Gadgetell - Headphones

Gadgetell Review: Maximo iMetal iM-590 earphones

Iyaz Akhtar — 2009-10-21T17:00:37+00:00

Section: Audio, Accessories, Headphones, Portable Audio, Reviews

What is it?

The Maximo iMetal iM-590 earphones are “enhanced definition isolation earphones” with a MSRP of $59.99.

What’s in the box?

Earbuds
4 pairs of eartips
2.5-mm stereo plug adapter
Airline dual-plug adapter
2 foot extension cable
Shirt clip
Carrying case
User guide

The Good

One of the first things you notice about the headphones is a tag that says that you should “burn in” the earphones by playing music for 8-10 hours. I have not seen that before on a set of headphones. The audio quality out of the box was good and was a little better after the burn in period. Generally, audio quality was very good. Compared to the standard iPod earbuds, you get much better bass response and clearer sound all around. The style of the earbuds allows for you to listen to your audio without needing to crank up the volume all the way. The eartips act as earplugs so you can hear your audio source and not somebody sitting next to you.

The headphones are quite versatile with multiple eartips so you can find your perfect fit. A quick tip, your ears may not require the same sized eartip in each ear. Don’t be afraid to admit your ears are not perfectly symmetrical.

The Maximo iMetal iM-590 earphones are very light, so you won’t have to worry about them falling out of your ears due to their own weight.

For a $59.99 MSRP, you get lots of accessories to go with your headphones. Simple things like a shirt clip and carrying case can be helpful if you wear your headphones on the go (like most everyone does). I’ve torn up several headphone wires in my bag, but with an included carrying case, that’s less likely to happen with the iM-590. The addition of an airline adapter, 2.5-mm adapter, and extension cable is also helpful because it can be used with any pair of headphones.

The Bad

Many headphone cables are covered in plastic, the iMetal iM-590 wires are covered in nylon. The nylon cable is water resistant, but not waterproof, so it might not be the best for the gym. The cable won’t be damaged because the internal wires are coated, but the nylon could get wet.

The Crux

The Maximo iMetal iM-590 earphones provide a very good listening experience for a reasonable price. If you are the type of person who bristles at the idea of $99+ headphones but wants good audio quality, the iMetal iM-590 may be the earbuds for you.

Product Page: [Maximo]

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Monster stays starstruck: Adds “Heartbeats by Lady Gaga” to Beats by Dr. Dre line

Iyaz Akhtar — 2009-09-07T19:00:53+00:00

Section: Audio, Headphones, Portable Audio

Monster, makers of pricey cables and other home theater accessories, teamed with Dr. Dre to come out with Beats by Dr. Dre specialty headphones and ear buds. Now, the line just got larger with the introduction of “Heartbeats by Lady Gaga.”

These headphones are marketed to the fashion conscious with a unique diamond-like shape for the earbuds. Additionally, the Heartbeats will be available in three colors: black, red, and silver. There will be several variations on these headphones with prices ranging from $99.95 to $149.95. They will also have Monster’s “ControlTalk” which is a built in mic and remote for several iPods including the iPhone 3GS and the buttonless iPod shuffle.

“Heartbeats by Lady Gaga are holistically designed to deliver the soundtrack of your life with clarity and power, as well as satisfy your passion for fashion.”

You’ve got to love ad copy sometimes. Monster went all out on this one. The Hearbeats will be available in October, 2009.

Product Site: [Heartbeats by Lady Gaga]

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JVC rolling out new higher-end and lower-end headphones

Shawn Ingram — 2009-07-29T19:02:56+00:00

Section: Audio, Headphones

If you’re like me, chances are you’re always on the lookout for new headphones, just in case. Sometimes old headphones break, one side stops working, or perhaps the constant untangling wears away at the cord. JVC announced a few headphones that should be good for almost anyone, depending on how much they want to spend on headphones.

On the higher-end, JVC announced the HA-M750 and HA-S650, both of which are meant for people who want better sound quality in over-the-ear headphones. The HA-M750 looks to be those who are either amateur DJs, or wish to be so. They feature “DJ-style” monitoring through one ear, with the rest of the headphones twisting to the side so as not to get in the way. The standard cord on the HA-M750 is almost four feet long, and comes with an extension cable of about 6.5 feet, making for one very long cord, so it might be a bit difficult to use while moving about. The HA-S650s are perfectly suited for such, however. The main draw of the HA-S650 is that they fold in on themselves, making for easy storage. Both are said to offer better bass, and have a comfortable feel thanks to the memory foam around the ears.

On the lower-end, JVC is bringing the HA-EBX85 (sports clip earbuds) and the HA-FX20 All Star headphones (standard in-ear headphones). Both are said to offer decent sound quality, which JVC touts as superior sound quality. Both come in a variety of colors, with the HA-EBX85 coming in single colors on the ear clip, and the HA-FX20 All Stars coming in dual colors. While neither are all that likely to attract audiophiles, they would be decent choices for average users who don’t want to spend more than $15 of $20 on a pair of headphones.

Read [JVC HA-M750 and HA-S650]
Read [JVC HA-EBX85 and HA-FX20 All Star]

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Shure rolls out three new headphones for studio monitoring

Iyaz Akhtar — 2009-07-20T19:12:01+00:00

Section: Audio, Headphones

Click for a larger image.

You can easily create music on computers. However, it’s important to have a good pair of headphones so you can hear you are doing to create excellent audio. Shure just introduced three new sets of headphones, the SRH240, the SRH440, and the SRH840.

The SRH240 is a low cost (under $60) pair of headphones and Shure claims that the “SRH240 reproduces full bass with detailed highs.” If you’re willing to spend $100, there’s the SRH440, which is collapsible and is meant for mixing consoles. The SRH840 is Shure’s top of the line “Professional Monitoring Headphones” at $199.99 Obviously, these are meant to reproduce sound in the truest form possible. These are also collapsible for portability. Since all of these headphones are meant for critical listening, they are designed to be very comfortable for long listening periods.

These headphones will be available later this summer. I’ve had the opportunity to test Shure’s in-ear-headphones and microphones and they usually make quality products. I am curious to see how these new headphones perform.

Source: [Shure]

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Gadgetell Guide: Should I buy headphones or earbuds?

Natesh Sood — 2009-07-07T20:07:07+00:00

Section: Audio, Accessories, Headphones, Features, Originals

A MP3 player is only as good as its headphones or earbuds. With that in mind, it is very important to decide whether headphones or earbuds are the way to go when listening to music. For me the difference between using headphones and earbuds is relatively simple. However, for others, deciding which to use can be a difficult process. Based on my personal experiences, I will break down the pros and cons of each.

Headphones: Pro

Headphones are typically bulkier than earbuds, but the sound quality is much greater than earbuds. If I want clear, rich sound quality I would opt to use headphones as they are designed to be of better quality and some come with noise canceling technology. Now, they are also more comfortable as the cans are typically coated with padding to keep your ears feeling comfortable. They fit snuggly over or behind your head, so they will not fall off easily, which is a big plus. I can’t run with earbuds as they almost always fall out, so I have to use headphones when running. To me, that makes me more likely to purchase headphones over earbuds.

Headphones: Con

I alluded to the fact that headphones are bulkier than earbuds, which is true. They are not as portable as earbuds and usually come with a carrying pouch. It is not a big inconvenience, but I enjoy keeping earbuds in my pockets for quick access. Good quality headphones also stick out since they are much bigger than decent headphones. If you take a look outside or on the subway, chances are most people are using earbuds over headphones due to portability factor.

Earbuds: Pro

If you purchase an MP3 player, chances are it comes with a pair of earbuds so you can listen to music right away. For example, Apple ships their own earbuds with every iPod, but many people end buying a new pair due to lack of quality. Personally, I don’t have too much of a problem with the Apple earbuds, as they are small and can fit easily inside my pocket. There are higher quality earbuds designed by manufacturers that feature noise canceling technology, similar to headphones.

Earbuds: Con

Unless you are buying high end earbuds, chances are they lack quality that can be found in similarly priced headphones. They are much smaller and can’t pack the same features as headphones. In addition, they are designed to fit outside your ear canal or directly inside, which poses a danger to your hearing. Most earbuds don’t feature any noise canceling technology, so we often blast our music to reduce outside noise. This is a big no-no as it can cause permanent damage to your ear drum.

