These are not high-end headphones with big drivers and fluffy cushions; the Vibrato are earbuds, but they offer a greatly improved performance and fit over the garden variety earbud. For the size and fit they provide good sound reproduction, a handy phone function and a low profile look. If you like using ear buds, these are a very good option.

At Appletell, we’ve suggested numerous times that you upgrade beyond the horrible headphones that came with your iDevice. Trouble is, we’re often recommending headphones that cost $200 and up. That’s not always a viable option, so I was happy to discover you can get the audio improvement you need out of SOL Republic’s $100 Tracks headphones without sacrificing the functionality of iDevice control.

My experience with Bluetooth audio has been limited to ear pieces that give you sound in tinny mono, adequate for phone calls in the car but not much else. So, when I hooked up the BT-860 headphones, I was amazed by the stereo sound quality: rich sound, good bass, and the ability to watch video with few or no sync problems. The headphones, which also work as a headset for phone calls, are stylish and comfortable, and give you an excellent listening experience, free of cables.

WIth a half in-ear, half earbud style, the PS 20s look like no other earbuds or in-ear canal (IEC) earphones. Earbuds traditionally offer more accurate high and mid range reproduction due to their positioning and open design, while IECs offer more driving bass by channeling all the sound straight into the eardrum. The PS 20s, Phiaton’s lightweight and budget friendly model, offer excellently balanced sound reproduction and rich, but not overwhelming, bass.

Jack Cotter over at our sister (cousin?) site E-Gear had the opportunity to try out Audio-Technica’s ATH-WS55 Solid Bass Headphones, and he offers pretty much the same advice we do whenever we try out a solid set of cans… “If you are still using earbuds, and miss the sound of the bass, treat yourself to these Audio-Technica Solid Bass Headphones.”

I should start this review off by telling you that I don’t like earbuds at all. They make my ears hurt and ring; never a good combination. I am much more an over-the-ear headphone kind of girl, and since I love my music, I shell out for the expensive models. That being said, I have recently had to revise my opinion of earbuds for the Brainwavz B2. These earbuds I actually like.

Despite being optimized to deliver “thumping bass,” Fanny Wang’s on-ear headphones still manage to deliver a well balanced and enjoyable listening experience, even if club dance beats are not your primary taste in music. WIth a (disputed) unmistakable design and some genuinely thoughtful extras, these cans are a competitive entrant into the sub-$200 headphone range. A few minor drawbacks, however, may keep them from being a clear choice for all listeners.

If you’re a regular reader of Appletell, you know we’re fans of Moshi products. Their iDevice accessories almost always land amongst our favorites, and their Mac accessories have been outstanding complements to Apple’s melding of form and functionality. Moshi has now jumped into the audio arena with their Vortex in ear headphones with iPhone mic. The result is a decent listening experience for the price, but with plenty of room to improve.

If you’ve ever laid hands on an electric guitar, you know Marshall. They make the amps that almost exclusively powered rock and roll for decades. Now, they’re taking that experience and bringing it to headphones with the Marshall Major and Minor headphones. Are these headphones different or better than what’s already available, or are you just paying for that nice Marshall logo on the side? I took a look at the Majors to see.

Now that I’m not stuck with tape hiss from the Walkman or 128 kbps MP3 files, audio reproduction has become more important. Now that I’m wearing them for longer periods of time, comfort has become more important. Now that my portable audio player of choice does more than just play audio, functionality has become more important. And when it comes to adequately handling all three, the Sennheiser HD 238i headphones are amongst the best I’ve used.