Thank you for being a valued part of the CNET community. As of December 1, 2020, the forums are in read-only format. In early 2021, CNET Forums will no longer be available. We are grateful for the participation and advice you have provided to one another over the years.

Thanks,

CNET Support

General discussion

Help me choose between these two headphones

Jan 15, 2011 7:28AM PST

I currently have a pair of cheap forty dollar Sony headphones that have broken and blown out five times already. I need a pair of really durable headphones that also have good sound quality for under two hundred dollars. My choices are between the Klipsch image s4i and the Beats by Dr. Dre SOLO. I have heard really good reviews for the klipsch for sound quality but I have heard they break really quickly. For the Dr. Dre they are really stylish and they look a bit more durable but i have heard that they split into three. I have heard that the dr dre solos had a defect in them for the first gen that made them split I don't know if this is solved.

Overall I just need something that is going to last me at least three years and something that is not going to blow out or break.

Thank you guys for your help

Discussion is locked

- Collapse -
I too am undecided.. please advise!

I too could use some help here. I need some comfortable earbuds for relaxing and/or working in the library. However, I would also like them to at least be discrete or cool looking, not some funky/weird looking ones. Right now my price-conscious side likes the Klipsch Image S4 but at the same time the new Dr. Dre Powerbeats are looking very cool. Anywhere in this price range is reasonable (up to $150) but if a CNET rep could vouch for a specific type, I would greatly appreciate it.

Thanks,

Drew

- Collapse -
you have lots of options (sennheiser, grado, audio-technica)
Jan 3, 2012 7:55AM PST

If you want durable and high quality headphones then you should most definitely avoid Beats. Those things are over priced and infamous for poor build quality. (snapping in half, static, screws coming loose) Additionally you can get better sounding headphones, that are also more durable, for way less.