Headphones

[justindburton]

I'm in the market for new headphones. I've been using some Ultimate Ears in-ear, passive noise cancellation phones for a couple of years and really enjoyed the sound, though I always found the cord to be stiff and clumsy. They stopped working a few days ago. I can see a tear in the wiring, but I don't know how it happened and am not confident that I can fix it without sacrificing functionality.

So I'm eying the Klipsch Image S4 headphones. I want something that's in-ear with passive noise cancellation at or under $100. The reviews I've read rave about the S4's sound quality, and it meets my other requirements.

Before I pull the trigger, though, I'm wondering if anyone has tried the S4s or if you might recommend something else that meets the specs (under $100, in-ear, passive cancellation).

Seems like a good time to talk about headphones more broadly too. I'd love to hear about any headphones you have that you love (or hate, for that matter), whatever the price or design.

[justindburton]

I went with the Klipsch Image S4s and am very happy. For in-ear buds, they have excellent sound on both the low and high end, and they offer better clarity than I've experienced with other buds. Some of the reviews complain that the cord is flimsy, but I rather like it. It's easy to drop down my shirt and into my pocket, and it's very flexible. The passive noise cancellation works well enough, though obviously these wouldn't work too well for studio-level needs. But if you want something affordable for walking around that has solid sound, I think these are one of the best values.

Still, though, I'd like to hear what the rest of you use, from in-ear to cans...