PT850s sound better than ipod earphones, good mid/highs but not enough bass. Mine blew after a month too, right one started to ring a lot then got busted entirely.
I have a pair of old Sony earbuds, the black ones that came with the digital radio/cassette walkmans. I've had them for a few years and changed like 5 cables on them, but they still rock. Add the sponges that came with the PT850s to the Sonys and i can dare say they have better bass response than canal phones.
