Headphone

Welcome to MP3 Mailbox Monday, a reoccurring feature where I answer a selection of questions about MP3 players and accessories, such as headphones, speakers, and music services and software. Each week, my in-box is flooded with questions from around the world, and while a handful of them are very particular to the individual asking, most apply more generally to a certain use or scenario to which many people can relate. Check back often to see if the advice presented here might be of some use to you, or send your questions directly to me. (Note: We never include last names, … Read more

Welcome to MP3 Mailbag Monday, a new feature where I answer a selection of questions about MP3 players and accessories, such as headphones, speakers, and music services and software. Each week, my in-box is flooded with questions from around the world, and while a handful of them are very particular to the individual asking, most apply more generally to a certain use or scenario to which many people can relate. Check back often to see if the advice presented here might be of some use to you, or send your questions directly to me. (Note: We never include last names, … Read more

If you listen to the MP3 Insider podcast (which, of course, I think you should), you know that I'm like a crow: inexplicably drawn to shiny things. So when I grabbed a black case, unzipped it, and pulled out the latest review item to discover the Skullcandy iPhone FMJ headphones in all their chromey glory, I "oohed" and "aahed" with the fervor that I reserve for such things. Even the cable is chrome-colored. To top it off, these 'phones have teeny, tiny skulls etched onto the end of each earbud--and a couple more sketched around … Read more

We're not sure if it's a good sign for electronics to be aimed at such early ages, but Sony is introducing a pair of headphones designed for kids 8 and up.

It actually makes good sense from a business standpoint, to get consumers hooked into buying your brand at the earliest possible age, kind of like the way tobacco companies try to do with cigarettes. And even at $15, they're bound to be better than the cheap 'phones that come with any kids' gadgets.

The MDR-222KD headphones not only come in "cotton-candy pink" (as well … Read more

When I was a kid in the 1960s I was obsessed with the future. The space program was in all its glory, the moon landing was within our grasp, and that, combined with rock music being at its creative peak, what more could a teenage boy ask for? The future looked bright, science would soon feed the starving, cure all disease, and technology would bring prosperity to the entire world. Once those humdrum needs were satisfied we could get to the fun stuff and develop personal flying gear, teleportation machines, and start colonizing other worlds. For kids, at least nerdy … Read more

We spend a lot of time on Crave complaining about all the cool gear that gets released in Japan but never makes it to the U.S. Sometimes, however, we see things from Japan that are so out there, we suspect the Japanese kept quiet out of sheer mercy, preventing our fat American heads from exploding. The Sony PFR-V1 personal field speakers (ie. headphones) are just such an item, and they're coming to America.

Available in April for around $500, the Sony PFR-V1 are a bizarre-looking solution to an age-old audiophile headphone dilemma: How do you recreate the superior sound stage characteristics of listening to full-size speakers, in a portable product that fits on your head? The problem with typical headphones is that they unnaturally point sound towards the center of your skull and don't take advantage of the sound-collecting properties of your outer ear. Most people can live with the sonic compromise offered by headphones, but if you're not one of them, then Sony has a new solution.… Read more

Sony didn't hold back this morning, announcing a massive lineup of more than 25 new portable audio gadgets and accessories. The release includes a handful of new Walkmans and speakers, but is dominated by a slew of new headphones designed with portability in mind. Perhaps the most interesting of the bunch are the sport-style earphones, all of which are water-resistant and feature unique and varied form factors to ensure a secure fit during activity. For more information, check out our slide show, which offers details on 20 of Sony's new audio accessories. (All of the products are expected … Read more

New headphones are my No. 1 recommendation to anyone who wants to get the most out of their new MP3 player. (Except, of course, for those who decided to go with the Sony NWZ-A810 series or the Zune 80.) Straight up: Those janky, plastic buds that came with your player aren't doing you any favors. First off, they're not terribly comfortable, and they don't fit most users securely--for me, there are few things more annoying than having to constantly shove a hard piece of plastic into my ear. Then of course there's the sound-quality issue...hollow, … Read more

Zumreed is a Japanese brand with a design sense that's as strange as its name. It popped up on Crave last year with its colorful droplet-shaped speakers, but it's probably best known for its fashion-conscious headphones. Its latest creation, however, is just plain bizarre. The "Sfit Jewelry Edition" has the unfortunate distinction of bearing "286 high-quality colorful studs" on its ear cans, for what purpose we have absolutely no idea. They're described as "smart, slim, style" headphones, but they look a lot more like pot scrubbers or perhaps some kind of … Read more