(Credit: Scosche)So you've managed to get your hands on one of the world's most sought-after MP3 players, the Apple iPod Touch. This sleek and innovative device will keep you plenty entertained for sure--especially with new music apps from Pandora and AOL adding Internet radio capability--but you'll soon realize that a little extra investment can help you get the most out of your player. For one thing, those stock Apple earbuds aren't the best-sounding--or most comfortable--headphones to be had. The first step is to upgrade, and our top headphones list is an excellent place to start. Once you get your music piping through some decent headphones, check out some other add-ons that can help you protect and enhance your player.
Cute Creative speakers made just for the Shuffle.
(Credit: Creative)So, you've managed to get your hands on one of the world's most popular MP3 players, the Apple iPod Shuffle. Accessorizing the littlest of iPods presents a special challenge because it doesn't share the same dock connector as its larger siblings. But that doesn't mean it should be left out in the cold, sad and caseless. To that end, I've rounded up a handful of that will work perfectly with both the second- and third-generation Shuffles. Check 'em out.
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- Armbands and cases,
- Alarm clocks and speakers,
- Skins and decor
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- Shuffle,
- cases,
- portable speakers,
- headphones
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(Credit: Ultimate Ears)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.
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- Headphones
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- headphones,
- earphones,
- earbuds,
- Ultimate ears
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(Credit: Radius)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.
- Topics:
- Headphones
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- headphones,
- earphones,
- earbuds,
- Radius,
- iPod accessories
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(Credit: Ultimate Ears)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 for some users. Read the full review.
- Topics:
- Headphones
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- ultimate ears,
- headphones,
- earphones,
- earbuds
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(Credit: Tech Digest)If home electronics with built-in ambient lighting is a gimmick as some suggest, it's nevertheless a profitable one. We're just not sure about the reasoning behind using it with an iPod dock.
Philips has charged a premium for its TVs with this feature, which supposedly improves viewing. That doesn't help music, of course, but that hasn't stopped LG from incorporating red ambient lighting with its PC12DAB "iDoc."
Sporting an unusual oval design, the dock also has a CD player, DAB radio, alarm clock, and speakers with 10 watts of sound, according to Tech Digest. As far as the lighting goes, maybe LG just has a thing for the color red.
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- iDock,
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(Credit: Crave UK)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. Click here for more.
(Source: Crave UK)
(Credit: Crave Asia)
Yes, you read it right. The new game called Song Summoner: The Unsung Heroes is for the iPod, not the iPhone. In this role-playing game, you are the protagonist Ziggy who goes on a quest to save his brother from the evil Mechanical Militia. Along the way, warriors created from the songs in your iPod can be summoned to fight your battles.
According to Square Enix's press release, the game is controlled by the click wheel (what else is there, anyway?) and is said to be as easy as selecting music. It's slated for release today at the iTunes Store at $4.99 per download and can be played on the iPod Nano with video, iPod Classic, and fifth-generation iPod.
(Source: Crave Asia)
- Topics:
- Music and software
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- Square Enix,
- Song Summoner: The Unsung Heroes,
- RPG,
- iPod,
- games
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(Credit: Sennheiser)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 so, CNET gave the CX 300 a "very good" rating of 7.3 out of 10, while readers scored it even higher: 7.7. Needless to say, if you're still using the cheap-o earbuds that came with your iPod or other MP3 player, it's time for an upgrade. The CX 300 should deliver noticeably better sound while affording the benefits of in-ear noise isolation.
The rebate deal, which requires you to mail in any old/used/broken pair of headphones (yeah, kind of a hassle), expires July 31. Even if you decide to skip it, $22.99 is still a killer deal on these earphones.
(Credit: Audio Junkies)This is one product that aims to satisfy iPod fanboys and uncompromising audiophiles alike. Krell's Papa Dock and KID combo is a step ahead of the competition, designed based on an old-school separate component approach to fine music.
The KID may also be a first of its kind, featuring performance-centric class A electronics, high-end balanced XLR audio output and a built-in iPod dock, all in a beefy 10-pound metallic kit, according to Audio Junkies. Designed to complement the KID is the Papa Dock, which holds the above-mentioned deck and provides up to 150 watts of clean high-current amplification for your speakers.
To maintain a near-seamless experience, the amplifier is further loaded with an auto-sensing function and powers up on demand. The Krell KID and Papa Dock are priced at $1,500 and $2,500, respectively.
(Source: Crave Asia)
- Topics:
- Docks and remote controls
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