Gadgetell | Tech News, Reviews, and Interesting Things

Product: Flamingo Sport Headphones
Price and Availability: Currently available and retailing for $49.99
Rating: 8/10
Pros: Stayed in ear well, offered good sound quality, comfortable even with extended wear.
Cons: Nylon cord.
Overall: Would not hesitate to recommend.

Keep reading to check out the full review…

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Product: Boosted Grande headphones
Price and Availability: Currently available and retailing for $70.00
Rating: 6/10
Pros: Soft, comfortable headpiece and ear cups, nice long cord.
Cons: Personally, a little big for my taste.
Overall: Would recommend.

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Boosted has just introduced a trio of new headphones, the Grande (pictured above), Pequeno and Stiloso (pictured below), all of which are available in a few colors and are designed for the “technologically savvy individual.” The headphones all have a standard 2.5mm jack, come with a variety of adapters and feature an in-line microphone that will allow you to switch between your music and call.

The Grande headphones are an over-the-ear style, while the Pequeno are an on-ear style and both feature a soft touch surface with swivel earcups. The Stiloso offer a classic vintage look. The Stiloso and Grande headphones are currently available and retail for $52 and $70 respectively.

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Don’t think USB charger connectors are overrated? Maker of Bluetooth headsets JayBird does. That’s why it has implemented a new kind of charger for its new JayBird JB-200 Bluetooth headphones. The patent pending JayBird charging design consists of a “small flat metal charging material on the inside surface of the right ear piece, which when sliding the headset into the custom slot on the charging dock connects the headset to the power supply” for charging. And other than this novel new feature, this funky looking pair of Bluetooth headphones will do you good for 5.5 hours with music and 6.5 hours during calls. The standalone headphone set will set you back $130 a piece, although there are other choices for sales packages including one with a complementary Bluetooth adapter that’s compatible with 3.5mm headphone jack toting devices. It’s small enough to carry around everywhere you go, and yet it manages to pack some nice noise cancellation technology in its body. With headphones like these, who needs rock music?

Via [Just Another Mobile Phone Blog]

Noise-canceling headphones be gone! Who needs inferior products such as those when you can comfortably sit back with two calls simultaneously with the Jabra M5390 dual Bluetooth headset? Talk about trying to tell everyone around you that you are busy, and can’t be disturbed no matter what. This mind-boggling device, in my honest opinion, is so dumb that it’s brilliant!

With the Jabra M5390 dual Bluetooth headset, you can take calls from two different devices, like say a GSM handset and a Skype phone, at the very same time. It offers DSP noise canceling technology itself, although I’m not sure how well that would really work when you’re trying to listen to two different sounds at a time.

Other features include USB 2.0 connectivity via a Bluetooth dongle, and a range of 70 meters. That way, even if you accidentally cut off your ear and dropped it down the elevator, you’d still be able to hear your calls. Or not. And it stays on standby for nearly 60 hours, with talk time billed at 6 hours, give or take. But don’t rush out with your credit card yet, cause there still ain’t no pricing details on this baby. What? Of course it’s for sale, cheapskate.

Via [Crave]

Sennheiser is offering a trade-in program of sorts for your old headphones. Whether “new, old, broken or used” all you have to do is choose the style of headphones that you want to purchase, fill out their form, gather up your old headphones and mail them in. The trade-in value depends not on the style of headphones that you are sending in, but on the style that you are getting from Sennheiser. The value will range from $5 for Street Earbuds up to $25 for Noise Canceling models. So if you were thinking about replacing those nasty or broken headphones, Sennheiser may be worth checking out. The trade-in offer is valid from April 1 through July 31.

Read [Sennheiser (pdf)]

JVC is releasing a new high-end model to its bi-metal in-ear canal headphones – JVC HA-SX500. If you are wondering what a bi-metal headphone is? Just think of old times and try to recall those folding headphones that we used to wear to listen to our precious Sony Walkmans. Well, that’s exactly how the JVC HA-SX500 looks.

But don’t even think that this new JVC headphones is a clone of those old Sony ones. JCV is actually touting this product as a high-end addition to their bi-metal headphone lineup. By high-end it simply means that JVC has designed this headphone to produce high quality sound through a Bi-METAL structure. The HA-SX500 also reduces friction noise while increasing comfort during prolong used. Less friction noise means, better audibility.

Now for some even more good stuff, the HA-SX500 are lightweight and should fit comfortably and securely while at the same time delivering superior isolation from both external sounds and sound leakage. The headphone was designed ergonomically with silicon rubber earpiece supported by cushioned metallic foldable headband. What this simply means is you’d probably enjoy using the headphone without straining your ears that much.

And finally, as a way of responding to the sign of the times, JVC is throwing in a plug that connects the HA-SX500 with the iPhone. If you don’t mind pairing your iPhone with this old looking headphone, then be prepared to spare around $79.95 sometime this month when JVC officially released the HA-SX500.

Via [Crave] Read [JVC]

Genius has just released their new 3D surround sound quality headphones, the GHP-05 Live. The GHP-05 Live features enhanced true bass levels that contribute to producing that 3D surround sound quality. The GHP-05 headphones also offer a wide acoustic range which should offer good quality with a variety of audio from classical to vocal music.

Genius has built the GHP-05 Live’s true 3D sound quality using precise echo phase control that creates clear and natural sound. This is the same technology that enables engineers to power amplifiers and speakers to make the sound moves around in a super low-bass, upper high-treble and pure vocals. Giving credit to the headphone’s soft velvet padded ear they should offer comfort for extended wear.

With a price tag of $59, the GHP-05 Live headphones come with an extension cable, a 3.5mm-RCA converter and a 6.3mm gold plated adapter that can be connected to any audio devices. The GHP-05 Live looks cool and sporty although some may get turned off by its bulky design, especially now that there are smaller and slimmer headphones available in the market today. But for loyal users of Genius products, the GHP-05 Live would be a good addition to other their other Genius speakers.

Product [Genius] Via [Business Wire]

If you are always in the airport, want to do yoga, or feel like you want to spend time in the middle of an erupting volcano, the new Sony MDR-NC500 noise canceling headphones are just the pair for you. Designed to take advantage of the newly developed DNC Software Engine, this baby will prevent up 99% of ambient noise from reaching your delicate little ears. That way, you can concentrate on whatever it is you want to do, for up to 16 hours using the internal Lithium-ion battery, or up to 28 hours with normal AA batteries. Now if only the whole world could afford its $399.99 price tag when it ships on March 21, then maybe we’d finally be able to achieve the fabled dream of world peace.

Product [Sony Style] Via [Akihabara News]

Product: Skullcandy iPhone FMJ headphones
Price and Availability: $79.95, Currently available for sale, although they are noted as being out-of stock until March 1-15, 2008.
Rating: 10/10
Pros: A comfortable fit, great sounding and a solid, durable feel.
Cons: Not sure I can really call it a con, but at first the cable seemed a bit stiff. It did become a little more flexible with a few days of use.
Overall: A great choice for iPhone and/or BlackBerry Curve users alike.

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