headphones

All the political madness must be getting to my brain, because I apparently think MP3 Mailbox Monday is better suited to Tuesday this week. Luckily, the date doesn't affect the usefulness of the information herein. Namely, what's the deal with satellite radio lately? XM and Sirius officially merged this year, but things have been decidedly quiet other than that, with few exciting new product announcements. For subscribers, there's been some confusion over whether to upgrade equipment now or hold out for a possible combination of the signals or new gadgets that can receive both services. Some answers to that below.

Q: While searching for what is "new" for Sirius radios, I ran across your Aug 15, 2007 article on the Stiletto 2, and thought you would be a person in-the-know. I recently found out that my S50 radio will not handle the best-of-XM service being offered by Sirius. I guess that will teach me not to be the first in line to buy semiportable satellite radios. Sirius is being very helpful in working with me to get a new radio (unfortunately they are not going to do it for free), and they are pushing the Stiletto 2.

My thought is that with Christmas coming, I am sure there is something new on the horizon. However, I can not find any rumors or articles discussing what they plan to do next. I would assume a portable radio that would handle both XM and Sirius signals, but I do not know how far down the road that is. Have you heard of what is coming next with Sirius portable radios? Should I go with the Stiletto 2, or wait?--Jesse, via e-mail

A: Although Sirius is offering the Best of XM access that you described, at this point, I haven't heard anything about Sirius XM combining the signals for the two services. Currently, the companies use two different compression and access systems, so the individual receivers are only compatible with the one service they are advertised for. However, Sirius XM has stated that any currently sold receivers will work with any service going forward, whether it is combined or separate.… Read more

Radius popped onto the scene this year with a collection of stylish, generally good-sounding earphones that were priced to sell and featured Japanese design characteristics indicative of their mother country. The company is now expanding its U.S.-based line to include the radHeadphone Live earphones, another good-looking pair that houses a set of titanium drivers in its earpieces.

Like the well-received Atomic Bass earbuds, the Live earphones are heavy on the bass--too heavy at times--but these have a higher-quality build and a price tag to match ($79.99).

Read the Radius Live headphone review.

While Jasmine was busy freaking out over the Klipsch Image X5 earphones last week, I found myself bouncing back and forth between the company's line of professional earphones: the Klipsch Custom 2 and Klipsch Custom 3.

Unlike the lightweight and delicate design of the Image series, the Custom series is built for abuse. The earphones include dual-balanced armatures, braided cloth cables, five pairs of ear tips, flex wire ear fittings, and a zip-up softshell case.

Quality doesn't come cheap, however. The Custom 2s cost $199 and the Custom 3s will set you back $299. But are they worth … Read more

Foam tips on earbuds, and sweet sound from players. To name but two. You may think that reviewing products for CNET would have me going gaga for gadgets, but in fact, I'm a bitter, jaded individual. I am extremely hesitant to drop my hard-earned cash on new technology, mostly because I live in constant fear that something newer and better is just around the corner. I sat on my dead iBook for well over three months waiting for new, cheaper MacBooks (only to be sorely disappointed--$999 for the previous generation, Steve?! Really?).

But that's not to say … Read more

Earbuds are subject to personal taste perhaps more than any other gadget, making them ideal candidates for a head-to-head battle. This first-ever earbud Prizefight pits two sound-isolating sets against one another: the Shure SE310 Sound Isolating Earphones and the Klipsch Image X5 Earphones.

Both pairs are of the canalbud variety, meaning they must be inserted into the ear canal for optimal sound and fit. By nature, these earphones are ultraportable and durability can be an issue because of their small size. Earbuds, in particular, are subject to the whims of the wearer (dependent on personal ear size and shape) when … Read more

In the realm of sub-$100 headphones, audio quality can vary significantly from model to model. It can be a challenge to find a pair that's music to your ears, though there are quite a few in the price range that offer good-to-excellent sound.

One such set is the Audio-Technica ATH-CKM50A In-Ear Headphones, an $80 model that comes in a choice of three colors: black, white, or red. The name may not be catchy, and the plastic design leaves something to be desired, but if you can get a good fit, you'll be rewarded with exceptionally rich and … Read more

Greetings, MP3 Insider fans. Ever wish our podcast was live so you could harass us on air? Well, today you can get the next best thing: me, live, online for an hour. At 11 a.m. PT, I'll be at your mercy, answering any questions you have about headphones, MP3 player accessories, and just about anything else related to digital music. So hit me with your best shot.

Flying the friendly skies has sure gotten a lot more enjoyable with the advent of portable media players, but frequent fliers realize it takes more than a decent MP3 player to deal with nuisance-ridden travel. A good pair of sound-isolating earbuds or noise-cancelling headphones can do wonders when it comes to escaping into your own world of personal entertainment.

Of course, active noise-canceling sets can cost a pretty penny, which is where the Able Planet Clear Harmony NC200 headphones come in. The pair is sold on Amazon.com for around $60--a palatable price if we ever saw one. You'll … Read more

Earbuds. You either love them or hate them. Or you just tolerate them. Anyone who's worn a pair--which is likely 100 percent of those who own an iPod or other MP3 player--knows that comfort and fit isn't always the greatest when it comes to these tiniest of headphones. Maybe you have a pair that is reasonably comfortable, but slips ever-so-gradually out of your ears as you move. Or the opposite: they really stick in there, but dole out a pain-causing pressure to the inside of your ear after extended wear. So maybe you give up, and pair … Read more