There’s no question that while the market for over-the-ear headphones is on a pretty big upward trend, there is still a huge group of users who prefer in-ear buds; whether it’s for comfort or for use during physical activities such as working out.

As such, Monster has introduced their iSport Immersion In-Ear Headphones, priced at $179.95, that while it may be on the higher end of the pricing spectrum, do in fact sound very good. Before diving into the audio however, it’s crystal clear that these headphones are aimed at those who like listening to music at the gym or while training outdoors. The buds secure themselves pretty tightly, which include a small fin on each side that basically inserts itself into the ridges of each ear for a secure-fit design. Having tried them out while at the boxing gym, jogging and also lifting weights, I found the overall design to work quite well, though I did notice that when I was taking part in more rigorous exercise, such as hitting a punching bag or sprinting, the ear buds tended to loosen themselves just enough to lose the exceptional bass response. They didn’t fall out completely, but there was a noticeable difference in audio when they became a bit loose. There are a few different sized fins and ear buds so maybe other users won’t see this type of issue, but it’s clearly there.

On the other hand, when stationary, or when the workout wasn’t hardcore enough to loosen the buds, I was quite pleased with the overall audio. Highs sounded crisp and clear, while mids were sufficient and there was bass aplenty. Aside from the audio, the other benefit of the iSports is the waterproof design. If you happen to get them wet from sweat, you can actually run them under a faucet to clean them out, without having to worry about ruining them. I also appreciated the tangle-free cable and the in-line mic that also has buttons for volume control and answering or hanging up on calls.

Sure the price point of the iSports may be a bit of a barrier, but if you want some quality in-ear headphones that you can take to the gym and not have to worry about how you’ll keep them clean, then they’ll make a solid choice.