Low-end, in-ear headphones almost always disappoint. For some people, they are OK. But if you really want to hear the music -- the highs, lows and everything in between -- they don’t cut it.

The next step, usually, is to dig deep and pay big money for some high-end earphones. That’s Ok, if you have the money.

And as we all know, in-ear headphones tend to have a shorter lifespan than their full-size counterparts.

Enter the MAXIMO iM-590.

The sound quality is remarkable for the price point.

Here is what some buys have been saying.

"I've had many IEM's including triple driver customs and for the price, these beat out everything below $150.00."

"These just rock. They are comfortable, cool-looking, great-sounding, inexpensive, accessory-packed. Plus they have some features you won’t find in many places such as a cloth cord and an excellent clip."

"Sound quality is head over shoulders better than anything else in the price range, and at these prices, it's not a total loss if you lose them."

And here is what you get.

* Lightweight alloy metal earphones with enhanced definition audio.

* Proprietary eartip design provides optimal noise isolation and extended comfort.

* High-quality knit cables with metal connectors.

* Includes deluxe carrying case, 2.5mm plug adapter, airline dual-plug adapter, 4 sizes of eartips, 2-ft extension cable, and shirt clip.

Whether you are buying these for yourself, or as a gift for someone else, they won’t disappoint.

This is the truly the sweet spot – between quality, and a reasonable price.

Buy the MAXIMO iM-590 Enhanced Definition Isolation Earphones at Amazon for just $44.86.

If you know headphones, you know that Shure has been launching increasingly amazing in-ear earphones for some time now.

The Shure SE535-V model is the best yet. And yes, it costs more than your average earphone.

But then, how many other in-ear headphones can claim to include Triple High-Definition MicroDrivers, which means that each earpiece one has a dedicated tweeter and dual woofers.

Another great feature is that the cables are replaceable. So if they get tangled and broken, you can just get new cables, and not have to replace the earphones.

Here is a typical mix of what people are saying about the Shure SE535-V.

“The SE 535s are fantastic! By far the best monitors I've ever owned. I had doubts about paying hundreds of dollars for the 535s but now that I have them it was worth it!”

“I moved up to the Shure SE535V earphones from the Shure SE210s, which are very good. The improvement in sound reproduction is quite remarkable.”

“The Shure SE535 is my first pair of premium earphones. I love them! I listen to all kinds of music, but mostly rock and these earphones have shown me a new dimension in most of my favorite songs.”

And here is what you get for your money.

* Accessories: fit kit (S,L Black foam/S,M,L soft flex, 1 pair yellow foam, 1 pair triple flange) med black foam on product.

* Hard zip case, 1/4" adapter, airline adapter, volume control, nozzle cleaning tool.

* Speaker Type: Triple High-Definition MicroDrivers.

* Available in clear or metallic bronze.

* Formable wire ensures secure placement over the ear.

These are a great choice, whether for yourself as a gift – but only if you love great sound, and have the money to spend.

Buy the Shure SE535-V Triple High-Definition MicroDriver Earphones at Amazon.com for just $499.99.

Denon AHD2000 headphones are for the serious audiophile, with hi-fi equipment to match.

In other words, if you want to close your eyes and feel like the musicians are playing right there in the same room, these are the headphones for you.

They are not the most expensive headphones you can buy, but nor are they inexpensive.

Denon AHD2000 headphones have a particularly good reputation, with a sound quality which many feel is equal to the company’s own, more expensive models.

The high quality sound is due to a couple of technical advances.

First, microfiber material has been used to form the diaphragm, so that it faithfully reproduces the sonic details and delicate reverberations that occur in concert halls. The size of Microfiber is approximately 1/100 of natural cellulose used in ordinary diaphragms.

Second, optimum acoustic characteristics are achieved by adjusting the sound pressure balance in front of and behind the diaphragm, with Denon’s Acoustic Optimizer design.

The bottom line? The sound is magnificent, from highs to lows and everything in between.

And yes, if you really want to use them with your iPod, you can. But you’ll have to turn the volume up.

Save over $100 on their regular price by buying the Denon AHD2000 at Amazon for just $215.62.(Price may change without notice.)

At this price, these Skullcandy in-ear headphones are a pretty good deal.

No, they are not the best headphones on the market. But they certainly give you a better quality of sound than the free earbuds that came with your player or smart phone.

A lot people buy them because they know they give their earbuds some serious punishment. And when you have a pretty good idea you’re going to kill them within 6 months, you’re better off spending $12 rather than $100.

Here’s what buyers have been saying about the Skullcandy INK'd Earbuds.

“I have a difficult time finding silicon caps that will stay in my ear so I usually stick to foam, but these headphones came with three different sizes of caps and the smallest size fits and stays in without a problem.”

