Category: Gear | Headphones

2009 was a good year to have ears. When you're out there trying to find a pair of headphones, the selection is so huge it's getting a little out of hand. But, we have narrowed the list down to a few top contenders that you should treat your timpanic membrane too before plunking down your cash or settling for those awful, white earbuds that came free with your portable media player.

Beats by Dre Solo

Like their big brothers, these on-ear phones pump out clean, balanced sound that works for any genre you might be into. As an added bonus, they also act as a high-quality headset for your mobile device. Use them to answer calls hands-free without looking like a total jerk with a little Bluetooth thing stuck in your ear. $200

Sennheiser HD 800

If your music collection is full of low-quality MP3s you downloaded back in college, you're probably not ready for these ultra-swanky cans. They have an open, over the ear fit and a new dynamic transducer design to create a natural sound field with minimal resonance. Translation: They sound good enough to warrant their $1,400 price tag.

Ultimate Ears MetroFi 220

Not everyone has tons of dough to drop on a pair of UE's custom-molded in-ear monitors, but these $80 buds do a great job if you're not planning on using them on-stage at MSG. They use titanium coated speakers and noise isolation, which let you keep the volume turned down and protects your ear drums. They also come with three different tips in case you have really oddly shaped ear holes.

Turtle Beach X41 Wireless Gaming Headset

Good sound is crucial to enjoying a video game and these 7.1-channel cans go above and beyond the call of duty (get it?). They're Dolby certified and have a built-in microphone that lets you communicate just how much of a n00b your opponent really is. Plus, they're wireless, so the only thing keeping you tethered to your Xbox will be your crippling video game addiction.

Sony Digital Noise Cancelling Headphones

Sony is the first out of the gate with digital noise canceling technology built-into their over-the-ear cans. You can even adjust the amount of cancellation you want. Less outside noise means better sound quality and lower volumes. Despite their relatively large size, they're also surprisingly light. Just try not to headbang them off.

These big, bassy, lightweight headphones were designed for portable players, so even your tinny MP3s will sound like audio gold. Try on a pair and you'll kiss your crummy old earbuds goodbye. $99