Filed under: Portable Audio

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Filed under: Portable Audio

Somehow, we don’t think that this was what Swarovski had in mind when they began whoring their luxury name onto consumer electronics a few years ago. The Scitec SEB-100 canal-type earbuds with fancy, “hand-pasted” crystals will cost ¥10,000 (about 100 US beans) when they hit Japan later this month. The perfect gift for the glam-rock pansy struggling with middle age on your Malibu, beachside block.

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Filed under: Portable Audio, Wireless

Sleek Audio’s SA6 canalphones generated quite a bit of buzz due to those adjustable acoustics, and if you’ve been wishing on your lucky stars for a wireless interpretation of said headphones, something is clearly going right for you. The outfit has just revealed that a new partnership with KLEER (yes, KLEER) has led to a wireless application for the SA6 and Sleek Customs, which, according to Sleek, is the first wireless technology that could do these drivers justice. The new adornment attaches right to the SA6 earphones to provide “CD quality sound from a wireless platform,” and better still, the SA6’s detachable cable ensures that you can keep on listening with a tether should your battery die in the midst of cordless jamming. The KLEER accessory should be up for pre-order shortly at $120, while a KLEER / SA6 bundle will sell for $299.99. Full release after the break.

Continue reading KLEER wireless attachment comes to Sleek Audio’s SA6 canalphones

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Filed under: Ask Engadget, Portable Audio

It’s true — hunting down a waterproof MP3 player is a cinch, but finding a decent pair of waterproof headphones to accompany said player can prove challenging. Have a look at Melinda’s question, and after you’re done providing your best advice, send over an inquiry of your own to ask at engadget dawt com.

“I am an almost-daily lap swimmer, but lately I have been suffering from “lap boredom.” I’ve been looking into the latest ways to take my MP3 player into the pool with me, and I need a set of waterproof headphones in order to do so. I’ve found waterproof earphones like H2O Audio and Aquatunes priced between $30 and $100, but I’ve also read many negative reviews. Before I spend this much money on waterproof ‘phones, I want to know what I am getting. What brand / model do you recommend?”

Climb on out of the kiddie pool and toss in your advice, swimmers. What ‘buds do you use to listen to music while submerged?

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Filed under: Ask Engadget, Cellphones, Peripherals, Portable Audio

So you’ve got an awesome set of earbuds, but you’re looking for a pair just as astounding with an in-line microphone for chatting it up. Thanks to the growing popularity of such a request, there are a few options on the market. Question is, which is supreme?

“I have this new music phone (it’s a flush-jacked iPhone 3G) and I’m thinking about getting a new set of phones. I’ve used some high quality headphones before, but I’m currently using Apple’s included headset because of the mic / remote. I’ve been looking at the Shure MPA kits, but what do you readers recommended?”

Thanks for the inquiry, dandaman. Let’s hear what you’ve got, readers! Afterwards, feel free to send in a puzzler of your own to ask at engadget dawt com.

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Filed under: Portable Audio

Audiovox’s extravaganza is closing up with the introduction of the Acoustic Research ARNC01 ($59.99) earbuds, which promise to use whiz-bang active processing to reduce noise for airline addicts and those with a crib full of rambunctious youngsters. The circuitry is housed in an in-line module with an On / Off button and a compartment for a single AAAA (yes, AAAA) battery, which should last you around 50 hours. You know, plenty of time to head off to Akihabara and back for a few new Japanese exclusives.

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Filed under: Portable Audio

Audiovox’s extravaganza is closing up with the introduction of the Acoustic Research ARNC01 ($59.99) earbuds, which promise to use whiz-bang active processing to reduce noise for airline addicts and those with a crib full of rambunctious youngsters. The circuitry is housed in an in-line module with an On / Off button and a compartment for a single AAAA (yes, AAAA) battery, which should last you around 50 hours. You know, plenty of time to head off to Akihabara and back for a few new Japanese exclusives.

