Cheap earbud headphones are at least more effective in isolating noise. Earbuds are much like earplugs: they block out noise by attempting to fill the ear canal. Earbuds let you listen at lower volume, but they may headphonesirritate your ear canal or make your ears sweaty after a while. To help achieve maximum noise isolation, some cheap headphones come with ear buds of different sizes to accommodate users with different sized ears. The four ear bud sizes included with the Maximo iM-590 make all the difference for blocking out noise, though they're a bit bulgy because of the size of the drivers, as Bose headphonesan expert at TechPowerup notes. A satisfied user posting a review of cheap ear buds on B&H Photo Video says the V-MODA model provides a decent seal in his ear canal, so outside noise isn't an issue. Cheap Headphones Cable Length. Cable length may not seem like a big deal, but if you expect to be active in any way when using your inexpensive headphones, don't overlook this feature. For one thing, with a short cable you won't be able to stow your MP3 player in your back pocket or leave it on a table while reaching for other objects. Most cords range between four and six feet, but the Sennheiser HD 201 featurescheap headphones a 10-foot long cable, as does the Sennheiser eH 150; a headphones user review on CNET says the cord is long enough to skip rope with. But don't let a short cable deter you: you can easily alter any pair of headphones by purchasing a cable extension for about $10.