Gear Guide: For your private enjoyment

by Dan Moren, Dan Frakes, Jonathan Seff, Jeff Merron, Jason Snell, Mathew Honan, Playlist Magazine  

When it’s just you and your iPod, you don’t want anything coming between your enjoyment of your music and videos. We kick off our holiday gear guide with some suggestions of headphones that will help you hear every last sound and software that will help you enjoy your handheld player even more—plus a speaker system that’s best used in the privacy of your own home.

Over the top

The iPod’s included earbuds may be fine for many users, but for some—like myself—they simply won’t do. I prefer standard over- or behind-the-head headphones. Not only do I find them more comfortable, but I like that I can hang them around my neck when I’m not using them. Sennheiser’s $60 PX100 headphones provide great sound and they’re lightweight to boot; you can fold them up for storage in an included hardshell case. Best of all, the PX100 headphones won’t cost a bundle, meaning you can save that cash for something else—like a new iPod.—DM

When iPod met YouTube

So you’ve got a video-capable iPod, but nothing to watch on it. Downloading videos from the iTunes Store can get very expensive very quickly, while converting your own DVDs can be time-consuming. Clips from YouTube, on the other hand, are free and short—but how to get them onto your iPod? Stinkbot’s $15 program TubeSock makes it a snap: paste in the video’s URL and hit Save. TubeSock downloads the video, converts it to an iPod-compatible format, and even adds it to iTunes for you. Now you can spend that boring morning commute catching up on what the Internet’s watching.—DM

Can that noise

Although you can get very good noise-canceling headphones for less money, Bose’s Quiet Comfort line has always lived up to its name by offering good noise-cancelation performance with great comfort. The $349 QuietComfort 3 is no exception; they also may be the most comfortable noise-canceling headphones we’ve tested. Instead of using circumaural earpieces that completely cover and enclose each ear (the approach taken by Bose’s QC2), the QC3 features smaller earpieces that sit gently on your outer ears. You don’t get quite as good a seal, so a bit less noise is blocked, but the QC3 is still quite effective at blocking out noise from the outside world—and much more comfortable. You also get a rechargeable battery and compact charger, several adapters for airline use, an extension cable, and a hardshell carrying case.—DAN FRAKES

Go all in

You can’t turn on a television these days without seeing a poker tournament in progress. If you’re looking to hone your own skills—or just while away the hours—there are few things more addictive than Apple’s $5 Texas Hold’em for fifth-generation iPods (including the 30GB and 80GB models just released by Apple ). With enough skill (or luck) you can make your way through six tournaments in different exotic locales to arrive at the $2 million final. The players and settings are top notch, the iPod’s Click Wheel is a great way to control the game, and you can’t beat the price. You may not wind up the next Doyle Brunson or Chris Moneymaker, but at the very least you’ll have some fun.—JONATHAN SEFF

Sporting sound

Koss touts the “computer-optimized neodymium iron boron rare earth magnet structures” that help boost the volume on its $30 SportaPro Stereo Headphones . But if you’re simply looking for a pair of headphones that are comfortable, have very good sound quality, and that will stay put while you’re working out, then who cares? I’ve worn the same pair that I bought years ago with my first iPod, having logged thousands of miles with them. They fit over the ear and don’t block out ambient sound, which I like when I’m running outside. They fold up easily for travel, can be worn behind or over the head, and can take plenty of abuse. I’ve already worn out the pair of foam ear cushions that came with the original pair, but it was a snap to replace them via Koss’s Web site —it’s cheap, too, since, $5 will get you a pair of replacement cushions, which will keep me listening for a few more years.—JEFF MERRON

Flushed with excitement

You might wonder why you need an iPod speaker system for your bathroom. Then again, why should your living room and bedroom have all the fun? Many’s the time that I’ve wanted to catch up on my daily podcasts, or croon along to U2 while in the shower. Atech Flash Technology’s iCarta is a $75 stereo dock for iPods with dock connectors that boasts four moisture-free speakers, a foldable design that makes it easy to transport, and, of course, the much-lauded integrated toilet paper holder. Bathroom reading, your days are numbered.—DM

Keep extraneous noise out…

Once you go in-ear, you never go back. In-ear headphones are a bit more expensive than the earbuds that come with your iPod, but they sound so much better that it’s unquestionably worth it. I’m not an audiophile by any stretch of the imagination, but I will never, ever go back to the inferior sound of earbuds. And recent medical research suggests that in-ear headphones are better for your hearing, because they naturally block out sound so you can listen to music at lower volumes. My current favorites are Ultimate Ears’ $250 SuperFi 5 Pro , but if that’s too rich for your blood, consider the $100 SuperFi 3 Studio .—JASON SNELL

…Or let it in

In-ear-canal (“canalphone”) headphones are great for travel and for use in noise environments: By sealing out most external noise, they let you enjoy music in your own private audio oasis. (They also let you listen at much lower, safer volumes.) The only problem is that you can’t hear things you want to hear, such as a flight attendant, co-worker, or spouse. Shure’s Push-To-Hear (PTH) Control , originally available only with the company’s $500 E500PTH headphones , is now sold separately as a $60 accessory that works with any pair of headphones. This small module, powered by a single AAA battery, connects between your headphones and your audio source; when you need to hear the outside world, flick a switch and a microphone built into the PTH passes external audio through to your headphones. You can adjust the volume of that audio; an included clip lets you attach the PTH to your belt or shirt during those long flights.—DF

Wireless rock

Forever free yourself from the tangled earbud blues. Ten Technology’s $200 NaviPlay Bluetooth Stereo Headset Kit sports a Bluetooth transmitter that jacks into any iPod with a dock connection, while a receiver built into a pair of headphones wirelessly grabs your favorite playlists and singles as they stream through the air. iPod controls built-into the earpiece let you pause, play, adjust the volume and skip tracks without grabbing for your iPod. What’s more, a mike built-into the headset means you can pair the NaviPlay with your Bluetooth-equipped phone or Mac to make calls. While it may not match a high-end wired pairs of headphones for audio quality, the sound is certainly superior to your iPod’s earbuds. So go ahead and cut the cord.—MATHEW HONAN

[ Dan Moren blogs about the Mac at MacUser and about cool new gear at Gadgetbox. Dan Frakes is the senior reviews editor for Playlist . Jonathan Seff is Macworld ’s senior news editor. Jeff Merron is a freelance writer and senior Web site editor for 108 Magazine. Jason Snell is the editorial director of Macworld . Mathew Honan is a San Francisco-based freelance writer who contributes to Playlist . ]