On the turboprop plane down to Kite Boarding camp in North Carolina the hot blue and green $70 On Ear headphones blocked out a good deal of the background noise, including Blam's snoring in the seat in front of mine. They aren't advertised as noise canceling, but the smaller than average ear cups fit securely around my ears and were super comfortable (you can adjust them "DJ style" to fit behind your head). Besides being able to sleep comfortably with them on, music sounded crisp when awake. However, they didn't make surf song classics like "Wipe Out" sound any more tolerable.

I also took along a pair of the bright pink and orange $40 In Earphones which have a mic for making calls. The sound quality wasn't anything to write home about and is on par with Apple's standard earbuds. The mic didn't pick up much background noise, even while sitting outside near the water.

The Roxy headphones didn't make me a better surfer or kite boarder, though neither did the $50 Roxy board shorts I bought. But at least with the help of JBL they offer good sound and should get a chiseled surfer dude, like Laird Hamilton to at least look my way. [Roxy]

Summermodo is a chance for Giz to get outside and test our gear where it belongs.

We're resurrecting this piece in honor of Listening Test, and although we did our testing in November of last year (and a lot has happened since then), the results have held up well. That is, except for one huge exception: The SE115, heir to the legacy of the SE110, has acceded the throne, replacing the SE110 as prince of the sub-$150 earphones and overall king, and inviting a lazy, inconsistent royalty metaphor from one Gizmodo writer.

Listening Test: It's music tech week at Gizmodo.

Price: $80

The Verdict: After a history of offering lackluster earbuds, Apple has come through with a product that sounds really good and is reasonably priced, all things considered. The balanced sound and dual drivers makes all the difference in the quality factor. While not necessarily thumpy, the bass has a nice resonance without drowning out many of the high end intricacies found in jazz or electronic music. The midrange audio is relatively flat and doesn't overpower your ears, which is nice because it allows the high end noises to really stand out, letting you hear things you don't get from your car or computer speakers.

To see how they stacked up in the headphone scheme of things, I tested them against a pair of standard iPod headphones, the premium Zune headphones, and the Shure SE110s, the winner of our earphone battlemodo.

• Unsurprisingly, the Apple In-Ears outclassed the normal iPod earphones in every category, providing superior sound and comfort.

• The Zune Premium Headphones v2, which are very good for only costing $30-$40, had bass that was a bit punchier, but could not compete against the mids and highs of the Apple In-Ears. If you really like bass or a lower price, you might favor the Zune headphones, which more than get the job done. But on sound quality alone, the Apple In-Ear headphones are superior.

• Compared to the Shure SE110s, the Apple In-Ear headphones don't quite match up. It's not a stark difference between the two, but the SE110s are superior in almost every category, from bass, to high end clarity. Part of that is because the Apple In-Ears don't have the noise isolation capability, and partly because they're just not quite as good. And though theyre $40 cheaper than the SE110s MSRP, you can find the SE110s at some online outlets as low as $75.

As far as remote capabilities go, I tested the Apple In-ear headphones with an iPhone 3G and a first gen iPod touch (neither of which are officially supported. As Apple claims, the audio works fine with both devices. Neither the remote or the mic work with the iPod touch 1G at all, merely reducing it to a pair of headphones. On the iPhone 3G, you can't use the volume. You can still play/pause a song, answer/end a call, change tracks and make use of the microphone. But all of those work perfectly fine on the iPhone.

Overall, the Apple In-Ear Headphones are a quality product at a fairly reasonable price. They sound great, and work as expected. That said, unless you really need a remote on your headphones (or just want to show the world you're a card-carrying member of the Cult of Apple), there are still a couple of better values out there. Still, Apple's latest headphone offering is not a bad choice. [Apple]

The prices of the MPA bundles now match the current retail prices for just the headphones on Shure's site, so you'll save around $50 across the board. Pair that with the company's top-notch service and warranties (they'll replace your phones via FedEx for just about any failure for a period of 2 years after purchase), and you've got a solid deal all around.

SE102MPA: $99.99 retail price; $119.99 MSRP
SE110MPA: $129.99 retail price; $154.99 MSRP
SE210MPA: $179.99 retail price; $214.99 MSRP
SE310MPA: $279.99 retail price; $334.99 MSRP
SE420MPA: $379.99 retail price; $429.99 MSRP
SE530MPA: $469.99 retail price; $519.99 MSRP

Shure Introduces SE102MPA Sound Isolating™ Stereo Headset

New $99 Bundled Music + Mobile Accessory Turns "Everyday Audiophile"
into "Everyday Superuser"

NILES, IL, September 2, 2008 – Shure Incorporated today unveiled the
$99.99 SE102MPA Sound Isolating™ Stereo Headset, a new entry-level
accessory that brings a premium audio and communication experience to
price-conscious iPhone and smartphone owners. It offers Shure's newest
SE earphone model bundled with the company's wildly popular Music
Phone Adapter (MPA).

