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SMS Audio is back with more 'Star Wars' special edition headphones
Last year, when 50 Cent's SMS Audio released a line of Star Wars-themed headphones, it was something for the fans. This year, 50's riding on some good timing. With the movie trailer for The Force Awakens still lingering in many people's retinas, SMS Audio is launching a second line of on-ear cans inspired by the franchise. This year it's R2D2, Chewbacca, Darth Vader and the TIE Fighter that get immortalized as headphones (joining Rebel Alliance, Stormtrooper, Galactic Empire and Boba Fett models from 2014). There's mention of passive noise canceling, as well as 40mm drivers to deliver the sound. Each pair costs $200 and will available sometime in Q2 this year -- much less of a wait than for the next movie installment, at least.
SMS Audio makes Intel's heart-rate tracking earbuds a reality
Back at CES, Intel showed off its smart earbud concept that matched tunes to your pulse, and now it's bringing similar tech to the masses. Thanks to a partnership with 50 Cent's SMS Audio, the heart-rate-tracking chops will hit the gym inside the headphone maker's new BioSport offering. Looking to "motivate and encourage" peak activity levels, the in-ear option packs a biometric optical sensor needed to monitor both physical exertion and relaxation. What's more, the audio add-on syncs the collected data with RunKeeper to keep tabs on progress, and as you might expect, the pair is IPX4 certified for sweat and water resistance. So how did the collaboration come about? Well, I had a chat with Intel's New Devices Group head Mike Bell and SMS Audio President Brian Nohe about just that.
CES 2014: Audio roundup
Imagine the footsteps of thousands and thousands of people. Now add in hundreds of booths showing loud promo videos, playing music and giving demos over microphones. That is the literal sound of CES. The theoretical sound of CES will come from some of the products you see below. We feel this selection of products gives you a pretty good feel for the trends we're likely to see in 2014. Enjoy.
Live from the Engadget CES Stage: 50 Cent
Yep, that 50 Cent. SMS Audio's CEO will be joining us on-stage for a second year in a row to discuss the latest additions to the line of headphones that bear his name. January 8, 2014 1:30:00 PM EST Follow all the latest CES 2014 news at our event hub, and check out our full stage schedule here.
50 Cent's SMS Audio joins the alliance with new Star Wars-themed headphones
[Cantina Band plays in the background] In a collaboration, we'll admit, we weren't expecting, 50 Cent has teamed up with Lucasfilm to release a series of Star Wars-themed headphones. Based on 50's existing Street design, the new line includes Stormtrooper, Rebel Alliance, Boba Fett and Imperial editions. We know what you're thinking -- where's the Leia-inspired cans? The new range is said to be available for a limited time only, and will come with a certificate of authenticity, along with some in-the-box Star Wars goodies. Once you've decided which side of the Force you're on, you can get yourself a pair for $200 around springtime, ideal for checking out that lost footage on the commute.
SYNC by 50 on-ear wireless headphones now feature Bluetooth 4.0, aptX support
It's been a busy month for SMS Audio and Mr. Jackson. After launching new Street by 50 headphones and wireless speakers, they're now introducing the first pair of SYNC by 50 cans that connect over Bluetooth 4.0 and have aptX support. The latest wireless headphones to come out of 50 Cent's audio labs have an on-ear, foldable design and 40mm custom drivers. Play / pause, next track and volume controls are built into an earpiece, while a microphone comes with the detachable cable. SMS Audio claims you can listen to Get Rich or Die Tryin' for up to 12 hours on the hardware before you need to juice them up via the microUSB port. Those who'd like to learn more don't have to find 50 in the club -- head past the break for the press release or visit the source, where the gear is available for $230 per pair.
