The EB900 in-ear headphones by TDK give exceptional low-end sound performance that gives sustained, smooth bass that delivers punchy hits, especially when cranked up to high volume.

For earphones that sit at an RRP of $79.95 these give exceptional performance, but they’re not without flaws. While the bass is deep and gives a warm timbre to mid-range sound, it tends to drown out the treble. The sound quality is still very high here and subtle background sounds are clear and audible even at high volume with vocals coming out consistently smooth. Unfortunately, you never get that crisp high-end sound with the scale so tipped to bass.

Because of tip to low-end sound, these earphones are suited more to music than films or spoken word. The output is perfect for hip hop, R&B and pop music, though lacks a bit for rock, metal and other guitar-centric sounds that rely on crunchy treble sounds. Classical, opera and other symphony-based music fair well, with brass sections benefitting from the deep, rounded sound, though thinner string-section sound won’t feel as high.

On the plus side, focussing more on low-end sound means that these earphones can be pushed up to high volumes without ear-splitting static or treble ruining the sound quality. In fact, the earphones shine at high volumes giving an immersive sound experience.

Many in-ear headphones can be uncomfortable and hard to insert compared to their standard counterparts, especially for unfamiliar users, but the EB900 are some of the most comfortable varieties you’ll find. Foam tips made by Comply which specialises in-earphones and earphone tips create an almost unnoticeable feeling when sitting the ear.

The tips are squeezed down before inserting to fit snugly into the ear canal and thanks to their foam memory the tips stay small long enough to achieve a good fit without forcing them in. After a few seconds they expand for a comfortable fit that gives great noise cancellation.

Microphonic static (when you can hear the sound of earphone cables hitting together through the earphones) is quite loud when sound is paused, but is unnoticeable once it plays. The Comply foam tips can also be a bit of a magnet for inner-ear wax because of the rubbery texture of the foam.

Braided cables are one of the few cables that promise tangle-free and actually deliver unlike many of its plastic and rubber counterparts that rub and stick together.

While the low-end can outweigh the high-end sound, the general sound quality and exceptional bass along with high comfort level for a sub-hundred dollar price make this a bargain buy for the casual music listener who craves that extra punch they’ve been missing in their conventional earphones and headsets. It’s usually the domain of bulkier, expensive headsets to give sound that extra boost, but these little TDKs will give the big boys a run for their money.