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Filed under: Portable Audio

Ah, concepts. They make us laugh, they make us weep. And in this instance, they make us proud of the human imagination. Designer Yoonsang Kim has provided an oh-so-subtle tweak to the common earbud, leaving each earpiece in the shape of a question mark. Besides looking fairly attractive in-ear, they can also loop together to make carrying them much simpler. For the clean freaks, the design also keeps bacterial growth to a minimum by removing those dark, damp corners so prevalent in traditional ‘buds. Seriously, how can these not see mass commercialization?

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Filed under: Portable Audio

Logitech is getting into the earbuds game, announcing today that it’s buying privately-held Ultimate Ears. Historically focusing on spendy in-ear monitors for live musicians, Ultimate Ears has recently hit the earbud game with full force, and Logitech seems to want a piece of that action. Plus the acquisition price of $34 million is like, what, profits from your last seven minutes of iPod dock sales, Logitech? Logitech and Ultimate Ears expect the deal to close in August.

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Filed under: Portable Audio

What? Pigbuds a little too raunchy for you? If so, maybe the Aygo editions will suit your style. Quite honestly, we have absolutely no idea where these automotive-inspired speakers / earbuds can even be purchased, but those head over heels for their commuter car will surely do whatever it takes to find out.

[Thanks, Tom]

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Filed under: Portable Audio

Sound quality? Who cares. Thanks to Green House, pigs can finally stuff themselves into human orifices like a reverse-Appalachia. Just be prepared to kiss your ¥1,280 (about $12) goodbye with that pretty mouth of yours when the novelty of the adventure goes vile.

[Via Impress]

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Filed under: Peripherals, Portable Audio

Cubic zirconia is the bane of would-be brides with cheap beaus worldwide, but did you know it’s also a miracle cure for sound distortion? Panasonic would like you to think so, it’s touting the material’s distortion-reducing qualities in the new RP-HJE900 earbuds, which offer a sensitivity of 100dB/mW and a claimed frequency response of 6Hz to 28KHz. The buds are also detachable, since you don’t want to shell out a few hundred dollars only to have ‘em destroyed by a cable snag. No word on price, but they’ll surely cost less than the real thing.

Continue reading Panasonic’s RP-HJE900 earbuds sport detachable cables and fake diamonds

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Filed under: Portable Audio

Sony’s not courting the absolute in audiophiles here, but if you’re willing step up from your current pair of drugstore crapphones, you might find something to like here. The new MDR-NC40 noise canceling headphones feature an open-air design, with the battery pack moved to the cord to keep the weight off your head. The headphones can fold into a neat little softball-sized package for packing, and will be out in March for $100. The EX series is a bit more complicated, but the top-of-the-line is quite obvious: the MDR-EX700LP has “lightweight magnesium housings” and an “exclusive multilayer diaphragm” — which we hear is a good thing — along with seven sizes of hybrid-silicone earbuds for most effective ear cramming. The pair will be out in March for $300. The MDR-EX-32LP, MDR-EX55 and MDR-EX75 earbuds go for $25, $40 and $50, respectively, with the main differences being comfort and color choices. So choose wisely, friend.

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Filed under: Portable Audio

We’re not sure what has Sony in such a headphoney mood right now, but in addition to those higher-end noise canceling headphones and the flagship EX earbuds, Sony has budget-friendly cans in just about every flavor imaginable. Here’s the breakdown:

For kids

• MDR-222KD open-air headphones - Designed for kids eight and up, with a smaller size and limited volume, in black or cotton-candy pink. Available in April for $15.

For athletes

• MDR-AS20J earbuds - Wrap around outer ear
• MDR-AS40EX earbuds - “Convertible ear hanger” for swapping to traditional earbuds
• MDR-AS100W headphones - Headband style

Plenty more after the break.

Continue reading Sony releases bunches of low-priced headphones for kids, athletes, your mom

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Filed under: Portable Audio

Not much to say about these sound-isolating earbuds that hasn’t been said about most every sound-isolating earbuds to come before them, but we’ll give it our best shot. TEAC’s inCore Audio ZE-1000 earbuds have 5-layer silicon ear pads for comfort and sound isolation, and with hi-definition balanced armature drivers (two in each ear) they deliver “natural” textures and “thrilling” dynamics. Also, were you aware that TEAC has been around for more than 50 years? We sure weren’t. No word on price or availability, but the ‘buds do include small, medium and large ear pads for mama, papa and baby bear.

