ear buds

At what point does lousy sound interfere with enjoying music?

I've always been obsessed with sound, and I've always wanted to hear my music with the best possible sound. It enhances the experience for me, because I can more clearly hear what the musicians are playing, and the subtleties in the mix, so I get more out of the music. That's true at home and for on-the-go listening, and even when I didn't have much money I still managed to put together a pretty good hi-fi. Then again, good sound is in the ear of the beholder, and that beholder may not be so sure about … Read more

CNET Exclusive: Up to 50 percent off headphones for a good cause

This week I am most excited about the GoGroove AudiOHM iDX Noise Isolating Earbuds with Integrated Microphone for only $14.99. They not only sound good, but the profits go to a good cause. The Fender Music Foundation provides grants for music education programs such as classrooms, community-based organizations, and music therapy programs. Accessory Power has partnered with The Fender Music Foundation to raise awareness and funding for the foundation. Five percent of net profits from the sale of all AudiOHM iDX models during this CNET Exclusive will be donated to the Fender Music Foundation. These comfortable earbuds … Read more

Velodyne's first headphone is a bass lover's delight

Velodyne makes subwoofers, great ones in fact, and the brand is now following a string of speaker manufacturers venturing into the headphone market: Klipsch, Polk, PSB speakers. Velodyne has just introduced a sharp looking in-ear headphone. It's called the vPulse, and I think they have a winner on their hands.

You'd expect that when a subwoofer company makes an in-ear headphone, the device would make a lot of bass, and the vPulse delivers on that score. The big bass drum that opens "Cindy, I'll Marry You Someday," from Robert Plant's "Band of Joy&… Read more

These eco-friendly 'green' earbuds deliver oodles of detail

Thinksound's awesome little ts02 in-ear headphones($100) knocked me out in March, so I was eager to hear the company's new model, the ms01.

It doesn't look a whole lot different than the ts02, but that's not a bad thing. Both models are smaller and more comfortable than most in-ears, and both block a good amount of external noise. Almost as much as a noise-canceling headphone, and unlike NC models, the ms01 doesn't run on batteries.

The ms01 in-ear monitor ($100) features an 8 mm high-definition driver, PVC-free cables, and hand-crafted, sustainable, wood ear-pieces. The … Read more

The worst-sounding audio product

I've heard a lot of really bad-sounding audio products over the years, but most of them were so awful they suffered a natural and well-deserved "death." Take for example the $499 Gateway KAS-103 home theater in a box system that debuted in 2003. I had the "pleasure" of reviewing this attractive system, but it sounded so bad I was duty bound to try another sample, which was equally dreadful. There was absolutely no blend between the sound of the subwoofer and the tiny satellite speakers, the high levels of background static were impossible to ignore, … Read more

Scented Gummi Bear earbuds bounce here, there, everywhere

Fredflare.com sells all manner of fashionable tech-cessories, including USB turntables, LEGO Wii controllers, and the best-selling iPlunger phone stand. But the latest addition to the Web store is more than just eye-candy--it's a pair of earbud headphones made to look and smell like classic Gummi Bears.

Offered in blue, pink, and green flavors, the Scented Gummi Bear Earbuds feature stereo sound, a 4-foot cable and a standard 3.5mm plug at the end.

We don't expect the $18 headphones to challenge our favorite earbuds, but we're sure they're at least worth a couple puzzled looks on the subway.

More pictures of the Scented Gummi Bear Earbuds by Fred Flare after the jump.… Read more

Bowers & Wilkins' C5 earbud is a winner

First things first: I think most in-ear headphone designs are pretty uninspired-looking things. Sure, ear-canal headphones are so tiny there's not a lot to work with, but I have to say Bowers & Wilkins' new C5 is a stunning piece of industrial design. The tungsten and aluminum headphone is the prettiest in-ear design I've seen to date.

The headphones' proprietary Secure Loop cable is a unique design element and can be adjusted to fit in the inner ridge of your ear to help secure the tip in place. My ear canals are bigger than average, so I don'… Read more

Deos' terrific-sounding $40 ear buds

I listen to a lot of products, trying to find above-average sounding ones to write about in this blog. So that means I hear a lot of awful-sounding gear, and as my readers know, the best stuff tends to be expensive. So when I find great-sounding, affordable products, like the Jolida JD301RC integrated amplifier and the Wharfedale Diamond 10.1 speakers I featured last weekend, I'm happy to give them enthusiastic reviews. The new Deos headphones go for just $40, and for that kind of money I think they sound pretty darn good.

I have to admit the Deos … Read more

Jays headphones bring Scandinavian 'lagom' design to your ears

If you're in the market for a new set of premium headphones, consider picking up one or both sets of earphones we reviewed this week from a Swedish company called Jays.

The C-Jays are a set of on-ear cans that give you three foam ear cup options, and the A-Jays Four earbuds include an in-line remote to control tracks on your smartphone music player.

Jays headphones maintain the Swedish design concept of high function, minimalist practicality, and the Swedish word lagom, which refers to the idea of "not too much, not too little."

The company shares a … Read more

Urbanears blends fashion, headphones

Leave it to the Scandinavians to create headphones that stand alone as works of art. Urbanears is a start-up from Stockholm, Sweden, that designs aesthetically pleasing headphones--but dig a little deeper and you discover a company with a greater mission.

Zound Industries, Urbanears' parent company, realizes the integration of fashion and technology and sees that headphones can strengthen a brand. It's not the first, as the rise of mobile devices has encouraged the creation of unique, personalized headphones. SkullCandy did this by creating hundreds of one-of-a-kind headphones recognizable from a distance.

But Zound is doing something different. Besides developing … Read more