Klipsch Image X5 earphones

When it comes to portable devices, audio quality depends just as much on the headphones as it does on the audio specs of the player. So it shouldn't come as much of a surprise that many people spend more on their headphones than they do on their MP3 players. In fact, a good pair of earphones could carry you through several rounds of devices, which is why we're so enamored with the Klipsch Image X5 earphones, despite their $250 price tag. This ultraportable pair offers solid sound and an exceptional fit, but we're a bit wary of the extrathin cable.

Other than the cable, which is tangle-prone and doesn't seem very durable, we're taken with the Klipsch Image X5's design. The ear pieces are among the smallest we've ever seen. They measure about an inch and a half long, but are very narrow, and taper toward the wire. This, combined with the contoured silicone eartips--which are oval rather than round to better fit the ear canal--makes the X5s some of the most secure and comfortable earbuds we've ever stuck in our ears. They're an ideal option for those with small canals, as the smallest tips are truly tiny. That said, these 'phones may not be the best for those with larger ears: although Klipsch includes five sets of tips--three sizes of standard-oval fittings and two double-flanged numbers--even the largest size is not super big.