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Monster's iFreePlay cordless headphones for 2G Shuffle
Monster Cable has been known to dabble in the world of iPod accessories before, and while it's easy to give the company notorious for over marketing its flashy cabling knocks on just about anything, the iFreePlay contraption doesn't look half bad. The cordless wraparound headphones don't deviate too far from similar alternatives, but rather than communicating with your DAP via Bluetooth or RF, you can snap your 2G Shuffle right into the left earpiece and run along. The collapsible headphones weigh just 1.6-ounces, and while you do sacrifice some style for utility here, we've most certainly seen worse. So for runners looking to ditch that awful iSoundCap and avoid getting tangled all the while, Monster's iFreePlay apparatus can be picked up now for $49.95. Click through for a few more angles.
iArtifact earrings mimic Apple iPod earbuds
Don't count on Ashley Gehman's rendition of Apple's stock earbuds to come bundled in with a special edition iPod anytime soon, but if you're looking to permanently affix such icons to your lobes as a tribute to your fangirlism, these are for you. The iArtifact iPod earbud earrings look to be made from sterling silver, sport the tell-tale dimples across the top, and on top of all that, they're wireless. All jesting aside, these completely non-musical body adornments should light up the eyes of your favorite lady, and while these haven't gone commercial just yet (probably some papers left to sign regarding that whole Made for iPod agenda), we could definitely see these things selling like hotcakes in Apple stores worldwide.
Takara Tomy's Transformers earphones
The same folks that brought you the Optimus Prime iPod speaker dock are lobbying for your head-earned dollars once more, as Takara Tomy is betting that you just can't resist yet another Transformers gizmo to stack in your collection. This time it's throwing down a nifty set of morphing earphones, dubbed the Music Label Frenzy & Rumble, which boast a clip-on design coupled with a fold-out robot. Of course, we have sincere doubts about the sheer sound quality of these things, but let's be honest, you'll be listening a lot more intently to geeky comments as you stroll by than the LCD Soundsystem track quietly playing in the background. Start saving those pennies, fanboys and girls, as this treasure should land in the July timeframe for just ¥3,950 ($33).[Via TokyoMango]
Homegrown Sockphones make for comfy listening
Hasn't everyone suffered through a pair of cans that caused unbearable pain to your ears regardless of their orientation on your dome? Sure we have, and while headphone makers have gone out of their way to provide all the noise cancelling, bass thumping, and style hindering abilities that we adore so dearly (or not), comfort isn't always first priority. Enter the DIY Sockphones, a creation so incredulous that its brilliance is only rivaled by how immensely simple these things are to concoct. Sure, we may be overreacting a bit on the supremacy of this here headphone mod, but it does add a level of listening pleasure not often found on those partially-padded renditions. It was noted that sound quality takes a noticeable hit when being piped through layers of slightly rank cotton, but if you've got a painful set of headphones and an unused pair of socks, we'll leave the rest of the process for you figure out.[Via MAKE]
Don't wear iPod earbuds on the subway
It's a sad fact that you may occasionally find "unsavory" characters on the subway. It's also true that people have been mugged for their iPods. Savvy commuters know how to protect themselves, but San Francisco transit police are offering some official advice. In a flyer entitled "Protect Yourself and your iPod," posted at BART stations, they share some crime statistics (did you know that there are only 15 robberies system-wide per month on BART, but 11% of those involve iPod theft?) and a safety tip:"Don't be a target: Use ear buds other than the standard iPod white, or other aftermarket headphones."I ditched my earbuds first thing, but not for safety reasons. Soon enough everyone with headphones will be targets. In the meantime, protect yourself. Either grow your hair long or, better yet, pay attention to your surroundings.[Via The Apple Blog]
Sony's Bluetooth DR-BT21G wraparound headset does A2DP, AVRCP
