Music lovers know that the earbud-style earphones that come with most MP3 players, smart phones, and portable DVD players are not designed for optimal sound. In a nutshell, they’re cheap and they sound cheap.

To enjoy rich, stereo-quality sound from your portable digital devices, you need to upgrade.

Fortunately, the Altec Lansing UHP336 Snugfit In-ear headphones fit the bill in terms of improved sound quality and a comfortable, secure fit.

Most users rate the comfort and sound quality of the Altec Lansing UHP336 Snugfit in-ear earphones as superb.

And the fit of the double-flanged ear tips provides a seal between the unit and your ear canal. This not only prevents the ear tips from falling out even during strenuous activity, but also provides a pathway for exceptional sound. The earphones protrude from one’s ears enough to make them easy to put on and take off, while always achieving a good seal.

Reviewers rave about the incredibly natural sounding bass, highs, instruments, and vocals. Bass response is described as amazingly rich and full, while mid and high frequencies are crisp and clear. Many are happy to achieve true sound isolation, which isn’t typical of your run-of-the-mill in-ear earphones.

Product Specs:

* Snug Fit design delivers passive noise reduction and high fidelity at lower listening levels

* Silicone tips rest comfortably in-ear

* Neoprene Carry Case

* Gold-plated Plug

* Crisp highs and bass you can feel

Overall, these in-ear earphones are a great earbud upgrade at an outstanding value.

The Deal: Get your Altec Lansing UHP336 Snugfit In-ear headphones at Amazon for just $80.37.

        

Unlike conventional headphones where sound enters your ears from two distinct points, ULTRASONE iCans use S-Logic™ Natural Surround Sound. They distribute sound around the ear to immediately envelope you in a 3D environment.

Directions and distances can be heard and perceived. Low-end bass sounds tight and punchy, high-end trebles are detailed without being too bright and mid-range notes are full and solid.

The iCans are also designed for safer listening, decreasing pressure on the eardrum by around 40 percent. They have MU metal shielding to reduce radiation by up to 98 percent.

The risk of hearing damage is significantly reduced with the ULTRASONE iCans. This makes them ideal for those who use headsets regularly, such as those listening to MP3 players or iPods.

Customers who have purchased the ULTRASONE iCans-Okta surround sound headphones indicate that they are extremely comfortable when worn. Sound accuracy is another benefit of these headsets, with bass, treble, and mid-tones all clear and presented without distortion.

Frequent travelers appreciate the hinged arms that allow them to fold safely for transport, and they come with a stylish metal case to add further protection.

The product features the following technical specs:

- Cord: 115 cm

- Item Weight: 82 g

- S-Logic Natural Surround Sound System

- ULE (Ultra Low Emission) technology using MU metal shielding

- Frequency Range: 20Hz – 20kHz

- Impedance: 35 Ohm

- Sound Pressure: 101 dB

The Deal: Get your ULTRASONE iCans-Okta S-Logic Surround Sound headphones from Amazon for just $107.69.

        

The Motorola S805 is a Bluetooth enabled headset. This means that you can listen to your music and audio files completely wire-free.

It has a built in noise-reducing and wind-resistant microphone, so it can also double as a Bluetooth device to use with your cell phone, allowing you to take calls.

These Bluetooth headphones are ideal for those who have MP3 enabled phones, because they allow the user to both communicate via the phone and also listen to music.

The wireless headphones can also stream music from an iPod or other Bluetooth enabled portable electronic device.

The Motorola S805 is rated well by customers for its battery life. In typical use the headsets handle around 15 hours of use on one battery charge.

The noise canceling headphones have large ear cup earpieces that are quite effective at blocking out ambient sounds, but some feel that this design is a bit too bulky.

For Bluetooth headphones, this model has excellent sound quality with clear bass, but most users do admit that there is some loss in sound quality simply because it is a Bluetooth device.

There is a slight delay in the audio with these headphones, a common problem with Bluetooth headsets, so they are not the best option for viewing videos.

Technical specs:

- Run Time: Up to 20 hours

- Stereo Sound Output Mode

- Stereo Bluetooth Profiles: A2DP, AVRCP

- Bluetooth HF Profiles: HS 1.0, HF 1.2

- Item Weight: 5.5 ounces

- Microphone Operation Mode: Mono

- Speakers: 40 mm diameter Neodymium

The Deal: Buy your Motorola S805 Bluetooth Stereo Headset at Amazon for just $37.24.

        

The iGrado Headphones were designed specifically for portable music players, like the iPod.

These street style headphones are designed to fall in the lower price range without sacrificing sound quality, making them great for the buyer who is on a budget. The lightweight design works well with portable electronics, because these headphones can slip easily into a backpack or purse.