“They are not cheaply made ear-buds, despite their low price. The wires are nice and solid, and feel very well made - not flimsy or plastic-y. The silicone gels (tips that go in your ear) are very soft and pliable, and even have the Skullcandy logo engraved on them. Nice touch.”

“I listen to a variety of music genres through these things, and I can safely say that the sound quality is great across the spectrum. Anything from the highs and mids from classical to the deep undulating bass from dub-step can be heard clearly. They might not hold in a battle against some $100+ buds, but for this price they are awesome.”

“Skullcandy Ink'd are firmly in the lowest pricing tier for headphones. They look awesome, but obviously the sound quality is not going to be as good as it is with a $100 set of ear buds or headphones. However, the sound they put out is solid, reasonable quality, enough to satisfy your regular old music listener.”

For the technically minded, here are the specs, such as they are:

* Speaker diameter: 11mm

* Magnet type NdFeB

* Frequency response 20-20K Hz, impedance: 16 ohms

* Cable Type: TPE, nylon braided

* 3.5mm gold plated

Buy the Skullcandy INK'd Earbuds at Amazon for just $12.24.

There are two distinct categories here.

First, there are the Bluetooth headsets which are generally attached to one ear and are primarily used for making and receiving phone calls – although many can be used for listening to music as well.

Second, there are traditional headphones used for gaming and listening to music, but which use Bluetooth technology to avoid the hassle of a wired connection.

This guide will focus primarily on the first group.

Bluetooth headsets have been around for a while now. Your first encounter with them was probably seeing someone apparently talking to himself in a mall, at an airport or lining up for a movie.

With a Bluetooth headset you can keep your phone in your pocket or purse, and still make and receive calls through your headset.

For the people around you, it might just appear odd. For you it can be a major productivity boost, allowing you to make calls and listen to music hands-free.

There are a few factors to consider when choosing a Bluetooth headset.

1. Consider sound quality and noise-reduction.

Unless you want to struggle with hearing or being heard while on the phone, it’s important that you choose a headset with good audio quality. This is particularly true if you are going to be making calls in public places, or even outside on a windy day.

As an example, consider the Jawbone Prime. The Jawbone's Voice Activity Sensor (VAS) enables the headset to identify the sound of your voice, while filtering out all the other sounds around you. It’s pretty incredible technology and works really well.

Other headsets, like the Plantronics Discovery 975, have wind-noise resistance that make them particularly helpful with wind noise, and the Motorola HX1 claims to block out ambient sound altogether.

2. Design and comfort.

While you will want a headset that looks good, your first consideration should probably be to make sure it is comfortable. This is particularly true if you plan on wearing it for hours at a time.

There are two main design styles – with over-the-ear loop support and the earbud style.

While Bluetooth headsets which just push into your ear canal are usually lighter and less obtrusive, not everyone is comfortable having a foreign object stuck in their ear for long periods of time.

The alternative is to get a headset with an over-the-ear support. Much more secure, even if a little heavier and bulkier.

Also, when you consider the size of your headset, keep in mind that apart from those headsets which support voice commands, there are some buttons to push. The smaller the headset, the trickier it is to find the right button at the exact moment you need it.

3. Don’t forget the features and functionality.

If you want to use a single headset with more than one device, make sure the one you choose includes multipoint technology. And if you want to listen to music, either get yourself a stereo headset, or a mono headset that that is compatible with A2DP (Advanced Audio Distribution Profile), like the Jabra Stone.

If you want a headset that responds to speech commands, consider the BlueAnt Q1.

4. Price -- Pay for the quality and features you want.

As with most electronics, you pretty much get what you pay for. You can pick up a Bluetooth headset at your local pharmacy for as little at $30. But if you want quality, and some of the more advanced features available, be prepared to pay up somewhere between $75 and $100.

Whether for yourself, or someone you love, these noise-canceling headphones would make the perfect gift this holiday.

They are not cheap, but they are the best of the best.

Bose has been at the forefront of noise-canceling technology from the start. Of course, they also have a lot of imitators.

You can buy noise-canceling headphones from a number of manufacturers now. How does Bose stay in the game? They keep innovating and staying one step ahead of the competition. The QuietComfort 15 headphones are a case in point. They not only leapfrog all the competitors out there, but also Bose’s own range of models.

Put simply, the QuietComfort 15 headphones are the best there are, cutting out ambient noise far more effectively than any of the alternatives.

As with all noise-canceling headphones, they do the best job at blocking noise at the lower end of the spectrum. In other words, they will cut back the noise of an airplane engine or train to almost zero, but won’t do quite as well with the sound of a baby screaming.

