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If you like music, one of the best, simplest upgrades for your smartphone is a new pair of headphones.
But don't spend too much on them.
Just like umbrellas or sunglasses, you don't really buy headphones so much as you rent them form the universe.
A dollar bill, and in this top buyer, I'm going to tell you the best values in headphones priced under $50, hand-picked by executive editor, David Carnoy.
And for the sake of this list, I'm gonna order them by price.
We'll start.
Start the list off with the cheapest pair at number five, the Panasonic ErgoFit.
You're not going to find a better pair of headphones for under $10.
They come in more colors than skittles, and their lightweight in-ear design helps to block out a little bit of noise.
Now, I wouldn't say they're super durable, but for $6, why not buy a handful of these just to keep a few spares around?
Now if you can spend a little more check out its cousin, the RP-HJE355.
Closer to $20 but you get a better design and sound quality on par with anything in that $40 to $50 range.
At number four the JVC Flats, a proper pair of headphones that can be snapped up for around $15.
Padded ear cups and a design, as the name implies.
Folds down flat for easy travel.
No integrated microphone or a carrying case, but you get a detailed sound and a comfy, lightweight design for a great price.
You even get a few color options if you're feeling sassy.
Coming in at number three, Moshi Mythro.
$30 gets you some in-ear headphones with some real style, and.
An integrated microphone for taking calls.
Now, the remote's just a single button for answering calls, there's no volume rocker.
But that's better than anything else on this list.
Good sound for the price, and in my opinion, the aluminum design is really pretty cool looking, and there's a few cool color options too.
At number two,.
The Panasonic RP-HTX7.
$40 gets you some retro styled, over-ear headphones that do a great job keeping out noise and keeping your music in.
They're like a little sonic cocoon that looks like they fell off the set of Mad Men.
A great choice if you're looking for headphones for listening to music at work without disturbing people in the next cubicle as you listen to Pharrell's Happy.
On repeat and crying to your spreadsheet wondering how your life got off track.
Great headphone.
Which brings us to the number one pair of headphones at just under $50, Audio-Technica ATH-M30.
A momentary steal as Audio-Technica is phasing this model out in favor of the $70 M30x, which is as far as we can tell.
Is virtually identical to the M-30.
No built in mic, no colors, and the cord is long, like a good pair of hi-fi headphones.
They sound great though and arguably offer better low end than anything else on the list.
Comfortable over ear design, padded head band and extremely sturdy construction.
Another great option for work or home, but probably not the sort of thing you wanna go jogging around with.
Still a great value.
So there you have it.
Five headphones for under $50 with options for everyone.
Head over to cnet.com/headphones for all our latest reviews as well as our headphone buying guide and for more Top 5's from me, top5.cnet.com.
I'm Donald Bell.
Thanks for watching.
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