Best In-Ear Headphones under $150
In-Ear headphones provide a different level of comfort because they aren’t bulky, resting on or over your ears like most headphone models. One of the best features of in-ear headphones are their ability to be ultra portable yet still provide incredible sound quality. This article will take a look at some of the best in-ear headphones under $150.
In-Ear Headphones: The Important Factors
In-Ear headphones fall under a lot of names: in-ear monitors, IEM’s, ear buds; whatever you call them, you’re probably reading this because you don’t want the bulkiness of over-the-ear models because you need them to be portable.
Another crowd of you may also already know about the sound fidelity of IEM’s because of how close you’re placing the audio to your ears – they are, after all, inside your ears.
Here are a few things to consider when buying in-ear headphones:
Comfort – Some IEM’s use plastic for their form which can be very uncomfortable over long periods of time. I recommend that you find a pair that is either rubberized, foam or some kind of flexible synthetic material so you don’t get that dreaded itchiness from having them in your ears for hours on end.
Seal – To get the most amount of bass, you need to make sure that the in-ear headphones have a tight seal when they sit inside your ear canal; this reduces air escaping and puts that bass right to your ear drum – you can certainly tell the difference when you find a great pair that perfectly fits your ear.
Price – Price is always a factor and the reason for this post. The most common earbuds are the ones you’d find with Apple products (iPods, etc) but these are rather low end but hey, they’re free. On the steep side, you could pay hundreds of dollars for IEM’s if you’re an audiophile. I say, for the average person, a good mid-range model is more than enough and won’t break your budget.
Sound Quality – Like any music gear, always look at what the earbuds bring to the table. Check the dynamic range, frequencies and stats so you know you’re getting great sound and it’s not intentionally clipping your music or cutting out the low end.
Overall, the design, comfort ability, price and sound quality of in-ear headphones have been on the rise over the last few years because of portable MP3 players like the iPod – this is a good thing for all of us. Even though you may not use them on the go, in-ear headphones are an excellent selection if you do not want something heavy sitting on your head like over-the-ear headphones.
Now let’s look at some of the in-ear headphones I would recommend under $150 …
The Best In-Ear Headphones
Sennheiser CX 500-BPrice: $24 – $33
See the Sennheiser CX 500-B Reviews
Bose IE2
Price: $58 – $100
Klipsch IMAGE S4-WH
Price: $61 – $80
See the Klipsch IMAGE S4-WH Reviews
Sennheiser CX 880
Price: $77 – $110
See the Sennheiser CX 880 Reviews
Monster Turbine
Price: $60 – $95
See the Monster Turbine Reviews
Sennheiser IE6
Price: $110 – $250
See the Sennheiser IE6 Reviews
Shure SE215-K
Price: $100 – $200
Bose TriPort
Price: $57 – $60
Sony MDREX310LP
Price: $50 – $80
See the Sony MDREX310LP Reviews
Logitech Ultimate Ears 600
Price: $74 – $80
See the Logitech Ultimate Ears 600 Reviews
Beats by Dr. Dre (IEMs)
Price: $49 – $150
See the Beats by Dr. Dre Reviews
Optional Headphone Accessories
Before you go, I wanted to also make a suggestion of getting a headphone amp. Headphone amps are just like you expect, they amplify the sound much like you’d do through studio and PA speakers. These are great additions to get even more value out of your headphones because it truly picks up on your ability to get involved with the music – I have an amp and I’m able to hear a whole different level of small details in the music that I didn’t know was there.
Headphone amps are generally inexpensive and require you to take up a bit of extra space; you probably won’t be carrying these around but they are great for those that are really into their music.
Here are some of my suggestions for headphone amps:
- Behringer HA400 :: Price: $40
- FiiO E5 :: Price: $18
- Pyle-Pro PHA40 :: Price: $20
These are great little starters but don’t forget that they do go higher end if you’re looking for even more sound quality – you could end up spending $200 on a headphone amp at some point which may be totally worth it – give em a shot.
Final Thoughts
I think in-ear headphones can be a great addition to your music listening equipment. The cheap earbuds you find at most big box stores are fairly basic, you’re missing out on a lot of your music and you’re sacrificing a lot of comfortability.
If you have trouble, take a look at this guide to choosing headphones which should dig a bit deeper into some of the things worth considering when picking up a pair.
Other than that, I hope you enjoyed the post and hope you find what you’re looking for!
