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Best earbuds for less than $100

Jasmine France
Jasmine France, Senior Associate Editor
Updated September 26, 2008
OK, so maybe 100 bucks or less isn't cheap in the scheme of things, but when you take into consideration that some of the most highly rated, excellent-sounding in-ear headphones can cost more than $400 (or, if they're custom molded, close to a grand), a $75 pair suddenly doesn't seem so pricey. Plus, can you really put a price on great sound quality? Chances are, you're not getting it from the cheapo stock earbuds that most manufacturers include with their MP3 players. Taking that into account, we've rounded up a selection of great earbuds that cost less than $100. If you're looking for something even cheaper, check out our roundup of headphones for less than $50.

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Product name Ultimate Ears Super.fi 3 Studio (black)
Ultimate Ears Super.fi 3 Studio (black)  
Shure E2c (white)
Shure E2c (white)  
Etymotic ER-6 Isolator (black)
Etymotic ER-6 Isolator (black)  
Sony MDR-EX90LP
Sony MDR-EX90LP  
Philips SHE-9850 In-Ear Headphones
Philips SHE-9850 In-Ear Headphones  
V-moda Vibe (gunmetal black)
V-moda Vibe (gunmetal black)  







Review date February 23, 2006   July 10, 2003   March 01, 2004   October 24, 2006   May 23, 2008   November 27, 2006  







CNET editors' rating 7.7 out of 10 7.7
Very good
7.5 out of 10 7.5
Very good
8.0 out of 10 8.0
Excellent
7.5 out of 10 7.5
Very good
8.0 out of 10 8.0
Excellent
7.7 out of 10 7.7
Very good







Users' rating 7.9 out of 10 7.9
Very good
7.6 out of 10 7.6
Very good
6.8 out of 10 6.8
Good
7.8 out of 10 7.8
Very good
Be one of the first to rate this product! 7.7 out of 10 7.7
Very good







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Review summary Ultimate Ears' no-frills Super.fi 3 Studio in-ear headphones deliver a clear, balanced audio response. This set should be your top choice in the $100 price range. These small, cone-shaped earbuds offer excellent isolation and pro sound quality. Etymotic's ER-6 earbuds offer stellar sound quality. The Sony MDR-EX90LP earbuds sound as good as their $100 price tag suggests, but there's nothing particularly exciting about them. They're just good headphones with an understated design. The Philips SHE-9850 In-Ear Headphones are an excellent choice for style-conscious listeners who demand comfort and detailed audio response. The V-moda Vibe headphones are a great option for style-conscious bass-addicts looking for some worthy portable headphones.







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My Products
Basic Specs
Product Description Ultimate Ears super.fi 3 Studio - Headphones Shure E2c - Headphones Etymotic Isolator Earphones ER-6 - Headphones Sony MDR EX90LP - Headphones Philips SHE9850 - Headphones V-moda Vibe Headphones







Product Type Headphones - Wired Headphones - Wired Headphones - Wired Headphones - Wired Headphones - Wired Headphones - Wired







Color Black Info unavailable Info unavailable Black Info unavailable Gunmetal black







Headphones Type Headphones - Binaural Headphones - Binaural Headphones - Binaural Headphones - Binaural Headphones - Binaural Headphones - Binaural







Headphones Form Factor In-ear canalphone In-ear canalphone In-ear canalphone In-ear canalphone In-ear ear-bud Ear-bud







Connectivity Technology Wired Wired Wired Wired Wired Wired







Sound Output Mode Stereo Stereo Stereo Stereo Stereo Stereo







Remote Control Info unavailable None None Info unavailable None None







Manufacturer Warranty Info unavailable 2 years warranty Info unavailable Info unavailable Info unavailable 1 year warranty







Recommended Use Info unavailable Info unavailable PC multimedia , Home audio system , Portable audio system Portable audio system Portable audio system Info unavailable







Response Bandwidth Info unavailable Info unavailable 20 - 16000 Hz 5 - 25000 Hz 20 - 20000 Hz 12 - 22000 Hz







Product name Ultimate Ears Super.fi 3 Studio (black)   Shure E2c (white)   Etymotic ER-6 Isolator (black)   Sony MDR-EX90LP   Philips SHE-9850 In-Ear Headphones   V-moda Vibe (gunmetal black)  







Full specifications Full Specifications Full Specifications Full Specifications Full Specifications Full Specifications Full Specifications







Price range Check latest prices
$78-89
from 4 stores
Check latest prices
$60-106
from 3 stores
Check latest prices
$93-130
from 3 stores
Check latest prices
$63-100
from 7 stores
Check latest prices
$92-200
from 2 stores
Check latest prices
$60-100
from 6 stores










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