TidBITS#658/09-Dec-02
=====================
Want a free pass to Macworld Expo San Francisco? Read on, but you
can cross the just-cancelled Macworld Tokyo off your calendar.
Recent product releases include PGP 8.0, Default Folder X 1.6.4,
and a slew of updates from Apple. But the bulk of this week's
issue goes to product comparisons with Dan Frakes's look at 30
different worthwhile headphone models and Adam's review of three
elegant laptop stands that improve ergonomics and save valuable
desk space.
Topics:
MailBITS/09-Dec-02
The Laptop Stands, But Not Alone
Music to Your Ears: 2002
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iMac G4/800 with SuperDrive, 15-inch: $1,455; 17-inch: $1,745!
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* DEALMAC: Palm m125 for $89 after rebate, m105 for $80. <----------- NEW!
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* Bare Bones Software BBEdit 7.0 -- New version adds CVS support,
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MailBITS/09-Dec-02
------------------
**A Hearty Mac OS X Welcome to PGP 8.0** -- The recently formed
PGP Corporation, which acquired the encryption utility PGP from
Network Associates earlier this year, has now migrated the product
to Mac OS X (10.2.1 or later). Basic configurations include PGP
8.0 Personal ($40) and PGP 8.0 Freeware (free, and a 5.2 MB
download). The latter, which is what we tried, lacks PGP Disk
functionality for creating and working with encrypted disk images,
but Apple's Disk Copy can fill in some of those gaps. Also missing
is plug-in integration with mail clients, but this too will hardly
be missed, because PGP's functionality is so readily available at
the system level. You can encrypt text via the Services menu (in
those applications where the Services menu is active) and through
the PGP application's Dock menu when the PGP application is
running. You can also encrypt files directly in the Finder via
a contextual menu command. Existing Mac OS 9 keyring files are
recognized and used directly. Encryption algorithms include
powerful modern standards such as Rijndael and CAST. The
interface, which you access through a single application, is
intuitive and Mac OS X-like, except that encryption of files and
the clipboard is mysteriously accessed through the Mail menu and
the PGPmail window, even though these actions aren't inherently
related to mail. The documentation is generally good. Overall,
PGP 8.0 is a delightfully clean and pleasant implementation of
an essential utility for those wishing to protect their files
and communications from prying eyes. [MAN]
<http://www.pgp.com/display.php?pageID=21>
<http://www.pgp.com/display.php?pageID=83>
<http://www.rijndael.com/>
<http://www.faqs.org/rfcs/rfc2144.html>
**Default Folder X 1.6.4 Released** -- St. Clair Software has
updated its utility for intelligently improving Open and Save
dialogs under Mac OS X. Default Folder X 1.6.4 adds an optional
icon to the Dock that can be used to access files or folders
anywhere on your computer by Control-clicking it. Default Folder
now includes an option to disable it in certain programs, works
within Java applications, and includes a number of performance
enhancements and bug fixes. The update is free to registered
users, and is a 2.6 MB download. Registration costs $35, or $20
if you're upgrading from Default Folder 3.x for Mac OS 9. A
competitive upgrade for owners of Power On Software's Action
Files (which is not available under Mac OS X) costs $25. [JLC]
<http://www.stclairsoft.com/DefaultFolderX/>
<http://www.stclairsoft.com/DefaultFolderX/afxgrade.html>
**A Few Updates from Apple** -- During our brief break, Apple
released a number of small but potentially important updates,
all of which should show up in Software Update.
Mac OS 9 versions of the iMac (2.3 MB) and Power Mac (2.5 MB)
SuperDrive Update appeared, providing necessary compatibility with
new 4x DVD-R and 2x DVD-RW media. If you have a SuperDrive, make
sure you have the appropriate updates.
<http://db.tidbits.com/getbits.acgi?tbart=06969>
<http://db.tidbits.com/getbits.acgi?tbart=06987>
<http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=120172>
<http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=120170>
Also released was the Power Mac G4 Firmware Update 4.4.8 for the
Power G4 (Mirrored Drive Doors). It improves fan control behavior
and reduces high-speed fan cycling under Mac OS 9. Most notable
about this firmware update, though, is that you can install it
under Mac OS X, something which hasn't previously been possible
and which played a role in the shoddy engineering that resulted in
some iMacs being rendered inoperable by the Jaguar installer. It's
a 1.2 MB download.
