Okay, I lied. I'm not a noob iPod'er-- I've been using them since the 3g's first came out. However, since that time I've had a love/hate relationship with the stock iPod headphones. While cool looking, they didn't offer my admittedly weird-shaped ears a lot of comfort and the sound (while great for stock gear) sometimes lacked, especially when deep bass came in. It also seemed like they got worse over time, though maybe this was just my imagination. Mostly I tolerated them, because they were free and I don't have a whole lot of cash to throw around.

My left ear went out of my latest pair and so I'm forced to take a look at new models. The new iPod stock headphones are the in-ear rubber nubbed kind. I personally don't like them much. Because they sit so deep in the ear, every time the cord brushes up against *anything* you get the echo in the ear. It's no good. Plus, I think they're silly looking. I don't want to buy a pair.

I'm thinking about an upgrade to a pair of fat, out-of-ear, noise-cancelling headphones. I can't afford to throw around more than, say, $100. Can the expert forum go'ers here offer me any suggestions? The Apple Online Store offers the Sony MDR-NC6 Noise Canceling Headphones. They are in my price range and look alright. Any feedback? One user complains of problems with cord durability. Another complains of comfort problems. Are there better headphones out there in my price range that blow those out of the water? Please respond. Thanks a million.

EDIT: Forum won't let me post link to Sony MDR-NC6's.