my side in bed. Does anyone have any particular recommendations? There was a previous thread not too long ago, but we can’t search now. I also don’t believe that person was as concerned about price, as someone recommended $400 Shure earbuds, which is a bit much for me. ---
**Author:** ![rinni](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/f6c823/32.png) [@rinni](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rinni)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2008, 2:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/decent-cheap-earbuds/463058/2 "2008-09-11T02:41:35Z")
I like the JVC “Marshmallow” headphones. They were about $25, sound good to me (I like them more than the iPod headphones), and they are made of mushy foam so they fit in your ears without falling out. Downsides are that the mushy foam stuff can get dirty looking and that they block out sound so effectively that you can’t even hear things with them off. These things don’t bother me, but in the interest of full disclosure I figured I’d mention them. Here’s a link that shows them - [http://www.jvc.com/press/index.jsp?item=531&pageID=1&image=true](http://www.jvc.com/press/index.jsp?item=531&pageID=1&image=true) ---
**Author:** ![Brunhilda](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/cdc98d/32.png) [@Brunhilda](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Brunhilda)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2008, 3:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/decent-cheap-earbuds/463058/3 "2008-09-11T03:34:31Z")
Try [skullcandy](http://www.skullcandy.com) headphones. They, like the JVC Marshmallows, have an ability to block out background noise, but don’t look as dirty because it is silicone rather than foam. You should avoid the cheap maxell earbuds. Those things blow chunks. ---
**Author:** ![thelurkinghorror](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/7c8e57/32.png) [@thelurkinghorror](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/thelurkinghorror)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2008, 2:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/decent-cheap-earbuds/463058/4 "2008-09-12T02:04:45Z")
Oh yeah, I had what might have been Maxell or some similar brand I got and they barely lasted two months before the plastic started coming off of the wires. ---
**Author:** ![Brown\_Eyed\_Girl](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/brown_eyed_girl/32/3574_2.png) [@Brown\_Eyed\_Girl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Brown_Eyed_Girl)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2008, 12:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/decent-cheap-earbuds/463058/5 "2008-09-12T12:24:36Z")
Another vote for skullcandy headbuds. I’ve also discovered that the wires have the peculiar feature of being very easy to untangle when you pull them out of your purse or pocket. ---
**Author:** ![Hampshire](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hampshire/32/4887_2.png) [@Hampshire](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hampshire)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2008, 1:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/decent-cheap-earbuds/463058/6 "2008-09-12T13:53:43Z")
For a decent price and a far superior product to the apple supplied earbuds you really can’t go wrong with a set of Sonys. They have a variety of price points to choose from. Main differences would be their frequency response range. ---
**Author:** ![KarmaComa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/e36b37/32.png) [@KarmaComa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KarmaComa)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2008, 1:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/decent-cheap-earbuds/463058/7 "2008-09-12T13:59:05Z")
I recently got a pair of JVC in-ear headphones (HA-F66-B) on sale for $25 from $40. They’re not amazing by any enthusiast’s standard but I looove my music and they’re good enough for me. Comfiest set of in-ears I’ve ever had, too, but I doubt the cable is going to survive two years of beating from me. ---
**Author:** ![Boyo\_Jim](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/87869e/32.png) [@Boyo\_Jim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Boyo_Jim)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2008, 2:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/decent-cheap-earbuds/463058/8 "2008-09-12T14:04:32Z")
> [@Hampshire](#): > > For a decent price and a far superior product to the apple supplied earbuds you really can’t go wrong with a set of Sonys. > They have a variety of price points to choose from. Main differences would be their frequency response range. I agree. I was very happy with [these](http://www.sonystyle.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay?catalogId=10551&storeId=10151&langId=-1&productId=8198552921665376489) (39.95) until I lost them. Then I upgraded a bit to [these](http://www.sonystyle.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay?catalogId=10551&storeId=10151&langId=-1&productId=8198552921665376457) (49.95). I found the sound to be noticeably richer, and they are considerably more comfortable to wear. ---
**Author:** ![Zebra](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/c0e974/32.png) [@Zebra](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zebra)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2008, 2:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/decent-cheap-earbuds/463058/9 "2008-09-12T14:08:08Z")
> [@Boyo\_Jim](#): > > I agree. I was very happy with [these](http://www.sonystyle.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay?catalogId=10551&storeId=10151&langId=-1&productId=8198552921665376489) (39.95) until I lost them. > > Then I upgraded a bit to [these](http://www.sonystyle.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay?catalogId=10551&storeId=10151&langId=-1&productId=8198552921665376457) (49.95). I found the sound to be noticeably richer, and they are considerably more comfortable to wear. I have some Sony headphones that were $15 and I love them much more than the standard iPod phones. These have a little bass boost in them. The only downside is that the cord is way too long. ---
**Author:** ![Thudlow\_Boink](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thudlow_boink/32/320_2.png) [@Thudlow\_Boink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thudlow_Boink)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2008, 4:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/decent-cheap-earbuds/463058/10 "2008-09-12T16:50:55Z")
[These](http://www.amazon.com/Koss-Plug-Portable-Headphones-colors/dp/B00001P4XA/ref=pd_bbs_2?ie=UTF8&s=electronics&qid=1221237930&sr=8-2) are what I have. I don’t know how the sound quality compares with others out there, but they’re cheap and they stay in my ears really well.