To our inestimable pleasure, Sennheiser has cottoned on to the fact that tiny earphones that ferret up your ear canal can be as good as bulky electronic noise-cancelling headphones and has launched a pair of minimalist earphones to go with your iPod or PSP.

Sennheiser has launched a new set of headphones that the company says is more "affordable" than ever before.

Shure today announced that its E series sound isolating headphones will be available in black -- as well as white -- to complement Apple's iPod nano digital music player. The Shure E2c, E3c, and E4c (shown at right) each feature a personal fit kit that includes a variety of sleeves to ensure a personalized, comfortable fit, and maximum sound isolation. The sleek, black coloring with chrome highlights is specifically designed to complement the iPod nano. The E2c ($100) features Shure's Dynamic MicroDriver technology.

Shure Incorporated today unveiled the I Series Integrated Sound Isolating(TM) Earphones + Mobile Headset, a family of headset and earphone hybrids that eliminate the need to carry two accessories for a portable audio player and cellular phone. The I Series, which will begin shipping in November, marry the company's acclaimed E Series Sound Isolating Earphones and QuietSpot Mobile Headsets to provide the industry's first premium attachment to work with a cell phone, digital music player, or convergence device.

The Apple iPod nano is as close to an ideal personal music player that exists on the market today. Not only does it sound great, but it’s so gorgeous you’ll be tempted to wear it around your neck like a piece of jewelry. Now you can, with the iPod nano Lanyard Headphones ($40) a nicely-designed accessory that lets you show off your nano and abandon that annoying tangle of wires. We put one of these lanyards to the test, and liked what we saw -- and heard.