The House of Marley was out in full force at the CES 2011 Unveiled show, launching three new audio ranges under the banner of Jammin, Freedom and Destiny.

Rohan Marley, the son of the legendary Bob Marley, was on-hand to show off the new gear, taking his father's legacy into the 21st century with a range of high-end, eco-friendly headphones and iPod docks.

Hit the video above to see our quick chat with the buffalo soldier.

If there's one certainty about CES other than a shed-load of gadgets being displayed, it's that there will be a fair few celebrity endorsements to go along with them.

Pick of the pack so far has been the House of Marley iPod dock and headphone range, inspired by the king of reggae himself, Bob Marley. Split into a number of categories(Jammin, Freedom and Destiny), the range makes use of sustainable, eco-freindly materials, without scrimping on audio quality.

Hit the video above to check out the jah-inspired gear.

The Urbanears Plattan Hi-Fi Headphones have been around for a while now and after testing them out we know why.

These simple yet stylish headphones have a 20-20khz frequency response and 112dBA sensitivity, or in other words these headphones pack some serious sound. They also feature a lengthy 47" fabric cord, a 3.5mm stereo plug and microphone and remote button. The Urbanears bring together functionality and a cool minimal style that I personally love.

These headphones are very reasonably priced at £49.99 and are available here in a range of colours

I have recently been testing out the Element earphones by Jivo. I was initially intrigued by the fact they are made from renewable natural materials, something rare in earphones. I love the look of the natural rosewood encasing, a material used for centuries in the making of musical instruments. However they don't just look awesome they have great high quality stereo sound for their price. Designed to seal in your ear canal, they make it possible for you to listen to your music uninterrupted by the noise surrounding you. This design makes them perfect for travel and commuting.

The Jivo Elements are available for £24.99.

Audio whizz-kids Klipsch are launcing a new budget-friendly set of in-ear buds called S3s just in time to pop them into a Christmas stocking.

Klipsch S3 earphones feature passive noise isolating technology, delivering "a dynamic, well-balanced musical sound and unequalled comfort for a price that's easy on the wallet".

First hitting stores in grey, the S3s will later be available in pink, red and green shades too. Perfect if you've got a matching iPod Nano, like in the picture above.

The S3s ship with a zip-up carry case and three different sized ear-tips so that they'll be comfortable in many people's ears.

Grab them now, priced £39.99

Urbanears, the candy-colored headphone brand have launched the limited edition multicolored Tanto headphone exclusively for the Wired store.

I really like Urbanears, not only do they come in brilliant colours but they deliver great sound at a very affordable price. While normally only available a number of color options, the TANTO are multicolored and have a great retro feel to them.

The catch is that they were constructed at random, with each separate component a different color, then sealed in the box, so you won't actually know what colour you get until you open it. There were only 220 pairs made and each one is unique.

You can pick them up from the WIRED store for $47 (approx £30)

Name: DR-GA500 (Sony)
Type: 7.1 surround sound gaming headset
Specs: (Click here for full specs)
Price: £139 direct from Sony

Sony enter the crowded PC gaming headset market with their 7.1 surround DR-G500's. With the Sennheiser and Astro brands setting the benchmark with their PC350 and A40 headsets respectively, how do Sony's similarly priced units fare?

Depending on your fashion preferences you're either going to love or hate the DR-G500's. Chunky and angular with a triple-enfolding design, the cans look a bit like a Transformer midway through an...erm...transformation. Personally I think they look great even if some of my office-mates disagree, with a slight silver trim breaking up the black gloss plastic finish in places and a fold away mic on the left side. The design leaves plenty of room for air to get to your ears, preventing the dreaded "Sweaty-Ear Syndrome" some headsets cause, with an in-line volume control and mic-mute about 12 inches down the 1.5m cord. The cans are also nice and light, hugging the head well and nicely padded, though I'd take extra special care of them, as the plastic build seemed quite fragile. I don't think it'd take much to snap the thin headband.

The DR-G500's ship with a black external signal processing box, roughly the size of two DVD cases stacked on top of each other. A little chunk is knocked off the corner, and it lights up when on and powered by the supplied plug. On the back is a master volume dial, and connections for 7.1 analogue audio, as well as USB input. The front has switches for input control (2.1, 5.1, 7.1 and USB), effects (Surround, FPS and off) and a compression on/off switch.

The box pumps your gaming session through a Dolby Pro Logic IIx decoder to give a pseudo-7.1 surround sound effect when gaming. In terms of clarity, the headset has very well defined (if a little harsh) mid and high tones, but felt a little weak on bass. Sony put the 40mm drivers to good use, with a frequency response range of 14 - 22,000 Hz, but the headset isn't without its problems.

