I care a lot about high-quality audio. I spend most of my workday with headphones on, and music is an important tool to help keep me focused. I researched extensively for the best headphones in the world, with these criteria in mind:

• minimal sound leakage (sound that leaves the headphones)
• highest-caliber sound-stage and audio possible
• durable, reliable, built to last

Given those requirements, in my research, I began to found a trend: the Audeze LCD-XC. These are expensive headphones, no doubt. But I rationalized it due to the amount of time I spend with headphones on my head.

Don't just take it from me, though. Take a look at these resources I uncovered that convinced me that the Audeze LCD-XC Headphones were the best choice:

• Read this entire head-fi forum thread with user impressions
• Saw Headphonia's expert review of the LCD-XCs
• Read the pro-audiophile reviews on HeadFi

This is just the tip of the iceberg of research that I did, after I narrowed my search to 3 models fitting my use-case: Uncompromising sound quality and build, minimal sound leakage, durable, reliable.

After several months, I can confidently say that these headphones not only blow my high-end Sennheiser's out of the water, but their sound isolation and utter lack of leakage is exactly what I needed. And, unlike some high-end Denon cans I've owned in the past, these are sturdy and well-built.

I love to hack the everyday. I don't like the status-quo of accepting inadequate tools. A key ring is something you use everyday, but its usability sorely lacks. Why settle for a bad design and annoying usability when you can buy a key ring that's incredibly well-engineered, with ease of use, made out of bulletproof buy-it-for-life materials?

This has been my key chain for years: KNOX Titanium Custom Split Key Chain. When I can replace something that I use everyday with something twice as good that will last forever, I do it immediately.

I actually think this is going to be more cost-effective in the long run, too. You will never replace this key chain. It's aircraft-grade titanium. This is a perfect example of the boots theory of economics.