Cardas EM5813 Model 1Price: $425

Website: www.cardas.com

Garrett said: The EM5813s are in another league entirely from the [Monster] Turbines, providing me with portable sound on a level that satisfies my audiophiliac need for clarity, depth, speed, great bass, and real richness. I don’t feel deprived when I’m listening to them -- quite the opposite. Instead, they’re another means of serious listening. And at $425 retail, they’re a definite no-brainer. Get them. They’re fabulous!

Read the SoundStage! Xperience review.

The gist: Really good audiophile earphones from a cable maker.