Firstly, with no effects applied to the audio signal, sound can be a little clinical, particularly so when not using compression, and most noticeable when listening to music. Switch over to Surround settings and, while warmth is applied to the audio, there's no true discernible sense of 7.1 movement in the headset when gaming. More annoyingly for a headset primarily aimed at shooting fans, the FPS setting had no real differences to note against the Surround setting, appearing to just ramp up the reverb a little. We played through a good few sessions of Borderlands with the headset on across all combinations of effects and compression settings, but found that the sound was just a little too prickly overall, and not terribly great at giving a 3D spatial sound effect when the settings were applied.

The fold away microphone is a nice touch, and works well. There was no noticeable distortion when using the omni-directional mic, and it did a good job of avoiding picking up ambient noise in the room. While the mic-mute button works fine on the in-line controls, there's been a bit of an oversight when it comes to the cord-mounted volume dial. You can lower the volume, but never kill it completely from the in-line control, which means you're going to have to use software controls or dig around behind the processing box to mute the sound , which could become a pain if you're desk is as cluttered as mine.

Though niftily designed, and a definite sonic improvement over low and mid priced headsets, Sony's DR-GA500s just don't do enough to justify their £139 price tag. Your frag sessions may sound crisp, but just don't expect this headset to give you any particular edge over the competition.

3/5

Click here to buy the Sony DR-GA500 gaming headset for £139

Marshall has announced the launch of their first highly anticipated headphones, the Marshall Majors. The amp manufacture has been making some of the best amps for musicians for over 50 years. Now Marshal has taken the knowledge they obtained making equipment for some of the worlds most prominent musicians, and distilled it into every part of the Marshall Headphones.

Expanding the Marshall heritage of big stage performance to the individual enjoyment of good music, these headphones have been designed with performance and endurance in mind. I personally love that they have really managed to maintain the iconic Mashall aesthetic and only hope they sound as good as they look.

The exterior of the headband is made out of the same vinyl used in Marshall amplifiers and it bears the original Marshall texture. The coil cord refers to vintage style guitar cables and the plug is a beautiful 3.5 millimetre replica of a classic telecaster plug, which can be used with the included 6.3 mm adapter for plugging in to your guitar amp or stereo. They also fold for easy storage and transportation.

The Marshall Majors are available here for €99

Extreme sports enthusiast that wants your tunes to sound as big as the air your grabbing? Philips The Stretch headphones, in patnership with O'Neill surfwear, may be just what you're after.

With a durable build, nifty fitted design and wonderful audio quality, you can colour Tech Digest impressed.

Check our full impressions in the video above.

Tech Digest got to sit down and rock out with the i-Mego Retro Classic headphones recently.

While their stylish radio-mic style design may catch the eye of the retro rockers out there, will they do your rock-a-billy tunes any justice?

Check out the video review above to find out.

The Sennheiser's 500 series headphones are now available in the UK.

These high end headphones come in three different models - HD 598, HD 558 and HD 518, and are equipped with Sennheiser's E.A.R. (Eargonomic Acoustic Refinement) technology to ensure even audiophiles are impressed. The acoustic baffles are designed to guide the audio signal directly into the ear creating optimal sound quality.

All three pairs, have powerful neodymium magnets and Duofol diaphragms to amplify sound while reducing resonance. They also have a gold-plated 6.3 mm audio jack plug for good connectivity. In addition the HD 558 and HD 598 also include a sound reflector to optimises the spatial sound effect.

The headphones will set you back £109.99 for the HD 518, £159 for the HD 558, and £199.99 for the HD 598.

Headphone specialists Sennheiser have really pushed the boat out this week, announcing five new sets, ranging from top spec models to more casual cans.

First up is the 500 range, comprising the HD 598, HD 558 and HD 518 headphones. The over-ear HD598s have cream and wood style finish with metallic trim and frequency response of 12 to 38,500 Hertz. They also feature a compressed cellulose fleece that should reduce total harmonic distortion to below 0.1 per cent.

The HD 558s are quite similar, but with a black finish instead. Their frequency response range isnt quite as wide though at 15 to 28,000 Hertz. Rounding off the range are the 518s, with a response range of 14 to 26,000 Hertz.

If you're after a more simpler (and likely cheaper) pair from Sennheiser, take a look at the PX90 and PMX90 sets. They're both mini stereo models, aimed more at the casual music fan.

The PMX90s weigh just 52g and have a neckband build, whilst the PX90s weigh a little more at 68g and are a headband model. Both have frequency response ranges from 20 to 20,000 Hertz and they have a 108dB SPL.

No pricing available for any sets yet, but they'll be available from September.

