Audio-Technica ATH-CM5 and ATH-EM9r

Although they don’t sound the best, in terms of great design and coolness-factor, these two Audio-Technica models are among our favorites. The CM5 are metal earbuds on aluminum sticks in black, gray, or orange. The EM9r are high-tech, telescoping, aluminum earclips that fit any ear size or shape comfortably. Both are lacking in the bass department, and bettered in sound quality by many headphones that cost less, but there’s no better aesthetic match for your silver iPod mini. Both are Japanese-market models, but they’re available for import by a vendor like AudioCubes (http://www.audiocubes.com/).–Dan Frakes