Final Thoughts

If you are looking for sharp sound quality combined with comfort, headphones may be the way to go. However, if you are looking for style combined with portability, earbuds may be the way to go. I own a pair of headphones as well as several earbuds. When running, I typically use headphones as they don’t fall off, but when going outside either for school, with friends, or just walking around, I carry earbuds with me as they are smaller and more portable. If you are still conflicted, evaluate when and where you’ll be using your music player and that ought to help you make a decision.

If you have any questions or comments, feel free to let me know below.

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Ultrasone announces 40% discounts off their headphones during June

Natesh Sood — 2009-06-05T19:29:23+00:00

Section: Audio, Headphones, Gadgets / Other

The German company, Ultrasone, isn’t too well known in the States, but they are running a pretty solid deal throughout June here in the United States. Basically, Ultrasone is the US distributor for Ultrasone AG (which is based in Germany), and they have five headphones, whose prices will be marked down by 40%.

The headphones include the HFI-680, HFI-2200, PRO 550, PRO 2500 and DJ1 PRO, and each will be shipped for free in the United States. Now, to find these discounted headphones, navigate to their homepage here, and then press Shop USA (or click this convenient link) and then press Promotional Items (here) to check out the five headphones. I decided to check out the prices on the headphones to see how cheap they were, but they are actually pretty expensive. Prices range from $249 all the way to $429, however, this is before 40% is taken off. The price difference will be reflected when you checkout. Since they are pretty expensive, I imagine them to be high quality headphones.

Either way, it’s a pretty nice deal to be running in the month of June. If you are looking for some new, quality headphones, take a look at Ultrasone and see what reviews you can dig up. The Press Release is below.

Read [Ultrasone]

Ultrasone Inc. Offers 40% off MSRP on Select Headphones and Free U.S. Shipping During June

HFI-680, HFI-2200, PRO 550, PRO 2500 and DJ1 PRO offered at 40% off MSRP with free shipping during June at www.ultrasone.com

Wildomar, Calif. - (June 5, 2009) – Ultrasone Inc., distributor for German headphone manufacturer Ultrasone AG, announces its HFI-680, HFI-2200, PRO 550, PRO 2500 and DJ1 PRO headphones will be available for 40% off MSRP during June at www.ultrasone.com. In addition, free shipping will also be offered on the above products during this promotion for all U.S. orders.

To purchase these headphones at the promotional price, visit www.ultrasone.com and click on the “Shop USA” icon. Once inside the store, click on “Promotional Items” to view the five headphones that are being offered at 40% off MSRP. The discounted price will be reflected once the headphone has been added to the customer’s shopping cart.

About Ultrasone
Based near Munich, Germany, Ultrasone AG has been manufacturing headphones for the audio market for over 17 years, during which time the company has developed and applied for more than 60 patents for its innovative technology. The company’s unique, patented S-Logic™ technology creates natural surround sound without the use of additional electronic devices. Ultrasone headphones represent a safer listening experience by reducing sound pressure on the ear drum by up to 40% and also by offering shielding from EMF radiation up to 98% through the use of patented ULE (ultra low emission) technology. For more information about Ultrasone headphones, go to www.ultrasone.com.

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Gadgetell Review and Contest: Radius Atomic Bass Earphones

JG Mason — 2009-05-18T15:10:43+00:00

Section: Audio, Headphones, Reviews, Features, Contests

These days you can’t swing a dead cat in the city without hitting someone with earphones on. Many of us find the stock pair from Apple are a bit uncomfortable over any lengthy period of time. It’s time for an upgrade and today, Gadgetell is starting a contest that will end Friday for a free set of Atomic Bass earphones from Radius. Check out our review and if you like what you read, enter the contest.

Radius earphones for iPhone 3G

Guts

The Atomic Bass earphones for iPhone 3G add a high performance inline microphone/remote to the standard pair of Atomic Bass earphones that we are giving away this week. These earphones are made from light aluminum; their weight is barely noticeable. The wire is 120cm long, features a 3.5mm gold plated jack and according to the manufacturer feature a 10mm neodymium magnet that produces outstanding bass response. These things look cool.

Fit

Sizing is accomplished via a small, medium, large set of interchangeable silicone caps to plug up your ear canal. Other earphones tend to include tons of options for in-ear fit that let you customize them a bit more, but the S/M/L got the job done. I went with medium and was able to run on a treadmill without them falling out any more than those with more fit options, so no harm - no foul there. They didn’t feel perfect, but didn’t cause problems either - fit is a personal thing so experiences will vary.

Sound

Overall, these earphones fared well. Despite selling for $49.99 for the iPhone version, I tested them against a pair of Shure M100s and found the sound to comparable despite the Shures costing double the price. The bass response was good, I was able to discern low base and it wasn’t overpowering on the top end. Overall, sound quality was great.

Remote/Microphone

Most of the time, I don’t use iPhone specific earphones and after using the Radius pair made for iPhone, I have no idea why. Fast forwarding a song while running no long required my special skill of double tapping the main button, and locating the fast forward onscreen button. A simple double click on the remote and slow songs in my mix were bypassed while working out. Handy. The microphone was good, not great according to people on the other end; but it was better than trying to talk the phone in my armband while running, so points there.

Bang for the buck

It is easy to test these against my collection of $100ish earphones and it sits mid pack. Sounds was comparable, fit was a little off, but iPhone controls were cool. The hard part is to remember the Radius earphones cost half of the others. And that is impressive.

Overall

To sum up, I like these. Their sound quality and hot aluminum looks are winners in my book. The low price is icing on the cake. I don’t see these staying in stock long anywhere and according to the reviews on their website from places like CNET, everyone seems to agree with me.

Learn more at Radius.

Contest

Ok, so you’ve read my review. Now you want a pair for yourself? Gadgetell is here to help with special thanks to Radius. We’ve joined forces to give away a pair of the Radius Atomic Bass earphones in black, their most popular model. A $39.99 value, yours for the taking.

How:

How do you enter this giveaway? That’s super-simple. Register with Gadgetell, create a profile and leave a comment to this post telling us where you listen to your music with earphones on. Is it the gym? Work? Skate park? Bearing Sea crab boat? We’ll be picking at random, so don’t hurt yourself.

Remember, you must be registered and have a profile for your comment to count as an entry!

Good luck.
Read: [Full Contest Terms]

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Gadgetell Review: The Monster Turbine In-Ear Speakers

Iyaz Akhtar — 2009-04-24T21:07:28+00:00

Section: Audio, Headphones, Reviews

What is it?

The Monster Turbine in-ear speakers (otherwise known to regular mortals as in-ear headphones) designed by Monster’s head honcho, Noel Lee.

What’s good

There are lot of included ear tips with different sizes and shapes. If you’ve got two different sized ears (and you probably do), this lets you get a good snug fit to get good audio. The headphones also come with a case so you don’t end up damaging these things in your bag.

The sound quality is very nice. The bass is good and clear. These headphones are sound isolating, so you don’t have to listen at very high volumes. When compared to my old Sony Fontopia headphones, I only had to have the Monster Turbine headphones at about 1/2 to 3/4 the volume to get the same loudness.

It’s possible that these headphones will open up new seating opportunities to you on the train like it did for me. Those four loud people aren’t so loud when you can’t hear them thanks to the Monster Turbine.

What’s not

The packaging is a bit on the large side. While the materials are recyclable, the headphones would have sounded exactly the same in a package about half the size.

The In-Between

I was initially concerned about the weight distribution of the actual earbud. While the buds look cool, they have a lot of weight to them. I thought that they would fall out of my ears if I had to move around. Running around Grand Central Terminal, I found out that they stay put.

The price is pretty steep at $179.95, although you can get a better deal if you shop around online. I think these may be better priced at $99.

The Crux

The Monster Turbine has good sound coming out of a stylish set of earbuds. Their term of “In-ear speakers” isn’t just a marketing term. It sounds pretty darn good. If price is no object, then I’d say go for it.

Product Page: [Monster Turbine]

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Got an old gadget? Recycle it at RadioShack and get a gift card

Natesh Sood — 2009-04-15T23:34:42+00:00

Section: Audio, Headphones, Home Audio, Portable Audio, Video, HDTV, Portable Video, Communications, Cellphones, Computers, Laptops, Gadgets / Other, GPS/Navigation, Green, Household

RadioShack has been doing their part to help the environment by taking in your old electronics, and giving you some cash credit for it. Until recently, the trade-in program has been on a pretty limited basis, but now, RadioShack made it available in all of their 4,400 stores. In case you don’t have a participating RadioShack trade-in near you, you will probably have one to take advantage of now.