The only complaint about these headphones, from a small number of buyers, is the feeling of pressure they create on your eardrum when flying. But don’t worry, as with all Bose headphones, you get a 30-day trial period. If you don’t like them, just send them back.

Here’s what you get in the box:

* QuietComfort 15 headphones

* Detachable audio cable

* AAA battery

* Airline adapter

* Carrying case

Get your QuietComfort 15 headphones from Amazon for just $299.95.

These are not inexpensive headphones. So if you are looking for something modest, keep scrolling down the page.

But if you truly love your music, and wish headphones could deliver the kind of clarity you get from your home speaker system, keep reading.

How good are the Grado Prestige Series SR325is Headphones?

Here is what one professional reviewer wrote:

“I've been listening to these headphones for a few weeks now for at least a couple of hours a day, and I can safely tell you that they are, by a distance the best value item of hi-fi equipment I have ever bought, borrowed or built. These headphones are so good that even connected to a humble MP3 player they sound almost as good as my four grand hi-fi set-up. That's something I'm still having trouble coming to terms with.”

Maybe this isn’t the kind of expense you can afford too often. But hey, holiday season is coming and maybe it’s worth treating yourself.

You are unlikely to find the Grado Prestige Series SR325is Headphones in your local electronics store, but you might find them at a specialty hi-fi store.

Or you can buy them at Amazon.com for $295.

The Sennheiser 810 is perfect for watching TV when you want to watch alone, without disturbing others.

It’s also great for when you are not watching alone, but one of you wants or needs a different volume level.

These are not designed for listening to music or game playing. But for watching TV they are perfect, and have received a big thumbs up even from people who are hard of hearing and generally have trouble hearing the sound from their TV sets.

There are two parts to the system. You plug the transmitter into the headphone socket on your TV, and then wear the “stethoset”. They don’t call these headphones. They call them a stethoset because they hang from your ears like the earpieces of a stethoscope.

The transmitter and the stethoset communicate by infrared, so there are no wires to tangle or trip over.

When you are not watching TV, simple set the stethoset into its recharging cradle, so you’ll be ready for next time.

If you want to watch TV without disturbing others around you, or if you need a different volume level, these are a great buy.

They’re not inexpensive, but they do the job they were design to do really, really well,

The Deal: Get your Sennheiser 810 Personal Infrared TV Listening System from Amazon for $343.99.

You’re not going to get an outstanding pair of headphones for under $20. But you can get a pair that are a whole lot better than the earbuds which came included with your MP3 player or phone.

The JVC Marshmallow Headphones are pretty much exactly as you would expect. The earpieces come in one size, but are one-size-fits-all, because they are made from memory foam (the marshmallowy stuff) and make for a snug fit, whatever the size of your ear canal.

Regardless of the price, the soft earpieces are a good idea. Although more expensive in-ear headphones come with sleeves in several sizes, they are often quite hard, and harsh on the skin inside your ear canal.

As for the sound quality, don’t expect the moon from these headphones. But they are plenty good enough for casual listening with your portable player.

You can see them in red in the photo above, but they also come in four other colors, all of them quite bright.

Bottom line? They are very comfortable and the sound is better than you get with the freebie earbuds that come with players and phones.

But they are under $20, so don’t expect amazing highs and lows in the sound quality.

The Deal: Get your JVC Marshmallow Headphones from Amazon for just 6.70.

Aesthetically pleasing, the Koss KSC22 wired sport headphones have a terrific price that matches their sleek design, making them a must-have for athletic types who want to listen to music as they exercise.

With a one-of-a-kind Sportclip design that slips easily and snuggly over the ears, the Koss KSC22 headphones are lightweight, comfortable and not prone to slipping off. Best of all, they do deliver the goods in regards to sound quality for their price range.

Another positive aspect of these sport headphones is that they have a noise filter that eradicates street and commute ambiance when wearing them outdoors. They are also compact and fit easily into a purse or carrying case.

The only real complaint is that those expecting the kind of sound you get with more expensive sport headphones will be disappointed. Customers who loved the comfort were willing to waive sound quality for their easy wearability.

Others may find that they are giving up too much, as there is degradation in sound the higher the volume goes. Some consumers even noted static and a mid range tinny sound that could be aggravating.

In regards to Koss KSCC22 sport headphones, the appeal could very well be their comfort, portability, affordability and decent audio quality.

Technical specs:

-Product dimensions: 4 x 8 x 1 inches

-Product weight: 0.12 lbs

-Frequency response: 60-20,000 Hz

-Connector: 3.5 L Plug

-Sound output: Stereo

- Impedance: 16 Ohm

The Deal: Get your Koss KSC22 Sportclip Headphones from Amazon for just $39.95.