| Ipods are the next wave in portable listening devices. | | | | variety of equipment: it varies in comfort level, |
| Once, people listened to music on battery powered | | | | affordability, durability, and ability to accurately transmit |
| portable radios. Then came the convenience of | | | | the sound. As well, there are other features you'll want |
| choosing your own music by carrying about the bulky | | | | to consider. Let's look at comfort level: |
| Walkmans that played cassette tapes. Then those | | | | Ipod headphones are most frequently the earbud style, |
| Walkmans slimmed down to something a little more | | | | meaning they are small, semi-circular speakers that fit |
| portable. Then CD players became the must-have | | | | right into the end of your ear canal and point the |
| item. Those, too, started out rather bulky but then | | | | speaker into your ear canal. They can produce a fairly |
| became small and portable. | | | | good sound, however, if the earbuds are too big for |
| Today, the must have portable listening device is the | | | | your ears, you will experience discomfort. Supra-aural |
| Ipod. Ipods hold a small hard disk drive inside of them | | | | headphones (which are the second most common |
| that stores many songs (sometimes hundreds). | | | | type for portable listening devices) are simply speakers |
| Depending on the unit that you own, it likely has many | | | | surrounded by pads that just sit on your ears, usually |
| of the popular features of most music playing devices, | | | | with a band that goes over your head. There are |
| including play, random, and repeat. Many Ipods are | | | | other kinds, as well, include canalbuds (which are more |
| coming with additional features now, too, that include | | | | comfortable and go right into your ear canal) as well |
| photos, video, cameras, and cell phones. | | | | as circumaural which don't just sit on your ears but |
| Of course owning an Ipod means that you HAVE the | | | | encompass them entirely - like you've seen |
| music in the palm of your hand (after all, Ipods are | | | | professional musicians listening to while they record. |
| extremely light and portable) but now you need to get | | | | Canalbuds are extremely comfortable because they |
| it from your Ipod to your ears. Ipods can store high | | | | are encased in a soft housing, unlike earbuds which |
| quality music so you shouldn't be tempted to save | | | | often tend to be mass produced in a plastic housing. |
| your money by spending a dollar on cheap | | | | Supra-aural Ipod headphones can be comfortable but |
| headphones at the dollar store. Instead, if you like the | | | | they can mess up your hair, which isn't nice. |
| music you're listening to, you should be willing to spend | | | | Circumaural headphones are great for transmitting |
| a little extra to actually hear the music and enjoy it. | | | | sound but they can be heavy so if they are too tight, |
| You need Ipod headphones. | | | | they'll cause a headache. |
| Makers of Ipod headphones and other portable | | | | Comfort level is an important consideration when |
| listening devices include Maxell, Sennheiser, Shure, | | | | looking to buy Ipod headphones for your portable |
| Sony, Phillips, and Koss. Each of these companies, and | | | | listening enjoyment. |
| the many others that make Ipod headphones, offer a | | | | |