Think about all the unused, old gadgets you have lying around the house. Wouldn’t it be great to turn them in for some money? Now, I understand some gadgets have sentimental value, but I think it’s great that RadioShack is taking the initiative to allow people to donate their old electronics. However, I’m not sure how selective they are and how much money they will give you in return, but here is how it works in a nutshell.

Obviously, the product has to be able to turn on and function as advertised. If it doesn’t, then don’t even bother trying to give it to RadioShack. Next, you have to provide your name and address (this should be easy), and then show a valid Driver’s License, State ID card, Military ID, or Passport. Next, RadioShack’s trade-in program is limited to MP3 players, cell phones, gaming consoles and games, camcorders, digital cameras, GPS devices, chargers, cables, manuals, computer perihperals, computers, HDTV’s, and monitors.

Since the program has been fairly successful, I imagine that RadioShack gives back a decent amount of money, otherwise people wouldn’t even bother with this. Also, RadioShack gives you a gift card the minute they accept your trade-in, so there is no waiting 6-8 weeks for your gift card to be processed. Lastly, it is always nice to help the environment, so if not for the money, give in your old electronics just for the warm, fuzzy feeling you get when doing a good deed.

Read [RadioShack Press Release]

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Jabra unleashes new BT stereo headset. Thinking iPhone 3.0?

JG Mason — 2009-04-01T18:01:49+00:00

Section: Audio, Headphones, Speakers, Communications, Accessories, Mobile, Trade Shows, CTIA

Today at CTIA in Las Vegas, Jabra is announcing two new products: the Halo Bluetooth stereo headset and the SP200 speaker phone. The headset is due out in May ‘09 and the speaker phone this month.

The Halo

The Halo headset features Jabra’s Noise Blackout technology and claims to work with any Bluetooth phone or mp3 player. According to Jabra, if connected to a mobile phone and listening to music, the headset music will fade out so you can take the call; no word if it has an integrated microphone to actually take the call. On the whole, it looks very sleek.

With iPhone 3.0 software being opened up to Bluetooth stereo accessories, Jabra’s Halo could be a big winner for all of us that hate cords. Of course, Jabra built in wire compatibility if your devices doesn’t have Bluetooth, which is pretty clever. At $129 MSRP, I could see this getting on many peoples short list.

Bluetooth Speakerphone

The SP200 speaker phone looks to be the little brother to the SP700 I reviewed and loved a while back. This one is less expensive and not quite as good looking but does offer some refinement: namely in the volume control wheel, and dedicated on/off switch. The attached clips hooks easily to a cars visor where in many states hands free phone is the law, or you can use the speaker phone in an office or kitchen for handy conversations without dropping your phone in the pasta sauce (yes, it happens, long, sad story).

The SP 200 looks to be a nice update to their line. MSRP: $59.99 and is due out this month.

Company site: [Jabra]

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The iFrogz EarPollution’s rock with style

Adam Berger — 2009-03-16T15:00:40+00:00

Section: Audio, Headphones, Gadgets / Other, DJ, Reviews

The iFrogz brand of headphones known as EarPollution have found a way to combine comfort, superior sound, and individuality into a price range that can fit any digital DJ or casual listener.

Not since the evolution and introduction of personal listening devices (my term for headphones) has it felt so cool to rock out to your tunes. When given the opportunity to review an item I take it as challenge. I try to squeeze the life out of it and make sure that what you read is as accurate as it can possibly be. My life consists of music, partying, and running around like a chicken without a head. This makes me the ideal person to inform you of EarPollution’s headphone lineup.

Some call me a weekend warrior because while many of you kick up your feet and relax on the couch, you will find me in a car packed full of DJ equipment headed out to rock either a sweet 16, wedding, or mitzvah event. That being said, headphones are as much of a necessary tool of the trade as is my means of transportation.

First Impressions

At first glance all wrapped up in their see-through package I didn’t know what to think. The material didn’t look all to durable, the structural pieces are made of plastic and both the head support and ear pieces are made from a material that feels like patent leather; the whole thing really resembles a child’s toy. I did not want to judge it just from first glance. After all, they are made to be worn and not looked at. They are extremely lightweight which is a nice thing especially if you are planning on listening to your music for a long period of time.

When purchasing headphones, sound quality, clarity and comfort surpasses any other aesthetic element. What EarPollution lacks in its cheap appearance it makes up for in those categories. While they are designed with the DJ in mind, they are, in my opinion, created for those that crave the versatility of plugging into a mixer or mp3 player. The EarPollution input is your standard headphone jack but a quick stop to your electronics store and your ready to plug into a full DJ system.

Listening Experience

The maiden song into my new headphones was a track from will.i.am; his funky style and crazy rhythm was the perfect choice. Music can spark a range of emotions but if you don’t hear every note, enjoy every boom, and let your mind wrap around the message, it is safe to say that your headphones are to blame. Not the case with these. I’m not suggesting that these are some magical headphones that alter your state of mind when listening to your tunes, but they do sound pretty badass.

Original Gadgetell CES Preview
Product Site [iFrogz EarPollution]

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Recession-O-Rama Deals for the Weekend 2.15.09

Natesh Sood — 2009-02-15T22:45:14+00:00

Section: Audio, Accessories, Headphones, Computers, Mobile Computers, Laptops, Netbooks, Software / Applications, Peripherals, Printers / Scanners

Hopefully all our readers had a good Valentine’s Day and are ready for some more Weekend deals. Today, I found some deals ranging from earbuds, to a netbook, to printer, and a free computer program. Let’s get started.

Philips Earbud Multimedia Headset

Buy.com has a pack of two Philips SHM3100/37 Earbud Multimedia Headsets on sale. They usually sell for $50, but are discounted by 88%, so they only cost $6, with free shipping. These headphones are great for any electronics, but since they also come with a noise canceling microphone, they would be especially good on a PC. Buy.com has these in a limited stock, so this deal will probably expire whenever they run out.

Dell Inspiron Mini Netbook

Dell is selling their Inspiron Mini 9 laptop for only $199, which is after a $50 instant savings discount, and it comes with free shipping. Even though you can configure it, you may want to go with the specs already selected, otherwise the pricing will change accordingly. Here are some of the base specs: 8.9 inch LED display, 0.3MP webcam, runs on Ubuntu Linux v. 8.04.1, 512MB SDRAM, 4GB hard drive, and a 1 year warranty.

HP Officejet All-in-One Printer

Next up, we have the HP Officejet 6310 All-In-One Color InkJet Printer from Newegg.com. Basically, its selling for $30, after a $75 instant savings and then a $15 coupon code. To receive an additional $15 off, enter in “HP6480C50” at the check-out. This deal is set to end on 2/21. The printer prints up to 30 ppm in black ink, and 24 ppm in color ink, and the color resolution is 4800 x 1200 dpi.

Quickbooks 2009 Simple Start Edition

The last deal we have for this weekend is Quickbooks 2009 Simple Start Edition, which is free from Staples after a $90 rebate. Here’s what the software can do for you:

* Designed for businesses with the simplest accounting needs
* Get started in under 15 mintues
* Print checks, pay bills, and track sales
* Create estimates and invoices
* Accept credit cards
* Simple Start cannot import data from prior versions of Quickbooks: Basic, Pro or Premier Editions

That’s all the deals we have for this weekend, stay tuned for more deals next week.

Full Story » | Written by Natesh Sood for Gadgetell. | Comment on this Article »

Valentine’s Pick: Carry a 52-inch TV on your head

Jodie Andrefski — 2009-02-11T21:17:52+00:00

Section: Audio, Accessories, Headphones, Video, Accessories, Communications, Gadgets / Other, Lifestyle, Miscellaneous, Gaming, Accessories, Imaging, Accessories, Peripherals

Yesterday I gave some Valentine’s Day gift giving suggestions for you guys to give to your lady. These babies look amazing for anyone! The Vuzix iWear AV310 Widescreen Video Glasses provide a viewing experience equal to watching a widescreen 52-inch TV from 9 feet away. They can connect to either your video iPod, a portable DVD player, video cameras, digital cameras, or even a video game system.

