By Tony Celeste

Zalman is perhaps best known for its attractive cooling designs for CPUs, graphics cards, and chipsets. Recently however, Zalman has expanded into various multimedia markets, and this summer introduced its ZM-DS4F headphones.

These over-the-ear headphones feature separate woofers and tweeters for a big sound.

Priced at about $29.00, the Zalman ZM-DS4F headphones deliver an inexpensive, portable sound solution for MP3 players and other mobile devices. However, unlike most mobile headsets, these Zalman ZM-DS4F headphones feature traditional DJ-style padded ear cups, designed to cover the entire ear. These stand in sharp contrast to those mini earbuds to which we've become accustomed in recent years.

A larger ear cup offers multiple advantages. It blocks out ambient sound to drown out external distractions. Although this obviously isn't a headphone for use when you're out cycling, it's perfect for a day at the beach, or when you're at home and want to mute the sounds of everyday life. Larger ear cups also provide additional room for speakers. Zalman uses this space to build an independent 40 mm woofer and 28 mm tweeter into each ear piece, for clearer highs and more powerful lows.

The Zalman ZM-DS4F also features a unique three-point folding design, for increased convenience for those on the move. The ZM-DS4F is available in white and black, and weighs in at just 124 grams (about 4.3 ounces). Anybody who wants a convincing mobile sound experience should be glad to find them under the tree.