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The holidays are here again, meaning it's the perfect time to shower your MP3 player with gifts--accessories, to be exact. And while we're getting specific, let's focus on one particular family of players: the Creative Zen. The iPod gets plenty of love in the portable audio accessory space, but it's not the only device that has products made specifically with it in mind.

The Creative Zen Stone, the Mozaic, the X-Fi, and the plain ol' Zen all have a gaggle of gear fine-tuned to fit. But since I know you have enough on your plate without scouring the Web for the perfect accoutrements, I've done all the busy work for you and rounded up a handful of worthy accessories for every budget. Whether you're spoiling yourself or stuffing the stocking of a loved one, you should find a great gift herein.

See our lineup of cool accessories for the Creative Zen.

(Credit: Creative)

If you're finding that your notebook is pulling double duty as productivity machine and audio server in your home, Creative has a new tandem of products that may hold some appeal: the Sound Blaster X-Fi Notebook sound card and Wireless Receiver.

The $90 Sound Blaster X-Fi Notebook sound card fits into an ExpressCard slot and, on its own, promises to restore details to compressed audio files. It also delivers an approximation of surround sound to gamers using headphones.

Add the Creative Wireless Receiver to the mix, and you can broadcast your iTunes library or other audio files stored on or streamed from your laptop to other speakers in your house.

The receiver communicates wirelessly up to 100 feet to the X-Fi Notebook sound card and ships with a remote control. You can connect the receiver (via the included RCA cable) to a set of powered speakers or an audio receiver. You can use up to four Wireless Receivers with the sound card. The Creative Wireless Receiver will cost $70 when it starts shipping later this month.

If you already own a home theater receiver, speakers, and a laptop, the X-Fi Notebook sound card and Wireless Receiver(s) present a more affordable route to a multiroom wireless audio arrangement than the admittedly more complete Sonos product.

Zune was the wireless pioneer.

(Credit: Corinne Schulze/CNET Networks)

We've come a long way since the 5GB iPod.

Today, you can find pocket-size video players, MP3 players with tiny flash drives offering up to 32GB capacities, even digital audio players built into sunglasses.

But one of the most advanced features you can find in today's MP3 players is wireless capability. This is generally split into two categories: Bluetooth and Wi-Fi. Wi-Fi is the subject here, and the devices that incorporate it represent the cutting edge in MP3 players.

Zen X-Fi lets you access your music from anywhere.

(Credit: Corinne Schulze/CNET Networks)

Although every device listed here integrates 802.11b/g connectivity, not all of them use this functionality in the same way. First up is the Microsoft Zune, which lets users within range of one another share music. You can also sync content from your PC over a home wireless network.

Slightly similar to this is the Creative Zen X-Fi, which lets you hop on any Wi-Fi signal to access a centralized content library (it also throws in chat capability for good measure). Taking a different tack is the Haier America Ibiza Rhapsody, which lets Rhapsody subscribers stream and download tracks wirelessly and lets any user access content from AOL Video and do some basic Web browsing.

The iPod Touch's Web browser is innovative, fun, and unique.

(Credit: Corinne Schulze/CNET Networks)

For an unmatched Web browsing experience, we have Apple iPod Touch--its touch-sensitive screen is perfect for the task. You can also download applications, stream Internet radio, and purchase songs from the iTunes music store.

The Archos 605 WiFi offers a similar experience, but adds compatibility with video download sites such as Cinema Now for true on-the-go visual entertainment.

Finally, there's the Cowon Q5W, a beast that seems more computer than PVP.

The Sony Walkman NWZ-A828K includes Bluetooth headphones and high-quality earbuds.

(Credit: Sony)

Don't you wish companies would just include great headphones with their MP3 players, instead of those cheap tin cans they call earbuds? In a bid to prove their sonic superiority over the iPod, many competitors are finally bundling their MP3 players with headphones that can do justice to your music.

To imagine a world without crappy white earbuds, we've got a round-up of our favorite five MP3 players that offer high-quality headphones right out of the box.

Creative's Zen line of MP3 players is possibly one of the most extensive we've seen, especially if we take the company's Asia-specific devices into account. And Creative shows no signs of deviating from its plan to offer feature-packed players at impressively low price points.