They have a behind-the-neck headband, rather than a traditional over-the-head design. This feature combined with the tight fit make them good for use in active situations, such as when running or working out at the gym. Also, cyclists can put a bike helmet on while wearing these headphones. (You don’t have to worry about your helmet rubbing on a regular headband.)

While the behind-the-neck design does make the iGrado headphones sleek and modern looking, some customers who purchased them found the fit less than perfect. The iGrado headphones are not adjustable, and some customers struggled to get a comfortable fit.

However, the sound quality is considered excellent, with bass being exceptional. The sound does leak out of these headphones, and some customers commented that the music could be clearly heard by those around them, even when listening to music at a low or moderate volume.

Overall, customers felt that as long as the headphones fit them properly, they offered amazing sound quality for the price, far outdoing most earbuds that come with portable electronic devices.

Technical specs for the iGrado Headphones:

- Product Weight: 3 ounces

- Sound Pressure 1mV: 98

- Length of Cord: 40 inches

- Frequency: 20 Hz to 20,000 Hz

- Impedance: 32 Ohms

- Stereo sound output mode

- Response Bandwidth: -19980.0 Hz

The Deal: Get your iGrado headphones from Amazon for just $49.00.

        

Noise-canceling headphones such as this set by Able Planet are great for tuning out distractions and focusing on your music or in-flight entertainment.

Frequent fliers love noise-canceling headphones because they allow you to immerse yourself in entertainment without background noise such as engine noise and other passengers’ conversations etc.

This particular model by Able Planet is getting some excellent reviews from users. Both the audio and the noise-canceling features are excellent.

These are high-end headphones - great for your ipod or computer when on planes, trains or buses, and good enough to use as your main audio headphones for when you get home.

The headset requires two AAA batteries in order to operate with noise canceling.

The noise-canceling feature can be turned off when you need to preserve battery life, or if your batteries have died. Unlike with many other noise-canceling headphones, you can still listen to your audio, without the batteries. Very nice feature.

Technical specs include:

- Patented LINX AUDIOTM technology provides award winning sound quality

- State-of-the-art active noise cancellation (ANC), to reduce undesirable sounds and background noise

- Hard shell protective carrying case with storage area

- Lightweight adjustable headband provides superior fit

- Full-size ear cups with soft cushions swivel for maximum comfort

- In-line volume control enables easy adjustment to safe listening levels

Finally, that hard-shell case is a great bonus for frequently travelers who have mangled headphones in the past by stuffing them into briefcases and carry-on luggage.

The Deal: Get your Able Planet Clear Harmony Active Noise-Canceling Headphones at Amazon for just $217.29.

        

If you are going to be in or close to the water this summer, you’ll want some weatherproof headphones.

Most headphones are described as “water resistant”. In other words, they’ll be OK so long as they just get a little sweaty or get a few drops of rain on them.

Being totally waterproof is something different. With the H2O Audio Surge Waterproof Headphones you can go down as deep at 12 feet in a pool or in the ocean.

(Use them for kayaking as well, in case you fall in.)

Of course, if you are going to be swimming or surfing with these headphones, you’ll need to keep your media player waterproof as well. So when you get the H2O Audio Surge Waterproof Headphones, get the H2O Audio Amphibx Waterproof Armband as well, or an equivalent.

Once the summer is over, you’ll be grateful for both the earphones and armband when you are out running or cycling in the rain.

Best of all, you won’t be compromising on sound quality. People who own these H2O Audio in-ear headphones are generally pleased with the audio quality.

Not everyone raves about the sound, but most owners do. Besides which, whether you’re in the pool or out on a surf board, you probably won’t be stressing too much over the finer points of the audio.

It’s just great to listen to your favorite tunes when you’re out on the water.

The Deal: Get the H2O Audio Surge Waterproof Headphones at Amazon for just $79.99.

        

Clip-on headphones are a great choice for anyone who doesn’t much like earbuds or in-ear headphones.

The Audio Technica ATH-EM7GM earpieces simply clip over your ears. They may not be as small as earbuds, but they are still compact and light enough to fit in your pocket.

The clip-on design has soft rubber support loops and ear hangers, so you can wear them comfortably for extended periods. The earpieces can also be adjusted on a vertical axis for a good custom fit.

In other words, these headphones are well made and can be adjusted to fit your ears just right.

(One or two people who wear glasses have mentioned that they have to fiddle a bit to get the clip-ons over their ears without catching on the arms of their glasses.)

They are solidly built too. Not much plastic here. The earpiece housing is made from milled alloy. It’s light, but tough as well.

Perhaps surprisingly, joggers love these headphones. They really are super-light and, once adjusted, stay firmly in place.

