Under $100

This is the most competitive price bracket in audio, and the one where your money moves the needle most. Under $100 buys single dynamic driver IEMs that genuinely compete with gear costing several times more, dongle DACs that outclass any laptop headphone jack, and desktop amps with enough power for most headphones.

Our advice for a first system here: spend about two-thirds on the IEM or headphone and the rest on a dongle. The transducer sets the sound; the source just needs to be clean and powerful enough to get out of the way.