Tags: creative, earbuds, headphones, sound

10 tips for better home cinema sound

We've assembled this checklist to help you quickly improve the sound of your home theatre system.

The Sennheiser PX 100-II is a very good, stylish set of headphones that will nevertheless live in the shadow of the excellent original.

Audio-Technica ATH-ANC1

The Audio-Technica QuietPoint ATH-ANC1 headphones are a great option for frequent fliers, thanks to their compact, lightweight design, noise-cancellation functionality and good overall sound quality.
LG HLB54S

The HLB54S is LG's first Blu-ray sound bar and comes with a suite of value-added extras, but is more expensive than its rivals.
Monster Beats by Dr. Dre Tour In-Ear Headphones

The Monster Beats by Dr. Dre Tour In-Ear Headphones offer much in the way of style and sound, but the extra-long earpieces may cause comfort and fit issues for some users.
Heartbeats by Lady Gaga Headphones from Monster

The Heartbeats by Lady Gaga Headphones are undeniably unique and there's little doubt that they'll attract fashionistas far and wide, but prospective buyers should be wary of potential fit issues and the overpowering low-end response.
Creative Zen MX

Creative's latest player may have some drawbacks, but it still is a strong contender that provides great value for money.
Asus HP-100U Dolby Headphone Set

Gamers with a penchant for very loud explosions will like the HP-100U, but those who want distinct audio levels will want to listen elsewhere.
Jabra Stone

While we love the style, portability and feature set of the Jabra Stone, it does suffer from a few design and performance issues.
Jabra Halo

Jabra's Halo is stylish to look at, but just too fiddly to use on a regular basis.

The sound of silence: Noise-cancelling headphones

If you're a frequent flyer or even a heavy user of public transport then you need to get yourself one of these sets of noise-cancelling headphones.
Christmas gift ideas under AU$100

Most people will be spending less than AU$100 on Kris Kringle gifts or stocking stuffers, so we've rounded up a bunch of our favourite inexpensive tech gift ideas, from MP3 players to video games and even printers.
Best high-capacity MP3 players

Music hoarders rejoice! Here are a few picks of the top players for those large collections.
Best headphones for audiophiles

With more and more people looking for a fully immersive audio experience, we've listed some of our best headphone picks for audiophiles.

Headphones that project and take pictures

What would a pair of headphones equipped with a camera and projector look like? Quite odd, actually.
Sennheiser pairs with Adidas for new sports headphones

If you're going to make fitness-friendly tech, teaming up with an athletic company is a good way to go. At least Sennheiser thinks so.
Sony Ericsson unveils motion-sensitive headphones

The rumour mill chalks up another point for getting it right again, as Sony Ericsson unveils its latest audio innovation: motion-activated earphones.
Creative's drastic price drop on unreleased MP3

The player hasn't even started shipping yet, but Creative has already dropped the price on its newest flagship, the Creative X-Fi2.

Home cinema systems: Are kits or components right for you?

Whether you want to buy a home theatre in a box or go the components route, you'll need to decide which way is best for you right from the start.
How to buy a flash-based MP3 player

Need an MP3 player that won't weigh you down? Flash-based ones will fit the bill, and here are tips on how to choose one.
Does DVI carry audio signals as well as video?

Does DVI carry audio signals as well as video?
How to set up a subwoofer

Take our easy-to-follow procedures to integrate your powered subwoofer into a component-level home theatre system.

Amazing AVI Screensaver

Enliven your screen with animation.
Mario Screensaver

Display a Mario Brothers screensaver on your desktop.
Compaq Deskpro 4000 Audio Drivers for ESS 1868

Install the Compaq Deskpro 4000/6000 audio drivers for Windows NT 3.5x.
TruVoice for Microsoft Agent

Integrate speech capabilities into your Microsoft Agent characters.