Headphones in Poker – Ultimate Gadgetry

Sunday, November 30, 2008 - John Greene

I know, I know. This week’s From The Felt talks about not wearing headphones when you’re playing poker, but there are plenty of other times where they’re perfectly appropriate: waiting in line at the bank, on a long airplane flight, jury duty, etc. Let’s face it: the kind that came free with your iPod or Zune or whatever stink. They’re tinny, they don’t fit properly, and they tend to wear out far too quickly. We’re going to review a few for you and give you an idea of how to spend some of your winnings.   

UltimateEars bills themselves as makers of “personal monitors,” or those custom-fit headphones you see guys from Aerosmith and My Chemical Romance wearing on stage. A few years ago, they started making high-end personal headphones for the consumer market. They’re not cheap (starting around $250 retail,) but they sound terrific and have a selection of models designed for specific types of music. I’ve had two pairs and given away three. Everyone that received them as a gift said they were the best-sounding headphones they’ve had. Make sure you use the case that comes with them: it keeps the cable from getting worn out from being wrapped and unwrapped around your iPod. Even if the warranty is great and the cable will be replaced free, you won’t want to be without these bad boys for long. Find out more at www.ultimateears.com  

The Good: Sound isolation only helps good sound, broad variety of models, warranty that’s a notch above the rest. 

The Bad: People who don’t like in-ear headphones will hate these.   

The German company Sennheiser’s been making audio gear since 1945, so they probably know what they’re doing at this point. They’ve got a ton of different types of headphones, going from $30 models that are designed to replace the crappy pack-in sets to $500 HD650 audiophile headphones. I personally really like the HD25s because they’re lightweight and sound good enough to replace most speakers around the house. Perfect for those online poker tournaments that stretch late into the night. You can get more information and look at all their models at www.sennheiserusa.com  

The Good: Good bass, lots of highs and midranges. Comfortable to wear for long periods 

The Bad: Too bulky for everyday wear.   

WESC (stands for WeAretheSuperlativeConspiracy) is a “fashion brand for intellectual slackers” and while I’ve got no idea what these headphones sound like, just look at them! How can you resist? Check out their headphones, photos of celebrities like Jason Lee, and more at www.wesc.com  The

Good: Shiny! 

The Bad: Miles Davis may sound like he’s playing into a pillow for all I know.