earbuds

If you're grown tired of belonging to the cult of the white earbuds, there are plenty of options on the market that provide better sound, improved comfort, and more style. But if you really want your headphones to make you stand out from the crowd, nothing will do it better than some truly strange earphones. From cutesy to scary to flat-out over-the-top, you'll find something unusual in the roundup below.

In the case of Subjekt's Ruffian Skull Earphones, I'm fairly convinced that you will find this slideshow more than satisfactory to quench your curiosity about these scary looking 'buds. But beyond being absolutely metal to the core (in more ways than one), these intense-looking headphones actually have some other merits that certain people might find appealing. Namely: they don't sound half bad! And at $59.99, these unique 'buds won't break the bank either. Mosey on through the slideshow for more details, including information on fit, design, and audio quality.

The comfort of earbuds, especially those issued with MP3 players, is often unpredictable--they fall out, sit loose, or just plain hurt.

Seth Burgett, CEO of St. Louis, MO-based Yurtopia, realized the need for a comfortable earbud while training for the Iron Man triathlon.

Using his background in minimally invasive surgical devices, he saw an opportunity for consumers to improve instead of replace their existing earbuds with "earbud enhancers."

Consumers can send in a photo of their ear, which Yurtopia uses to determine the correct size. There are a total of 12 different sizes, so although Yurbuds aren't … Read more

The first thing you're likely to do upon obtaining a new MP3 player is load it up with all your favorite music. Once that's done, the next best step is to replace the shoddy earbuds that came packaged with it. Of course, not everyone wants to drop a wad of cash on a new pair of headphones, which is where sets like the Kicker EB51 Stereo Earbuds come in.

The colorful earphones have an MSRP of just $19.95, but they can be found for a bit more than $10. These standard plastic 'buds aren't as comfortable … Read more

Speakers made for home audio setups are encased in cabinets constructed of a variety of materials, but many high-end models stick to solid-wood enclosures. The argument is that this particular natural material offers superior acoustics, so it comes as no surprise that we're beginning to see more and more earphones incorporating wood into the earpieces. iFrogz provides one example with its Ear Pollution Timbre earbuds, an inexpensive pair that provides very natural-sounding audio and ear-vibrating bass.

Read the Ear Pollution Timbre review.

Skullcandy has made quite a name for itself in the headphone world, thanks largely to its focus on funky fashion and durable designs aimed at extreme-sports enthusiasts. Indeed, the company is known for a variety of things, and we seriously doubt you'll find subtlety among them.

If ever a product could illustrate this point, it's the Skullcandy Smokin' Buds earphones ($30), with an in-your-face name worthy of their loud design. As we've come to expect from the company's earbuds, these 'phones aren't terribly impressive in terms of sound quality, but they do offer a solid … Read more

JayBird first made a name for itself as a Bluetooth company, pushing out a line of stereo headphones with discreet-yet-secure designs that were made with the iPod in mind. So it was both surprising and not when the company elected to move into the wired market with two in-ear models aimed at the fitness-minded. What was surprising was the seemingly backward step in technology, but the move is actually in line with JayBird's focus on active users. Of the two new sets, the Tiger Eyes Earbuds ($89) are the slightly less expensive and more stylish model.

Read the Tiger Eyes review… Read more

Not to sound like a broken record, but the stock plastic earbuds that came packaged with your shiny new MP3 player aren't doing you any favors. After loading up your device with music, the next thing to do is replace the headphones. Of course, if you're not absurdly picky about audio quality, we can understand not wanting to spend $100 or more on a new pair. That's where options such as the Creative EP-630 come in. These sound-isolating earphones offer a comfortable fit and improved audio for just $39.99.

Read the full review of the Creative EP-630.… Read more

There's a reason the fitness industry is booming: there are always plenty of people eager to slim their waistlines or achieve perfectly toned arms. But being active and getting in shape isn't just about looking good--it's also about being healthy. So even if you're not trying to squeeze back into your skinny jeans, that's no excuse to shun your sweatsuit and sneakers.

Luckily, you needn't suffer through workouts in silent boredom; some upbeat music can provide the perfect motivation to get moving. First step: find a gym-worthy MP3 player. That done, it's time … Read more