Strong agree on the performance curve for earbuds too. If you can buy it at Best Buy for under $100, your money is probably better spent with something nicer online.
In high-end speakers (hi-fi, whatever you want to call it) there are always sleeper brands that even the audiophiles will say offer an 80% experience for under 50% of the price... I remember (before several buyouts) NHT bookcase speakers being one of those. It's probably the same in headphones.
Please, for the love of God, take my word for this: it's also very much true of cars.
In high-end speakers (hi-fi, whatever you want to call it) there are always sleeper brands that even the audiophiles will say offer an 80% experience for under 50% of the price... I remember (before several buyouts) NHT bookcase speakers being one of those. It's probably the same in headphones.
Please, for the love of God, take my word for this: it's also very much true of cars.