SYNC by 50 wireless speaker hits SMS Audio's store with $200 price tag
SMS Audio, the brainchild of Curtis "50 cent" Jackson, may be known for its pricey headphones, but the company is broadening its horizons with its first portable speaker, which you can now purchase for the not-so-humble price of $200. The SYNC by 50 wireless speaker boasts Bluetooth functionality, NFC capability and omni-directional sound due to its rounded design. Additionally, the SYNC comes equipped with 50mm tuned drivers, a 3.5mm headphone jack and five EQ settings to fiddle with. If you've always had your heart set on a Fiddy-branded speaker, you can find it in "shadow black" (as opposed to plain ol' black) on SMS Audio's website, linked below. For more info, check out the full press release after the break.
Street by 50 headphones gets over-ear active noise cancellation
SMS Audio is rolling out the latest addition of its Street by 50 line of headphones (you know, by this guy). The news here is the addition of active noise cancellation, to help you block out unwanted ambient sound -- the bad airplane / crowded restaurant kind, not the good Brian Eno kind. Street by 50 Over-Ear Active Noise Control sport 40mm drivers and leather ear cushions, and should get you upwards of 70 hours of play time on a set of batteries, according to SMS's numbers. The foldable headphones come in black and silver and will run you $280. For what it's worth, that price will also get you a removable cable with a mic and a hard shell carrying case. Press release-type details can be found below.
Live from the Engadget CES Stage: an interview with 50 Cent (update: video embedded)
Yes, that 50 Cent. Curtis Jackson III will be joining Brian on stage to discuss his move from rapper to headphone mogul, as the CEO of SMS Audio. 50's partner in audio, SMS President Brian Nohe will be also be joining in on the fun. January 10, 2013 1:00 PM EST Check out our full CES 2013 stage schedule here! Update: video embedded
SMS Audio outs an on-ear option for its Street by 50 headphones, ships October 7th for $180
If you're a fan of emcee-endorsed headphones, you're in luck. SMS Audio -- the folks behind the SYNC by 50 line -- has just announced another portable audio option that gets the recommendation of Mr. Jackson himself. The Street by 50 moniker now sports a wired, on-ear option to go alongside its current over-ear and in-hear offerings. These cans house 40mm pro-tuned drivers, folding hinges and memory foam cushioning while sporting Shadow Black and Ghost White color schemes. Anxious to snag some? Well, you can pre-order a set now, but they'll start shipping on October 7th -- if you're willing to shell out the requisite $179.99, of course. As for us, we're patiently waiting on the Keenan Cahill model.
How would you change SMS Audio Sync by 50?
Rap singer, philanthropist, actor and high-end sound designer, truly Curtis Jackson is the Aristotle of our day. Of course, it's his latter profession that brings him to the coveted pages of How Would You Change, as we delve into his SMS Audio Sync by 50 wireless headphones. When our in-house audio maven strapped them to his head, he found that $400 price tag to be a little steep given how messy the overall experience was -- with features like "Thumpp" bass boost only available when connected via dongle and other features absent unless you buy more accessories. Our reviewer hoped that Version 2.0 would iron out all of those creases, but how about you? What suggestions would you like to send to the venerable 50 Cent about how he can improve these high-end cans?
50 Cent talks up two new headphones in his SMS Audio line (video)
We'd be lying if we told you that we fully expected to be hanging out with 50 Cent when we traveled around the world to Berlin, but earlier today we grabbed a moment with the Queens-based emcee to discuss his venture into the world of high-end headphones. In particular, we wanted to ask how his products, including the new Street On-Ears and Street DJ Pros, stack against some better known rapper-endorsed audio technology -- namely Dr. Dre's gimmicky Beats and his tie-in with HTC. For starters, 50 was keen to stress that this is no plain endorsement: Studio Master Sound (SMS) Audio is his company and he's invested in it. Regarding the products themselves, he reassured us that they have nothing in common with the Beats / HTC marketing about bringing hardware and software together to create some kind of eardrum wizardry. Instead, he just wants to bring together all-round qualities like durability, comfort, and "professionally tuned" 40mm drivers, alongside fresher styling than you'd get from companies like Bose or Sennheiser. The booth at IFA was too hectic for us to give the new 'phones a fair run-through, and in fact 50 Cent didn't have a great deal to say about them at this point either. As you'll see in the video after the break, he preferred to hold up his slightly older flagship wireless set, called SYNC, as evidence that SMS Audio has audiophile credentials to justify its high price points. Speaking of which, we're not sure how much the latest models will cost or when they'll become available, but for guidance the SYNC headphones cost $400 while regular Street wired headphones will set you back around $250.