While Sony's DR-BT21G was given limited facetime during CES, the wraparound stereo Bluetooth 2.0 headset is getting all official on us, and will now join the long list of other A2DP-friendly devices that Sony's known for kicking out. Sporting a behind-the-neck, foldable design, the 63-gram headphones come in black or white motifs, support A2DP, AVRCP, HFP, and HSP protocols, and boast a built-in microphone and control button in the earcup to pull double duty as a handsfree communicator. Aside from the receive / end call button, users can expect to control audio playback functions from the side of their dome, and considering the respectable 11-hour battery life, finding an AC outlet shouldn't become too much of an issue. No concrete information in regard to price or availability just yet, but we're hearing to expect these in April for around the $130 mark.[Via Akiharaba News]
Girls, watch out! Pink headphones don't work
The Pink PSP is all the rage (everywhere but America). But, the Pink PSP headphones are not as nice. At least, according to PSP GadgetZ. The man that buys everything PSP-related was surprised to see that although his new black headphones worked fine, these pink official earbuds do nothing at all. Is it just a one-time defect, or is the entire line-up of pink headphones from Sony busted up? I'd like to think the former, but just in case, you may want to avoid this import.[Via PSP-Vault]
Denon busts out headphones aplenty
Denon isn't exactly the first name that comes to mind when you think of headphones, so you can be forgiven for mistaking this group here for the company's first ever when they're in fact only the latest, albeit the most consumery the company has yet offered. The most affordable of the lot is the $150 AH-D1000 set, available in your choice of black or silver and designed to be equally at home hooked up to your MP3 player or home stereo, also packing Denon's trademark "microfiber diaphragm technology," which supposedly boosts sound quality and reduces distortion. Taking things up a notch, the $350 AH-D2000 cuts down on the portability but presumably ups the aural enjoyment, while the $700 AH-D5000 tops things off with a genuine mahogany covering on the cans, which Denon says will improve acoustics, not to mention fit in nicely with your collection wood-paneled electronics. Look for all three of 'em to be available later this month. Also now hitting our shores but announced in Japan a few months back are a pair of earbud models, including the $50 AH-C350, offering just about the lowest entry-point for any Denon product, and the $200 AH-C700, which should provide that little extra something for the more discerning listener.[Via Crave]
PSA: how to spot a new silver iPod shuffle
If you're browsing the wares at your local iPod-peddlin' location, but don't want to look like a fool when you get home and discover you just bought a silver shuffle with the old school headphones -- or perhaps the inverse is true -- then you might be pleased to hear that it's easy to spot the difference: the brand new silver shuffle has silver accents on the cardboard backing, while the old version was dressed up with green. Happy hunting![Via Cult of Mac]
High res pics of first orange iPod
AppleInsider has some nice, high res photos of the new orange iPod shuffle, the first orange iPod. You can check them out here.*Note that Apple has packaged new earbud headphones with the colorful shuffles. If you still prefer grey but want the new headphones, get a package with black lettering, and not green (those are the "old" ones, which contain with the original headphones).*Yes, at the end of the day it's just pictures of an iPod, but you still looked, didn't you?
JVC's HP-NCX77 noise canceling buds
Like to take your lossless tunes on the road do ya? Problem is, even if you're living like a unabomber, you've still got plenty of ambient noise ready to spoil your audiophileatio, eh? Not so brother. That is, not if you pick up JVC's HP-NCX77 noise canceling headphones. These in-ear buds will cancel unwanted frequencies -- dropping the noise by about 20% according to JVC -- for about 70-hours on a single Alkaline battery. Switch to "monitor" and listen-in to the paranoid footsteps of the modern industrial society closing in. Hitting dystopian shacks in Japan next month for a price of about ¥8,000 / $66. [Via Impress]
Sleek Audio's SA6 earbuds with adjustable acoustics
Possibly setting the record for most interchangeable pieces in a set of earbuds, the SA6 from Sleek Audio packs a number of features unique in the high-end headphone market. Using "treble tips" and "bass ports" that can be swapped out, Sleek claims that the single-driver SA6 rivals the performance of two- and three- driver models from competing manufacturers by offering frequency response that can be tuned to the listener's preference. Also unique is the set's cord, which disconnects right at the bud -- allegedly for a potential upgrade to A2DP down the road. Look for the SA6 in March for $250 ($230 on preorder).
