While the affordable Sennheiser HD 205 II DJ Headphones provide good bass, natural sound, and capable performance, critical listeners may find them lacking acoustic flair.

The Shure SRH440 headphones might not appeal to people who use higher-end equipment or who want skull-shattering bass, but as a step into the world of home studio recording, they sound great with a wide range of musical genres--and the price is right.

The Beats Pro by Dr. Dre from Monster Headphones deliver a sturdy design and top-notch sound quality for those who enjoy skull-shattering bass. If you're a casual listener and can afford them, they're a worthy investment, but if you're an audio purist then you may want to comparison shop.

The Monster Beats by Dr. Dre Pro Headphones deliver a sturdy design and top-notch sound quality for those who enjoy skull-shattering bass. If you're a casual listener and can afford them, they're a worthy investment but if you're an audio purist then you may want to comparison shop.

If you can't afford Bose's noise-canceling models, the Bose AE2s--and their improved design and sound quality--make for a good alternative at half the price.

The Beats by Dr. Dre Studio headphones deliver the trifecta of sleek, comfortable design, useful features, and top-notch sound quality. If you can afford them, they're a worthy investment toward an improved listening experience.

Anyone looking for ultracompact headphones with top-notch sound quality should consider the Shure SE530 Sound Isolating Earphones. This set will cost you a pretty penny, but it'll be worth it.

Grado's audiophile-friendly SR225i headphones deliver stellar sound quality, though some design caveats may limit their appeal for on-the-go listening.

While we've heard earphones that sound better for the money, Bose has improved its in-ear headphones so they fit--and sound better--than its previous in-ear model.

The V-Moda Vibrato Remote earphones provide plenty of bass and a stylish, durable design with a handy built-in remote for iPhones and iPods; even Android users can benefit from the integrated call answer button.