Best budget headphones

Koss hit a home run with the PortaPros. Love or hate the design, there's no denying the sound quality here: they're the ideal companion for mobile audiophiles and home theater enthusiasts.

While they're not in the same league as the step-up ATH-M50, the Audio-Technica ATH-M35 costs a lot less and offers impressive performance and decent build quality for the money -- plus it has the fold-up element that's missing from the ATH-M30.

While their sound and design may not appeal to everyone, the Panasonic RP-HTX7s are excellent entry-level over-the-ear headphones that are a good bargain.

For under $10, you'll be hard-pressed to find in-ear headphones that sound better and are more comfortable than the Panasonic ErgoFit RP-HJE120s.

Though they look a little cheap, the JVC Flats are lightweight, comfortable on-ear headphones that sound surprisingly good for sub-$15 headphones.

You may be fooled by their featherweight design, but the MEElectronics HT-21s earn our recommendation for their ample soundstage, subtle aesthetic, and portable convenience.

The MeElectronics M9 sound-isolating earphones are an exceptional value, offering solid audio, a good design, and nice extras for an ultralow price. Anyone looking for cheap replacement earbuds should consider these.

The Yamaha EPH-30 Inner Ear Headphones are a fantastic option for anyone on a budget, offering sound quality on par with the sound of sets that cost at least twice as much.

Panasonic's very affordable RP-HJE355 series in-ear headphones sound as good as many earphones that cost twice as much.