Which pair of headphones can do your music justice?

It was not that long ago that you purchased a set of headphones for roughly $10. Ten bucks went pretty far back in the day for a headset. By the mid-1990s, almost all headphones had decent bass, and companies like Sony were able to work out the kinks that caused a short near the jack. If you wanted to spend a lot on headphones, you could go to a store that specialized in recording equipment. However, most headphones were cheap and had about the same sound quality.

Today, things are changing. "Signature" headphones are all the rage, and I have to ask myself whether or not these audiophile gadgets are really worth their price tag. I have acquired several pairs of high-end "signature" headphones, and I am here to share my findings.

My brother is a bit obsessed with music, and he recently purchased a set of Grado PS1000 ear-cup headphones. Before I tell you the price tag, let me say that he works a lot with music and he is not a college student. The PS1000 retails for just under $1,700. That's right, for the cost of a trip to Cancun or a 50-inch plasma TV, you too can enjoy premium sound from your iPod. The PS1000s are truly amazing. The sound is full, with highs and lows in perfect balance. However, unless you have a trained ear, I doubt you will be able to appreciate the sound coming from these overpriced headsets.

My partner and I recently invested in a set of Bose on-ear headphones. Bose is a leader in producing rich sound by means of cutting edge technology. Consider that the Bose Wave Radio was introduced to the market in 1984, and is still considered the industry standard. Whether you invest in the in-ear, around-ear, or on-ear headphones, you can expect excellent sound quality and an extremely comfortable fit. Expect to pay between $90-$130 for a set of Bose headphones.

The newest fad, and one that seems epidemic on UNCG's campus, is to purchase Dr. Dre's "Beats." Dr. Dre is an enterprising gangsta rapper whose popularity reached its peak around the turn of the millennium. He had been in the music business for nearly two decades when he introduced his line of Beats headphones. Ranging in price from $120 for a pair of Lady Gaga's Heartbeats to $350 for Dre's own Studio Hi-Defs, Beats really do present an excellent sound experience for, dare I say it, a reasonable price. The popularity of Beats can be attributed to a successful marketing campaign on behalf of Dr. Dre. Apple, the hottest of the hot in tech gadgetry, carries Beats in their retail stores and on their web site. Lady Gaga wears her signature Beats in her "Bad Romance" video, and sells Beats on her web site. Of the headphones that I have tested, I believe that Beats are an excellent value and can be appreciated by almost anyone.

Finally, no discussion of headphones is complete without mentioning Apple's ubiquitous earbuds that are bundled along with every iPod and iPhone. Personally, my head cannot sustain having those oversized, one-size-fits-all, pitchy noisemakers plugged into my ears.

If you have an extra $1,700, save your money and refrain from buying PS1000s. If you are looking to trade up on those headphones that came with your iPod, visit the Apple store and try some of Dr. Dre's Beats. I think you will like what you hear. Still, $350 is a bit much for a college student. I use Apple's discontinued "gel" earbuds. You can still buy a version of these earbuds with iPod/iPhone controls on the cord. Those controls caused the price to go up from the $45 per pair that I own to the $80 per pair that is currently available through Apple.