TMA-1 DJ Headphones

Brothers, boyfriends, dads, and roommates: with music as a common denominator, gift-giving should be a breeze. Whittling it all down seems daunting (there are, by my last count, 12,401 headphone models on the open market) until you factor in a rigorous design sensibility, and voila! Read 'em and weep, fellas.

Earbuds may suffice for an inconspicuous (ahem) Coldplay (ahem) session on your morning commute, but these minimalist jet-black, DJ-friendly headphones will leave you—and possibly everyone else on your bus—with no choice but to conspicuously nod and bob in time with your dubstep, grimestep, or 2-step playlist.

Yes, there is a pair of headphones that costs as much as a home audio system. The price of the limited-edition Ultrasone Edition 10 is only slightly justified by the fact that only 2,010 pairs of the Ethiopian sheepskin-trimmed cans were made.

Built on the same features as the SR60, but utilizes a 4 conductor connecting cable and larger ear cushions, the result of which gives a more open stage. The SR80 provides an improved bass resonance, which enhances the overall detail. John Grado says he strove for the best sounding phones for the money, and with the glowing reviews the SR80's have received, who can argue.