I decided that if I could keep a pair of cheapo ear buds for a year, I would get myself a nice pair. (This was about 3 years ago)

Last year I got myself the top of the line Sony ear buds. But they hurt my ears (not the newest ones that hurt people’s ears, the year before model, c’mon Sony, what are you doing), and my cheapos still work wonderfully, so unless I’m in a noisy environment and I need the noise cancelling Sony provides, I just roll the cheap ones.

Over the ear are another story though, those you go good or go home.