Yamaha EPH-50

Yamaha EPH-50

Somewhere along the line in the past two or three years, in-canal earphones - not those ill-fitting earbuds that come with most MP3 players - turned a corner. Whereas previously, only higher-end, pricier earphones could reproduce deep low frequencies, the Radius Atomic Bass ($39.99, ) proved you could get big bass on the cheap. At $79.95 (direct) Yamaha's EPH-50, may not be as affordable, but it's a good-sounding pair that fits very securely, and it's definitely a step up from budget earphones like the Radius Atomic Bass. Offered in white with gold accents, or black with silver accents, the EPH-50 features an offset eartip, which means a secure fit. Not unlike the fit on the Bose In-Ear Headphones ($99, ), the EPH-50's eartip (the part that enters your ear canal) justs out to the side. The plastic earpiece it protrudes from rests against the back, lower wall inside your ear, helping to stabilize the fit. Creating a strong seal at the canal is key to getting more low-end frequency response. A pleasant side effect of this strong seal is some passive ambient noise reduction, making the EPH-50 a good choice for use on airplanes, trains, and other noisy places.