Although Vuzix has had their “iWear” around for a bit now, this is the first set that offers the 16:9 ratio. The AV310 uses two high resolution LCDs and dual stereo headphones. The viewer, which was developed from U.S. military technology, generates 24-bit true color (that means 16 million colors), and a 28’ field of view. The LCDs offer 428 x 240 resolution, and can be focused individually from +2 down to -5 diopters, and tilted up to 15 degrees for a custom fit. The nose piece is hypoallergenic and adjustable, and the headphones (with replaceable earbuds) produce great, crisp sound quality. There is also an optional head strap. Also included is one lithium AA battery which will provide up to 8 hours of continuous operation, iPod cable, A/V cable, and carrying case.

Hey, maybe you could buy a set of these and watch some of those movies you recorded with that video camera you bought her! wink wink.

Hammacher Schlemmer at the MSRP of $249.95.

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Recession-O-Rama Deals for the Weekend 2.7.09

Natesh Sood — 2009-02-07T21:00:50+00:00

Section: Audio, Headphones, Home Audio, Portable Audio, Speakers, Video, HDTV, Computers, Desktops, Hardware, Gaming, Accessories, Peripherals, Storage, Features, Originals

Recession got you down? In the mood to buy some electronics and save money? Hopefully the deals I found today can save you some money and bring some joy in your life. We have deals ranging from, a 1TB external hard drive, a 50 inch Plasma HDTV, some gaming headphones, and a floor speaker system.

1TB Hard drive

Since Internet has become a lot faster in recent years, it is easy to amass a large music and video collection. A popular computer peripheral these days are external hard drives. If you are looking to purchase one, Buy.com has a Fantom Micronet GF1000EU G-Force 1TB Hard Drive for $100, and the original price is $120. In addition, the hard drive will ship for free. The G-Force Hard Drive runs at 7200 RPM, 8.5 access time, 16MB cache, an eSATA transfer rate of 300MB/s, and a USB transfer rate of 60MB/s.

50 inch Plasma HDTV

Next up, we have a 50 inch Plasma HDTV courtesy of 6th Avenue Electronics. They are selling the Panasonic Viera TH-50PZ850U 50 inch 1080p Plasma HDTV for $1,692. In fact, you are already saving $1,000, and then using coupon code AFLPAN1692, you save an additional $307. Quite a bargain. It also comes with free shipping. The Panasonic HDTV comes with a resolution of 1920x1080, a 50 inch screen, 4 HDMI outputs, and a HD tuner. The coupon code expires on February 18.

Gaming In-Ear Headphones

If you are looking for normal headphones that are coupled with a microphone, so you can talk to your opponents, Buy.com has just the headphones for you. They are selling the SteelSeries 10070 Siberia In-Ear Gaming Earbuds for $22. The headphones are quite expensive, because they sell for $99.99, otherwise. These in-ear headphones are great for MP3 players, laptops, IP-telephony, Sony PSP, and other gaming consoles. They are only available in white and come with free shipping.

Floor Speaker System

The last deal we have for today is the Polk Audio Monitor 50 Two-way Floorstanding Loudspeaker, from Newegg.com. They sell for $80 in a Maple color and the Black color of the same speaker system sells for $120, so this is quite a bargain. Like all the other deals, it comes with free shipping.

Hopefully, you will be able to save a good amount of money on these deals. Stay tuned for tomorrow’s deals as well.

Full Story » | Written by Natesh Sood for Gadgetell. | Comment on this Article »

Recession-O-Rama Deals for the Weekend 1.25.09

Natesh Sood — 2009-01-25T20:46:24+00:00

Section: Audio, Accessories, Headphones, Video, Portable Video, Computers, Desktops, Gadgets / Other, Peripherals, Displays/Projectors, Printers / Scanners, Web, Websites, Features, Originals

Continuing with our deals for the weekend, here is what caught my eye today: a pair of noise canceling headphones, a laser printer, a flat panel display, and an Archos PMP. Hopefully you can save a little bit of money today if you decide to take advantage of any of these deals.

Noise Canceling Headphones

Newegg.com has a pair of Sennheiser PXC 250 Noise Canceling Headphones for only $59.99. They usually sell for $99.99, so with this deal you get an instant savings for $40, plus free shipping. These headphones come with “NoiseGuard” technology to filter out ambient noise, and it comes with a little carrying pouch, so it is very portable.

Laser Printer

Newegg.com also has Brother’s HL-2140 Laser Monochrome Printer on sale for $60. This printer normally sells for $110, so you are saving $50 instantly. It features a 10,000 page duty cycle, so it can handle whatever printing job you need to be done, it stores up for 250 sheets of paper, and prints with a resolution up to 2400x600 DPI. This deal ends tomorrow, 1/26.

Flat Panel Display

The next deal we have for today is Samsung’s 2233BW 22” Widescreen Black Flat Panel LCD Monitor, which Dell is selling for $147 after $50 Coupon discount as well as an additional $30 rebate, and comes with free shipping. To redeem your $50 coupon, use the code BSM43ZP409G1BJ at the check out. This flat panel display comes with a 22 inch screen, a brightness of 300 cd/m2, a 1000:1 contrast ratio, and a max resolution of 1680 x 1050. The $30 rebate expires on January 31, so you might want to get on this deal relatively soon.

Archos PMP

Amazon is selling the Archos 605 WiFi PMP for 48% less than its retail price of $399, for $209. It comes with a 4.3 inch touchscreen, 160GB hard drive, ability to stream content from your computer or Internet to the TV, through your wireless home network. It can even act as a DVR by being able to record your favorite TV shows. No word on how long this deal will last for.

That’s all we have for this weekend, stay tuned for more great weekend deals next weekend.

Full Story » | Written by Natesh Sood for Gadgetell. | Comment on this Article »

GoStereo headphones double as speakers

Emily Price — 2009-01-25T15:12:22+00:00

Section: Audio, Headphones, Portable Audio, Speakers

Here’s an interesting take on your traditional stereo speakers. The GoStereo headset is a pair of stereo headphones you can use to listen to music off your traditional MP3 player or iPod, except this pair of headphones has a special twist, they double as speakers. The headphones have external speakers on the back of each earpiece so you share your tuneage with those around you.

The “Tune In Tune Out” headphones run about $50, which isn’t bad given the face you’re getting a pair of headphones and a pair of speakers for that price. It’s amazing no one has thought of this idea (or put this idea into action) sooner. Having a pair of speakers on your headphones could be great for times when you want to share a track with several friends at once or even for times when you want to take your headphones off for a second, but still be able to listen to your music.

Read [CNET]

Full Story » | Written by Emily Price for Gadgetell. | Comment on this Article »

Review: Zagg’s Z.buds for iPhone

Doug Berger — 2009-01-15T21:17:38+00:00

Section: Audio, Accessories, Headphones, Communications, Accessories

Click for a larger image.

The company behind invisibleSHIELDs recently introduced the $79.99 Z.buds for the iPhone, and showed them off at CES. We finally got a chance to listen to them and like what we hear. The new earbuds have a tangle-free cord that comes in red or black, has an inline volume control, and has an inline microphone for talking on the phone as well. The cord is made to be worn around your neck so they don’t get ripped out of your ears like normal earbuds do every once in a while. Apparently the Z.buds are very similar to a product Rivet used to carry, but we’re glad to see Zagg decided to add them to their ZAGGaudio line-up.

Tangle-free cord

You know how regular headphones and earbuds get all twisted and wrapped up every time you put them in your bag or pocket? The Z.buds have a nylon-wrapped cord so this does not happen. The tangle-free cord is not just a gimmick… it actually works as promised. The cord has a goofy split in the middle where they change from one cord to two (see picture), but it’s not a big deal, and does not get in the way.

You know how when you get your starched shirts back from the cleaners? Right when you get the Z.buds, that’s how the cord is. It’s not very flexible, but I guess that’s the trade-off of having a tangle-free cord.

Adjustable beads

Zagg thought this one through. As I mentioned, the buds are made to be worn around your neck. Since there are basically infinite ways to position the cord around your neck, they added movable beads on there so you can situate it as you please. Too tight? Loosen it up!

With that, I must say it took me a few seconds to figure out how to put them on. The confusing design makes sense once you figure it out (see picture below), but is confusing as hell right when you take them out of the box. Once you move the beads into a comfortable spot, it all starts to make sense.

How do they fit?

Let me start out by saying that earbuds do not normally fit me well unless they come with changeable buds. Thankfully, the Z.buds fit like a charm. The set comes with 4 pairs of buds so you can customize them as you must. I can definitely see myself wearing these for working out, sitting at my desk, and talking on my iPhone. The buds are comfortable, and don’t put any unnecessary weight on my ears since the cords are made to sit around your neck.