Audio specialists Klipsch were also on-hand at this year's IFA 2010 conference in Berlin. Though best known for their high-end audio gear (such as the recently reviewed Image X10i earphones), the company were on hand to show off some more budget friendly options this time around.

Ranging in price from £39 to £129.99, check out all the details and official pics of the Image S3, Image S5i Rugged and Image One headphones below.

Click here for more IFA 2010 related news

It's not all tablets and TVs getting shown off at next month's IFA show in Berlin. It's also a great place to spot new audio tech, and first out of the blocks detailing their latest headphone ranges are accessory makers i-Mego.

First up are their Retro Infinity Xmas Limited Edition cans that look like 50's style radio mics. Billed as luxury items, the holiday tie-ins feature a real leather and velvet headband, as well as enhanced acoustic performance for "even more rousing and full-bodied bass, along with clear and detailed mid-range and treble". They will be available in black, silber or brown colours. Check them out in the images below.

Green-conscious audio fans can look forward to the arrival of i-Mego's Earth Series, also pictured below. Using eco-friendly materials and packaging, including recycled paper and rPET (recycled Polyethylene Terephthalate), i-Mego hope to raise awareness of environmental issues with the headphone's striking green pink, blue and khaki "globe" designs.

We'll have a full review of the headphones soon.

Click here for more IFA-related news in the run up to the show's grand opening next month

Asus are launching a new gaming headset. Called the CineVibe, they quite literally pack a punch, rumbling your head in time to the action screen thanks to built in force feedback tech.

"The inclusion of moving bass, force feedback reactive vibration and superior audio quality put the all-new ASUS CineVibe miles ahead of other headphones, providing an entirely upgraded personal audio experience," says the press release. "CineVibe headphones use advanced audio rendering to provide impressive bass as well as precision mid and high range output, making them ideal for exciting gaming and movie watching.

"Better yet, the biggest attraction with CineVibe headphones is the addition of reactive force feedback that vibrates in tandem with the action on screen, creating a gripping experience. Unlike the forgettable sound of most headphones, CineVibe headphones evoke great wonder and amazement, injecting a whole new dimension of audio to personal, undisruptive gaming and movie watching."

Got to question that "undisruptive" part really; I'm all for superior sound quality, but I get the feeling a gamer's competitive edge in multiplayer matches may suffer a bit if their head is bobbing around like one of those nodding dogs when they play.

They do like the part though. Available in black or white, the headband Is made from a comfortable Styrofoam build with the ear cups cushioned with anti-botic leather which is breathable, keeping your ears cool over long play sessions. 30mm sound drivers provide the audio power, with an in-line remote, microphone and USB connection for plug-andplay.

The Asus CineVibe headphones are available now, priced £58.99. It's definitely an intriguing concept, but probably not the best gift idea for migraine sufferers, or so we'd imagine.

Name: Image X10i (Klipsch)
Type: Earphones
Specs: (Click here for full specs)
Price: £227 from Amazon.co.uk

Ultra-portable earphones can be pretty underwhelming, especially when compared to their over-the-ear cousins. No matter how much you pay, they never seem to be able to provide the kick you need to really envelope yourself in your tunes, and all too often are prone to shoddy build quality that leads to unwanted distortion and noise. Obviously, no one told this to the folks over at Klipsch. Their premium Image X10i earphones are an audiophile's dream and, if you've got the cash and a pair of highly-tuned ears, a must buy.

The Image X10is are startlingly small. With solid copper earpieces that feature a slight curve and five sets of different sized rubber ear flanges, they're incredibly comfortable to wear. While they obviously are no match for a pair of active-noise cancelling headphones, their snug fit admirably manages some decent passive noise cancellation. Though they tended to slip slightly if doing anything a bit too physically strenuous, you'll happily be able to wear these buds for extended periods of time and barely notice they are in. Weighing just around 10 grams, they're attractive, and seem capable of taking a beating, should you be willing to risk your 230-odd quid investment of course.

The X10is get the "i" in their name thanks to the iPod/iPhone control module that's been introduced since the X10 build. It sits at about a third of the way down the 48 inch cord, and features play/ pause/ call answer, volume up, volume down, forward track and previous track buttons, as well as a clip. There's also a mic for hands-free iPhone calls, which proved clear and responsive.

The cabling however is prone to being a bit noisy if it rubs up against your clothing when out and about, something of a pet hate of mine, but it's nothing too serious in this case to detract from the sound quality on show elsewhere. And whilst all the connections seem sturdy and neat, the cabling is also prone to getting tangled, which can sometimes lead to crackling if you're not careful. There's no denying the Image X10is are well built, but due to the high asking price you'll want to be extra careful with them. Either way, a generous two year warranty should have you covered should disaster strike.

