Stuffs

The good ones really aren't headphones at all, but accurate, low-distortion headspeakers.

Headphones range in price from $12 to $12,900 (Sennheiser's Orpheus electrostatic headspeaker with its own outboard tube amplifier), according to the 1996 Stereo Review Buyer's Guide.

The most familiar and the cheapest are small, lightweight earphones that often come with portable cassette or CD players. Most of these rest lightly against the outside of the ear so are more comfortable for extended wear, but they don't screen out outside noise and deliver poorer bass response than models that envelop the ear.

Manufacturers have improved designs dramatically so a comfortable fit is possible on most models. But headphones are like shoes: You have to try them on.

Regardless of the size, shape or design characteristics of headphones, nearly all use single dynamic or "planar-magnetic drivers" for each ear.

The exceptions, like Sennheiser's Orpheus, the $800 Koss ESP/950, and the $800 Stax SR-Lambda Normals, have electrostatic drivers that produce the most realistic sound quality any headphones can deliver.

Here's some advice on headphone shopping:

• Put personal comfort first, sound specs second. If the headphones hurt your ears, the music they translate won't matter. If you plan to spend $100 or less, the only useful specifications you need to worry about are weight and cord length. The lighter the weight, the less ear fatigue you'll have.
• Avoid in-the-ear styles.: They will either hurt after 10 minutes or fall out at the slightest head movement.
• Headphones that fit like ear muffs are the most satisfying, offering sound equal to that of the best loudspeakers;
• If you have hearing loss in one ear, look for a set of headphones with individual volume controls to regulate both channels.