Late Night Listening When Wife Wants Music OFF

Start here...CD > iTunes (Apple Lossless Compression) > iPod > Headroom Total Airhead portable amp > Shure E3, E4, or E5s (or Etymotic ER4s).

Upgrade order:
1. Source- CD, SACD/DVD-A
2. Amp- Creek, Channel Islands, Musical Fidelity, Headroom to name but a few. Upgraded power supplies offer a big improvement.
3. Earphones.
4. ICs

Enjoy!

...to add portability (and the most overall flexibility), start w/ the first recomendation in my first post. I started w/ the E3s and thought them very good but the E4s were a definite improvement. The iPod will impress. If you decide that in-ears are not your choice, simply substitute traditional cans. All can be had for way less than $1000.