Aurvana is nirvana, as least for the audiophile. The brand-new high-end noise-canceling headphones from Creative Labs use the latest technology, X-Fi (Xtreme Fidelity), which, in case you aren't familiar with it, makes your MP3s sound better than the original CDs by intelligently restoring the details that are lost during compression. With three switches, you get the optimal choices: one is to turn the noise-cancellation feature off, the one in the middle is the "crystalizer" that enhances your MP3 playback, and the last button is a CMSS-3D that provides virtual surround sound for movies or playing games.

After trying different combinations, I found the best for music is when both the noise-canceling AND the Crystalizer are activated.

The Aurvana will be released mid-September and will retail for approx $299. Currently, there is no pre-order available but check back with the Creative Labs site.