I’m not an audiophile, so comfort is the most important factor for me. The Z.buds by Zagg’s ZAGGaudio division exceeded my expectations, and I recommend them.

Click for a larger image.

Durability

I have only had the Z.buds for a week or so at this point, so I cannot speak for the durability. I did however take a look around the web and find that some are having issues with the plastic earbuds splitting in half after a short amount of time. Have any problems with the Z.buds? Tell us about it below.

Overall

The Z.buds sound great, look stylish, and have a tangle-free cord. They also have an inline volume control and microphone for use with the iPhone. The adjustable beads allow you to position the cord around your neck in the fashion that fits you comfortably. Based on my experience with them, I recommend the Zagg Z.buds.

Buy the Z.buds by Zagg? Tell us about your experience below…

Sennheiser shows off the HD 800 premium headphones

Heather Wood — 2009-01-12T20:33:05+00:00

Section: Audio, Headphones, Trade Shows, CES

Sennheiser has announced its newest edition to their line of headphones: the HD 800. The company promises that these headphones will improve audio quality tenfold by utilizing a new type of transducer as well as ear cup design. Due to the multiple technologies used to create the Sennheiser HD 800, they have secured three patents on the device.

One of the newest parts added to the HD 800 is a new and the largest transducer developed by Sennheiser. The transducer measures 56 millimeters which should purify sound when played at lower frequencies. The diaphragm helps remove sound distortions that occur when the headphones are used at higher frequencies.

Sennheiser’s goal was to also create a spatial listening experience and to do this; they designed the headphones in a way that the sound would enter at a 45 degree angle. Sennheiser says that they put in “high-quality Japanese Alcantara” for comfort in the ear pads.

As far as the style? Nothing too impressive. They have a nice standard design, but nothing really sets them apart from the dozens of other high performance headphones that line the shelf. They will also probably be one of the most expensive pair of headphones that you ever buy as well. The current retail price is $1400.

Product Page [Sennheiser]

Full Story » | Written by Heather Wood for Gadgetell. | Comment on this Article »

Nothing new at Creative but plenty of good toys

Adam Berger — 2009-01-10T07:04:57+00:00

Section: Audio, Accessories, Headphones, Computers, Imaging, Camcorders, Peripherals, Webcam/VoIP, Trade Shows, CES

Click for a larger image.

As far as I could tell there was nothing that new at the Creative booth, but they certainly didn’t skimp on the toys. A company that has continue to fly under our, and likely your, radar showed up with their two digi-cam models the original and the HD. They also had a plethora of speakers, webcams, and headphones. The coolest part of the tour was the introduction of ZiiLABS StemCell computing.

Though short, enjoy the booth tour.

Full Story » | Written by Adam Berger for Gadgetell. | Comment on this Article »

V-Moda @ CES 2009

Adam Berger — 2009-01-10T02:22:22+00:00

Section: Audio, Headphones, Communications, Accessories

Click for a larger image.

V-Moda was at CES this year showcasing their high-end earphones, the Vibe ii. Like the other Vibe’s these come with tangle free cables, lots of ear plug options for the perfect fit, and an integrated mic for use with your phone (along with some control features when using an iPhone). Here’s their topline:

Forged of premium stainless steel alloy and fabric cables, Vibe II with Microphone, noise-isolating headphone/headset features ergonomic detachable sport earhooks, a discrete microphone, and convenient call/music control functions for use with the iPhone.

We can’t give you all the details yet but look for a lot more from V-Moda in the next year including their entry into over-the-ear headphones.

Full Story » | Written by Adam Berger for Gadgetell. | Comment on this Article »

Shure’s newest products on display at CES 2009

Iyaz Akhtar — 2009-01-10T00:42:25+00:00

Section: Audio, Accessories, Headphones, Portable Audio, Trade Shows, CES

Click for a larger image.

Shure only introduced four new products, but the CES booth was full of people checking out everything. There was even a station where you could test out Shure’s X2U, the XLR to USB adapter. Shure’s newest lines of mics make it really easy to just get music or speech into your computer. Either you can use the X2U with your XLR mic or you could pick up Shure’s newest mics with USB built right in. Take a look.

Full Story » | Written by Iyaz Akhtar for Gadgetell. | Comment on this Article »

EarPollution DJ-style headphones come in sweet colors

Adam Berger — 2009-01-10T00:01:33+00:00

Section: Audio, Headphones, Gadgets / Other, DJ, Trade Shows, CES

Click for a larger image.

Besides highly customizable low-cost headphones, iFrogz EarPollution introduced a range of 5 new DJ-style headphones for $49.99. They come in some pretty crazy color scheme, moving DJing away from the black-and-silver headphone days of old. [Listening from the noisy show floor] They sounded very good for the price point, but we will offer a more in depth review once we get them to some DJ’s to take to a party with them. Until then, be sure to check out the gallery.

Full Story » | Written by Adam Berger for Gadgetell. | Comment on this Article »

Skullycandy shows off 2XL, a sexy new line of headsets

Doug Berger — 2009-01-09T22:15:49+00:00

Section: Audio, Headphones, Trade Shows, CES

Click for a larger image.

The company behind stylish lifestyle headphones, Skullycandy, is branching off a new division of youth-centric consumer headphones called 2XL. 2XL maintains the company’s trendy look with a slew of new products ranging from earbuds to over-ear headphones - 5 models total. The products feature creative designs on the side cleverly named Easy Money, Grills, Bunny, Snakeyes, Wreckingball, Nuevo Sonido, Defender, Pace-Car, Bounty Hunter, and Rasta. 2XL products will be available in your typical retailers including mass merchandisers, automotive, drug and grocery stores.

The new 2XL headphones will range in price from $10 - $40. Most models are now available. Check out our first look at the new 2XL line below.

Product [2XL]
Product [Skullcandy]

Full Story » | Written by Doug Berger for Gadgetell. | Comment on this Article »

In the battle to fill your ears with music, enter customizable iFrogz EarPollution headphones

Adam Berger — 2009-01-09T22:00:55+00:00

Section: Audio, Headphones

Click for a larger image.

It seems that almost everyone is moving into headphones this year. Skullcandy is releasing a new range of entry level headphone, Shure has some new earphones, V-Moda announced that they will be moving into over-the-ear headphones, and iFrogz launched a new brand, EarPollution.

One of the coolest things about EarPollution is the ability to customize the Fallout and NervePipe headphones like you would a NikeID sneaker. This is sound that has been designed for you, by you—cool stuff. The sound quality wasn’t the too hot (rather heavy on bass and missing the highs), but they are rather inexpensive headphones so what do you expect. I see these as great headphones for teens to show off their personality and make their headphones a part of their lifestyle for a low price.

Full Story » | Written by Adam Berger for Gadgetell. | Comment on this Article »

Hands on Shure’s SE115 in-ear headphones

Iyaz Akhtar — 2009-01-09T21:23:11+00:00

Section: Audio, Headphones, Portable Audio

Click for a larger image.

Shure just showed us their new products announced at CES. We didn’t just see the SE115 headphones behind glass, we got to test it out. The SE115 is a second generation product with dynamic drivers. What does that mean? You get more low end which means better bass. These in-ear headphones isolate sound. The earbuds are like ear plug-style foam. This is different from their SE110 because the SE115’s foam is less porous, which means better sound. Now, you won’t be able to hear the outside world very well, but for noisy rooms or trains, this is a good idea.

Testing them out, the SE115 had some great sound. They blew away my $20 Sony Fontopias. The sound was clean, the bass was very good, and I could hardly hear anything outside of the music.

The SE115 has been been in development for a year. Since, Shure wants the product to be a hit, they’ve decided to do colors. There is a burgundy, pink, black, and blue model. Each set comes with a modular cable and a fit-kit so you can get the right fitting earbuds. The modular cable is great because you can adjust the cable length depending on where you place your player or phone. If you have a phone, there is the Shure MPA-3C—the MPA stands for “music phone adapter.”

Expect a Spring release and it will cost $99. You can also see the already available SE530 in the photo gallery, it is the larger, $449 model (which sounded fantastic, by the way).

Company Site [Shure.com]

Full Story » | Written by Iyaz Akhtar for Gadgetell. | Comment on this Article »

JVC lets loose more Gumy earphones you see every where.

