Shop for portable audio devices

• CNET Editor rating:
  4.5 stars Spectacular

  Overall score: 9.0 (4.5 stars)
• Average user rating: 3.0 stars out of 41 reviews

The Bottom Line: Though the updates are subtle, the third-generation iPod Touch leaves its competitors in the dust. Read review

Specs: Digital player, 64 GB, AAC, MP3, WAV, AIFF, Audible, Apple Lossless, Lithium ion Rechargeable Player batteryIntegrated

• CNET Editor rating:
  4.5 stars Spectacular

  Overall score: 9.0 (4.5 stars)
• Average user rating: 4.0 stars out of 36 reviews

The Bottom Line: The Klipsch Image S4 earphones offer up sound quality on par with and better than sets that cost many times as much; they are a spectacular choice for anyone looking for new earbuds. Read review

Specs: Headphones, In-ear canalphone, 0.4 oz, Stereo, Mini-phone stereo 3.5 mm, Gold-plated plug

• CNET Editor rating:
  4.0 stars Excellent

  Overall score: 8.7 (4.0 stars)
• Average user rating: 4.0 stars out of 160 reviews

The Bottom Line: The Zune HD delivers one of the best portable music and video experiences money can buy. At a time when many people have shifted their focus to games and applications, providing a killer media experience may not be enough for potential Zune buyers. Read review

Specs: Digital player / radio, 32 GB, AAC, MP3, WMA, WMAPro, Lithium ion Rechargeable Player batteryIntegrated

• CNET Editor rating:
  4.0 stars Excellent

  Overall score: 8.3 (4.0 stars)
• Average user rating: 3.5 stars out of 14 reviews

The Bottom Line: The SanDisk Sansa Clip+ is an excellent successor to the line, offering a fitness-friendly design with a built-in belt-clip, a simple interface, solid sound quality, and plenty of handy features--all for an ultralow price. It's an unbeatable value. Read review

Specs: Digital player / radio, 4 GB, MP3, WMA, FLAC, Audible, Ogg Vorbis, Protected WMA (DRM), Rechargeable Player batteryInternal

• CNET Editor rating:
  4.5 stars Spectacular

  Overall score: 9.0 (4.5 stars)
• Average user rating: 4.0 stars out of 16 reviews

The Bottom Line: Though the updates are subtle, the third-generation iPod Touch leaves its competitors in the dust. Read review

Specs: Digital player, 32 GB, AAC, MP3, WAV, AIFF, Audible, Apple Lossless, Lithium ion Rechargeable Player batteryIntegrated

• CNET Editor rating:
  4.0 stars Excellent

  Overall score: 8.3 (4.0 stars)
• Average user rating: 4.5 stars out of 72 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: 8.7 (4.0 stars)
• Average user rating: 3.0 stars out of 9 reviews

The Bottom Line: Though the updates are subtle, the third-generation iPod Touch still leaves its competitors in the dust. Read review

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

• CNET Editor rating:
  4.0 stars Excellent

  Overall score: 8.7 (4.0 stars)
• Average user rating: 3.5 stars out of 17 reviews

The Bottom Line: No other MP3 player on the planet packs more features, from video to a pedometer, into a smaller package than the overachieving Apple iPod Nano. Read review

Specs: Digital player / radio, 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: 3.5 stars out of 27 reviews

The Bottom Line: The unique and stylish Monster Beats by Dr. Dre headphones offer solid audio, useful accessories, and a look that's anything but copycat. For fashion-forward folks with cash to spare, they're a great option. Read review

Specs: Headphones, Ear-cup, Black, 9.2 oz, Stereo, Mini-phone stereo 3.5 mm, Foldable, 1 year Limited warranty

• CNET Editor rating:
  4.0 stars Excellent

  Overall score: 8.3 (4.0 stars)
• Average user rating: 4.0 stars out of 17 reviews

The Bottom Line: While they're no bargain, the Bose QuietComfort 15s currently offer the best sound and silencing capabilities in a pair of noise-canceling headphones. Read review

Specs: Headphones, Ear-cup, Silver, 7.3 oz, Stereo, Noise cancelling circuit, Foam ear cushions, Active equalization

• CNET Editor rating:
  4.0 stars Excellent

  Overall score: 8.0 (4.0 stars)
• Average user rating: 3.5 stars out of 20 reviews

The Bottom Line: The SanDisk Sansa Fuze is a great value; a slim design, a 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, 2 GB, WMA, WAV, Ogg Vorbis, MP3, FLAC, Audible, Rechargeable Player batteryInternal

• CNET Editor rating:
  3.5 stars Very good

  Overall score: 7.7 (3.5 stars)
• Average user rating: 4.0 stars out of 7 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: 8.7 (4.0 stars)
• Average user rating: 4.0 stars out of 17 reviews

