I get no compensation for what I say about the Etymotic ER4 earphones. I was turned on to these by a motorcycle rider (thanks Ed). They are not so much “earbuds” as they are in-ear monitors. All I can say is that after more than four years with these, I have never thought once about replacing them. They are *that* close to perfection. I’ve used them on airplanes, in convertibles rushing down the highway, and in noisy hotels, venues, and airports. They have never let me down, always giving me stunning, emotionally rich music, and blocking out the haste and waist of the real world.

If you want to make an investment in your music; making your iPhone or iPod or even your XYZZY an audiofile source; these are they way to go. Cheap ? no. Affordable ? depends ? Worth a year’s worth of latti-dah coffee ? definitely.

Relishing in the brass section accompanying Nat King Coles’ L-O-V-E … followed closely by the double bass of Eliane Elias’ Segrados …. ahhhhh