A bit of old news (this collaboration came out back in 2010) but… Out of the all the headphones to be housed inside of the beautiful Swift leather case from Hermes, why does it have to be the Bose Noise Cancelling headphones? No disrespect to the very popular travel headphones from the Massachusetts maker, but Hermes aligning themselves with Bose does not seem like a proper fit for me. Hermes speaks luxury. Bose does not.*

Rather than discuss more proper headphone manufacturers to align with Hermes, I’ll focus on the wonderful work the leather maker did on the bag: each leather case is hand saddle-stitched with protective pads to keep the headphones in place. Special cut-outs are ther for all the accessories as well. Finally, the finish off the interior with goatskin lining. Beautiful work from Hermes. (wallpaper*)

*consider the Audio Technica Active Noise-Cancelling headphone at half the cost of the Bose if you really need noise cancelling options.

Sennheiser is touting their new RS 220 ($600) Wireless headphones as playing in the same league as their Sennheiser HD 600 series wired headphones – which themselves are considered industry standard in entry to mid-level audiophile headphones. The idea that a wireless headphone such as the RS 220 could compete on this level is a high step forward in technology itself. The drive inside the Rs220 is actually the same driver in the HD650. That in itself is big, big news.

The conversation regarding the Sennheiser RS 220 v. Sennheiser HD 600 has already begun on the fanatic forums. We ourselves are desperately awaiting a review pair to compare to our own set of HD 650, just one small step up from the 600. The RS220 comes priced at around $600, just about $250-$275 more than the wired HD600. If they can indeed pull off the high end sound of their wired brothers, the RS220 may be this year’s headphone game changer.

For an excellent Sennheiser wireless headphone for half the money, consider the Sennheiser RS 180.

More looks in our gallery…

There are a great number of products on the market today to extend the sound of your iPod and iPhone and they run the range from low to high. We bring you a selection of nine iPod/iPhone speakers, amplifiers and stereo dock connectors – all meant to output and at times, improve the audio experience of your portable device. From some simple $39 headphone amplifiers for your iPod, to stand alone $800 powered speakers, we showcase our favorites from 2011.

They all make strong gift buys for the holidays. Someone will love your more for thinking of them.

View our “Gift Ideas” for improved stereo sound from your iPod and iPhone after the click.

There is a circle of headphone audiophiles that profess their love for wood. They discuss a very special sound or “resonance” that comes from the vibration of sound through and past certain woods. I am no expert in the niche of wood, but after experiencing a few hours with Thinksound’s ts02+ earbuds, I may have to explore more.

Thinksound is a new audio start-up from New Hampshire that focuses on two very important goals: delivering the best sound possible and keeping the environmental footprint of their products to a bare minimum. You will note their eco-friendliness straight off from their packaging: earbuds and accessories sit inside a recycled cardboard tray; the external box is made from recycled material as well. Thinksound takes the concept of eco-friendliness further by using PVC-free cabling. The wood housing is of course sustainable as well. For those who put importance on design, the wood grain is a pleasantly distinct look on the earbuds and I have yet to find a similar look in this market.

But we’re here for sound, first and foremost. We tested the $90 Thinksound ts02+mic. They do an admirable job of delivering very good sound through your iPod or portable player with not much compromise in sound. While the mids and highs are not as prominent and detailed as other earbuds on the market, the Thinksound ts02 performs above the fold:  vocals are clearly heard through the music and on the all important bass end, the ts02  shines very well. I personally like my bass to be full body in sound without the harsh and overbearing rumble. You get that with the ts02+mic model.

For the mobile user, the ts02+ includes a microphone with call/music control. Those looking to use these earbuds in loud environments such as subways, airplanes and offices will be more than impressed with the noise isolating seal of the ts02. In fact, it is one of the better sealing earbuds I have tested in some time (they include multiple earbud sizes for your comfort).

The Thinksound ts02+ will easily get a thumbs up from “bass heads” as well as those looking to enjoy traditional acoustic, folk and rock sounds through a pair of earbuds without compromising too much on details found in the high end. It is difficult not to recommend them at this price when you have options in woods: choose between black chocolate and silver cherry. Also available without mic for $80.

Photography: Jeff Carvalho/Selectism.com

More looks after the click.

Germany’s Beyerdynamic is an in-house favorite (see previous coverage) for travel and home use. Their T50p Tesla is another well priced heaphone that will satisfy a listener looking for a set of headphones for both various uses, but they are widely known for their quality as a portable. The T50p Tesla silver base model comes in at an easy $190. It should be on your radar if you are in the market for a proper audio experience with a very simple design aesthetic.

The Beyerdynamic T50p Tesla is the headphone for that user who would never consider Beats by Dre based on their design. Simply put, the finish on the Tesla is beautiful, clean, and sonically superior.