When the iPhone launched in June 2007, Shure was there to deliver.
The company brought its 80-year professional audio legacy to iPhone
enthusiasts everywhere with the MPA, one of the first premium
accessories to seamlessly marry listening and communicating. Now,
with a better-than-ever iPhone and host of new multi-function devices
exploding onto the scene, Shure is innovating once again with an
entire line of do-it-all bundled accessories that maximize converged
device performance for every level of user.

According to the CEA/GfK Worldwide Consumer Electronics Sales &
Forecast, global sales of mobile phones and smartphones were $156
billion in 2007 (1.09 billion units) and are expected to reach $178
billion in 2008 (more than 1.2 billion units). With Apple paving the
way, it's clear that the promise of convergence is unfolding.
Multi-function devices no longer have to sacrifice performance in one
area to achieve it in another, and as a result, new buyers are
investing in converged devices and in the accessories that maximize
device performance. After witnessing the phenomenal success of its
MPA, Shure anticipated growing demand for bundled products that would
offer consumers their favorite Shure earphone models packaged with an
MPA. With the SE Sound Isolating™ Stereo Mobile Headsets, Shure
enthusiasts at every level can enjoy a premium listening and
communication experience no matter when and how they're using their
converged devices.

"Smartphones are the new 'it' devices because users no longer have to
abandon who they are to benefit from smartphone technology," said Mark
Karnes, Executive Director, Global Marketing, Shure. "With Apple
offering the first true medium, audiences from casual users to
musicphiles, moviephiles and constantly-connected business users can
get it all from one device. They want the same from accessories — one
high-performance, bundled accessory that maximizes everything their
device offers — and this is exactly what Shure is delivering with its
new bundled headset line."

The SE102MPA Sound Isolating Stereo Headset

Designed for iPhone owners in search of a seamless music plus mobile
experience at an affordable price, the SE102MPA delivers premium sound
and one-touch call answering. Interchangeable Sound Isolating™
Sleeves and an inline microphone guarantee clear communication, even
in noisy environments. A unique cable design allows the user to
remove the MPA for additional versatility and convenience.

Additional SE102MPA features

Dynamic MicroSpeakers: Professional-grade Dynamic MicroSpeakers bring
premium, rock star sound quality to the "everyday audiophile."
Low-profile VoicePort™ Microphone: Tuned to enhance intelligibility
regardless of background noise, this professional grade Shure
microphone uses VoicePort technology to provide superior sound quality
and ensure that callers hear each other clearly even in noisy
environments.

Modular Cable Design: Shure is now extending the modularity concept it
pioneered with its SE models to its SE Sound Isolating Stereo Mobile
Headsets. An interchangeable cable provides unmatched flexibility and
boundless options for consumers to personalize their converged
devices.

Sound Isolating Sleeves: Shure signature Sound Isolating Sleeves
prevent outside noise from interfering with a consumer's audio
experience and block more background noise than active noise
cancellation technology. Interchangeable earphone fit options deliver
unparalleled personal customization and comfort.
Carrying Pouch/Included Accessories: The SE102MPA is packaged with a
zipper-less drawstring pouch and three pairs of soft flex sleeves (S,
M, L).

Shure SE Sound Isolating Stereo Mobile Headsets (SE110MPA, SE210MPA,
SE310MPA, SE420MPA, SE530MPA)

In addition to the SE102MPA, Shure is also introducing several other
SE Sound Isolating Stereo Mobile Headsets: the SE110MPA, SE210MPA,
SE310MPA, SE420MPA and SE530MPA, a new headset family that offers
Shure's acclaimed SE earphone models bundled with the MPA.

These new products combine all of consumers' favorite attributes of
Shure SE models – including superior audio quality, beautiful design,
modular capabilities, comfort and portability – with the convenience
of a detachable stereo mobile headset. The bundled models will
include all accessories currently packaged with existing Shure SE
models. The SE110MPA, SE210MPA, SE310MPA, SE420MPA and SE530MPA also
include a 3-foot extension cable for users who prefer to remove the
MPA.

Pricing and Availability

SE102MPA: $99.99 retail price; $119.99 MSRP
SE110MPA: $129.99 retail price; $154.99 MSRP
SE210MPA: $179.99 retail price; $214.99 MSRP
SE310MPA: $279.99 retail price; $334.99 MSRP
SE420MPA: $379.99 retail price; $429.99 MSRP
SE530MPA: $469.99 retail price; $519.99 MSRP

Shure SE Sound Isolating Stereo Mobile Headsets will begin to be
available to consumers in September 2008 and will carry a two-year
limited warranty. All Shure Sound Isolating™ Earphones, headsets and
inline accessories may be purchased online at www.shure.com, as well
as at select retail partners. Check www.shure.com for a complete list
of Authorized Dealers.

