The key here is what the person is looking for: headphones or IEMs (In-Ear Monitors, aka earbuds). They weren't very specific in the OP, soooo...
If you want actual over-the-head headphones, the Grados might be a great choice. But if you're like so many other Apple product owners are, the looks of it matter and the Grados, well... if you don't leave the house, you're ok. I've been a "mid range audiophile" going on 30+ years now, and I've never ever
ever seen anyone in public with a pair of Grados on - and I travel extensively around the US, always have.
So, with that said, if you're looking for something that sounds phenomenal, absolutely amazing, and has some neat looks to boot, you might consider the Koss KSC-75 clip-ons. While some people can't stand them, it's really only up to you to decide. If necessary you could probably pick up a cheapy pair of over-the-head (I'll abbreviate that from now on as OTH) headphones and simply pop off the earpieces and replace them with the KSC-75 speakers.
I don't mean you need a soldering iron or anything, the drivers use the familiar ball-joint attachment so common on "Walkman" style headphones, so you'd just apply a bit of pressure and they pop out, then you do the same for the KSC-75's - pop the speakers out of the ball-joint attaching them to the ear clips, then snap them into the headphone band.
Simple job, takes all of one minute's time, then you'd have the OTH band which most people still prefer. I myself own 5 pairs of the KSC-75 - they were on sale a few months back at Radio Shack for $9.98 a pair so I stocked up.
If you think I'm joking about this, go over to
www.headfi.org, the web's premiere spot for headphone and portable audio forums. There are countless threads available where people have rarely ever been quiet about these simply amazing low cost wonders. If you get some, they're normally around $20 or so for a pair at Radio Shack and other retailers (Circuit City normally stocks them also), and who knows, you might find them for $10 again.
But the sound quality, that's what will knock your socks off from the first time you put them on and press Play. They're simply astonishing for the price.
Grados are nice, they're ok, and they have a following, but until Grado actually makes a product designed specifically for portables or portability, I'll stick with the KSC-75's, thank you very much. There's simply nothing else like them at any cost, and the reviews at HeadFi and many other audio-related forums will back that statement up.
Also, while they're not the prettiest things to look at, the Koss PortaPros are still the kings of the hill for pure portability. They've been around for almost 1.5 decades now and they're still the best buy you'll find on portable headphones under $100.
Another phenomenal choice would be the Radio Shack Pro-35A set, which is actually manufactured by Koss as the KTX-1 headphones. Same headphones, same drivers, etc, even the plug has Koss on it, but they're rebranded with the Radio Shack name on the earcups. They're usually $39.95 but go on sale twice a year for $19.95. I've owned several pairs of them, and again, from the first time you press Play, you should instantly realize "These aren't the crap they look like, they're wonderful."
Only your ears will really tell you what's right for you. Opinions, even mine created from so many years of listening on the go - I still have an original Sony Walkman from 1978 around here someplace and it still works, and the headphones do too with those simply bugtastic orange foam pads - are still second to what your ears will tell you.
Grados won't be found in local stores unless you have some Hi-Fi shops in town that specialize in selling them. My suggestion: grab your iPod and head to a Radio Shack, ask to demo the Pro-35A and see if they're comfortable for you. It's free, and when you press Play, you'll probably buy them on the spot. If not those, ask about the KSC-75 earclips and buy 'em. If you're not satisfied, return them. Or get some from Circuit City.
If you're looking for IEMs/earbuds, something from Sony would be my recommendation. The EX-71 series has been around for a few years now, and I've owned 2 pairs. Nice, but nothing to really write home about, even with the mods you can do (over at HeadFi they have a lot of mods for these, and the KSC-75's too, amazingly... simple things that dramatically change the sound quality of these products), they're just not quite up to my standards.
Sad to say there's nothing else in the IEM/earbud range I'd suggest for $60 or so. ER6i was mentioned, they're good, but my money, all $180 of it (less if you find a lower price online, retail is $179) will be going for a pair of Shure E3g IEMs next week to go with the 30GB video iPod I'm getting. For pure sonic bliss, they're the best IEMs I've ever heard for the price. The E4 and E5 series sound about the same to me and are 2-4x more expensive - and I'm serious about the increase in cost. It's ridiculous, but that's what people are willing to pay.
The E3g is the "update" to the E3c, in solid black, with a 6" shorter cord, so for that iPod of mine, that's the ticket.
Hope this helps...
bb
ps
I'd be remiss if I didn't mention the Sennheiser PX-100 models also, in white and black. They're a
very nice option if you're interested in the form as well as the function, and they sound great. I've owned one pair, white ones, but they broke from under a month's use of regular daily listening out on the go. Too flimsy in construction for my tastes, and the fact that they fold up is nice but contributes to the flimsiness in my opinion, which is all I'm offering. Good luck, and happy listening...