<http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=120171>
<http://db.tidbits.com/getbits.acgi?tbart=06973>
<http://db.tidbits.com/getbits.acgi?tlkthrd=1783>
Lastly, Security Update 2002-11-21 fixes some potential
vulnerabilities in BIND, the domain name server that's included
with, but not turned on in, Mac OS X and Mac OS X Server. If
you're not using BIND (or don't know what it is), this 4.7 MB
security update isn't particularly important, but there's no
harm in installing it. [ACE]
<http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=120169>
**Free Macworld Expo Passes** -- TidBITS readers interested in
attending the upcoming Macworld Expo in San Francisco from
07-Jan-03 through 10-Jan-03 can get free exhibits-only passes
(normally $15 to $35) from our friends at Peachpit Press. To
request passes (you'll receive two per request, so bring a
friend), send an email message to <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
with your name and postal address. The passes are available
on a first-come, first-serve basis, and Peachpit must receive
all requests by 20-Dec-02. And hey, if you take advantage of
this offer, stop by the Peachpit booth to thank them, check
out their books, and chat with authors like Adam Engst,
Jeff Carlson, and Glenn Fleishman. [ACE]
<http://www.macworldexpo.com/macworld2003/>
<http://www.peachpit.com/>
**Macworld Expo Tokyo 2003 Cancelled** -- Following the recent
dustup between Apple and IDG World Expo over the East Coast
Macworld Expo, MacUser UK is now reporting that IDG World Expo has
cancelled Macworld Expo Tokyo in 2003. Apparently, Apple was the
first to pull out, but was soon followed by industry heavyweights
Adobe, Macromedia, and Microsoft. IDG World Expo said the decision
applies only to the 2003 show, and no decisions have been made
regarding future shows. This move lends credence to the theory
that Apple is downplaying expensive trade shows in favor of its
retail network of 50 Apple Stores. Some people have also advanced
the thought that perhaps Apple is disentangling itself from
Macworld Expo in favor of a series of Apple Expo trade shows that
it could control, such as Apple Expo in Paris, the next instance
of which is still scheduled for September 2003. Our question: Just
how important are trade shows to the sense of community that
pervades the Macintosh world? Even though only a small percentage
of Mac users ever attend a Macworld Expo, the shows provide
important milestones for businesses and individuals alike, not to
mention essential personal networking opportunities. Apple should
tread carefully. [ACE]
<http://db.tidbits.com/getbits.acgi?tbart=06966>
<http://www.pcpro.co.uk/news/news_story.php?id=36100>
The Laptop Stands, But Not Alone
--------------------------------
by Adam C. Engst <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
For many people, the attraction of Apple's Titanium PowerBook
G4 is that it almost entirely eliminates the compromises like
performance and screen size that seem endemic to laptop computers.
Even the iBook works fine as a primary computer for many people.
However, both of these computers, like almost all laptops, fall
down in one area: ergonomics. They're great for using on the
couch, in a coffeehouse, or on an airplane, but when the laptop
is sitting on a desk, the screen simply isn't at the correct
height. The problem is obvious - laptops combine keyboards and
screens, but proper ergonomics demands that the keyboard be on the
desk in front of you, whereas the monitor should be positioned so
your arm, held horizontally straight in front of you, points at
the center of your monitor.
(For more information on the ergonomics of laptops, read the
Cornell University Ergonomics Web page, "5 Tips for Using a Laptop
Computer," and their more general computer workstation ergonomic
guidelines.)
<http://ergo.human.cornell.edu/culaptoptips.html>
<http://ergo.human.cornell.edu/ergoguide.html>
If the problem is obvious, so too is the solution: elevate the
laptop and use an external keyboard and mouse. You could plop your
iBook or PowerBook on a box or a stack of books to raise it to the
right height, but that's a clumsy way to support such an elegant
computer and may not provide adequate cooling. If you work in
close quarters and need your desk space for other work, you'll
also want somewhere to stash your keyboard and mouse.
Three companies have looked at how to elevate a laptop to proper
ergonomic height and have come up with remarkably different
answers. Griffin Technologies opted for the minimalist look with
the sleekly designed iCurve. The Plasticsmith took their design
cues for the Lapvantage Dome from the flat-panel iMac. And for the
Dexia Rack, Dexia Design used aircraft-grade aluminum to create
a stand that looks like the cross between a TV dinner tray and
mountain climbing gear. But the three laptop stands don't just
look different, they offer surprisingly different functionality
as well.
I tested these stands in another capacity as well - holding
laptops higher than normal desk height for use while standing
up. Perhaps we're unusual, but we use older laptops in fixed
positions. Tonya's blueberry iBook sends MP3s to our stereo and
provides access to the Web and our Now Up-to-Date & Contact
calendar and contact databases when we're not in our offices.
And my old PowerBook G3 is our main external server and routes
the long-range wireless Internet connection to the rest of the
house. We use both of these laptops standing up, but the shelves
they're on are too low for easy access (particularly for me,
since I'm a good bit taller than Tonya).
**iCurve** -- The most visually striking of the three stands to my
mind is the iCurve from Griffin Technologies. It's made of a
single 1.5 inch (3.8 cm) thick piece of clear, molded plastic with
a curved base and a pair of forward slanting arms for holding your
laptop. Slightly sticky friction pads are inset in the arms to
ensure that your laptop doesn't slide off. The iCurve is exactly
the width of the iBook; the wider Titanium PowerBook G4 would
extend over the arms by a few inches. The front of the iCurve is
about 4 inches (10.2 cm) high, and the back is 6 inches (15.2 cm)
high. With my iBook, that means the top of the screen is at 15.5
inches (39.4 cm) high, or almost exactly the height of the Apple
17-inch Studio Display's active area.
<http://www.griffintechnology.com/products/icurve/>
The clear plastic, cantilevered design, and narrow width of the
iCurve make it almost invisible in a sort of modernist way, which
is particularly attractive if you don't have much space on your
desk. You can easily store your keyboard well out of the way under
your laptop when you're not using it. The base is smooth, so it
slides easily on your desk surface. Although I worried a little
about it being too easily slid off the desk, I did appreciate the
ease with which I could adjust the angle or position of the entire
stand with a mere touch.
The iCurve's slanted arms worked particularly well for our fixed
position laptops, because it put the laptop's keyboard and
trackpad at a more accessible angle. On the downside, the
prototype unit I tested proved a bit bouncy, so typing made the
entire laptop jiggle up and down. Luckily, we seldom type more
than a few words at a time on these machines, and Andrew Green
at Griffin said the production units used somewhat stiffer plastic
to ameliorate this minor irritation.
The iCurve costs $40 and is available directly from Griffin
Technologies and at Apple Stores.
**Lapvantage Dome** -- Take a flat-panel iMac base, give it a
short aluminum arm, and replace the screen with a flat plastic
tray, and you have the Lapvantage Dome. The Lapvantage Dome
Deluxe, which I tested, improves on the standard model by making
the arm (and thus the height of the laptop) adjustable from 4.75
inches (12.1 cm) to 6.5 inches (16.5 cm); the standard model is
fixed at 5.5 inches high (14.0 cm). Either one should bring your
screen close to an ideal height. The base of the Dome Deluxe also
swivels 360 degrees (the standard model is fixed), and its
platform is made of polished clear acrylic supported by another,
smaller piece of opaque plastic, rather than just the plastic
piece for the standard model.
<http://www.lapvantage.com/dome>
The Lapvantage Dome feels like the most massive of the three
stands, due to its 10 inch (25.4 cm) diameter hemispheric base,
and a tray that's 13.5 inches (34.3 cm) wide and 11.25 inches
(28.6 cm) deep. Although the tray is notably larger than my
diminutive iBook, which is only 11.25 inches (28.6 cm) wide, the
iBook covers the lower opaque plastic piece perfectly, simulating
the look of the flat-panel iMac's screen, with its clear acrylic
edge. A Titanium PowerBook G4 would cover much more of the
surface. The Dome isn't heavy, but its rubber-footed base provides
solid support - it feels the least wobbly of the three stands.
Unfortunately, the base also prevents you from sliding your
keyboard as far under the platform as with the other two.
I appreciated adjustable height, although the 1.75 inch (4.5 cm)
range isn't all that much. I also liked the way I could rotate
the base easily for someone else to see without having to slide
the entire stand; with laptop LCD screens, being able to view the
screen straight on is important.
The Lapvantage Dome costs $50, and the Dome Deluxe runs $80. Both
models are available in either white or black, and you can order
them directly from The Plasticsmith.
**Dexia Rack** -- Both the iCurve and the Dome were designed
purely with the desktop in mind. Dexia Design considered the
desktop while designing the Dexia Rack, but didn't stop there,
creating a stand that's as at home on a couch as on your desk.
To hold your laptop, the Dexia Rack uses an aluminum 14-inch by
11-inch (35.6 cm by 27.9 cm) tray, the middle third of which is
open to provide cooling and reduce weight. A pair of sculpted
aluminum legs fold out from the bottom of the tray to provide
support. When extended, the legs are 20 inches wide (50.8 cm),
offering sufficient space either for stashing your keyboard,
should you be working at a desk, or to span the legs of most
people, should you be sitting in a chair, couch, or bed. They
raise the tray to a height of 7 inches (17.8 cm), which puts
the top of my iBook's screen at about 16 inches (40.6 cm) again,
a generally reasonable viewing height. Two thin metal cables
crisscross underneath the tray to prevent the legs from folding
too far out. When closed and locked, which they do with a
satisfying snap, the legs fit neatly under the tray, making
for a neat and easily portable package that's only .75 inch
(1.9 cm) thick and weighs less than 1.5 pounds (.68 kg).
<http://www.dexiadesign.com/>
The width of the Dexia Rack, which is necessary to accommodate a
full-sized keyboard or your legs, results in the tray being more
appropriately sized for the Titanium PowerBook G4 than the iBook.
The Dexia Rack also requires a wider surface area than either of
the other two stands, although its actual footprint is tiny. The
tray has indentations on either side that reduce the chance of
laptops without rubber feet from sliding off, but adding rubber
feet (try Radio Shack) would decrease the chance of accident. The
Dexia Rack also lacks rubber bumpers on its smooth aluminum feet,
which makes it slide on your desk well and prevents it from
catching on loose couch or bed surfaces.
Although I enjoy the warmth of my iBook during this cold time of
year, in the heat of the summer, I hate the hot iBook making my
legs sweat. I also find the weight of the iBook becomes
uncomfortable during long writing sessions. The Dexia Rack neatly
solves this problem by supporting the laptop well above your legs,
while still keeping it low enough for comfortable typing. Keeping
in mind that everyone's proportions are different, I found the
Dexia Rack most comfortable when I was sitting straight up. The
more I reclined (as I'm wont to do in bed, particularly), the
harder it was to align my arms flat with the keyboard without
bending my wrists. I have a long torso and arms, so it's possible
others wouldn't encounter this problem as much.
I haven't had the Dexia Rack long enough to try it on a trip,
but I do intend to take it with me on Christmas vacation or to
Macworld Expo in January. I'm looking forward to trying it while
on the road, since I often find myself working on couches and in
hotel room beds (hotel room desks, when present, are often at a
terrible height for my wrists).
The Dexia Rack costs $45 and is sold mostly through college
bookstores and computer stores, although you can also order
directly from Dexia Design via email or phone.
**TidBITS Buying Advice** -- All three stands elevate your laptop
and provide a place to stash your keyboard. None of them obstruct
your access to side- or rear-mounted ports, and all are priced
between $40 and $80. With the possible exception of the Lapvantage
Dome Deluxe, they're also somewhat at the mercy of your work
surface. Many tables and desks (such as my dining room table)
are too high for comfortable typing, and when I instead used my
properly adjusted desk as my work surface, the screen height
dropped a bit below ideal.
Despite their commonalities, each of these laptop stands worked
well and will appeal to a different type of user. The $40 iCurve
is the least flexible of the three, but it's stunningly elegant
for those who appreciate sleek design, and its minimalist approach
worked particularly well with our fixed position laptops. The
Plasticsmith's sturdy Lapvantage Dome Deluxe looks a bit bulky and
costs the most at $80, but it alone lets you adjust the height of
your screen and it's the sturdiest of the three. And whereas the
iCurve and the Dome will never leave the desk, the foldable Dexia
Rack fits into your laptop bag for travel and can support your
laptop over your lap on a couch or in a hotel bed, providing
particularly welcome spacing between the toasty laptop and your
legs in hot weather.
You won't go wrong with any of these stands, I'm happy to say,
making them an excellent alternative to suffering with poor laptop
ergonomics or haphazardly stacking your laptop on a teetering pile
of books.
PayBITS: Was this review of laptop stands helpful? Why not drop
Adam a few bucks via Amazon's Honor System. No account needed!
<http://www.amazon.com/paypage/P37EEXCQ66S28J>
Read more about PayBITS: <http://www.tidbits.com/paybits/>
Music to Your Ears: 2002
------------------------
by Dan Frakes <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
As I wrote at around this time last year (see "Miscellaneous Gift
Ideas" in TidBITS-609_), headphones are some of the most common
computer-related accessories. Earbuds come with the iPod, and
many people use headphones for watching DVDs, playing games, or
listening to tunes while they work or play. I always carry a pair
with my iBook, and I have friends whose PowerBook G4 headphone
jacks are always driving a pair.
<http://db.tidbits.com/getbits.acgi?tbart=06657>
The problem - which hasn't changed since a year ago and probably
won't any time soon - is that most headphones stink. That's
especially true of those that come with portable audio devices
and even many of those you buy yourself in electronics stores.
Even the updated iPod earbuds, though an improvement, are nothing
to write home about.
Since my article last year, some of the headphones I recommended
have been discontinued, and impressive new models have been
released (bumping some previous recommendations off the list).
Below, listed by portability, are my updated recommendations. If
there's someone in your life who uses headphones, get them a pair
that do their music/movies/games justice.
(As I mentioned last year, there are definitely headphones
available that are "better" than those listed below. However, few
of those will actually sound better without a separate headphone
amplifier. The models listed below are my recommendations that
will work well directly out of an iPod or the headphone jack on
your PowerBook or desktop Mac.
[Editor's note: As we were putting this article together, we found
to our dismay that many headphone manufacturers share a tendency
to obfuscate the Web locations of their products, either using
framed pages or long, nearly human-unreadable, database-derived
URLs. Where possible, we've included specific URLs; otherwise,
you can find certain models by going to the companies' main
Web sites. -Jeff]
<http://www.etymotic.com/>
<http://www.sonystyle.com/>
<http://www.koss.com/>
<http://www.beyerdynamic.com/product.html>
<http://www.gradolabs.com/>
**Earbuds** -- These models sit in your ear, like the iPod earbuds.
* Sennheiser MX 500 ($17): Still considered the best all-around
traditional earbud, and one of the least expensive to boot.
<http://www.sennheiser.com/sennheiser/icm_eng.nsf/root/
products_headphones_portables_04854>
* Sony MDR-E888 ($70): Sony's best earbuds; not quite as balanced
as the MX 500, but still pretty good. Unfortunately, they're
almost four times the price.
**In-Ear-Canal Headphones** -- These "seal" in your ear canal to
block out external sound, and are great for traveling. Be sure
to read the included instructions on how to get the right fit.
* Etymotic ER-4P ($260): The best earbud/canal 'phones on the
planet by leaps and bounds, and one of the best headphones in the
world, period. The ER-4P actually fit inside the ear canal and
provide far more isolation (-28 dB) and better sound than any
noise-cancelling headphone on the market, making them the ultimate
travel headphones. The main drawback (besides the price) is that
some people don't like sticking things inside their ears...
way inside.
