It has been a while since I did a cheapy earphone guide, so here we go again for 2025. This one is mainly for newcomers who don’t really know what they want yet, so I narrowed things down by sound signature and the kinds of genres they tend to suit. I start with balanced-ish picks (the “plays everything” type), then I move into a proper bright set that’s actually smooth and resolving for the money (rare in cheapy land), and I end off with a bassy, dynamic option that makes compressed music more addictive. For the balanced category, I talk about the Kfine Clean: solid build, good cable for the class, and a fun V-shape with sub-bass dominance plus interchangeable filters that let you adjust the upper-mids. If you’re on an even tighter budget, I point to the Tanchjim Zero Ultima—basically pocket-money friendly, super lightweight, and a very versatile V-shape with more forward vocals and smooth treble. For bright lovers, the NF Audio RA15 is my anomaly pick: excellent build, elevated treble done right (with the brass nozzle), and stunning resolution—especially for female vocals and orchestral. Finally, if you want bass and dynamics for rock/metal, the 7Hz 02 brings rumble, kick, and extra oomph without smearing everything else.