earphones

Sometimes, a travel-friendly MP3 player just won't satisfy all of your portable entertainment needs. For those who watch tons of video on-the-go, a dedicated PVP with a capacious screen is a necessary investment. Find some of the longest-lasting options below. Also this week: get those iTunes purchases playing on both a Mac and a Windows machine.

Q: I am big fan of CNET--I think you guys give the best reviews for a wide range of products. Coming to the topic: I already own a 4GB Creative Zen and I really like the player--I bought it on your advice mainly. … Read more

Ultimate Ears has been a familiar name to musicians and other audio professionals for a decade, but the company has gained quite a following with its consumer line as well. Earphones in its Metro.fi, Super.fi, and Triple.fi lines range in affordability and scale nicely, from those perfect for discerning listeners to those only audiophiles require.

Falling in at the bottom is the $79 Metro.fi 2, a rather standard-looking set that offers nicely balanced audio to go with its affordable price tag. Unfortunately, getting a secure and comfortable fit may be a challenge for some people. Read the full review.… Read more

After Friday's iPhone delirium, I'm going to take the helm of the iMania and steer it in a slightly different direction: toward the iPod Touch and the latest release of iTunes, Version 7.7. Namely, let's address whether there's a noticeable difference in screen and sound quality when it comes to the Touch, other iPod models, and the iPhone. Also, should someone who has been using the same version of iTunes for five years upgrade to the latest software?

Q: I am thinking of buying an iPod Touch but have a couple questions. First, I heard … Read more

Colorful earbuds have become increasingly popular with headphone manufacturers, possibly because of consumer demand for something a bit more stylish than plain white or black. It's no wonder: Earphones are basically accessories that serve to pipe music to your ears, so they might as well be fashionable. Radius is one company that has popped up with an impressive array of color-coordinated headphones. One model, the Atomic Strap, even attaches to the bottom of your third-generation iPod Nano and lets you sport it around your neck. At $40, these 'phones are quite a value for bass-loving Nano owners. Read the full review.… Read more

Ultimate Ears has been a familiar name to musicians and other audio professionals for a decade, but the company has gained quite a following with its consumer line as well. Earphones in its Metro.fi, Super.fi, and Triple.fi lines range in affordability and scale nicely from discerning listeners to audiophiles. Falling in toward the middle of the bottom is the $129 Super.fi 4, a stylish, low-profile set that comes with a reasonable array of accessories. The earphones offer some of the clearest audio we've come across, but getting a secure and comfortable fit is a challenge … Read more

Denon, the Japanese high-end audio manufacturer that sounds like a yogurt, has been getting bacterial on the earphone market over the last year or so, with the top-end AH-C751 earphones, then the AH-C551s, followed by the entry-level AH-C351s.

These are all in another world to the flagship AH-D5000 headphones we're so fond of here at Crave, but we're excited to bring you an exclusive first look at the new entry-level AH-C252 earphones. Ever wanted earphones from a high-end manufacturer, but didn't want to sell your children into slavery to afford them? You're in luck. … Read more

Far and away the best deal on "canal-phones" I've seen yet, Newegg has the Sennheiser CX 300 on sale for just $7.99 (after a $15 trade-in rebate). The icing on the cake: free shipping.

As I've noted in the past, I absolutely love these kinds of 'phones, which fit snugly enough inside your ear canals to reduce outside noise. The CX 300 comes with three sleeve sizes so you can achieve an optimal fit. However, that's about all it comes with: You don't get a carrying case nor even a cord wrap.

Even … Read more

By far the most difficult (read: impossible) question for me to answer is: what is the very best MP3 player/headphone/iPod speaker/etc? That's because there is no single device in any given category that is perfect for every person. There is a healthy handful of MP3 players that I think are excellent, but finding the right device for an individual has a lot to do with personal preference and requirements. I can, however, tell you what I would buy for myself. Also this week: how to judge the best time to buy a new MP3 player.

Q: … Read more

Consider yourself warned: The following post is not for the squeamish. It's time to clean the wax out of your earbuds. Yes, it's gross, but if you have the style of earbud that gets inserted into the ear canal, it must be done. Otherwise, wax can build up on the outer speaker and affect sound quality, and it may actually seep in and damage the inner workings of the earpieces. It's also not a bad idea to disinfect the sleeves from time to time. Find out how to do both below. Also this week: Your iPod isn'… Read more