Shop for portable audio devices

• CNET Editor rating:
  3.5 stars Very good

  Overall score: 7.3 (3.5 stars)
• Average user rating: 4.5 stars out of 1 review

The Bottom Line: The Monster Beats by Dr. Dre Tour In-Ear Headphones offer much in the way of style and sound, but the extra-long earpieces my cause comfort and fit issues for some users. Read review

• CNET Editor rating:
  4.0 stars Excellent

  Overall score: 8.0 (4.0 stars)
• Average user rating: 4.0 stars out of 72 reviews

The Bottom Line: The Zune 120, with a unique focus on music discovery, is a fierce competitor to the iPod Classic. The Zune's substantial storage capacity combined with its Zune Pass music subscription makes it an ideal solution for restless music fans with large appetites. Read review

Specs: Digital player / radio, AAC, MP3, WMA, WMAPro, Audible, 120 GB, Lithium ion Rechargeable Player batteryIntegrated

• CNET Editor rating:
  4.0 stars Excellent

  Overall score: 8.0 (4.0 stars)
• Average user rating: 3.5 stars out of 47 reviews

The Bottom Line: V-Moda's Bass Freq earphones are the perfect accessory for bass-loving Creative Zen Micro owners who are on a budget. If you prefer less low end, look elsewhere. Read review

Specs: Headphones, Ear-bud, Bling bling black, Stereo, Mini-phone stereo 3.5 mm, Gold plated connectors

• CNET Editor rating:
  4.0 stars Excellent

  Overall score: 8.7 (4.0 stars)
• Average user rating: 4.0 stars out of 8 reviews

The Bottom Line: Thanks to excellent sound quality, integrated noise-canceling functionality, and several smart music sorting options, the Sony S-Series Walkman is a superb choice for music aficionados. Read review

Specs: Digital player / radio, 8 GB, AAC, MP3, WAV, WMA, Protected WMA (DRM), Lithium ion Rechargeable Player batteryIntegrated

• CNET Editor rating:
  4.0 stars Excellent

  Overall score: 8.3 (4.0 stars)
• Average user rating: 4.0 stars out of 42 reviews

The Bottom Line: Koss hit a home run with the PortaPros. Love or hate the design, there's no denying the sound quality here: they're the ideal companion for mobile audiophiles and home theater enthusiasts. Read review

Specs: Headphones, Semi-open, Stereo, Mini-phone stereo 3.5 mm, Foldable, Lifetime Limited warranty

• CNET Editor rating:
  4.0 stars Excellent

  Overall score: 8.5 (4.0 stars)
• Average user rating: 3.5 stars out of 42 reviews

The Bottom Line: The fourth-generation iPod Nano is easy on the eyes and the wallet, and you can't beat its hardware and user interface design. Just be sure to give iTunes 8 a spin before committing. Read review

Specs: Digital player, 8 GB, AAC, MP3, WAV, AIFF, Audible, Apple Lossless, Lithium ion Rechargeable Player batteryIntegrated

• CNET Editor rating:
  3.5 stars Very good

  Overall score: 7.7 (3.5 stars)
• Average user rating: 4.0 stars out of 5 reviews

The Bottom Line: The JVC HA-NC250 Noise Canceling Headphones make a great travel companion for those who demand quality sound. And they may not be cheap, but they seem that way next to the Bose QuietComfort 3. Read review

Specs: Headphones, Ear-cup, 5.3 oz, Stereo, Mini-phone stereo 3.5 mm, Foldable, Noise canceling circuit, Noise-Cancelling Switch

• CNET Editor rating:
  4.0 stars Excellent

  Overall score: 8.0 (4.0 stars)
• Average user rating: 4.0 stars out of 33 reviews

The Bottom Line: The Samsung YP-P2 is an excellent-sounding MP3 player that will appeal to those looking for a cool touch-screen interface and stereo Bluetooth capability. Read review

Specs: Digital player / radio, 8 GB, MP3, WMA, Lithium polymer Rechargeable Player battery

• CNET Editor rating:
  4.0 stars Excellent

  Overall score: 8.5 (4.0 stars)
• Average user rating: 3.0 stars out of 16 reviews

