I can't really define earphones as sounding like a certain amount of $$ as there are so many earphones of varying values that I cannot assign an average sound quality to each tier, but MH1C certainly basically beats every single earphone under $100. However, the likelihood that you'd find them at a local store is slim, as they are not made for most consumers, but rather those with Sony mp3s, phones, and other select devices. Plus, they're not even that well known to the consumer world. My suggestion, if you cannot find the MH1C and won't be able to buy it online, I suggest starting with the SHE3580 and then biding your money for a higher end earphone if you so choose to do.