First, some ground rules on the scope and purpose of my testing:

The headphones tested are all what you'd consider "upgrades" rather than "replacements" for the crap headphones that came with your MP3 player. While I capped pricing at $200, my "cheapest" pair started at around $40. The three tiers are under $100, $100-$150, and $150-$200.

The most practical measure of sound quality is to just sit and listen. I focused on in-ear headphones because they are built not just to jam a driver right next to your ear, but to block outside noise. It's simple: less ambient noise = better experience.

In the spirit of cutting out the vaguely scientific marketing jargon, my tests were unscientific, but consistent across the board and based on real-world situations. The methodology was simple: a current-gen iPod, a sonically diverse playlist of music and, for isolation testing, a seat on the 14 bus in San Francisco, then some time next to a white noise machine.

With so much of the earphone inside of your ear, rustling of the cable can cause some serious noise. If the cable isn't properly buffered from the earphone, the deep, annoying shuffling can interfere your music when you try to walk or turn your head. That's why I made note of "cable noise"—this isn't to suggest there was some kind of buzz or white noise from the cable itself.

The Losers: This is a tricky price point, as some stock earbuds (Apple, Sony) are actually pretty good. Slapping a rubber cuff on a half-baked product doesn't justify a price of $50+. In the case of Apple's in-ears and the CX300s, you aren't really experiencing a different class of audio than with stock buds, though there is a marked improvement. The CX500s put on a good show for bass junkies, but that's about it. Creative has a nice product with a great price, but it just can't measure up to the metro.fi on the performance front.

$100-$150
The Winner: Shure SE110 This price point offers the highest price to performance ratio, and the SE110 is the best of the lot. If you can get over the deep penetration and the over-ear looping, you'll find that the SE110s are comfortable, block out plenty of ambient noise and most importantly produce stunning, immersive sound. The tones are wisely balanced, and quality is at the level that you'll be noticing new things about songs that you've heard dozens of times. Decent discounts are available at various online retailers, as is the case with most of this category.

The Losers: Manufacturers know that this is a sweet spot for consumers, so the market is crowded with good options. The hardware starts to look a little more "professional," or more accurately, "weird." Etymotics, always fans of producing earphones that are really good on paper, fails with the ER6 not because of quality issues, but because the buds are awkward and overwhelm with the high and middle tones. The company's new earphone tips, however, are amazing (more on this below, in the more expensive category). Ultimate Ears loses their luster at this level. Creative is yet again a nice runner-up; the Zen Aurvanas are very capable, but couldn't supplant the crystal-clear SE110s.

$150-$200
The Winner: Etymotics hf5 Ostensibly designed with portable music players in mind, the hf5s solve the balance problems of the er6 models and much, much more. They're cool looking (with the right tips, they look like sci-fi laser pistols), have little to no cable movement noise and reproduce sound in a way that is both perfectly clear and highly enjoyable. Everything about these gives the impression of quality, from the brushed aluminum finish to the way that music suddenly sounds distinctly layered in a way that it didn't before, and that it doesn't on many similarly priced units. One caveat, though: the hf5s (and the er6s, for that matter) must be used with the new foam rubber tips, called "Mushrooms." They're a little phallic and sort of a sickly gray, but they are leaps and bounds better than Etymotics' trademark flanged tips. The tighter seal that these offer to most people is conducive to better listening, and the isolation properties are superb. You can't hear anything else with these guys in. Every manufacturer should have something like this. According to the Etymotics people, by the time the hf5s ship these will be standard issue. Good.

The Losers: To sum up the category: Expensive without enough added benefit. Spending $100 will get you a phenomenal listening experience, so it's hard to justify spending more. The $200 cap was intended to filter out the luxury market/audiophile products that tend to show up at about that price, but hints of both are apparent here. The Shure SE210s are a wonderful pair of earphones, but the large premium over the SE110s is a dealbreaker, as side-by-side comparisons expose only the slightest variation in sound quality. The Klipsch Custom-2s are more of a luxury item than the others, with woven cable housing and a case that is ready for you iPod as well. Harman Kardon is just batting out of their league here, and Ultimate Ears doesn't improve on their cheaper models, even introducing some pretty terrible cable noise.

If you're looking to get the most out of your MP3 player, you'll have to spend some money. But as it turns out, the general rule is that once you pass about $100, your audio improvements will become smaller and more expensive. After reviewing all of these earphones, one simple fact is very clear: If I were in the market for a new set of earphones, I would buy the SE110s.