How to Buy the Right Headphones

A top-notch MP3 player is only half of the audio equation. No matter what your budget, we've got advice on picking the best headphones to maximize your listening experience. These days, some people happily spend more than half a grand on a new tablet or portable media device with an estimated lifespan of around three years, yet the question I'm asked most often is still, "What's the cheapest pair of headphones I can buy that don't completely suck?" 

Headphones, earbuds, and earphones (I'll describe the difference between them in a bit) are generally viewed as the least essential link in the musical chain—the part you can easily skimp on. In reality, your headphones are the most important link in that chain: A quality pair has a larger impact than the player itself on how your tunes will sound. Also, if well cared for, they will long outlive your planned-to-be-obsolete tablet, phone, or MP3 player. And you don't have to break the bank, either. For as little as $40, you can get a high-quality pair of headphones and really begin to enjoy all the sweet-sounding audio you've been missing.

More at: PCMag.com: