In our ever-evolving iCulture, products will continue to offer more color options, better music storage, smaller players, and the latest photo/phone/video hybrid, but the headphones—those white earbuds—are still the most lackluster element of the audio revolution. So, if you take your music more seriously than the image of having the right-colored headset, swap the standard mp3 player headphones for a pair that elevate your favorite tunes to their full potential.

We recommend Sennheiser's CX300s, high-quality full-stereo ear-canal headphones, a low-cost item that offers the no-hassle convenience of earbuds and the full-sound effects for which the German audio powerhouse is famous. Three different ear-adaptor sizes ensure perfect comfort straight out of the box, and the speakers deliver astounding base levels (some of the best we've heard coming out of ear buds) for such a small package. While the small, lightweight speakers don't entirely mask ambient noise (for that, upgrade to a pair of noise-cancelling headphones like the Sennheiser PXC300s), they do a commendable job of channeling the music into your ear, rather than spilling it out into the street, subway, or cattle-class airline seats. An asymmetrical cable keeps things from getting tangled, the plug has a 90-degree angle to offer unfettered access to the player's controls, and the choice of either black or silver buds will still let you synch your gear with your music-listening mood without sacrificing a decibel of sound.

$79.95; www.sennheiserusa.com