It is November already (where did the time go?) and the holiday season is upon us. Over the next six weeks I will highlight affordable products that make great gifts, and hopefully find some great deals along the way. Kicking things off are some truly exceptional and affordable headphones.

EarFun Wave Pro X Headphones: EarFun is a disruptive force in the audio world, and their Clip 2 earbuds generated one of the most positive reader responses of any product I wrote about this year. Though earbuds get most of the attention, over-ear headphones are still king for sound quality, noise cancellation, and comfort. Everyone should have a good pair of over-ear headphones, and the EarFun Wave Pro X is a performance and value standout in a crowded market.

I took the EarFun Clip 2 to Universal Orlando's Cabana Bay resort on my birthday trip last October, and I did the same with the Wave Pro X this year. I immensely enjoyed the rich, detailed sound and clear dialogue while watching streaming video on my iPad in the terminal before departure. On the airplane I had an even bigger "wow" moment. I took the headphones off on the taxiway to adjust the fit and was shocked by the amount of outside noise suddenly assaulting my ears. I put them on and took them off again to experience the effect, marveling at the isolation. I tried it again while airborne and the effect was equally dramatic. If you don't want to block everything out, the ambient mode allows in outside noise so you can stay aware of your surroundings.

The sound is customizable with the app, and I found it excellent for music and video without adjustment. The midrange performance is especially notable, and the microphones yield very clear phone calls. The headphones come in a semi-hard case and can be connected via Bluetooth, USB or an included headphone cable. They are lightweight and comfortable and the outside materials are appropriate for the price point, but do not necessarily feel luxury. This is perhaps my only real critique of the Wave Pro X given the cost. As for the cost, they are an excellent value at $129.99 retail. The current Thanksgiving sale reduces the price $40 to $89.99 with the code THANKS26 at myearfun.com. That is perhaps the best sub-$100 headphone deal I have yet seen.

Other reviewers are comparing the EarFun Wave Pro X with headphones three times their price, and I concur. They are good enough to be the only headphones you own, and make an excellent gym or flying companion if you have already own high-end headphones. Just don't be surprised if the Wave Pro X does a thing or two better than the expensive ones!

Q. What do numbers like 4.2.2 or 5.1.2 mean for a surround system, and what makes for the best sound?

—R.C., San Martin, California

A. The first digit is the number of main channels, the second is the subwoofers, and the third is the Atmos channels. So, a 5.1.2 system is five main channels (left, center, right, left surround, right surround) with one subwoofer and two Atmos height channels, which are typically located in the front of the room. A 5.1.4 system would have Atmos channels in both the front and the back, and is my personal favorite for immersion and realism in a home surround system without going crazy spending tons of money and wiring and placing speakers all over the room. There are very good 5.1.4 soundbar/wireless speaker systems available, and I will have more about them in an upcoming column.

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