Sound advice

Not a day goes by that I don't see someone listening to an iPod and think to myself, "Man, what crappy headphones." OK, I'm slowly deafening myself listening to Fantomas on my mammoth studio headset, which has a cord long enough to play jump rope with in-between classes. Still, though I admire the iPod's guts and glory approach to music, sacrificing sound for style is a tough decision for any audiophile, and out-of-the-box earbuds just don't cut it.\nIt's not just about the music. Nationwide, iPod theft is on the rise. Stolen cellphones and iPods account for a sizeable percentage of serious crime in cities like New York and Boston, according to Washington Post articles. According to www.secretweaponlabs.com, the iPod's highly recognizable white earbud cord is a dead giveaway "that you have a $150+ yet remarkably small device that's easy to resell on the street or eBay and easy to hide." If you're not ready for an upgrade, a set of inexpensive Sony MDR-E828LP Fontopia Earbuds will at least enroll your iPod in the Witness Protection Program of digital devices. \nSo let's start from the ground up and assume that you haven't already bought an iPod. If that's the case, you might want to take a look at Creative Labs' Zen Vision: M (www.us.creative.com). These guys have been producing high-end computer sound cards for years, so it's no surprise that they can give Apple a run for its money with their digital music player. The Zen Vision offers iPod price and features with improved video, including twice the battery life for video playback, a more vibrant display and compatibility with more file formats. It also features a recordable FM tuner and voice recorder -- in case you'd like to sleep through a lecture or two. \nNow that you're settled in with your music player and have chucked your trashy little earbuds out the window, it's time to start shopping for some quality headphones. You are looking for headphones or earbuds that are comfortable and will deliver clear sound and reduce environmental sound levels. Though isolating yourself from background noise makes you more vulnerable to oncoming traffic, it will save your ears in the long run. Blocking out ambient sound with earbuds or a close backed headset design makes cranking your music up to ear-shattering levels an option rather than a necessity.\nThough there are many options available at the Apple store (www.store.apple.com), you'll typically save a few dollars shopping around at a Web site like www.musiciansfriend.com or eBay. High-end headphones like Bose's Triport ($149) and Sennheiser's HD580 ($270) or its cheaper PMX200 ($60) provide amazing sound quality at a premium price. Turntable manufacturers, like Technics, NuMark and Stanton, also produce their own lines of headphones geared toward DJs. For people turned off by bulky headphones, Etymotic Research produces a several earbud models, and their 6i Isolator Earphones ($149) are made specifically for the iPod. Of course, you can always count on Sony for an affordable headset or earbud. Most companies also produce wireless headsets, so you and your iPod don't have to stay joined at the hip. Ultimately, a little Web research can go a long way when determining the best match for you.