Bluetrek unveils twistable ST1 Bluetooth headphones
It looks like Bluetrek is hopping into the Bluetooth headphone game, and while it faces some stiff competition, the ST1 sports a design entirely more pleasing to the eye than Etymotic's ety8 or Koss' Cobalt. Expected to make a showing at CES, these Korean-bound headphones feature a slim, bendable frame made to fit the heads of runners / commuters without gangly adornments cramping your style. It also boasts a trendy black / snow white color motif, Bluetooth v1.2 support, USB connectivity, operates "about nine hours" before its Li-ion needs recharging, and can supposedly last 400 hours in standby mode. Additionally, the play / pause, track direction, and volume controls are handily included on the earpieces, so you can control your playlists (on supported devices) without ever looking down. While we're not sure how much Bluetrek plans on charging for these snazzy wraparounds, we'll hopefully be getting a listen of our own before too long.[Via Engadget Chinese]
Etymotic's boxy ety8 Bluetooth earbuds get reviewed
There just isn't anything like throwing trendy to the wind and kickin' it box style, and Etymotic's ety8 Bluetooth earbuds not only deliver "surprisingly good" sound quality, but a comfort not often realized when wearing atypically sized cans. The folks at iLounge got their hands on a set of these perplexing headphones, and did their testing with the 8-Mate iPod adapter that comes bundled in the $299 package. Reviewers were quite pleased at the functionality presented in the track / volume controls on the right, um, sound box, and noted that the "8 to 10 hours" of battery life was more than respectable. As was expected, Etymotic clearly took its time in developing the system, as it even takes advantage of the "volume mirroring" feature on the 5G (and later) iPods. Moreover, the 'buds were (amazingly) said to be the "least fatiguing Bluetooth headphones" they had ever tested. However, the firm's "first endeavor" in the wireless realm came up a bit short in a few crucial departments; testers noticed annoying "clicking interferences" in the bass notes of some songs, and stated that the overall audio quality didn't quite live up the wired ER-4Ps. Overall, however, these digs aren't likely to bother those who aren't self-proclaimed audiophiles, but the $299 pricetag ($199 without the iPod adapter) is likely to send consumers darting for Logitech's $99 FreePulse solution nonetheless.
Throw out your earbuds and listen different
Sci Fi Tech (yes, the people from the Sci Fi channel) has a nice article up about better ways to listen to your iPod. They present five of their favorite headphones and earbuds to replace the standard cheapy earbud set that ships in the box. Prices for these suggestions range from a reasonable $60 (for the Yamaha RH5MA mid-size headphones) to a rather expensive $329 for Shure i4c earbuds. The Shure earbuds come with three different kinds of earpads, which after squeezing adapt to custom fit your ear canal. Frequent travelers and commuters may want to consider the noise-cancelling Sony MDR-NC11 at $150.
Ingemi kicks out volume-constraining iHearSafe earbuds
Listen up folks, while you might look mighty trendy rocking those headphones 24 / 7, you should be well aware by now that prolonged periods of heightened volumes can lead to embarrassing moments of near deafness in the future. While one (probably over concerned) citizen in Louisiana and a swarm of French folk both sued Apple for not providing volume limiters on its earbuds, your kid (or you, too) could be harmfully cranking it to eleven if your DAP doesn't sport any kind of volume controlling functionality. Ingemi Corp. -- where "kids comes first," mind you -- have unveiled the iHearSafe 'buds which "have patent pending technology to keep the volume below 80 decibels," regardless of how far you jam that volume knob or incensed you become. Featuring a standard 3.5-millimeter jack, the earbuds are reportedly compatible with any major MP3 player, but priced at just $24.99, we can't imagine any sort of remarkable sound quality being emitted from these guys, quietly or otherwise.[Via Techie Diva]
Do iPods cause ear infections?