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Filed under: Peripherals, Portable Audio

So you like wooden headphones, and you’re down with JVC’s offerings, but you don’t have a thousand bucks to spend on the company’s swanky HP-DX1000 over-the-ear cans. Before, you might have had a problem. However thanks to the new HP-FX500s earbuds, you can proudly sport the dead tree look and have your Victor sound for only ¥15,000 ($131). These buds tout a sensitivity of 100dB/1mW and frequency response of 8Hz to 25kHz and , which is not quite as good as their bulkier big brother, but what can you expect for around ten percent of the price, right?

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Filed under: Portable Audio

If you want a pair of true, in-ear buds without the muss and fuss of wires, your options are limited and you need to be prepared to make some sacrifices. One such sacrifice that needs to be heavily weighed into the equation, for example, is your desire to appear as though there is a pair of black Duplo blocks hanging out of your ears. That’s exactly the curse of Etymotic’s ety8, a decent set of stereo Bluetooth ‘phones (we’ve tried them, they’re comfortable and sound great) that were irreparably damaged by the ugly stick somewhere during the course of their development. The high-end headphone outfit has another Bluetooth product in the works, though — the ER-89 “etyBlu” just hit the FCC’s wires, giving us hope that they heard our complaints loud and clear and have worked to make their kit just a little less embarrassing to wear in public. We couldn’t find conclusive evidence in the documentation that we’re looking at a stereo headset here; theoretically, it could just be a mono product for calls, but we’re encouraged by a brief mention of listening to music (who wants to blast tunes into one ear?) and the fact that the ety8’s model number is ER-88. Can anyone make out what’s going on in this FCC label diagram here?

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Filed under: Portable Audio, Wireless

Granted, you’ve got some options out there when scouting a new set of Bluetooth earbuds, but you won’t find us kvetching over a little competition in the totally unsaturated market. JayBird is stepping up to the plate with its stylish JB-100, which boasts a built-in microphone for handling handsfree calls, noise / echo suppression technology and 6.5-hours of talk time (5.5-hours when listening to jams). Additionally, the unit is said to be water resistant, and you’ll even get a handy charging dock and mesh carrying case should you choose to pick one up. For those clamoring for iPod / DAP support, you can snag one of two adapters (shown after the jump) — a Made for iPod version that plays nice with dock connector inputs and a vanilla iteration that plugs directly into any 3.5-millimeter audio jack. So, what’s all this kit going to cost? Try $129.99 for the headset and $49.99 apiece for the BT adapters, all of which are available right now.

[Via CNET]

Continue reading JayBird reveals JB-100 Bluetooth stereo headset, iPod adapter

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Filed under: Portable Audio

We were never too hip with the precious metals, and we can’t say we’re doing any better with this setup. The iDiamond ear, built by Heyerdahl jewelry, is slicked up with 18 karat gold and 204 diamonds, but we can’t help but seeing a pair of cheap headphones with glitter on them — with a $6,400 pricetag slapped on just for kicks. Good thing we’re not filthy rich, we’d be so terrible at frittering away our cash.

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Office Depot Featured Gadget: Xbox 360 Platinum System Packs the power to bring games to life!

Filed under: Ask Engadget, Portable Audio

It’s Ask Engadget time, which means we’ve got another conundrum for the collective wisdom of our learned readership (that’d be you):

“What should we stick in our ears? Apple’s earbuds aren’t cutting it, and most other DAP manufacturers are shipping headphones that are just as bad. We don’t want to buy any old replacement set, but high-end earbuds can get ridiculously expensive real fast, and we’d like to avoid that if possible. Anything decent in the $99 range? Anything worth paying a lot more than that?”

We’re sure there’s somebody out there with an opinion on this, so let’s see what you’ve got. Oh, and we’re sorry for running our own staff-submitted questions a couple weeks in a row. We’ve been getting some great questions sent in to ask at engadget dawt com, but unfortunately most of the topics have been touched on recently or aren’t quite relevant enough to dive into. Keep ‘em coming and we’ll get your name up in lights before you know it.

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Office Depot Featured Gadget: Xbox 360 Platinum System Packs the power to bring games to life!