Headphones And Accessories For Your iPod
The Apple iPod changed the way we listen to music. Thank you Apple, the iPod has changed the world for the better. Here we'll discuss some headphones and accessories that will make your iPod even cooler than it already is.
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Our Recommendations Of Small Headphones For Apple iPod
Though the stock Apple earbuds are not bad as earbuds go, you can get significantly better sound by upgrading your headphones. The Sennheiser MX 560 earbud is a solid performer, while Chinese company Yuin offers the PK2 earbud, a premium treat. In ear headphones, as opposed to earbuds, boast high noise isolation and significantly better sound quality. The Sennheiser CX300 offer a moderate seal, good sound, and easy fit. Moving up the ladder, Etymotic Research has long manufactured outstanding ear canal headphones; their Etymotic ER6i and more expensive Etymotic HF5 are excellent performers at their price. Monster has recently introduced the Monster Turbine Pro, which possess good punch and a lively sound. In our opinion, the best headphone for iPods (in fact the best generic fit, in ear headphones overall) are the Shure SE530; a liquid and lush experience with your music.
Larger Size, Top Rated Headphones For iPod
For some, the comfort and ease of a larger size headphone is preferred. If you're constantly on the go, it's important to think about a durable, and perhaps even foldable, headphone. It's also important to choose headphones that are efficient enough to be driven by an iPod's headphone jack, such as the following models (see our listing for amp'd headphone recommendations): All kinds of listeners will enjoy the compact size and good sound of the Sennheiser PX 200 II and Audio Technica FC700A both of which offer a sophisticated sound and fold into a very compact size. Nothing wrong with the kids wanting bumpin' bass, and Sony delivers with the Sony XB300; a very, very comfortable headphone with exaggerated bass and good tone elsewhere.
Your iPod Can Sound Better With A Line-Out & Headphone Amp
If you're looking for a premium iPod listening experience, consider adding a quality headphone amp. When you plug your headphones into the iPod, the headphones present a load to the device, which requires energy from the power supply. These fluctuations in power supply voltage can degrade the sound. Unlike headphones, the input of a headphone amplifier has a very high input impedance and presents almost no load to the iPod. Additionally, by using an iPod dock like the Sendstation Pocket Dock, you can use the much cleaner and superior line-out signal to feed a headphone amp for excellent results. A Total AirHead portable headphone amp is perfectly suited for this application, while the Total BitHead adds a USB input for computer use as well. A HeadRoom GigaBag will keep your sweet portable headphone system tidy and safe.
iPod Speaker Docks
Headphones are great, but music out loud is fun too. Boston Acoustics has a sweet line-up of iPod docks with integrated speakers. The i-DS2 system is very simple and will play music from your iPod or an auxiliary source. The Boston Acoustics i-DS3 Plus adds a wireless sub-woofer for rich full bass, and a remote control for convenient operation. For a fully featured system, check out the Boston Acoustics Duo-i Plus, a very good sounding iPod dock with AM/FM clock radio. Maker of some of the finest speaker systems in the world, Bowers & Wilkins has entered the fray with two very nice docks. The B&W Zeppelin is a full-size dock able to produce wonderfully rich room filling sound, and can be transported from room to room. The smaller Zeppelin Mini acts as a table-top radio would, and delivers clean and well balanced tunes; great for background music in your office or kitchen.