JG Mason — 2009-01-09T17:27:36+00:00

Section: Audio, Accessories, Headphones

Standing at the check out in Wal-Mart. On an endcap in Target. On far too many to count on the subway. You can’t get away from the lovable, hug-able Gumy earphones from JVC. At this mornings press conference, they unleashed 9 new colors to match the new iPod colors. Also introduced were over the ear headphones in matching colors for those preferring a bit more comfort.

The earphones are called Gumy due to there soft construction that allows a comfortable fit. The new colors are sure to inspire consumers wanting to match their bold iPod colors.

The HA-FX34 Marshmallow in-ear headphones and the HA-F140 Gumy earbuds will be available in white (Gumy), silver (Marshmallow), black, blue, purple, green, yellow, orange, red and pink coordinating with the new expanded iPod nano™ and shuffle™ digital music players. Both styles also feature color-matching cords.

With a price point of $9.95, we’re sure to see more of these everywhere. Prepare now.

Company site: [JVC]

Full Story » | Written by JG Mason for Gadgetell. | Comment on this Article »

CES 2009: Monster announces Turbine In-Ear speaker headphones

Natesh Sood — 2009-01-08T11:00:47+00:00

Section: Audio, Accessories, Headphones, Home Audio, Portable Audio, Speakers, Trade Shows, CES

Headphones are very important nowadays especially with the emergence of PMPs and MP3 players being so popular. There are many headphone manufacturers out there, and so knowing all the facts and perhaps even testing out headphones before purchasing them is always the safe way to go. Let’s take a closer look at Monster’s newest headphones, the Turbine.

Speakers always sound better than normal headphones because the device is a lot bigger and can provide deep, rich sounds. Monster decided to call the Turbine In-Ear speakers because they believe the quality of their headphones are nearly speaker-like. The Turbine was designed by Noel Lee, head of of Monster. In fact, he spent three years conducting research, playing with prototypes, and perfecting the design for their launch. He wants these to be the headphones that all people wanted.

The Turbine headphones boast 8mm drivers that were created to deliver high quality sound, detail, bass, and clarity normally found in speakers. Again, one of Monster’s main goals was to make these headphones exactly like a good speaker system. Monster also created several eartips in order to ensure good sounds, keep out unwanted noise, and have a comfortable fit.

Noel Lee, Head of Monster, had this to say about the headphones he designed:

“Life is too short to listen to bad headphones. Unfortunately, ordinary headphones simply can’t reproduce the deep bass and rich highs of full-size speaker systems. Monster is on a mission to make headphones sound better, and our new Turbine In-Ear Speakers allow people to hear truly remarkable sound from in-ear headphones. Hearing is believing. After all, the human ear can discern much more than any technical measuring device, and the performance of Monster Turbines needs to be heard to be believed.”

No word on when these are set to retail, but the MSRP is $149.95.

Full Story » | Written by Natesh Sood for Gadgetell. | Comment on this Article »

The Beats Tour by Monster, Jimmy Lovine, and Dr. Dre

Natesh Sood — 2009-01-08T08:35:15+00:00

Section: Audio, Accessories, Headphones, Home Audio, Portable Audio, Trade Shows, CES

At the Monster Liveblog, one of the new products they announced was the Beats Tour. At the time of the liveblog, not much was known about the tour, but we got our hands on a press release, so let’s take a closer look at the Beats Tour by Monster, Jimmy Lovine, and, of course the man himself, Dr. Dre.

The newest addition to the Beats by Dr. Dre headphones are the Beats Tour, which are like in-ear speaker headphones. In addition, they are currently available at leading retails such as Apple, In Motion stores, Best Buy, Fry’s Electronics, Apple.com, Amazon.com, and beatsbydre.com. To gain some more recognition of the Beats Tour headphones, Dr. Dre and Jimmy Lovine plan to hold a private listening session at CES, in which you get the opportunity to give them a listen.

The Beats Tour hopes to further reduce external noise, be able to produce deep bass sounds, have superior audio quality, and overall deliver the full, rich sound put into every song. They also come with three custom-fit ear tips to ensure a comfortable fit and to block out more external noise. In addition, the headphones are capable of delivering the best sound when it comes to R&B, Rock, and Hip-Hop, which can sometimes be hard on headphones. To ensure this, Dr. Dre made sure they worked exactly as he imagined.

The wires on the headphones use Monster’s exclusive Tangle Free Cable, that will never tangle up when you pack up the headphones or use them. Lastly, Dr. Dre had this to say about the Beats Tour:

“Artists and producers work hard in the studio perfecting their sound, but people can’t really hear it with normal headphones. Most headphones can’t handle the bass, the detail, the dynamics. Bottom line: the music doesn’t move you. With Beats, people are going to hear what the artists hear and listen to the music the way they should – the way I do.”

They sell for $149.95 and come with a carrying case for your convenience.

For more info on Beats By Dre Headphones go to www.beatsbydre.com

Full Story » | Written by Natesh Sood for Gadgetell. | Comment on this Article »

CES 2009 Press Conference: Sony live blog

Adam Berger — 2009-01-07T23:45:51+00:00

Section: Audio, Audio Receivers, Car Audio, Headphones, Home Audio, Portable Audio, Video, DVD/DVR/Blu-ray, HDTV, Portable Video, Communications, Cellphones, Computers, Laptops, Gadgets / Other, GPS/Navigation, Imaging, Camcorders, Digital Cameras, Trade Shows, CES, Press Conferences

Like always Sony has made us trek all the way over to the convention center for their press conference. We are expecting the regular announcements LCD TVs, new OLED displays, cameras, new computers include the teased P series, new Blu-ray players and more. The one catch will be that Howard Stronger, Sony CEO, will be offering a keynote tomorrow morning and will surely save something for that time—so this can end up being a bit dry. Either way stick around to this page for live coverage of all the announcements (you can reload the page by hitting Ctrl+R or F5).

For more CES press coverage head over here or check out our 2009 CES page for all the CES news, CES keynotes, CES photo galleries/booth tours, and more!

Full Story » | Written by Adam Berger for Gadgetell. | Comment on this Article »

Monster announces Beats Tour by Dr. Dre

Doug Berger — 2009-01-07T18:09:31+00:00

Section: Audio, Headphones, Trade Shows, CES

Monster’s “Head Monster” Noel Lee had a slew of new announcements today. Among them was the new Beats Tour by Dr. Dre - which is of course an extension of the Beats brand. The most notable feature mentioned was the tangle free design. The Beats Tour will be released in February 2009 for $149.95.

Click for a larger image.

Read [Monster Press Conference Live-Blog]

For more info on Beats By Dre Headphones go to www.beatsbydre.com

Full Story » | Written by Doug Berger for Gadgetell. | Comment on this Article »

CES 2009 Preview: Calling all women, Audio Technica has the headphones for you

Natesh Sood — 2009-01-06T19:00:47+00:00

Section: Audio, Accessories, Headphones, Home Audio, Portable Audio, Trade Shows, CES

Even though the holidays are a thing of the past, we all like receiving gifts. If you’re feeling a bit generous you might want to consider getting headphones for your mother, girlfriend, wife, daughter, sister, and maybe grandma.

Crystal Griffith, Audio Technica’s Consumer Marketing Manager, had this to say about Audio Technica’s new lineup of headphones specially designed for women:

Audio-Technica is the first company to offer an entire product range of headphones that are designed specifically for women. Our in-ear and on-ear models for women let you listen in your own fashion. They combine attractive design with outstanding sound quality, portability and value, and come in a variety of appealing colors to match any style – or stand out in the crowd.”

Audio Technica claims that these headphones are great for jogging, exercising, casual listening, traveling, etc. They each come with a cord wrap so they can be stuck in a purse, so there won’t be an ugly, tangled wire around your body. Their special looks don’t sacrifice quality as Audio Technica says they still come with high sensitivity and full-range frequency to provide the best sound possible. They can all be connected easily to any music device, laptop, portable DVD player, and whatever else involves headphones.

Let’s go through the 5 new woman’s headphones beginning with the ATH-CK1W.

ATH-CK1W

These headphones are reportedly very compact, light, and sports advanced sound system for excellent sound quality. What makes them so feminine is the kind of colors they are available in - green, orange, pink, purple, white and yellow. In addition, they each come with a matching hard carrying case for additional style and ear tips in varying sizes so they can fit comfortably. They are already retailing for $59.95.

ATH-ES3W

Instead of being in-ear headphones, these are actually on-ear headphones that come with soft earpads and headband for additional comfort, aluminum casing, full range sound, and 28mm magnet speaker divers that supply the full sound. These are available in blue, green, pink, and silver colors. They are on sale right now for $99.95.

