One of many cases for the iPod Touch.
(Credit: Speck)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. Pay special attention to models with built-in mics, such as the Klipsch Image S4i, which not only allow you to take advantage of the player's voice apps but also include an inline remote with playback controls.
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. Also, don't overlook the player's value in terms of home audio and be sure to check out our top iPod speakers.
If you have a favorite animal, chances are you can now find it in the form of an iPod speaker. We've seen everything from pigs and pandas to cats and dogs. Heck, even insect lovers don't get left out in the cold, thanks to Vestalife's Butterfly and Ladybug speaker docks. The Ladybug goes for $110 and rather outshines its cousin in design and sound quality. For those who are after a different-looking portable speaker with a reasonable smattering of extras, this unit could fit the bill.
(Credit:
Corinne Schulze/CNET)
You want to take your tunes on the road, but headphones don't always cut it, and even the smallest home speakers and receivers/amplifiers aren't portable. Technology has come to the rescue with a new breed of portable speakers that sound a lot better than the tinny models you might remember from the Walkman days. These useful devices are the hot ticket for travelers, dorm rooms, the beach, or the office; they plug into iPods, MP3 players, and laptops' headphone jacks, with sound that can easily fill a small to medium-size room.
It's also true that you can get much better sound with a decent set of headphones, which are even more portable and have deeper bass, superior treble detail, and better stereo imaging. But headphones are best appreciated alone. Portable speakers are ideal for social settings where you want to share your tunes with a few others or when you're milling around your hotel room getting ready for a night out on the town. Below you'll find the Top 10 contenders that have been reviewed by CNET. Some are perfect for frequent travelers, while others are best suited for the office or trips to the beach, and all of them have the option of being powered from built-in or replaceable batteries.
(Credit:
Corinne Schulze/CBS Interactive)
To put the word "audiophile" in the name of your product is a bold claim indeed, but that's exactly what Soundmatters did with its FoxL Personal Audiophile Loudspeaker. This travel-friendly speaker is among the most compact we've seen, and yet it manages to offer exceptional range and clarity, not to mention a tight low-end.
However, you'll need a wired connection to enjoy the speaker's audio capability. The FoxL comes in a Bluetooth model ($249) and a standard version ($199), but we don't recommend dropping the extra $50 for wireless connectivity.
Read the Soundmatters FoxL review.
(Credit:
Corinne Schulze/CBS Interactive)
An MP3 player is mostly a personal music device, but it also provides a great way to share music with others or even--in a pinch--satisfy your home stereo needs. To satisfy both the personal- and public-listening experiences, logic dictates you need two separate gadgets: a pair of headphones and a set of speakers. Or you could pick up GoStereo's Tune In Tune Out Headphones, which combine the two into one handy, simple device.
The headphones sound about average and the speaker quality is only so-so, but the superfair price of $50 for a 2-in-1 product makes the whole concept easy to swallow.
One of several problems that can plague portable speakers is a lack of stereo separation. The easiest way to remedy this issue is to create a design where each speaker driver is actually housed in a separate unit, so that the left and right channels can be placed some distance from one another. Sony implements this technique in its SRS-M50 Portable Speakers, a compact set that retails for $49.99, and there's no doubt the unit offers better separation than most ultraportable speakers. In fact, overall sound quality is pretty decent, the style is likable, and the design lends itself well to portable use, all of which makes the SRS-M50 a great option for frequent fliers. Read the Sony SRS-M50 review.
'Tis the season to give, but with the current economic crunch affecting all of our pocketbooks, you may find yourself too cash-strapped to go all out on electronic gadgetry. But that doesn't mean you have to shy away from tech gifting. MP3 player accessories make great gifts and the majority of them aren't going to cost you an arm and a leg. In fact, you can find some cases on Amazon for less than two bucks!
If you have a SanDisk Sansa owner in your family, you've come to the right place. We've rounded up a slew of accouterments that are perfect for stuffing stockings and loading up under trees.
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Griffin)
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 music applications 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. Pay special attention to models with built-in mics, such as the Etymotic hf2, which allow you to take advantage of the players voice applications.
That done, head over to our iPod Touch accessories page and find a variety of cases to protect your investment, as well as some innovative ways to enjoy your content on-the-go and in the home.
It's a speaker...and a case.
(Credit: CBS Interactive/Corinne Schulze)Who says you can't get gifts for your MP3 player? Accessories for the iPod Classic make perfect stocking stuffers, especially since you can find many of them for well under $50. First things first, though--replace the subpar earbuds that came with the player with something that has a touch more class, say a pair of CNET's top headphones?
Once you've gotten that out of the way, check out our roundup for ways to dress up and protect your iPod. Plus, see some speakers that'll let you rock out loud.
This morning saw the release of several new Sony audio products aimed at frequent fliers and other on-the-go users. The company announced a pair of ultracompact, travel-friendly speakers and three sets of headphones: one with noise-canceling, one with Bluetooth, and one with inline volume controls. You can find out all the details about the SRS-M50, MDR-NC7, DR-BT160AS, and MDR-EX36V in our photo gallery.
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Sony)