Evidence of this is apparent in the Zen X-Fi, a compact multimedia machine that's the first portable device to integrate Creative's X-Fi technology. The 16GB and 32GB versions are also the first Zens to pack in Wi-Fi capability, and without skimping on the usual array of features we've come to expect. Add to that top-notch sound quality and ultracompetitive pricing--$149, $199, and $279 for the 8GB, 16GB, and 32GB models, respectively--and you've got one of the best values available on the market today. Read the full review.

(Credit: CNET Networks/Corinne Schulze)

After much anticipation, we've finally gotten our greedy little hands on the Creative Zen X-Fi. While we put the player through its paces for the in-depth review, we thought you'd appreciate a closer look. One thing we can tell you right off the bat: the Zen X-Fi is an incredible value given all the features, but we're a bit disappointed that it's encased in plastic rather than metal. The slideshow has more gory details, but here are some highlights to get you started:

• Alluring price tag: The Zen X-Fi is priced to sell, with the 16GB going for $199 and the 32GB offered at $279--about half the price of the iPod Touch. There's also an 8GB for $149, but it doesn't include Wi-Fi.
• Questionable construction: We think we've figured out where Creative might have cut corners to get that pricing out the door. During early testing, we have experienced issues with the faceplate sticking out from the bottom of the player.
• Quality earbuds: The 16GB and 32GB versions of the Zen X-Fi come with Creative's new EP-830 earphones, a $50 value on their own.
• Features, features, features: The player includes the typical array of features found in the Zen line, but adds X-Fi audio enhancement options and wireless capability. It's the first MP3 player we've seen that lets you create a chat avatar on the device itself.

Transmit your iPod's music from here...

(Credit: Creative Labs)

Creative Labs is delivering a wireless home audio solution for the Apple iPod in the form of two products: the Xdock Wireless and the X-Fi Wireless Receiver.

On the surface, the Xdock Wireless is an iPod dock with some better-than-average features, including composite and S-Video output (for photo and video playback on a TV) and optical digital audio output. The Xdock can output DTS surround sound to compatible A/V receivers (via the optical output) or utilize Creative's proprietary CMSS-3D virtual surround processing to deliver a surroundlike effect from stereo speakers or headphones. Moreover, Creative claims that its X-Fi Crystalizer "makes MP3s sound better than CDs" by "intelligently and selectively restoring the highs and lows from instruments and vocals that are damaged during the compression of MP3s." That sounds impressive indeed, but color us skeptical: we've found similar MP3 enhancers in competing products often do more harm than good. (Thankfully, the Crystalizer can be turned on or off at the touch of a button.)

...to here

(Credit: Creative Labs)

But what sets the Xdock apart from other iPod docks is that it includes a wireless transmitter that can stream the iPod's music to any number of X-Fi Wireless Receivers (sold separately). Attach one or more X-Fis to stereo or boombox systems throughout the house--say, in the bedroom or the kitchen--and you can listen to the playlist on your living room iPod that's plugged into the Xdock. Each X-Fi can even be assigned to one of four zones, so you can selectively send the music to different parts of the house (such as only the upstairs) at the touch of a button. Creative says there's "no limit" to the number of X-Fis that can stream from a given Xdock as long as they're within the 100-foot range of the base station. Even better, because the system uses its own 2.4GHz wireless connection, setup is plug and play--there's no convoluted home networking configuration to worry about. It's also worth noting that the iPod isn't the only source that will stream to an X-Fi Receiver. A separate Xdock Wireless will be available for Creative Zen owners, as will an Xmod Wireless unit, which streams music straight from USB-connected PCs.

Each Xdock and X-Fi unit has a simple remote, and while the distant X-Fi units can't browse the iPod, they do offer rudimentary control options (play/pause, track up/down, and volume). But given Creative's traditionally aggressive pricing, it's hard to lament the absence of extra features that would only bid up the cost: the Xdock will set you back $200, and each X-Fi Wireless Receiver will cost half that when they ship in the spring of 2007. They'll be available in your choice of black or white.