ATH-ON3W

Next up, these headphones are compact, light, on-ear headphones that fold for easy storage. Again, they use high quality drivers for full sound and deep bass. They are available in dark gray, white, pink, and teal blue. It is on sale right now for a cheaper price than the above headphones - $69.95.

ATH-CK6W

These headphones combine many features that are common in Audio Technica’s headphones - full range sound, deep bass, varying sized ear tips, ultra light and compact, and available in green, silver, blue, and pink. They are on sale right now for $99.95.

ATH-CK52W

Lastly, we have the ATH-CK52W headphones, which are also in-ear and boasts superior sound, comfort, portability, and ear tips that block out external noise. It is available in black, white, and pink and sells for $69.95.

I’ll be sure to get a nice set of pink ATH-ON3W headphones for Editor Iyaz Akhtar. [Editor’s note: Thanks. I’ll give it to the wife then.] If you want to check these headphones, be sure to hit up Audio Technica’s CES booth.

Full Story » | Written by Natesh Sood for Gadgetell. | Comment on this Article »

CES 2009 Preview: Audio Technica has on debut new in-ear headphones

Natesh Sood — 2009-01-06T02:07:22+00:00

Section: Audio, Accessories, Headphones, Home Audio, Portable Audio, Trade Shows, CES

Continuing with the many CES 2009 preview articles we have been writing, it’s time to look at what Audio Technica has in store for us at the tradeshow.

To accompany their ATH-CKM50A and ATH-CK9 in-ear headphones, Audio Technica has decided to create the ATH-CK6A, ATH-CK10, and ATH-CK7A in-ear headphones. Audio Technica touts that their headphones have been specially designed for traveling, exercising, jogging, and wherever else you would use headphones. They have been made with portability and comfort in mind and can easily be used with any music devices, laptops, and portable DVD players.

ATH-CK6A

These headphones come with interchangeable earbud pieces to ensure a comfortable bit and that they remain in your ear at all times. They provide excellent sound quality, come in black or silver, and a travel pouch is included for your convenience. It is on sale right for now $99.95.

ATH-CK7A

These headphones are similar but feature titanium casing, superior sound quality thanks to 11-mm rare earth magnet drivers that supply a deep bass sound, extended treble, accurate midrange, and ear tips that reduce sound so you can hear your music better. Instead of a travel pouch it comes with a hard case so even if you drop it, they won’t be damaged. For all the added features, the price went up by $100, so it sells for $199.95.

ATH-CKM50A

These headphones are similar to the CK6A but come in more colors such as black, white, and red, come with a 2 foot cable, 3.3 foot extension cord, as well as a travel pouch for your convenience. Again, they are on sale and will retail for $99.95.

ATH-CK9

These headphones provide exceptional sound and superior noise blocking technology and uses a balanced armature driver that moves the diaphragms to create sound. It is available in black and white and also comes with hard case like the CK7A. This one sells for a lot - $299.95. I would suggest buying it if you want to invest in a pair of high quality headphones, or otherwise settle for a cheaper one.

ATH-CK10

Lastly, we have have the ATH-CK10 headphones that come with separate low and high frequency drivers, dual-balanced armature design for advanced clarity, detail, and bass. Also, it comes with 3 ear tips for added comfort as well as noise canceling and a hard carrying case. These are, by far, the most advanced headphones Audio Technica as to offer and the retail price is $499.95.

If you are interested in any of these headphones, be sure to check out Audio Technica’s CES booth.

Full Story » | Written by Natesh Sood for Gadgetell. | Comment on this Article »

Gadgetell Review: Coosh headset

Iyaz Akhtar — 2009-01-01T17:30:48+00:00

Section: Audio, Headphones, Reviews

What is it?
Coosh is a pair of headphones with a microphone that works with your iPhone or Blackberry.

What’s cool:
The headphones are comfortable.

Built-in microphone does an okay job.

Built-in cord management is a good idea.
What’s not:
Audio quality is not too great.
The Crux:
For $30, the Coosh headset is a good idea that needs some revisions. Wait for a second version.

Trying to wear them

The Coosh headset promotes itself as the headphones that stay on and feel good. Unlike other headphones, the wrap around pieces are a flexible silicone instead of rigid plastic.

There are instructions explaining how to wear the headset. I am not a huge fan of needing instructions to wear headphones, but I gave it a chance. After wrapping the silicone earrings around my ears, the earbuds kept falling away from ears. The headphones stayed on my ear thanks to the earrings, but the buds kept falling away.

What was I doing while the buds fell out? Turning my head sitting at a computer.

I reread the instructions. I saw that Coosh had a bunch of reviews on their site saying these headphones are great and stay in. Maybe my ears are not fully compatible with the Coosh headphones. My wife also had the same difficulty with the headphones.

Audio quality

The audio quality is only so-so. It is probably only a little better than the headphones that come with the iPod. That is not saying much. I normally use a pair of $20 Sony Fontopia in-ear headphones, which I think sound much better than the Coosh.

Bass on the Coosh is hard to hear and at loud volumes, music becomes distorted. Microphone quality was fine. There were no complaints from people I called while using the Coosh headset.

Wrap up

I am by no means an audiophile, but these headphones are nothing special. The audio quality is passable, but you can get better sounding headphones for less money. They might not come with microphones, though.

The Coosh is a good idea, there is a built-in cord manager and clip to keep the microphone near you. Perhaps an in-ear model would be better. The headset costs $30 at the Coosh site, but you can get it on Amazon for less.

Product Page [Coosh.com]

Full Story » | Written by Iyaz Akhtar for Gadgetell. | Comment on this Article »

Sony ready to put an end to annoying packaging

Natesh Sood — 2008-12-23T00:54:52+00:00

Section: Audio, Accessories, Headphones, Portable Audio

Perhaps in an attempt to save money and to stop frustrating their consumers, Sony is taking the necessary steps to use more friendly packaging instead of the cumbersome packing they call clamshell.

If you have ever bought an MP3 player or headphones from Sony, then you probably know the type of packaging they often include. More than just Sony, I find other electronics coming with similar packaging that leaves me armed with scissors attempting to open up the package. Sony and other companies often use these clamshell packaging in attempts to keep the product clean and theft-free, while allowing the public to view the product easily. In addition, the US Consumer Product Safety Commission found that since 2004, there have been 25,000 injuries that resulted from people trying to open up the package.

As of now, it is not known when Sony plans to officially stop clamshell packaging, but expect it soon and to roll out slowly at first. You may recall Amazon starting their “frustration-free packaging” started a little over a month ago, which is very similar to what Sony plans to do. It’s nice to know that companies care for the public, because I have always found packaging annoying.

Below is an official video released by Sony about their clamshell packaging.

Via [PackagingNews]

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Jabra intros 2 new Bluetooth headsets

Natesh Sood — 2008-12-10T02:02:40+00:00

Section: Audio, Audio Receivers, Headphones, Portable Audio, Communications, Accessories, Cellphones, VoIP

GN Netcom, the company that manufacturers Jabra products has recently added two new headsets, the Jabra M5390 USB and Jabra BT530 USB to the mix. Jabra touts that these headsets are some of the lightest they have to offer and pair up with over 8 devices and 2 simultaneously.

The nice thing about these headsets is that they can be paired to 2 totally different products, such as a cell phone or a computer, and you are able to still answer the phone. Let’s begin with the Jabra M5390 USB. It has a nice 6 hour talk time - great for when you are multi-tasking and talking with your boss for an extended amount of time, and 60 hours standby time.

In addition, it comes with a 200 foot range, Plug-and-play Bluetooth connectivity to PC or VoIP, comes with software to hook up the headset to Microsoft Office Communicator, Skype, and Cisco IP Communicator. Another nice feature is that it come with Wideband noise canceling feature within the microphone and has two different wearing methods - around the ear or the head. Lastly, it is set to be available sometime in January 2009 for $191.

Moving on, we have the Jabra BT530 USB headset. The main and unique feature in this headset is its Noise Blackout technology, which helps to remove noise so you can hear the caller more clearly. As previously mentioned, it pairs with 8 different devices, Plug-and-play Bluetooth adapter for PC applications and soft-phones, again, comes with software to hook up with Skype, Microsoft Office Communicator, and Cisco. Furthermore, it comes with 3 different ear sizes, so it can match your ear with style and comfort, and it comes with 5.5 hours of straight talking, and an astounding 250 hours standby time. Lastly, it is already available and retails for $129.