* Etymotic ER-6 ($130): The "budget" version of the ER-4P. These
don't sound quite as good (most notably in the bass), and don't
provide as much isolation (-20 dB), but they're still excellent
and are half the price.
* Sony MDR-EX70 ($60): I'm not a big fan of these headphones -
their sound isn't on par with most of the other headphones here -
but they're the only "inexpensive" in-ear-canal alternative to the
Etymotics I can recommend. Plus, if you like a lot of extra bass,
these will please.
**Earclips** -- Instead of using a headband like traditional
headphones, the drivers on these headphones hang on each ear.
Earclips tend to be comfortable, and won't mess up your hair.
* Koss KSC-35 ($30): The KSC-35 are officially discontinued, but
they're such a great buy that I feel obligated to mention them -
you can still find them at stores like Circuit City and on the
Web. Small, lightweight, and comfortable, they offer some of the
best sound under $100. Definitely the best headphone available
for exercise and active use, and one of the best bargains in
headphones. Worth tracking down if you are looking for this
style of headphones.
* Koss KSC-50 ($20): The new version of the KSC-35, they're still
very good, but not quite on par with the original. Still, hard
to beat for $20.
* Audio-Technica ATH-EM7 ($75): These new earclips are all the
rage among the "image" crowd - not for their sound, but for their
looks, which are admittedly cool. Don't get me wrong, they don't
sound bad; they just don't give you the bang for the buck. If you
want earphones with a high-tech look for your iPod, these are the
ticket.
<http://www.audio-technica.co.jp/products/hp/ath-em7.html>
**Lightweight Headphones** -- These are traditional over-the-head
headphones using a metal or plastic headband. Koss is still the
king here, as they have an entire line of portable headphones
using a driver that is much better than anything else on the
market. However, Sennheiser has just released a new line of
lightweight/portable headphones that are excellent and finally
give the Koss models some competition.
* Koss PortaPro ($40): Traditional headband with adjustable grip
for comfort.
* Koss KSC-55 ($15-$20): "Streetstyle" headband that rests behind
the head/neck.
* Koss SportaPro ($20): Adjustable headband that can be worn over
the head or behind the neck.
* Koss KTXPRO1 ($19): It had to happen eventually - "iMac" fruit-
colored headphones.
* Sennheiser PX 100 ($50): A cool portable headphone that folds up
like a pair of glasses.
<http://www.sennheiser.com/sennheiser/icm_eng.nsf/root/
products_headphones_portables_05206>
* Sennheiser PX 200 ($60): The "closed" version of the PX 100 -
meaning it seals around each ear to block out some degree of
external noise.
<http://www.sennheiser.com/sennheiser/icm_eng.nsf/root/
products_headphones_portables_05207>
**Sealed, Full-Size** -- These headphones fit over or around the
ears and block out some degree of external noise; they're good
for travel or use in noisier environments (the isolation also
saves others from having to listen to your music).
* Beyerdynamic DT250-80 ($150): Probably the best traditional
sealed headphone that can be powered by a portable device;
they're comfortable and have great sound.
* Sony MDR-V6 ($70). Quite comfortable, foldable for travel, and
built like a tank, the V6 are studio monitor headphones, which
means you get sound that is quite analytical (lots of detail, but
some people find the sound fatiguing after a while). The V6 are
identical to the "pro" line MDR-7506 that sell for $40-$50 more,
but very different from the MDR-V600, which are nowhere near as
good.
* Sennheiser HD 280 Pro ($100): Like the Sony MDR-V6, these are
studio monitor headphones that fold up for travel. They don't
have the impressive bass response of the V6, but the 280 Pro
offer the most isolation of _any_ headphones save the Etymotics
mentioned above.
* Sennheiser HD 212 Pro ($50): Sennheiser clearly didn't spend
their money on build quality for these headphones, but they sound
good, especially for the money. Also a great choice if you like
bass.