With that said, tidy design styles mean nothing with earphones unless they've got the sonic skills to justify them. That's not a problem for the Image X10is; they blew me away with their rich tones and clear, chiming definition.

Whereas rival sets from the likes of Shure use multiple drivers to produce their sounds, the Image X10is use only one, which allows the whole bud to be so small in the first place. You'd think that that would detrimentally affect the sound quality of the X10is compared to the competition, but that's simply not the case. Klipsch's engineers deserve a round of applause for the audio wizardry they've squeezed into these tiny earphones. Bass response is deep and resonant, going lower than I've ever experienced with in-ear buds. Highs are clear without being harsh, whilst mids were as creamy as the bass was low. From classical music to metal and dance, the balance across the audio range was consistently superb, and the buds suffered from very little distortion even when cranked up to high volumes.

Just shy of £230 might seem a bit steep for a pair of earphones, and for many music-fans the Image X10i's will be simply too expensive to justify. But you see, these earphones really aren't aimed at the humble "music-fan"; the Image X10is are aimed squarely at audiophiles, and if you count yourself among that gang of audio-addicts you'll know that only the best will do. And in that respect, the Image X10i's cant be beaten. If you're into your lossless audio formats, have a fair bit of spare cash, and have a portable device, Apple or otherwise, to play them back on, then I cant recommend the Klipsch Image X10i earphones enough.

5/5

Looking for a set of noise cancelling earphones? Then let Anna from Shiny Shiny guide you through what to expect from the RadioPaq Dot and BlackBox i10 sets in the video review above.

While the RadioPaq Dots may be best suited to fashion-conscious teens with a bit of pocket-money to spare, the self-powered BlackBox i10s are where the real noise-cancelling fun is, blocking as much as 92% of external sounds out.

Hit the video above for Anna's full thoughts.

I love living in my own little musical-bubble, especially when on a rattling tube or a bus full of hysterical school kids. Noise-cancelling earphones are the perfect tool for zoning out of the world around you, but many have one critical flaw in my opinion; the need for batteries. And not just any batteries, but those titchy AAA ones which quite often aren't easy to come by.

Enter then the Blackbox i10 earphones for iPods and iPhones, a noise cancelling pair that aim to be your sonic-saviours by avoiding the need for batteries and instead being self-powered.

Using the 30 pin dock connector, the headphones use Active Noise Rejection tech to block out as much as 92% of background noise.

"This product presents something truly unique for Apple and music enthusiasts here in the UK," said Neil Truckell, UK Brand Manager of Blackbox. "Through its Active Noise Rejection technology, the i10s are the first earphones to operate without the need for external batteries and provide the ultimate upgrade path for iPOD/iPHONE users, keen to dramatically improve sound quality and comfort. Its competitive price point makes it an amazing addition to your device so you can simply enjoy music on the go. This is just one of the upcoming innovations from the Blackbox family."

Priced £79.99, pick them up here from Amazon.

Blackbox have today announced the launch of their C18 noise-cancelling earphones. Packing in the same kind of high-end tech that leaves your tunes uninterrupted by the outside world as some more expensive earphones, the C18's will generously set you back no more than £69.99.

1 AAA battery will power the noise-cancelling tech for 50 hours of music playback, which works by "intelligently measuring the noise field in the ear, before calculating and reintroducing an 'anti-noise' response, resulting in near silence by continuously adapting to the prevailing noise conditions", according to the press release.

In terms of audio quality, the earphones feature a frequency response rate of 20Hz to 20kHz +/-3db, with 9mm dome-type driver units and a speaker impedance of 500hm.

Neil Truckell, UK Brand Manager of Blackbox said that "The C18 earphones are a new kind of listening experience for anyone who enjoys listening to music, particularly when they are on the go. The sleek, stylish design is really sexy and discerning consumers will fall in love with the authentic sound quality provided by its Active Noise Rejection technology. We're really looking forward to giving UK music lovers the best of Blackbox and breaking into the market without asking our customers to break the bank."

The Blackbox C18 earphones are available to order now from Amazon and Play.

Jaybird are launching the SB2 Bluetooth headphones, a colourful range that wouldn't look out of place on Marty McFly's hoverboard-riding head.

Producing top notch bass-response and CD quality playback if your device supports apt-X, the headphones come in nine crazy colours with names like Sonic Blue and Lemonade Green. If you're a reserved dresser, you might want to look elsewhere. But then you'd be an idiot as these are some snazzy headphones.

Specs wise, they aren't to shabby either. 32-Ohm with an output of 15mW RMS, you'll get 8 hours of playback from one charge, and ten days of standby battery life. Plus, if your device doesn't support apt-X, you can grab a separate adapter to give your tunes a sonic boost.

Grab a pair here for $99.