David Grazio, Director of Channel Marketing, Contact Center and Office for GN Netcom, had this to say about their new headsets:

“People have embraced headsets for personal use and now is the time for business professionals to leverage headsets for increased mobility and efficiency within their office environments,” said Inc. “These cutting-edge products have improved voice quality and noise elimination, enabling professionals to be hands-free so they can multitask.”

If you want a high-end, quality Bluetooth headset, you may want to consider checking these out.

Read [PR Newswire]

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Fiio unveils the Shuffle look-a-like E5 headphone amplifier

Robert Nelson — 2008-11-19T18:04:42+00:00

Section: Audio, Headphones, Portable Audio

Fiio has just released the E5, and despite it offering a design very similar to that of the iPod Shuffle it is not a media player but instead a headphone amplifier. The E5 comes as a replacement to the previous E3, and in turn offers 30-percent more power than the E3. The E5 has a power output of 150mW at 16Ω or 12MW to 300Ω and less than a 0.009-percent distortion at 10mW. Additionally, the E5 has onboard volume controls (an item that was lacking on the E3) and a built-in battery that should offer around 20 hours of use. Otherwise the E5 measures 1.73 x 1.50 x 0.48-inches and weighs in at a lightweight 0.92-ounces. The E5 is currently available and retailing for around $20.

Read [GenerationMP3]

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Gadgetell Review: Able Planet Clear Harmony NC200 foldable headphones

Natesh Sood — 2008-11-06T16:13:00+00:00

Section: Audio, Accessories, Headphones, Portable Audio, Reviews, Features, Originals

Company: Able Planet
Product: Clear Harmony NC200 foldable headphones
Price: $99.99
Pros: Portable and neat foldable design. Easy to take anywhere. Also comes with in-line adjustable volume to make music even louder. Soft and comfortable to wear.
Cons: Sound isn’t the best unless you are using the Noise canceling. Virtually no point in using headphones unless you are going to use the noise canceling.
Overall: Decent product and good for it’s price. 4/5.

The above was just a quick summary of my findings when I played around with Able Planet’s Clear Harmony NC200 headphones. Now, here’s an in-depth review of the ease of setup, the audio clarity, the good, the bad, and my final thoughts on the product as a whole.

Setup:

After getting the headphones, I decided to open the box up and try them out with my iPod. After getting them out, I took a glance at what was included in the box. Here is a list of what came inside: the headphones, 1 AAA battery, a soft carrying pouch, and a 1/4-inch home stereo adapter. I took out the AAA battery it came with and put it in so the noise canceling feature could work. Then, I plugged in the headphone jack into the headphones and the iPod and started listening to some music. Overall, setting up the headphones was very easy and doesn’t take much time at all. On the flip side, taking apart the headphones, folding them, and putting it back in the bag was very easy as well.

Audio clarity:

Now, I first decided to listen music in a silent room meaning no major noise inside the house. It wasn’t bad, although the music did feel a little distant and wasn’t the best. I took them off and put my iPod earbuds back on and I liked the way they felt and I thought the music was clearer from the iPod earbuds than the Able Planet headphones.

Then, I turned on the noise canceling feature and the sound was much clearer and louder. I was impressed by the noise canceling. Then I wanted some noise in the room, so I turned on the TV, which was pretty loud, and played the music once more and I could hear it well.

The Good:

The ability to fold up the headphones is an excellent feature. It really cuts down on the space the headphones take up and it makes it easy to store in the included carrying pouch. Also, it comes with something called LINX Audio technology, which makes the audio clarity a lot better; having that certainly made the headphones better.

The noise-canceling feature can be turned off to save the AAA battery, which is nice because many other products only work when the battery is on. Furthermore, you can adjust the volume on the headphones from the in-line volume control - another nice feature.

The Bad:

Unfortunately, with any product we have to talk about the bad. One of the main things I didn’t like about the headphones was that it’s almost pointless to use them without the noise canceling feature on. Again, many competitors don’t even allow for you to use the headphones without the noise canceling feature turned on, so it’s not the biggest deal in the world, but it would be nice if the audio quality was good without the noise canceling. When the noise canceling is on, and the music becomes quiet and it is there is an audible hissing noise in the background, which can become pretty annoying.

Final Thoughts:

There are some really good noise canceling headphones out there that I would definitely recommend to music lovers. However, those headphones don’t always fit your budget and so you have to settle for something a little less quality. These headphones by Able Planet are ones I would recommend to the casual listener who can’t afford $300 Bose headphones.

Below are some more pictures that I took of the product. If you have any questions about the headphones, feel free to ask them in the comments.

Read [Able Planet]

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The BH-804 is Nokia’s smallest Bluetooth headset

Arnold Zafra — 2008-10-24T01:44:00+00:00

Section: Audio, Accessories, Headphones, Communications, Cellphones, Mobile

Recently, Nokia has announced a new Bluetooth headset called the BH-804. Now, if you’re wondering why Nokia is making a splash out of this new product instead of busying itself with a more newsworthy mobile phone, hold your horses folks because the BH-804 boasts something which made it worthy of this coverage. The BH-804 according to Nokia does not only provide crisp and clear audio quality but it happens to be Nokia’s smallest Bluetooth headset ever.

Naturally, the BH-804 comes in ultra-compact design. But don’t let its size fool you because this headset, housed in an aluminum case, features digital signal processing (DSP) which aids in background noise cancellation. This should provide clear audio quality when using it with any phone.

What else could a tiny device such as the BH-804 possible offer us? Well, aside from two user-friendly buttons that manages basic call functions, Nokia is also packing in a neck strap if you want to wear the thing around your neck and not on your ear and a desktop charger.

The BH-804 also provides 4 hours operating time and standby time of 150 hours after continuous charging for one hour.

Now, for our more tech-savvy readers who are keen on getting the BH-804, you ought to know that this headset supports Bluetooth specifications 2.0 with EDR and features both hands-free profile 1.5 and headset profile 1.1. Nokia has not announced a price yet, but expect this headset to be available soon.

Read [Nokia News Room]

Full Story » | Written by Arnold Zafra for Gadgetell. | Comment on this Article »

Audio Bone 1.0 uses bone conduction technology for awesome sound

Mark Rollins — 2008-09-17T23:59:00+00:00

Section: Audio, Headphones, Portable Audio

Previously, on Gadgetell…we covered a story about an exhibit on Bruhl’s Terrace that used bone conduction technology. All a visitor has to do is rest his or her elbows on a metal rail and cover his or her ears.

It appears that a company known as GameChanger has finally tapped into this technology with the Audio Bone 1.0 headphones. These headphones can somehow bypass the eardrum and deliver sound straight into your brain.

Since all of this is possible through bone conduction science, it means that there is no blowing out the eardrum with these. This makes bone conduction a safer alternative to normal headphones, even though some might be creeped out by using the bone as live wire.

On the subject of using your body as a conductor, I can only assume that this isn’t dangerous. Speaking of things that aren’t dangerous, I’ve heard that these Audio Bone 1.0 headphones are waterproof. If you’d like to try these out, they will cost about $190. You can get them in colors of black, orange, and blue.

Read [CrunchGear]

Full Story » | Written by Mark Rollins for Gadgetell. | Comment on this Article »

Sony rolls out the BT160AS, BT160IK, BT14Q Bluetooth stereo wireless headsets

Arnold Zafra — 2008-09-08T12:35:00+00:00

Section: Audio, Accessories, Headphones

Recently, Sony Europe has introduced three new wireless Bluetooth stereo headset geared for the sporty and active users - the DR-BT160AS, DR-BT160IK and DR-BT14Q. All three headsets boasts of individual features that make each one of them unique in their own rights.

The DR-BT160AS for instance, features a splashproof, street-smart design with soft elastomer hanger the fits comfortably and securely on users’ ears. Its earpiece shaft can be easily adjusted for users with larger ear sizes. It also features and easy to control menu functions for skipping tracks, adjusting volume and other music player functions.

While the DR-BT160IK boasts of its ability to stream music wirelessly from an iPod when paired with the TMR BT8iP Bluetooth dongle. While the DR-BT140Q features an ear-clip and fingertip control.

Sony-Style Europe will start accepting pre-orders for the three Bluetooth wireless headsets sometime in October. Pricing information has yet to be announced.

Read [Sony]

Full Story » | Written by Arnold Zafra for Gadgetell. | Comment on this Article »