These $20 in-ear headphones are a steal

The MeElectronics M9P 2nd Gen. in-ear headphones (MSRP $39.99, online as low as $19.72) are a revised version of the company's popular portable product, the M9P. They're cheap, and they sound great, making them one of the best values in headphones. What more do you need?

MeElectronics bills these in-ears as a convenient audio solution for mobile devices such as tablets and phones. Thanks to multiple color options, the M9P in-ears aim to stand out as both fashion accessory and premium audio provider.

If you like huge bass emphasis, you can't go wrong with these. They're free of distortion, durable, portable, convenient and provide a healthy soundscape that leans on the low end.

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Unlike on-ear and over-ear headphones, in-ear headphones often champion their potential as fashion accessory. Thus the M9P's visual highlights include the design of the cable and remote as much as the 'buds themselves.

These in-ears are quite comfortable, even over longer periods of time. The hard plastic caps can irritate your outer ears if you push them in too far, and getting used to the way they sit can be annoying for a time. In the long term, however, the M9P in-ears are comfortable enough, even if they lack the ear-coddling plushness of other models.

Listeners on the go will relish this product's single-button in-line microphone/remote combo, which features a highly nuanced volume slider and a button to play/pause music playback or answer calls. The M9P should also work with all Android and iOS mobile devices, although some third-party apps may not be supported by the remote.

Once you find a good fit and get to listening, the first thing you'll notice is that the M9P in-ears tread quite heavily in bass territory. Whether it's a thundering timpani, an upright bass or the heaviest dub-step drops, bass and sub-bass sounds plow through the mix without fail. Unlike many other bass-heavy headphones, however, the M9P in-ears don't stop there.

While treated with a bit more delicacy, middle and high-mid frequencies are emphasized generously, too. The result is a multifaceted, sweeping soundscape that punches well above this product's price tag. Just keep in mind — especially if you're looking for a flatter mix — that these in-ears give ample prevalence to bass frequencies above all else.

Because they're of the in-ear variety, the M9P headphones have plenty of natural advantages in terms of keeping sound in and keeping unwanted noise out. Though they weren't specifically created for noise canceling, a good fit will see everything from honking automobiles to ringing office phones dampened by at least 25% of the original volume.

The M9P in-ears also produce clean, distortion-free audio. You'll notice a healthy lack of distorted elements like clipped high notes and compressed bass tones. This kind of distortion-free performance usually costs much more than MeElectronics is asking for.

The 2nd Generation M9P in-ears are simply a terrific value for consumers. Between the sturdy design, expansive soundscape and distortion-free playback, it's pretty hard to believe you can find these online for as little as $20.

If you're looking for something a little subtler, AKG has some $60 in-ears that offer a less bottom-heavy experience. If you're all about that bass, however, the 2nd Gen. M9P in-ears are an outstanding choice.