Ear Bud headphones have become much more popular with the launch and increasing sales of the then revolutionary iPod. Now earbud headphones sell more than full size headphones. Before you could only buy poor performance earbuds at Best Buy, Target and Wal Mart. You would be lucky if they lasted a month or two.
Now, high-end audio manufacturers are offering high performance ear bud headphones that will outperform some of the most expensive full size headphones available. The proximity of these earbud drivers to the ear canal, allow superior sound quality at lower volumes, due to their added sound isolation benefit.