Skullcandy has made quite a name for itself in the headphone world, thanks largely to its focus on funky fashion and durable designs aimed at extreme-sports enthusiasts. Indeed, the company is known for a variety of things, and we seriously doubt you'll find subtlety among them.
If ever a product could illustrate this point, it's the Skullcandy Smokin' Buds earphones ($30), with an in-your-face name worthy of their loud design. As we've come to expect from the company's earbuds, these 'phones aren't terribly impressive in terms of sound quality, but they do offer a solid array of compelling features for the price. Teens and tweens will no doubt be more than satisfied with this set.
Read the Skullcandy Smokin' Buds review.
(Credit:
Griffin)
If you're going to get one accessory to go with your new MP3 player, make it a decent pair of headphones. This may seem counterintuitive when you consider that all such devices come with a pair of earbuds in the package, but trust us when we tell you this stock set isn't doing you any favors in the sound or comfort department.
The majority of MP3 players include a pair of hard, plastic earphones with subpar sonic capabilities. Of course, they get the job done, so we can understand not wanting to drop a grip of cash on a new set. That's why we've rounded up a handful of headphones that won't cost you a penny more than 25 bucks.
Every option included in this feature offers an upgrade in either fit or audio quality...or both. And if you loathe sticking 'buds in your ears, at least one choice will let you avoid that unpleasantness. Also take heed: many of the earphones come in more than one color option, so if you're not picky about hue, you may be able to save even more moolah.
Not to sound like a broken record, but the stock plastic earbuds that came packaged with your shiny new MP3 player aren't doing you any favors. After loading up your device with music, the next thing to do is replace the headphones. Of course, if you're not absurdly picky about audio quality, we can understand not wanting to spend $100 or more on a new pair. That's where options such as the Creative EP-630 come in. These sound-isolating earphones offer a comfortable fit and improved audio for just $39.99.
Sweat-resistant and wireless: a double whammy!
(Credit: JayBird)There's a reason the fitness industry is booming: there are always plenty of people eager to slim their waistlines or achieve perfectly toned arms. But being active and getting in shape isn't just about looking good--it's also about being healthy. So even if you're not trying to squeeze back into your skinny jeans, that's no excuse to shun your sweatsuit and sneakers.
Luckily, you needn't suffer through workouts in silent boredom--some upbeat music can provide the perfect motivation to get moving. Better yet, plenty of MP3 players available today offer some great workout-worthy extras, such as built-in belt clips, pedometers, and calorie counters. Even an FM tuner is a great extra, since it'll let you tune into the TVs at the gym (and tune out of the mind-numbing repetition of physical activity).
Headphone manufacturers also continue to churn out better and better fitness-friendly sets--namely, sweat-resistant models that offer various design features to ensure the 'phones stay secured to your head during activity. If you're looking for the perfect music gear to aid you in your quest to get into top physical condition, you've come to the right place.
The first thing you're likely to do upon obtaining a new MP3 player is load it up with all your favorite music. Once that's done, the next best step is to replace the shoddy earbuds that came packaged with it. Of course, not everyone wants to drop a wad of cash on a new pair of headphones, which is where sets like the JVC Marshmallow come in.
These comfy and colorful earphones have a suggested retail price of just $20 and often list for much less than that, and in addition to providing a more secure fit than stock 'buds, the Marshmallows offer a significant improvement in sound quality.
Read the JVC Marshmallow review.
Cheap earbuds are not hard to come by; there are hundreds of sets on the market that won't cost you a penny more than $30. And all of them are, by and large, indistinguishable from one another. Of course, there are the rare exceptions, such as the iBlink Earbuds.
This $25 set features integrated LEDs that blink to the "beat" of the music, and while the construction is cheap and the sound quality won't be passable for discerning listeners, the flashing light gimmick is sure to appeal to more than a few tweens and teens.
It seems like every Tom, Dick, and Harry is putting out headphones these days, and far be it for Radio Shack to be left out in the cold. The electronics retailer is turning out a line of earphones sporting the brand name Auvio.
The line includes a handful of models that range from the very cheap ($15) to the top-of-the-line In-Ear Armature headphones featured here. This set goes for a still-affordable $80, though it's practically impossible to recommend them over the comparatively priced Klipsch Image S4. The Auvio In-Ear headphones just don't stack up in terms of sound quality, though we do appreciate the foam eartips and comfortable fit.
Read the Auvio In-Ear Armature headphone review.
There's more where that came from.
(Credit: ChicBuds)It's once a week I turn away from the monitor and gag at the latest Swarovski crystal-embellished gadget. I think to myself: "Will someone really purchase this bling-bling Hello Kitty camera? If they do, will they take it out in public?"
Well, Paris Hilton would. Or so says the newest company embracing the Swarovski trend, ChicBuds.
ChicBuds prides itself on being what it says is the only electronics company targeting women: "products made by women for women." Their goods are created with a woman's "needs" in mind, and have reached celebrities including Paris Hilton, Paula Abdul, and Audrina Partridge.
The featured products, like the PinkTooth Bluetooth Wireless Headset with Swarovski crystals, suggest that what we need is a collection of generic, so-so earbuds covered in so many crystals the 'buds become unrecognizable.
It's unsettling that companies target women with shiny accessories, clumping us into a group of flamboyant divas. Although there are women who enjoy this style of product, there are also many women who choose products according to the quality of the gadget.
An ideal woman-targeting electronics company would feature high-quality gadgets with a conservative touch of girliness--a little pink here perhaps, some swirls there. My personal favorite along these lines is Motorola's H680 Bluetooth headset.
As long as we're on the subject of Swarovski, you can see more crystal-clad disasters here. And be sure to vote in this week's Friday Poll. We ask what companies should do to attract more female customers.
The IDR350m comes with interchangeable color caps.
(Credit: Scosche)If you don't want to shell out $80 for the Apple In-Ear Headphones, but still want the convenience of an inline remote, Scosche has a solution for you. The accessories maker just introduced the IDR350m Increased Dynamic Range earphones with tapLINE control technology, which is all just a fancy way of saying "in-ear earbuds with remote." The headphones, which sell for a more reasonable $49.99, include a module that lets you control play, pause, adjust volume, skip tracks, navigate playlists and activate the Voice Over feature to hear the name of the song and artist. There's also an integrated mic for recording voice notes to the iPods that have the functionality. The design is a pretty standard iPod-white, but Scosche does offer a bit of flair by including six interchangeable color caps in white, red, pink, green, blue and chrome. The IDR350M is currently available on the Scosche Web site, and the company will be releasing the darker-hued IDR350MD in August.
On Sale Now: $69.99 - $79.00
View the latest prices for Apple In-Ear headphones
There's no doubt that the earbuds that come packaged with the majority of MP3 players are subpar in both fit and sound quality, but it's tough to drop more cash on a new pair to go with a just-purchased device. The good news is that there are options that won't cost you a cent over $20. One such example are the new Auvio Pearl Buds, a colorful set of earbuds that will set you back only $15. Auvio is Radio Shack's latest foray into the earphone market, and the Pearl Buds represent the bottom of the line. It shows. Sound quality is merely passable and the superthin cable is practically begging to break, but these buds are still a step up from stock, especially in the bass department. They could be worth it for those on an incredibly tight budget.
