Shop for portable audio devices

• CNET Editor rating:
  4.0 stars Excellent

  Overall score: 8.3 (4.0 stars)
• Average user rating: 4.0 stars out of 75 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 - Binaural, Headphones, Ear-cup, Silver, 7.3 oz, Stereo, Mini-phone stereo 3.5 mm, TriPort acoustic headphone structure, Bose acoustic equalization, Limited warranty - Lifetime

• CNET Editor rating:
  4.0 stars Excellent

  Overall score: 8.6 (4.0 stars)
• Average user rating: 4.5 stars out of 8 reviews

The Bottom Line: The latest iPod Touch is the best iPod ever, and as close to a phoneless iPhone 5 as you can get -- but its high price makes it a tough call versus cheaper tablets with larger screens. Read review

Specs: 32 GB, 4 in, 40 hour(s), 3.1 oz, Player battery - Rechargeable - Lithium ion, Audible AAX, Apple Lossless, Protected AAC, AAC, Audible AAX+, WAV, HE-AAC, MP3, AIFF, Audible, 32 GB

• CNET Editor rating:
  4.0 stars Excellent

  Overall score: 8.0 (4.0 stars)
• Average user rating: 3.0 stars out of 46 reviews

The Bottom Line: The Beats by Dr. Dre Studio headphones deliver the trifecta of sleek, comfortable design, useful features, and top-notch sound quality. If you can afford them, they're a worthy investment toward an improved listening experience. Read review

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

• CNET Editor rating:
  4.0 stars Excellent

  Overall score: 8.0 (4.0 stars)
• Average user rating: 3.5 stars out of 82 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 - Binaural, 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: 0 stars No reviews, write one!

The Bottom Line: A generous feature set, rugged construction, and warm, detailed sound with powerful bass guarantees the V-Moda M-100's strong appeal for audiophiles with a flexible budget. Read review

• CNET Editor rating:
  4.0 stars Excellent

  Overall score: 8.3 (4.0 stars)
• Average user rating: 0 stars No reviews, write one!

The Bottom Line: While they may not be quite as comfortable as Bose's ultrapopular QC 15 headphones, the Harman Kardon NCs offer slightly better sound and have a built-in rechargeable battery to power the active noise-cancellation circuitry. Read review

Specs: Headphones - Binaural, Headphones, Over-the-ear, Stereo, Mini-phone stereo 3.5 mm, Passive noise reduction, Adjustable headband, Bass Boost, Digital noise reduction, Foldable, USB bus-powered, Limited warranty - 1 year

• CNET Editor rating:
  3.5 stars Very good

  Overall score: 7.7 (3.5 stars)
• Average user rating: 3.0 stars out of 106 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 - Binaural, Headphones, Ear-cup, White, 9.2 oz, Stereo, Mini-phone stereo 3.5 mm, Foldable, Limited warranty - 1 year

• CNET Editor rating:
  4.0 stars Excellent

  Overall score: 8.0 (4.0 stars)
• Average user rating: 2.5 stars out of 40 reviews

The Bottom Line: The Beats Pro by Dr. Dre from Monster Headphones deliver a sturdy design and top-notch sound quality for those who enjoy skull-shattering bass. If you're a casual listener and can afford them, they're a worthy investment, but if you're an audio purist then you may want to comparison shop. Read review

Specs: Headphones - Binaural, Headphones, Ear-cup, White, Stereo, Mini-phone stereo 3.5 mm, Limited warranty - 1 year

• CNET Editor rating:
  4.0 stars Excellent

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

The Bottom Line: The fourth-gen iPod Touch is Apple's second-best portable media player, with a price that will help you forget about No. 1. Read review

Specs: 32 GB, 3.5 in, 40 hour(s), 3.6 oz, Audible AAX+, Audible AAX, Apple Lossless, WAV, HE-AAC, MP3, AIFF, Audible, AAC, 1, Player battery - Rechargeable - Lithium ion, 32 GB

• CNET Editor rating:
  3.5 stars Very good

  Overall score: 7.0 (3.5 stars)
• Average user rating: 4.0 stars out of 2 reviews

The Bottom Line: When it comes to competing with Apple's iPod Touch media player, the Galaxy Player 4.2 is Samsung's best effort yet, but it's still playing catch-up. Read review

Specs: 8 GB, 4.2 in, 4.2 oz, MPEG 2.5 Audio, MPEG 2 Audio, MPEG 1 Audio, AAC +, OGG, PCM, WAV, MP3, WMA, FLAC, Ogg Vorbis, AAC, AAC-LC, 8 GB, Player battery - Rechargeable - Lithium ion

• CNET Editor rating:
  4.0 stars Excellent

  Overall score: 8.0 (4.0 stars)
• Average user rating: 4.0 stars out of 9 reviews

The Bottom Line: The new HD 598's "wow" styling updates the classic Sennheiser look, and the sound has more detail and higher resolution than previous models. We recommend these cans to anyone looking for a pair of headphones with precision sound quality and a wide-open soundstage. Read review

Specs: Headphones - Binaural, Headphones, Ear-cup, 9.5 oz, Stereo, Phone stereo 6.3 mm, Ergonomic Acoustic Refinement technology (E.A.R.) technology, Duofol diaphragms, Limited warranty - 2 years

• CNET Editor rating:
  3.5 stars Very good

  Overall score: 7.9 (3.5 stars)
• Average user rating: 0 stars No reviews, write one!

