Junk those ipod earbuds

Aurally unacceptable and physically uncomfortable the awful ipod earbuds had to go. No audiophile, I've nonetheless owned several headphones, did a fair bit of web research and asked around. The AKG K26P, Sennheiser PX100 and Koss PortaPro seemed the best of the moderately priced units, while the Grado 60 and 80, the AKG K27i and the Bose Tripoint seemed to be the best quality units one step up price-wise. After some listening I re-realized that I don't want a cup headphone, as I don't find myself in noisy environments much and don't need or want to cut myself off completely from ambient sound. That narrowed the field. I took the PX100's home. Oh my! We've all our test tracks and one of mine is Santana's "Waves Within" on the "Caravanserai" album. The deep, low, rumbling bass, the sweeping mid-range and the very highest trebles were all brought into superb relief by these extraordinary headphones.
Inexpensive, so light and comfy you forget you're wearing them, the video ipod easily powers them beyond safe volume. No auxiliary amp needed here. They fold up neatly, but are not as slim as touted. Two, not one, pair of eyeglasses thick is about right. And you probably won't win any urban-hipster awards either. Dead basic, plastic and bendy metal construction in kitchen appliance white, the only heads these will turn are those they're wrapped around. Holy smokes, but do they ever sing!
Even if you're in the market for higher-end models, do yourself a favour and try these first.