Wanted: A Good Pair of Headphones

Yesterday, aside from getting drenched in an afternoon rainstorm that washed through Boston completely unannounced, I managed to break the fifth or sixth set of headphones I’ve had since buying my iPod four years ago. It isn’t enough that my iPod only works when it feels like working. (Is it July 11 yet?) No, no, no. Now, I have to deal with replacing yet another set of broken cans. Sure, I have a spare pair sitting at home, but they’re old, and they’re quiet, and they sound like I’m listening to my music through a pair of literal tin cans. And it’s not like I can afford to plunk down $10 to $20 on a new set when I’m saving every penny I can in order to afford an iPhone.

But, hey, eventually I will have some dough, and I’m wondering if any of you out there have any recommendations on relatively affordable but relatively high quality headphones. Also, how do you keep these things from breaking so frequently? Maybe I just don’t know how to take care of them. I’m not sure. It’s always the wiring by the headphone jack that seems to crap out on me. I’ve tried a bunch of different brands (all earbuds, because they’re more comfortable for me than the behind-the-ear kind, and because the really big over-the-head kind always seem excessive for walking around) but none has lasted longer than six months since the original pair that came with the iPod. Is it just that I’ve been buying cheap, or is it that the cables are prone to failure no matter what? Let me know.

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