Shure's MPA-3c converts headphones to headsets

Shure -- a company with a long tradition of both excellent headphones and questionable accessories -- is introducing a new iPhone-targeted add-on into its stable called the MPA-3c. The gist of this adapter is that you can plug your high-fidelity Shure earphones into it and magically turn them into a headset for use with a cellphone (oh, and they claim that it delivers "rock star" quality audio). Essentially, $39.99 will get you a microphone and a send/end button that matches your iPhone.

[NTD @ Jun 27th 2007 6:30AM]

Yes, this should go great with my E2's, thank you Shure! Oh wait, it's not wireless, what were you thinking Shure. Back to the lab.

[Robert Clark @ Jun 27th 2007 6:51AM]

Your E2's arn't wireless either - numptie

[NTD @ Jun 27th 2007 1:13PM]

Uh, maybe that was kinda the point? I fail to see the innovation in adding a microphone with a button to a wire. Why not make it a BT device and actually make something useful? There's plenty of similar solutions available, but none with quality headphones/earbuds.

[Jesse S @ Jun 27th 2007 1:49PM]

Because Shure makes audiophile-grade IEM's, and good wireless audio is extremely expensive, and requires lots of power, and even then, sucks, compared to its wired counterparts.

Just get a stereo bluetooth headset if you care more about being wireless than your audio quality, which you probably will if you're buying an iphone.

[NTD @ Jun 27th 2007 2:48PM]

I'm sorry but that makes no sense. This thing IS directed at iPhone users. I care enough to buy better than standard earbuds to listen to my mp3s and I'm frustrated I can't do it wirelessly when the tech is there. And I doubt Bluetooth would in someway degrade the quality when were talking mp3s.

And if your reply is something relating to how mp3s suck anyways then we can just leave at that.

[jerry @ Jun 27th 2007 10:52AM]

there's pics on shures website too

http://www.shure.com/PersonalAudio/PressRoom/PersonalAudioPressKit/NewProductInformation/us_pa_MPA_press_images

[John @ Jun 27th 2007 12:35PM]

Excellent! You can bet that the next iPhone accessory will be a tiny GPS unit with bluetooth combined, of course, with a software upgrade to the phone's google maps applet/widget .

[Cramidy @ Jun 27th 2007 6:41PM]

I personally, like the idea:
The iphone is an mp3 player, right?
The iphone is a phone, right?
But bieng a phone first, you sacrafice the ability to listen to your mp3's via a good pair of headsets (save for bluetooth, whos price thus far outwieghs quality) This adapter lets you have the best of both worlds: your own headphones with the ability to use the as a phone headset.

Shure just did a craptastic job at marketing them...