Smokin' Buds

A better way to get your sound fix

October 4, 2007—What with all the recent MP3-player-related news—the release of the iPod Touch, a nifty new crop of Nanos, Microsoft's reworked Zune—it's easy to overlook one not-so-minor detail: They all come with crappy headphones. Allow us to recommend a solution that won't cost as much as another iPod: Shure's great-sounding SE110s. And while the $99 models don't boast the sonic range and bass response of the brand's higher-priced, dual-driver offerings, these iPod-friendly 'phones offer far more impressive low-end definition and high-frequency sparkle than stock earbuds. They're also remarkably comfortable, thanks to canal sleeves in three sizes and two materials (pliable silicon and forgiving black foam). And, though we can't verify that these headphones block out exactly 90 percent of ambient noise (as the company promises), they did an admirable job of keeping the standard cacophony of urban life at bay (with the exception of sirens and horns, which you're supposed to be able to hear, anyway). All well and good, but what about the most important question? Good news for all you iPhone and iPod Touch owners: no annoying recessed-jack adaptor needed.

Shure SE110 Sound Isolating Earphones, $99, amazon.com