Using the earphones - also known as earbuds and headphones - packaged with a new portable media player ought to be considered a temporary measure. You won't get the best sound unless you purchase a studio-quality replacement. Audio electronics maker Shure offers a pair of professional-grade, sound-isolating earphones; the entry-level SE110 model does the job without hurting your wallet. The compact buds fit into your ears, creating a tight seal sufficient to block out the verbal tirades of 'bus uncles' or taxi drivers screaming into their two-way radios. Because one size rarely fits all, the earphones come with a 'fit kit', which contains small, medium and large foam sleeves. These help block out more than 90 per cent of ambient noise. The Shure SE110 sound-isolating earphones cost HK$940.
