The good: The sound quality is great for Bluetooth headphones, with just enough bass response. They are sweat-resistant and fit snugly in your ears—perfect for those who love to exercise and stay active. The cable also has a reflective strip to keep you safe while jogging in the dark. They come in different colors and the price is pretty affordable.

The bad: They are definitely not for those who love thumping bass. Battery life is also not as long as we would like, at around eight hours.

The verdict: Not a bad choice for exercise freaks with limited budget. 

Available at: Hear By Munkonggadget, 2/F, Siam Paragon, Rama 1 Rd., 02-610-9982. Open daily 10am-10pm. BTS Siam. www.munkonggadget.com

 

The good: They look really sleek and sit comfortably in our ears. Sound is clear and strong—the best we found in this price point, which is also quite reasonable. 

The bad: A little too much bass and treble for laid-back listeners and audiophiles. They are also made of plastic so feel a bit flimsy (but still look the part). 

The verdict: The price is amazing for what you get: decent sound quality for most music, and high-end style.

Available at: Sennheiser stores nationwide, try Sound Proof Bros, 5/F, MBK Center, Phayathai Rd., 081-987-2071. BTS National Stadium

 

The good: They fit comfortably in your ears without falling out, and come with tangle-free magnets to help you wear and store them easily. Bass response is pretty decent.

The bad: The sound gets a bit distorted at higher volumes, especially on songs with lots of bass. The audio range is also limited.  

The verdict: For only B1,790 you get great comfort and acceptable sound. These are the kind of earbuds to be left in your bag in case of emergency, but for everyday use we demand something better.

Available at: Hear By Munkonggadget, 2/F, Siam Paragon, Rama 1 Rd., 02-610-9982. Open daily 10am-10pm. BTS Siam. www.munkonggadget.com

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The good: Unlike many noise-canceling headphones, these provide solid sound quality and are very comfortable to wear. They come with three sizes of soft ear-tips that rest securely inside your ears instead of sealing the ear canals, allowing for bass to come through strongly. If you don’t want to use the noise-canceling feature, just activate the aware mode to let outside sounds in. They also come with a rechargeable battery.

The bad: Very pricey. The noise cancelation, although helpful in loud environments, isn’t as good as its competitors. 

The verdict: You know what you are getting when you choose Bose. If you don’t mind spending the big bucks, this is perfect. 

Available at: Bose Concept Store, 4/F, Central Embassy, Phloen Chit Rd., 02-160-5651-4. Open daily 10am-10pm. BTS Phloen Chit

 

The good: The sound is noticeably clear and crisp with the Earset 3i. They are super light (only about 8g) and the clamping mechanism makes them stay in place without too much force—great for sports and activities. The bass is on the lighter side, making them more suited to ballads and jazz.

The bad: These earbuds are large. Some might find them uncomfortable in their ear canals. The price is a bit steep, too.

The verdict: More affordable than other B&O models but with the signature quality sound. If these are in your price range, they are definitely worth the money.

Available at: B&O Play, 1/F, Gaysorn Shopping Centre, Phloen Chit Rd., 02-656-1017. Open daily 10am-10pm. BTS Chit Lom. www.fb.com/bangolufsenthailand

 

The good: These earbuds are for your ears only. Each pair is molded to fit the owner’s ear canal, and the sound quality is superb. They do an amazing job at blocking out ambient noise and provide high-impact bass. You can also add things like personalized artwork or special materials at additional costs.

The bad: The UE-5 is one of the most affordable custom-molded earphones, but at B25,900, it is most definitely not pocket-friendly.

The verdict: Unless you’re a real audiophile with serious hang-ups about sound quality, there’s no need to go quite this crazy. But for those who only want the best, these custom earbuds do an amazing job.  

Available at: Jaben Thailand, 4/F, Mercury Tower, Phloen Chit Rd., 02-639-3682. Open daily noon-8pm. BTS Chit Lom. www.jaben.co.th