10 Unusual Headphone Sets

Massagers, toothbrushes, and cell phones are the kinds of products you'd expect to vibrate; but a pair of headphones? Genius's HS-03U is a USB headset targeted to gamers and music lovers and embedded with a vibration function. Hmmm, I don't think I'd be able to deal with bumping bass to the head! The HS-03U also features a foldable headband, soft ear-pad, in-line volume control, and is Windows Vista capable. If you want a more physically immersive musical experience, these vibrating headphones sell for $55 at Amazon.com. You might want to pick up some Tylenol, too.

Will earbud earrings catch on? Who knows, but the Korean makers of the BiJE Bio Jewelry Earphones are hoping they do. The Jewelry Earphones appear to have earrings that clip-on to each side of the earbuds to give you a stylish new look while rocking out to Fergie or Maroon 5. According to Dvice.com, they come in 11 colors and sell for 32,000 KRW ($34 USD).

Knock on wood that the latest earbuds to come from JVC will be a success. Set to launch in February, SlipperyBrick.com reports that the noise-canceling JVC HP-FX500 Earbuds are made of birch wood! Keep them away from water, that's for sure. The HP-FX500 is expected to ship in Japan for 15,000 yen ($140 USD) and will include a carrying case and rubber tips in multiple sizes.

Don't want to be another white-earbudded iPod user? These blinking earbuds are sure to help you stand out in a crowd. Andrea Electronics' Blinx ($19.95) contain LEDs that blink to the pulse of your music in six colors: white, pink, red, orange, green, or blue. Just plug them into your music player, choose a song, and switch the earbuds to the "On" position. The more you turn up the volume on your player, the faster the earbuds will flash. Don't make yourself go deaf just to see some flashing lights, though.

I consider myself a pretty reasonable person, but I'm not so sure about the reasoning behind Segatoys' Mu-Bot Robot Earphones for the iPod. This bot-like plastic figurine has hands that serve as the earphones while the cord, wrapped up inside the bot's body, can be unraveled so that you can wear the bot around your neck. I'm still not getting it! Anyone? It's only available in Japan but can be purchased from AudioCubes.com for $39.99, once it's back in stock.

How close are you to your MP3 player? To use the mTune Cordless Stereo Headset ($49.99), insert your SanDisk Sansa e200 series player into the side, plug the player into the provided mini cable, and within seconds listen to your tunes without the wire tangle. The mTune is collapsible for easy portability and features leather hygienic ear pads. Fortunately, no battery is required to power the headphones, because that would really weigh me down!

It's so strange to see an SD card loaded into a pair of headphones, isn't it? During the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas last week, Ubergizmo.com witnessed SkullCandy's Double Agent. Designed for the outdoor enthusiast, these rechargeable headphones don't have to be hooked up to a music player in order to listen to music. Instead, just pop in an SD card loaded with songs and enjoy your hike through the woods or downhill skiing adventure. It will come in three colors (orange/brown, yellow/white, and black) and music can be controlled on the side of the headphones. It's expected to ship in March or April 2008. Price TBD.

Retractable cords are definitely a nifty feature of these black chicBuds ($46), but why must every female-branded tech product be pink and don Swarovski crystals? Available in yummy colors sour apple, watermelon, grape, marshmallow, and blueberry, the chicBuds ship with a belt clip and pouch.

To go along with your waterproof MP3 player (because you just have to listen to music underwater, right?), there's OtterBox's H2O Audio Waterproof Headphones. Priced at $39.95, these underwater-friendly headphones feature a durable neckband that holds the headphones in place, form-fitting silicone earpieces, and coiled cable, and are fully waterproof down to 3 feet (fine for swimming laps, not so much for scuba diving).

What do you get when you combine ear muffs with headphones? The Lobz Audio Ear Protectors. With integrated speakers and a detachable headphone cord that plugs into your music player, bop to music and keep your ears warm at the same time. The earphones are constructed of a "lavawool" fleece and are foldable for storage. Choose from pink or black for $29.99 at SportsAuthority.com.