Here are the technical specs:

* Driver Diameter -  28 mm

* Magnet - Neodymium

* Frequency Response - 14 – 24,000 Hz

* Maximum Input Power - 100 mW

* Sensitivity - 109 dB/mW at 1 kHz

* Impedance - 32 ohms

* Weight - 30 g

* Cable - 0.5 m cloth sheath (asymmetrical)

* Connector - 1/8" (3.5 mm) gold-plated

* Accessories included - 1.0 m extension cord, pouch

The price seems to be moving up and down a bit, depending on where you buy. But right now the price at Amazon is outstanding.

The Deal: Buy your Audio Technica ATH-EM7GM clip-on headphones from Amazon from as little as $47.00.

        

Denon may not be a name you come across as often as Sony or Sennheiser, but the company has a long history of invention and quality in the world of audio.

And while the Denon AHD1001K headphones are not the most expensive model they offer, but they do hit the sweet spot when it comes to quality and price.

Here are some of the things users have been saying about the AHD1001K...

* Supremely comfortable, soft in the ear cup, well padded on the headband.

* The sound is extremely clear, the bass is tight and punchy, and the trebles sparkle.

* You'd need to spend double or more to get any significant gain in sound quality.

* I don't think you'll find a better rounded headphone for the price.

The general opinion out there seems to be that these are super-comfortable headphones that deliver very high quality audio.

These are great for use with your hi-fi, computer or iPod. That said, if you want to get the very best from these headphones with your iPod or other mp3 player, you may want to get yourself a small, portable headphones amp.

And now for the technical specs:

* Neodymium magnets

* 40mm Microfiber diaphragms

* Acoustic Optimizer

* High quality OFC cabling

* Input impedance 32 ohms

* Sensitivity 103dB/mW

* Frequency range 8 Hz ~ 37 kHz

* 3.5mm Gold plated aluminum connector with ¼” adapter

* Lightweight frame construction

Finally, although these are described as on-ear headphones - meaning they rest ON the ear and not around it - some users say that they actually fit around their ears. I guess it all depends on the size of your ears.

The Deal: Get the Denon AHD1001K On-Ear Headphones at Amazon for just $149.99.

Do you already own these headphones? If so, please leave a comment and let us know what you think...

        

Isn’t that nice to hear? Imagine, a pair of headphones designed to last for years.

If you dig through enough user reviews, you’ll find people who have owned the Sony MDR-V6 headphones for over ten years, and still love them.

Which kind of makes you wonder whether it’s really worth considering newer headphones at all.

Anyway, here are some of the nice things people have said about their own MDR-V6 headphones.

- Light weight, very comfortable, great sound, folds up, CAW Voice Coil.

- The best sound outside a studio. Frequency response 5-30,000. Terrific sound.

- Best sounding headphones out of the 20+ pairs I've owned.

- I have owned these headphones for over 10 years. They have a clean, balanced sound, comfortable feel, and exceptional price for the quality.

- Strong Bass, Crisp sound, comfortable feel, carrying case included, all metal inputs.... it sounds AWESOME!!!

If you want a great pair of audio headphones for a reasonable price, and you want them to last a long, long time, the Sony MDR-V6 headphones are an unbeatable classic.

The Deal: Buy your Sony MDR-V6 Monitor Series Headphones at Amazon for just $71.78.

Do you already own these headphones? If you do, please leave a comment and let us know what you think...

        

The Klipsch Image S4 is getting rave reviews from both ends. That is to say, professional reviewers and regular music lovers are giving these headphones from Klipsch a serious thumbs up.

These are the most reasonably priced of the Klipsch headphones, but it seems they include many of the same features you get with their more expensive models.

The Image S4 are less skinny than the more expensive Klipsch in-ear headphone, the Image X5. The S4 casings are larger because they contain dual-magnet micro-speakers.

By giving these micro-speakers larger diaphragms, the S4 headphones deliver more output as well as musical accuracy and bass response.

Here are some technical specs for the Image S4:

* Frequency response 10Hz – 19KHz

* Sensitivity 110db SPL/mW

* Nominal impedance 1-ohm

* Input connections 3.5mm

In addition to the quality of the sound, these headphones are also super-comfortable. This is, in large part, because the ear gels are oval-shaped instead of round.

It seems that the designers at Klipsch have been the first to figure out what the rest of us already know - the entrance to our ear canals are not round at all, they are oval.

It’s the close fit of the ear gels that contributes to the great sound quality, and also provides the sound-isolation.

All in all, these are excellent in-ear headphones and an amazing deal for the price.

The Deal: Get these Klipsch Image S4 in-ear noise-isolating headphones from Amazon for just $79.99.

Do you already own these headphones? If you do, please leave a comment and let us know what you think...