Despite some downsides, including a high price, the Bose QuietComfort 20 offers the best noise-canceling in an in-ear headphone and should tempt frequent travelers looking for a more compact alternative to full-size NC headphones.
Despite atrocious cosmetic qualities, the insanely cheap Superlux HD681 semi-open headphones have a sound that aspires to greatness and only narrowly misses the mark.
If you can get a tight seal -- and that's a big if -- the British speaker company's new $200 in-ear headphones deliver very clean, well-balanced sound.
Version 2.0 of these affordable wireless earphones gets better sound and some design tweaks, plus a water-resistant coating. The step-up bundle includes a charging case, an important extra.