Tags: ear, sound

Sony Walkman W-series (2GB) NWZ-W202

The Sony W-series Walkman is a great option for active users who want an all-in-one music device to use while working out.

The iPhone 3GS is faster and we appreciate the new features and extended battery life, but call quality and 3G reception still need improvement.

Sony Ericsson W995

The W995 under-performs where it counts. The screen is small and of a low-resolution, the web browser doesn't inspire web browsing, and worst of all, the W995 is just too expensive.
Cowon D2+

The Cowon D2+ is a sturdy little touchscreen MP3 player with flexible sound enhancement settings and useful features, but it hasn't changed much from the 2007 version.
Creative Aurvana Air

The Creative Aurvana Air is a beautiful looking and sounding set of headphones, but it's expensive and not suited to public transport.
Palm Pre

With webOS, Palm goes past matching its competitors and offers something more. The Pre might not be a home run, but it is an indication of good things to come.
Sony Walkman X-series (16GB) NWZ-X1050

Great sound, brilliant OLED touchscreen, noise cancellation and as much YouTube as your Wi-Fi can handle. Shame about the extortionate price.
Onkyo TX-SR607

If you can overlook its poor analog video conversion, the Onkyo TX-SR607 offers up a ton of HDMI connectivity and excellent sound quality for a mid-range AV receiver.
AKG K 702

The AKG K 702 Open Back Dynamic Reference Headphones offer an ultra-comfortable way to enjoy sound that is remarkably more open than most sets; they're like personal speakers for your head.
Roberts Stream 202

One of the most intuitive in its operation, the Roberts Stream 202 is a fine sounding and easy-to-use portable device.

MP3s for Mother's Day

Forget sneaking around in the kitchen in the early hours of Mother's Day trying to throw together a continental brunch for your dear mum. Wake her up with the sound of her favourite music, as heard via a new MP3 player, headphones or sound system.
Format wars: the tech that should have won

Did you love Laserdisc? Were you bonkers over Betamax? Do you cry yourself to sleep because BeOS never hit the big time? Fret no more -- superdork Captain Tech is here to travel back in time and save the format losers that should have triumphed.
Bringing gigs home on your phone

With most mobile phones now sporting cameras of 2-megapixel resolution or higher, concerts have become fair game for fans keen on capturing the experience for sharing with fellow band devotees. But is the resulting footage any good? We took a phone to a gig to find out.
Hear this: JBL's new headphone range

JBL yesterday launched its first headphone range, releasing six models aimed at travellers, sporty types and those with a fervent desire to nix the sounds of the outside world.

3D means new rules for directors

The rise of 3D technology for movies and television will force a change in how directors tell stories.
The spellbinding Zen Bound for iPhone

It may not bring you closer to Nirvana, but Zen Bound's beautiful graphics and mellow soundtrack are likely to relax you more than any other iPhone title.
Sennheiser's HD 800 headphones

If you've got US$1,400 to burn on a sweet pair of headphones, read on because that's what Sennheiser's new HD 800 will retail for when they come out in February.
Ears-on with Shure's SE115 headphones

Shure unveiled its new SE115 line of in-ear headphones today at Macworld 2009.

Subwoofer set-up guide

Merely buying a great subwoofer is no guarantee you'll wind up with great bass — properly setting it up in your home is crucial. This guide will tell you how to get the most from your subwoofer.
How to connect your HDTV

In this guide, we help make connecting your TV to the rest of your system less intimidating, and explain all the relevant technologies.
How to make your music sound better

From noise-cancelling headphones to software tweaks, we show you how to get the most out of your music -- and highlight some must-have products for tune lovers.
Headphone Buying Guide

Headphones come in all shapes and sizes, spanning the gamut from small and sporty to large and professional. Junking the set supplied with your MP3 player is also the easiest way to improve its sound quality. We step you through the ins and outs, as well as the technical mumbo jumbo.