The Bottom Line: The Sennheiser RS 180's sound is competitive with similarly priced wired headphones, which should make the RS 180 irresistible to audiophiles seeking to cut the cord. Read review

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

• CNET Editor rating:
  3.5 stars Very good

  Overall score: 7.5 (3.5 stars)
• Average user rating: 2.0 stars out of 1 review

The Bottom Line: The Beats by Dr. Dre Executive noise-canceling headphones have an appealing design, strong features, and good sound, but they don't quite measure up to the Bose QuietComfort 15 noise-canceling headphones. Read review

Specs: Headphones, Ear-cup, Volume control, iPhone/iPod/iPad compatible, Built-in microphone, Foldable design, Noise canceling circuit

• CNET Editor rating:
  3.5 stars Very good

  Overall score: 7.5 (3.5 stars)
• Average user rating: 3.0 stars out of 3 reviews

The Bottom Line: The RS 170 continues Sennheiser's unchanging dedication to sonic clarity and they're well worth the price for anyone looking to grab wireless sound from a TV, AV receiver, cable box, or game console. Read review

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

• CNET Editor rating:
  4.0 stars Excellent

  Overall score: 8.0 (4.0 stars)
• Average user rating: 4.0 stars out of 1 review

The Bottom Line: The Shure SE425 sound-isolating earphones are an excellent choice for eclectic listeners who demand stellar audio and a high-quality design. Read review

Specs: Headphones - Binaural, Headphones, In-ear, Metallic silver, Stereo, Mini-phone stereo 3.5 mm, Gold plated connectors, Limited warranty - Parts and labor - 2 years

• CNET Editor rating:
  4.0 stars Excellent

  Overall score: 8.0 (4.0 stars)
• Average user rating: 3.5 stars out of 2 reviews

The Bottom Line: Sony's audiophile-grade XBA-4 in-ear headphones deliver highly refined sound, with potent bass, airy treble, and excellent noise-isolating performance. Read review

Specs: Headphones - Binaural, Headphones, In-ear, 0.3 oz, Stereo, Mini-phone stereo 3.5 mm, Noise isolating, L-shaped plug, 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 10 reviews

The Bottom Line: The iPod Classic refines the formula that put the iPod on the map. None can match its combination of storage capacity, battery life, and intuitive user interface. Read review

Specs: 160 GB, 2.5 in, 36 hour(s), 4.9 oz, Apple Lossless, MP3, AIFF, Audible, WAV, AAC, Player battery - Rechargeable - Lithium ion

• CNET Editor rating:
  4.0 stars Excellent

  Overall score: 8.0 (4.0 stars)
• Average user rating: 4.5 stars out of 24 reviews

The Bottom Line: B&W's P5s aren't cheap, but they're well built, offer a unique design, rich sound, and a built-in microphone for making calls. Read review

• CNET Editor rating:
  4.0 stars Excellent

  Overall score: 8.0 (4.0 stars)
• Average user rating: 3.5 stars out of 12 reviews

The Bottom Line: The iPod Classic refines the formula that put the iPod on the map. None can match its combination of storage capacity, battery life, and intuitive user interface. Read review

Specs: 160 GB, 2.5 in, 36 hour(s), 4.9 oz, Apple Lossless, WAV, HE-AAC, MP3, AIFF, Audible, AAC, Player battery - Rechargeable - Lithium ion

• CNET Editor rating:
  3.5 stars Very good

  Overall score: 7.7 (3.5 stars)
• Average user rating: 4.0 stars out of 2 reviews

The Bottom Line: The AKG K495 NCs aren't as comfortable and don't sound quite as good as the Bose QC 15s, but they're built better, offer very good noise-cancellation, and recharge via USB. Read review

Specs: Headphones - Binaural, Headphones, Ear-cup, Black leather with brushed metal parts, 8.3 oz, Stereo, Mini-phone stereo 3.5 mm, 3D-Axis2 mechanism

• CNET Editor rating:
  3.5 stars Very good

  Overall score: 7.5 (3.5 stars)
• Average user rating: 0 stars No reviews, write one!

The Bottom Line: The Monster Diamond Tears Edge On-Ear Headphones may not be a gem of a pair for the price, but for a fashion statement they actually sound good. Read review

Specs: Headphones Binaural, Headphones, Headphones, Ear-cup, Stereo, 7188109

• CNET Editor rating:
  4.0 stars Excellent

  Overall score: 8.7 (4.0 stars)
• Average user rating: 3.0 stars out of 16 reviews

The Bottom Line: The Zoom H4n is a mobile recording dynamo with features that outperform competitors that cost twice as much. It is an outstanding value for musicians and podcasters who demand professional-sounding results. Read review

Specs: Digital voice recorder, Mono, 9.9 oz, LCD

• CNET Editor rating:
  3.5 stars Very good

  Overall score: 7.0 (3.5 stars)
• Average user rating: 3.0 stars out of 8 reviews

The Bottom Line: If you need a durable, portable, and practical way to get loud, the Ion Block Rocker is an impressive and easy-to-use solution. Read review

Specs: Speakers

• CNET Editor rating:
  4.0 stars Excellent

  Overall score: 8.0 (4.0 stars)
• Average user rating: 5.0 stars out of 2 reviews

The Bottom Line: The Altec Lansing BoomBox iMT810's winning combination of good performance, lots of oomph, and portability makes it one of the best boom-box-style bass-heavy speaker options you can buy. Read review

Specs: Digital Boombox

• CNET Editor rating:
  4.0 stars Excellent

  Overall score: 8.4 (4.0 stars)
• Average user rating: 0 stars No reviews, write one!

The Bottom Line: While the SoundLink Bluetooth Mobile Speaker II may no longer be in a class by itself, it's still near the top of the portable Bluetooth speaker category. Read review

Specs: Portable speaker, Bluetooth speaker, Wired - Bluetooth, Wireless, Silver