Engadget Giveaway: win one of two pairs of Sync by 50 wireless over-ear headphones!
This week we're once again bringing the audio goods to you, and today's giveaway should be incredibly tempting. 50 Cent's brand, SMS Audio, wants to hook you up with a pair of its premium wireless over-ear headphones, Sync by 50. Priced at $400, these cans are spendier than a fair number of smartphones, but it offers Kleer technology with CD-quality lossless audio and will work up to 50 feet away from your device. And just for kicks and giggles, SMS Audio is also throwing in a snapback hat, shirt and a backpack to go along with your prize, so it's definitely worth heading below the rules and leaving a comment to enter. Good luck!
SMS Audio SYNC by 50 wireless headphones review
Ah, celebrity-endorsed headphones -- whether it's Beats by Dre or Soul by Ludacris, you've always gotta wonder whether their actual sound-reproduction chops will match up with the steep price tags and fashion-focused designs. Oftentimes, shocker of shockers, the answer is a resounding "no." One of the newest entrants into this game is SYNC by 50, stemming from a long collaboration between Sleek Audio SMS Audio and none other than Curtis James Jackson III -- 50 Cent, of course. Unlike the partners' $250 Street offering, these headphones have the unique selling point of offering both wireless and wired operation, a convenience for which you'll pay a staggering $400. Although they don't offer active noise-cancellation like competing models, these headphones are banking on Kleer's tried-and-true wireless audio technology, which touts 16-bit CD-quality resolution. We spent several weeks testing these spendy sound-blasters, so continue on to our full review to learn whether they live up to the hype or could us to a second trip back to the studio for remastering.
Fiddy Cent gets into the headphone game with SYNC by 50, countdown to Ford lawsuit begins... now
Well, after the termination of 50 Cent's alignment with Sleek, it was only a matter time before the rapper's SMS Audio company filled the void. (After all, how do you know your cans are quality if they haven't been endorsed by a man who was shot nine times and survived.) We don't know when the wireless SYNC by 50 headphones will arrive or how much they'll cost, but you can bet the part-time actor and entrepreneur will be making the rounds, trying to sell us on the 40mm driver, 50-foot range, "professionally tuned digital EQ" and passive noise isolation. While the integrated music controls are nice, our favorite feature might be the ability to connect four sets of SYNCs to the same source. Check out the gallery below and a few choice specs from the data sheet after the break.%Gallery-135320%
Sleek Audio terminates agreement with 50 Cent, puts over-the-ear plans on hold (updated)
You may remember our brief run-in with 50 Cent back at CES, where he announced a partnership with Sleek Audio for Sleek by 50, a pair of "wireless hybrid" headphones with built-in Kleer technology. Today the company revealed that it has terminated its agreement with G-Unit Brands, 50's licensing company, and that it will be "re-evaluating our Wireless Hybrid over-the-ear headphones at a later date." There's no word on why the collboration went awry, and the company only indicates that it has decided to focus on its in-ear offerings instead. Of course, we've got way more than 21 questions about what made the relationship go sour, but hate it or love it, Sleek by 50 is no more. Disheartening PR after the break. Update: Looks like it was 50 Cent who terminated the deal, after all. According to XXL, our man told the magazine that he has "established a new company that is developing a complete line of audio accessories, including wireless headphones." Well, too bad for Sleek Audio. Thanks Matt!