According to a recent health column in The Australian, iPod earbuds in and of themselves will not cause ear infections. Prolonged use, however, may irritate the ear canal making it more prone to infection. Ear buds can also pick up material from an outer ear infection and transfer it into the inner ear. The risk is pretty slight says column writer Dr. Linda Clabresi. Of more concern to her is the risk to long-term hearing caused by constant exposure to loud music. "Constant loud music will cause a premature deterioration in a person's hearing. A good rule of thumb is if people around you can easily hear what you're listening to via earphones, it's too loud."
Ntech intros ear-rattling NVE 100B Bluetooth earbuds
After a long, hard day spent fixing that ever-present paper jam in the office printer, it's nice to kick back in iJoy's ZipConnect while letting the iGoGo personal massager sooth away your aches and pains to the tune of your favorite Breakfast Club jam. But Ntech wants to add one more aspect to your already jubilating experience by tossing an extra vibe directly on your ear. The NVE 100B is an "earring-style" Bluetooth earphone designed to simply clip onto your ear, with the front half pumping out music while the backside thumps to the beat. Strangely enough, the company actually expects the non-intrusive earbud to "prevent possible auditory disease," but we're assuming you take a major hit in sound quality to accomplish such a precaution. Nevertheless, these oddly sensational (albeit probably dysfunctional) earclips should be available on the Korean market just before the year's end for a currently undisclosed price.
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Hands-on with Shure's audiophile-friendly E500PTH
If you happen to bump into us on the street in the next few days and we can't make out a word you're saying, well, here's why -- we recently had the opportunity to spend plenty of quality time with Shure's latest pride and joy, their flagship E500PTH earphones. Shure's been talking up the E500 for the better part of this year as a "new paradigm" in personal sound, but audioheads (with the prerequisite $500 to burn, that is) have only been able to find 'em in the retail channel for a few weeks now. Much like the E5c before it, Shure bills the E500 as the be-all, end-all solution to portable reference-quality sound reproduction, thanks in no small part to the three -- count 'em, three drivers in each bud. But unlike the E5c, the E500 has an arguably more compelling trick up its sleeve: its unique push-to-hear (PTH) module, which allows the wearer to switch between audio input and ambient sound at the flick of a switch. While our poor, buzzing ears are recovering from the constant barrage of sweet sounds they received in the name of conducting a proper writeup, we figure we'd hunker down and actually get this thing written, so read on for our full pictorial review.
Shure ships E500PTH sound isolating earphones
You want boasting rights and flattering amounts of auditory detail? Look no further than Shure's E500PTH, what's shaping up to be the most hyped and wildly anticipated (or so we're led to believe) earphones of the season. Oh, did we mention they're finally shipping? Sorry kids, only in the UK for now. We spotted these flagship 'buds at CES and now Shure obviously intends to deliver, albeit a few months later than expected. Housing two woofer drivers and one tweeter, the design promises to "change personal audio the way HDTV changed television" (saywha?). Easily among the most elaborate of assurances we've heard, the E500PTH has a lot to prove: the Push-to-Hear (no, this isn't the flipside of PTT) technology lowers music volume to let "environmental ambiance" (um, noise?) seep in, while flipping a switch activates a "so real, you're there" vibe providing two ways to groove. If style's your thing, the E500PTH sports a black and chrome outfit and maintains a low-profile while blocking up to 37db of outside interference (until you hit the PTH switch, of course). If you're ready to hear the touted "revolution" in sound, listen up: this aural pleasure won't come cheap. For the Brits who can grab these immediaitely, it'll cost you £419, while Americans must await a late-July ship date to drop their $500.
