def a good listen for the price. the benefits of these 'phones: high sensitivity and a tipped up treble bring out melodic lines and individual instrumentation. also, if you're commuting, noise-isolation is good without being over-bearing (you can hear what's going on if you turn down the volume a little) -- the fit of the ear-tips is fucking great (probably the best i've experienced with an in-ear)-->they don't slide out, but they pull out relatively easily; the seal is always comfortable/without any concern that you don't have a great seal.

there are a couple setbacks with these 'phones: if "bass" is what you're looking for, its not 100% there; listening to Jimi Hendrix In the West with Billy Cox on bass, Cox's bass guitar was lacking any sort of real low-end presence, favoring attack.

also, my buddy Charlie said his have broken a few times, but a 2-year warranty guarantees replacement.

do they have to be in-ears?

Sennheiser HD 428

very affordable

great sense of air and space

the soundstage is a little narrow, but frequency response seems to be even across--revealing and calm playback

very natural sounding.

SUPER COMFORTABLE -- and its pretty tought to say that for any headphone.

if you like BASS, i would not recommend these. their bass response is a little tame (despite what their packaging claims), but they do go low... just not BIG and Low

definitely check out the Sennheisers -- they are as neutral and uncolored as you can get for under $50. While my Grado SR60s were on the fuzzier, warmer, textural end of things, the Sennheisers are totally cool, but not too cool, so that they sound slick, just very relaxed sounding--lets the music speak for itself.

Post #5

Sennheiser HD428s

super comfy-very neutral.

We are somtimes cheesed off because of disappointing a high priced phone,here I recommand brand new in-ear headphone T-PEOS H-100 series. It's cylindrical type made from stainless steel and has a dynamic driver and a BA unit, so it's called 'Hybrid Headphone'. It has a wide range and  has a strong bass, cleared vocal and stable treble, it draws a typical v-curve. I'm sure if average headphone is a tame horse, this phone is a wild horse, if you try this one once,you never forget it. For helping your understanding, I post the url-related of Head-Fi.org below.

http://www.head-fi.org/t/630235/t-peos-h-100-hybrid-iem-appreciation-thread