<http://www.sennheiser.com/sennheiser/icm_eng.nsf/root/
products_headphones_dj_05180>
* Beyerdynamic DT231 ($90): Another good, closed headphone that
probably falls between the two Sennheiser models.
**Open, Full-Size** -- These models don't seal out noise, and tend
to be bulkier than the lightweight models above, but they're great
for listening at home.
* Grado SR-60 ($70) or SR-80 ($90): Not the most comfortable
headphones out-of-the-box, but great sounding for the money -
the SR-80 is a major bargain in high-end headphones, and the
SR-60 isn't far behind. (Grado also makes a $40 model, the SR-40,
but the SR-60 is well worth the extra $20.)
* Sennheiser HD 497 ($60): Last year I recommended the HD 495, but
cautioned that they needed a dedicated amp; since then Sennheiser
has released the excellent HD 497, which sound great directly out
of an iPod or computer. Like the 212 Pro above, Sennheiser won't
win any awards for build quality, but you get a great sounding
headphone that's also fairly comfortable.
<http://www.sennheiser.com/sennheiser/icm_eng.nsf/root/
products_headphones_homeuse_minihifisystems_05179>
**Noise-Cancelling** -- These gadgets have a processor that
"cancels" out external noise in a limited frequency range. Until
this year I really couldn't recommend any headphones in this
category because noise-cancelling technology is still no match
for good old isolation (see the Etymotics above), and almost every
model on the market sacrificed audio quality for noise-cancelling
circuitry, leaving you with fairly poor sound. This year there is
finally a pair of noise-cancelling headphones worth mentioning,
and they're half the price of the disappointing-but-expensive Bose
offering that seems to be advertised in every magazine in America.
* Sennheiser PXC 250 ($150): Virtually the same headphones as the
PX 200 above, but with noise-cancelling circuitry. Lightweight,
comfortable, and a good travel solution if you don't like
in-ear-canal models.
<http://www.sennheiser.com/sennheiser/icm_eng.nsf/root/press_releases_pxc250>
**Wireless** -- For use at home, wireless systems let you move
around without being tethered to your computer or audio source by
cables. Like noise-cancelling headphones, it used to be difficult
to recommend a wireless headphone system because they simply
sounded lousy compared to even cheap wired headphones. However,
a couple of impressive systems have surfaced that make wireless
a viable, if not perfect, option for those who value good sound.
* Amphony H1000 ($130, uses digital radio frequency technology).
One of the least expensive wireless systems on the market, but
also one of the best sounding because it uses a new technology
that combines digital and RF technology. They're also quite
comfortable. One caveat for wireless network users: the Amphony
system uses a set of frequencies very close to those of the 2.4
GHz 802.11b (AirPort) wireless protocol, and the two do not co-
exist well. Amphony is supposedly working on a new version that
avoids this problem.
<http://www.amphony.com/products/head.htm>
* Freespan xdream ($200, uses infrared technology). Another great
sounding, and comfortable, wireless system, the xdream uses
infrared technology rather than RF. The downside is that you need
to have line of sight between yourself and the transmitter; the
upside is that there is no RF interference (a major problem in
most homes nowadays).
<http://www.xdreamfones.com/>
**Where To Buy?** In the United States, most of the headphones
mentioned can be found at a good headphone-only retailer like
HeadRoom or GoodCans, and a few of the Koss and Sennheiser models
can be found at the big electronics chain stores. The Sony V6
headphones are quite hard to find; DJ Mart is one of the few
places that still carry them.
<http://www.headphone.com/>
<http://www.goodcans.com/>
<http://www.djmart.com/>
If sound quality isn't your primary goal, and you're instead
looking for the latest in headphone chic, Audio Cubes and
MiniDisco both carry a wide variety of style-over-sound models
(the ATH-EM7 mentioned above is available from Audio Cubes).
<http://www.audiocubes.com/>
<http://www.minidisco.com/>
Finally, if you're interested in learning more about, or just
talking about, good headphone audio, check out Head-Fi and
HeadWize.
<http://www.head-fi.org/>
<http://www.headwize.com/>
$$
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