The Bottom Line: The fourth-generation iPod Nano is easy on the eyes and the wallet, and you can't beat its hardware and user interface design. Just be sure to give iTunes 8 a spin before committing. Read review

Specs: Digital player, 16 GB, AAC, MP3, WAV, AIFF, Audible, Apple Lossless, Lithium ion Rechargeable Player batteryIntegrated

• CNET Editor rating:
  4.0 stars Excellent

  Overall score: 8.0 (4.0 stars)
• Average user rating: 3.5 stars out of 52 reviews

The Bottom Line: With the QuietComfort 3s, Bose has done a remarkable job of shrinking its popular noise-canceling headphones while achieving similarly impressive sound quality--but that engineering feat doesn't come cheap. Read review

Specs: Headphones, Ear-cup, 5.6 oz, Stereo, Noise canceling circuit

• CNET Editor rating:
  4.0 stars Excellent

  Overall score: 8.3 (4.0 stars)
• Average user rating: 3.5 stars out of 88 reviews

The Bottom Line: We're hard-pressed to find anything not to like about the Creative Zen. It's a great option for anyone looking for a great-sounding, pocketable MP3 player with an excellent, video-capable screen and plenty of extra features. Read review

Specs: Digital player / radio, 16 GB, AAC, MP3, WAV, WMA, ADPCM, Audible, 1 x Lithium ion Rechargeable Player batteryIntegrated

• CNET Editor rating:
  4.0 stars Excellent

  Overall score: 8.0 (4.0 stars)
• Average user rating: 2.5 stars out of 14 reviews

The Bottom Line: If you own a new iPod, the Apple In-Ear headphones are a great value. Owners of iPhones and older iPods will have to decide whether the mic and remote compatibility issues are worth overlooking for the substantial boost in sound quality. Read review

Specs: Headset, In-ear ear-bud, 0.4 oz, Stereo, Mini-phone 3.5 mm 4-pole, Remote control, Volume control, Play/pause button

• CNET Editor rating:
  4.0 stars Excellent

  Overall score: 8.0 (4.0 stars)
• Average user rating: 3.5 stars out of 19 reviews

The Bottom Line: The SanDisk Sansa Fuze is a great value--a slim design, simple interface, plentiful features, memory expansion capability, and solid sound quality all come with an easy-to-swallow price tag. Read review

Specs: Digital player / radio, 8 GB, FLAC, Ogg Vorbis, Audible, WAV, WMA, MP3, Rechargeable Player batteryInternal

• CNET Editor rating:
  4.0 stars Excellent

  Overall score: 8.7 (4.0 stars)
• Average user rating: 4.0 stars out of 49 reviews

The Bottom Line: Travel-happy audiophiles will be infinitely pleased with the Shure SE530s, but these earbuds should also be a consideration for anyone who has half a grand to drop on some sweet headphones. Read review

Specs: Headphones, In-ear ear-bud, 1.1 oz, Stereo, Mini-phone stereo 3.5 mm, Gold-plated plug, 2 years Limited warranty Parts and labor

• CNET Editor rating:
  2.5 stars Average

  Overall score: 5.7 (2.5 stars)
• Average user rating: 3.0 stars out of 208 reviews

The Bottom Line: The Bose In-Ear Headphones are a hybrid set, falling right between regular earbuds and canalphones. They don't block out noise, but they do provide much more bass than stock earbuds--almost too much, in fact. Read review

Specs: Headphones, Ear-bud, Black, 0.6 oz, Mini-phone stereo 3.5 mm, TriPort acoustic headphone structure

• CNET Editor rating:
  3.5 stars Very good

  Overall score: 7.3 (3.5 stars)
• Average user rating: 3.5 stars out of 112 reviews

The Bottom Line: If you're looking for an affordable, decent-sounding pair of earbuds, start with the Sennheiser CX 300. Sennheiser's first in-ear design sounds like a winner to us. Read review

Specs: Headphones, In-ear canalphone, Black, 0.1 oz, Stereo, Mini-phone stereo 3.5 mm, 2 years Limited warranty

• CNET Editor rating:
  3.5 stars