You may have seen advertisements online for earphones and thought, “Why would I need to buy new earphones when I already got a pair for free with my MP3 player?” What you didn’t know is that all earphones are not created equal. While some that come with MP3 players produce pretty good sound, the vast majority of them are only average at best. Even the Apple iPod, the darling of the MP3 world, is known to have only mediocre earphones included with the player.

With better earphones you may notice just how bad your previous ones were. Many earphones make music sound tinny or hollow, and many earphones also have problems giving good bass tones. All in all, this can end up distorting your music experience, which isn’t what you want after you forked out money to buy an MP3 player.

But there are a few other reasons to buy new earphones. One of the biggest ones is comfort. Most standard earphones that come with your MP3 player aren’t really designed for comfort. However, many companies manufacture earphones that are more compatible with your ear, made out of softer material and even come with different size attachments to accommodate different ear sizes.

Another common reason for buying new earphones is to get your favorite color, or to match your earphones to your MP3 player skin. Most manufacturers make earphones in a range of colors, so you’re likely to find something you want.

The choice of earphones is pretty wide and, as with most consumer products, the most obvious difference between them is price. The price ranges anywhere from $10 to over $500.

The lowest priced earphones aren’t necessarily about sound quality. They’re likely to be no better than the earphones that came with your MP3 player. Most people buy these types of earphones if they need a quick replacement, if they want a specific color or if they need a more comfortable fit.

As you move up the price scale, into the $40-$100 range, the difference becomes all about audio quality. The earphones usually have greater comfort and style, but you will definitely notice a difference in how your music sounds. Bass and low-range sound will become deeper, mid-tones will be sharper and high notes will be clean and crisp. You may think your music sounds fine now, but you will be surprised at how much better it can sound with the right pair of earphones.

Earphones that exceed more than $150 are mostly just luxury buys. While sound quality may continue to increase the more you spend, $300 earphones aren’t going to sound too much better than $150 ones, though the latter might sound better to your wallet. True audio enthusiasts will probably be the only ones who can discern a difference in sound quality at this price level. Earphones in this category usually have lots of frills and color choices; for instance, some companies can have your earphones custom-fitted to your ear for maximum comfort.

Choosing the right earphones is about comfort, style and quality of sound. It’s worth it to get earphones that will maximize your listening pleasure and make your MP3 player purchase worth your time and money.