Even more impressive is the T50p “Manufaktur” edition, which allows users to fully customize the look of the headphones from band to pads, in beautiful leather finished. Available on Beyer Dynamic’s online shop, the Manufaktur even allows you to choose the color of the stainless steel on the band. Ostirch is there as well in the leathers. The price does jump significantly with the T50p “Manufaktur:” expect to pay around $400 for the benefit of salmon skin on your cushions.

More look after the click.

Earbuds are easily the most commuter and travel friendly form of headphones on the market today. Just about every mobile device in the world ships with a pair or earbuds. The ubiquitous white iPod/iPhone variants may be the most noticeable and recognized.

It would seem that earbuds are considered disposable forms of headphones, mainly due to their price point. They are plugged into ears, yanked out, wrapped up and stowed away into pockets and bags. For many, this is fine as they serve a purpose: plug and play music. After a while, they will eventually begin to fail. The decision then is what pair of headphones to replace them with.

For those that take this opportunity to step up their headphone and audio game, the door opens up to a new world of musical clarity without hurting your wallet, by moving into in-ear headphones like the Etymotic HF-5.

Photography: Jeff Carvalho/Selectism.com

Read and see our full review of the Etymotic HF-5 in-ear headphone after the click.

Grado uses the term “trickle-down” to describe their new professional series headphone, the Grado PS500. Using “old” but excellent technology used in develpment of their $1700  Grado PS1000, the Grado PS500 offers “two-thirds of the performance” for a third of the price of the latter. While we have not tested the PS500, we have heard the PS1000 on multiple occasions. As usual, when you hit the four digit pricepoint for headphones, you better have the hardware to drive them. The Grado PS500 on the otherhand, still comes in at more than $500. Surely it will also need some power to be driven.

Looks-wise, they’re up there with the best.

Fastcode turns us onto this student project… While most of your readers are familiar with the Sennheiser name, the German audio company’s name is supposedly known by less than 10% of “regular” headphone consumers. Not sure on that.

Well, industrial design student, Matthew Lim, looks to raise the company profile with his student project, Ecovinyl, which produces a turntable and headphones from sustainable materials. Lim claims that with current production costs, Ecovinyl could retail for $350; not a bad price for the combo.

Trouble is, Sennheiser has not said yea or nay on producing the project. We’ll see what comes of it.

More looks after the click.

So in order to balance our coverage and love for Sennheiser headphones, we bring forth an alternative to the excellent Sennheiser HD-25-II which we covered in detail recently. Today, we look at its major competitor – the Beyerdynamic DT 1350.

Reader will note major similarities in design between the HD-25-II and the DT 1350; both feature similar articulating ear cups and split articulating head bands that open and close on the head for comfort. Both are sealed and can withstand day to day movements from walking to running. Most importantly, both headphones look great on and off the wearer.

Differences between the two come in with sound signature. For those not familiar with the Beyerdynamic sound, you will be more than pleased with the offering. The strength is in the solid mids and highs. While both headphones offer very strong and rich bass, the Beyerdynamic gives just a bit more on the mids and highs which many listeners may prefer. For those who will be using them to watch films or TV on your laptop while traveling, the “imaging” of the sound that the DT 1350 provides is reported, by some, to be a step up. That could make a world of difference when watching films with a strong soundtracks.

More importantly, for travelers, the Beyerdynamic DT 1350’s ear cups fold flat for storage in the included travel case. This is a huge win for road warriors as protection is key. Price-wise, the DT 1350 comes in at $299. I mentioned in my last review that for this category of headphone that $200 was the sweet spot.

Truthfully, the Beyerdynamic DT 1350 is compelling enough for me to change my opinion. Well worth a sound check from your local audio shop.

More looks after the click.

I stand by the statement I made recently on Twitter. You can tell how much a DJ cares about sound and music based on the headphones they use. While they may not dictate the true sound from the P.A., a great set of headphones in the DJ booth (or any space that requires for music to remain isolated and “sealed” from external environments) will not only save your ears from fatigue but also dramatically lower your overall “play” volume. There is simply no need to put that much stress on your ears.

Think of it this way: the damage caused by loud, distorted music on your eardrum is as harsh as the damage that cigarettes does on your lung (the difference clearly is that smoke inhalation will cause cancer while loud noise will cause tinnitus and hearing loss – the former will kill you, sadly).

There are a variety of excellent options in the sealed headphone realm, all of which will run you just around $200 in price. No need to spend more than that in this category. I’ve been testing the Sennheiser HD-25-1 II model (shown above in the flat black; my demos are the Adidas version in blue which are exact in spec other than color). The HD-25-1 II has gained major juice through the DJ world as a replacement for the old Sony MDR series. The advantage of the Sennheiser lies in their durability and size. They take a beating in ways that most headphones simply will not. Size-wise, the cups fit over the ears in an almost locking method. Move around in the HD25-1 II and they’ll remain properly in place. And please swap out the pleather pads for the soft ones. Makes a hell of a difference in the summer.

Sound-wise: the quality is solid for  a $200 can. Highly sealed while retaining clarity, they need no extra amplification. Plug them into your mobile device and computer; they will work better than most.