The Bottom Line: The X-Series is a superb choice for audiophiles who want a luxury device with an excellent touch-screen interface and plenty of other bells and whistles. Read review

Specs: Portable network audio player / digital player / radio, FM, Surround Sound, 3.5 oz, Black, OLED

• CNET Editor rating:
  4.0 stars Excellent

  Overall score: 8.7 (4.0 stars)
• Average user rating: 4.0 stars out of 10 reviews

The Bottom Line: No other MP3 player on the planet packs more features, from video to a pedometer, into a smaller package than the overachieving Apple iPod Nano. Read review

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

• CNET Editor rating:
  3.5 stars Very good

  Overall score: 7.5 (3.5 stars)
• Average user rating: 4.0 stars out of 5 reviews

The Bottom Line: The Denon AH-C551 In-Ear Headphones offer mostly great sound quality and a compact, understated design. They're a solid choice for an everyday earbud. Read review

Specs: Headphones, In-ear ear-bud, Black, Stereo, Mini-phone stereo 3.5 mm, Gold-plated plug

• CNET Editor rating:
  4.0 stars Excellent

  Overall score: 8.0 (4.0 stars)
• Average user rating: 3.5 stars out of 39 reviews

The Bottom Line: The SanDisk Sansa Fuze is a great value; a slim design, a 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:
  3.5 stars Very good

  Overall score: 7.3 (3.5 stars)
• Average user rating: 0 stars No reviews, write one!

The Bottom Line: The Altec Lansing inMotion Classic offers a stylish way play your iPod or iPhone around your home. It sounds remarkable for its size, but it lacks the low-end oomph of a larger system. Read review

Specs: portable speakers with digital player dock, 13 in x 2 in x 6 in, Active

• CNET Editor rating:
  4.0 stars Excellent

  Overall score: 8.7 (4.0 stars)
• Average user rating: 4.0 stars out of 63 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:
  4.0 stars Excellent

  Overall score: 8.7 (4.0 stars)
• Average user rating: 3.5 stars out of 269 reviews

The Bottom Line: The iPod Touch is a beautiful product, inside and out, but prepare yourself for sticker shock. 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: 8.2 (4.0 stars)
• Average user rating: 4.0 stars out of 96 reviews

The Bottom Line: Sennheiser's versatile headphones sound great on DVDs and all kinds of music. Read review

Specs: Headphones, Ear-cup, Black, 10.1 oz, Stereo, Mini-phone stereo 3.5 mm, 2 years Limited warranty

• CNET Editor rating:
  4.0 stars Excellent

  Overall score: 8.0 (4.0 stars)
• Average user rating: 4.0 stars out of 3 reviews

The Bottom Line: The design of Altec Lansing's Mix iMT800 may not appeal to everyone, but its winning combination of good performance, lots of oomph, and portability makes it one of the best iPod speaker options out there. Read review

Specs: Speakers, FM, Stereo, LCD

• CNET Editor rating:
  4.0 stars Excellent

  Overall score: 8.0 (4.0 stars)
• Average user rating: 4.0 stars out of 26 reviews

The Bottom Line: Monster's Turbine in-ear headphone looks, feels, and sounds like a much more expensive model. Read review

Specs: Headphones, In-ear ear-bud, Black chrome, Stereo, Mini-phone stereo 3.5 mm, Gold plated connectors

• CNET Editor rating:
  3.5 stars Very good

  Overall score: 7.7 (3.5 stars)
• Average user rating: 3.5 stars out of 19 reviews

The Bottom Line: Sennheiser's featherweight noise-canceling headphones are supercomfy and produce sound quality approaching that of some full-size models. Read review

Specs: Headphones, Semi-open, Black, 2.3 oz, Stereo, Mini-phone stereo 3.5 mm, Foldable, NoiseGard active noise compensation, 2 years Limited warranty

• CNET Editor rating:
  4.0 stars Excellent

  Overall score: 8.7 (4.0 stars)
• Average user rating: 4.0 stars out of 15 reviews

The Bottom Line: The Zune HD delivers one of the best portable music and video experiences money can buy. At a time when many people have shifted their focus to games and applications, providing a killer media experience may not be enough for potential Zune buyers. Read review

Specs: Digital player / radio, 16 GB, AAC, MP3, WMA, WMAPro, Lithium ion Rechargeable Player batteryIntegrated

• CNET Editor rating:
  3.5 stars Very good

  Overall score: 7.3 (3.5 stars)
• Average user rating: 3.0 stars out of 23 reviews

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

Specs: Headphones, In-ear ear-bud, 0.7 oz, Stereo, Mini-phone stereo 3.5 mm, MicroStrand conductors, Patented magnetic FluxTube, 24K gold contacts, In-ear noise isolation, 1 year Limited warranty