Munitio Billet earphones offer high-caliber sound, for a price

They make music sound great, but are you ready for the commitment?

With the explosion that the mobile?music market has undergone in the past decade or so, the options for just how to listen to your tunes have increased exponentially. Now, even with full-sized headphones?making a comeback, earphones (also called earbuds) seem to be the go-to choice for any music lover with a?smartphone in their pocket. The?Munitio Billets line of in-ear phones are one such option ? and the old adage "you get what you pay for" is certainly relevant in this particular case.

Though you probably already own several pair, earbuds are a relatively new concept that was born out of the post-MP3 craze, and their mass-market appeal means most consumers don't consider spending more than $10 or $15 on a pair. Of course, your average consumer also doesn't expect much out of what amounts to cheaply-made plastic earplugs. That's where the Munitio Billets line is different: These are high-quality headphones you're going to want to take care of for a long time to come.

They make music sound great, but are you ready for the commitment?Throwing out the oft-used plastic construction in favor of machined aluminum, the Billets feel sturdy and solid from the moment you take them out of the box. Speaking of the box, the thick cardboard and foam casing in which the earbuds are secured makes sure the user knows about the trademarked "BassEnhancingChamber" ? meant to highlight deep notes in your tunes. When used with my?iPhone 4, the sound was great, and songs with a bounty of bass came through clear without a hint of distortion.

The bullet-styled shape of the earphones was a major concern for me from the start, simply because they don't?look like they'd be comfortable in your ears. But I'm happy to report that when paired with the right size silicon tip, they fit snugly and ? most importantly ? comfortably in my ears during hour-long evening jogs.?The Billets also come with an in-line microphone which does a admirable job of relaying a conversation without the hassle of unplugging the cord.

Now, despite exceeding my expectations in terms of fit and function, I can't outright recommend the Billets to just any mobile music lover. The reason for this is simple: At $70, they're not a cheap investment.

If sound quality and durability are your most important needs when it comes to earphones, the Billets will undoubtedly satisfy you. And if you're willing to pay for a quality pair of earbuds that you plan on using for a long time to come, you won't be disappointed.

But if you're the type of person who regularly misplaces, mangles, or otherwise renders several pairs of earphones worthless on a monthly basis, you may be better served by the generic gas station earphones, at least until you're ready to commit to a long-term relationship with Munito's wares. You can check out the full line of Munitio Billets on?the company's online store.

This article originally appeared on Tecca

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