Most of the world is living in the dark ages of headphones. (iPod earbuds, I’m looking at you.) That’s sad, because it’s a great time to buy pro-quality headphones: they’re better-sounding and cheaper than ever.

One trusted maker is Audio-Technica, which has generously taken its previously Japan-only headphones and released them here in the United States as the “Import Series.” (See the press release; no word on the rest of the world, readers — I’ll try to find that out.)

There’s a set of cans for everyone:

Reference/Audiophile: For studio applications or just enjoying listening, there’s a range of new open-air and closed-back models. Here come the clunky model numbers: ATH-AD700, ATH-AD500 and ATH-AD300 Open-Air Dynamic Headphones and ATH-A700 and ATH-A55 Closed-Back Dynamic Headphones.

DJs: Pro reference headphones for DJ applications: ATH-PRO700 SV, ATH-PRO5 V and ATH-PRO5 MS.

Replacing those $#&*$# iPod Headphones: Clip-on headphones and earbuds for listening to your portable player the way it was intended to be heard: ATH-EW9, ATH-EM9r and ATH-EM7 GM Adjustable Clip-On Headphones; ATH-CM7 SV and ATH-CM7Ti Ear-Bud Headphones; ATH-EC7 GM Ear-Bud/Clip-On Hybrid Headphones; and ATH-ES5 SV Portable Folding Headphones.

Coolest of the new announcements are the portable headphones: they have an avant-garde design reminiscent of Bang and Olufsen, and are made of materials like Japanese Hokkaido cherry wood, aluminum, and titanium. I’m still partial to the Shure E series headphones because they can do double-duty as onstage monitors, but I’m intrigued by the new A-T offering.

Prices starting at US$119 and running up to about $300 list. Then again, I keep seeing people buying $400 iPods and $1000 audio interfaces but listening through total crap. Hint: start spending where your actual ears are.

Got a favorite pair of headphones for listening in your studio? At the gym? (Hey, sitting here and programming Max/MSP patches ain’t gonna keep me in shape.) Hit comments and let us know.

While image technology has leaped forward, headphones and hearing aids still resemble 19th-Century tech. A show opening this week in London brings together designers seeking to change that. Ideas on view include glasses with built-in earphones that let you listen directionally to whatever you’re looking at, and “goldfish” earphones that repeat whatever someone said in the last 10 seconds — finally, I’ll be able to remember people’s names! My favorite: earbuds connected to a conductive strip so you can finally hear what your friends are saying at a bar. (Wait, maybe that’s not a good thing.)

See a great roundup of links from Régine at WWMNA, or browse a BBC News gallery.

Could selective hearing have possibilities for music? Absolutely — just ask my friend Joshua Fried, whose Headphone Sextet prompts vocalists with spoken cues for a variety of ingenious compositional configurations. And that’s just on the performer side; there are limitless possibilities for new listening environments, too.

Okay, CDM readers. We’ve got a dual challenge this week: what headphones are perfect for gigging, perfect for DJing, and make a perfect birthday present? Reader-turned-CDM columnist atariboy writes:

I am looking for some good headphones for my girlfriends (jemgirl) birthday later this week. Around the $100 mark. Will be used for DJing/gigging. The Sony mdrv700dj’s seem to fit the bill. What else should I look into? Thanks! -atariboy

I was going to suggest the Sony headphones, assuming you want the DJ-style design. (If not, there are plenty of classic headphones, like the Sennheiser HD280s; I’ve used my Sennheisers on a gig.) If you can get a deal on them, the Pioneer HDJ-1000 models are terrific; see Jason O’Grady’s piece on them for CDM.

So, what do you think, fair readers? Headphones ideal for yourself AND your significant other? (Too bad my birthday’s in January . . .)

Clearly, the future of headphones is surround sound, delivered by "acoustical alloy" tubing
worn around the head. I have no qualms whatsoever about this device.
I'm sure the surround effect is completely successful, and I think the
claim of "mastering" as an application is an excellent idea — if
you're mastering professional 5.1 surround mixes, then you should spend
the EUR149.00 on this device, because it will accurately represent 5.1
surround separation and spatialization.

What do you mean, I'm overdoing the irony?

I also see they're working on a combination DVD player + headphones "perfect for karaoke." Um, 5.1 surround karaoke? [via BURP -- bit old, sorry!]