noisecancelling
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Able Planet headphones cancel out bothersome noise of life so you can get into your game
If you love gaming at loud volumes (who doesn't) but don't love the idea of going deaf by the time you're 35 years old, Able Planet might have something to help you out. Their new PS500MM gaming headphones -- developed with technology that was originally used for the moderately hearing-impaired -- are supposedly ultra-noise-canceling, which should free you from the need to crank up the volume just to compete with background noise. They're $99 and available for order now, so you'll probably want to get over there asap, unless, like us, you destroyed your hearing years ago listening to Use Your Illusion II.[Thanks, Christian]
Hitachi Maxell intros noise canceling, battery draining iPod headphones
If short, intense sessions with your iPod are your bag, these new Maxell heaphones might just do the trick. Compatible with your fourth-gen iPod (or your first and second-gen iPod touch) the HP-NC20.IP earbuds offer active noise cancellation from 50-700Hz and noise suppression up to 20dB. Since they rely on the iPod dock for audio and power, you're stuck using the volume control on the headphones themselves, and battery life is significantly reduced -- anywhere from one half to two-thirds. If you're one of those people who never stops rocking, you might want to stick to something a little more passive, headphones-wise. But if you tend to "rock out" in concentrated amounts, these just might be the earbuds for you. Due to hit the streets of Japan on December 12 for a retail price of ¥8,000 (about $83).[Via AV Watch]
Noise-cancelling Toyota Crown zeroes out sounds at head height
As astutely pointed out by our friends at The Red Ferret Journal, it's a bit odd to see hybrid car makers cutting down on noise while electric car makers are looking to add it back in, but Toyota's silence isn't of the kill-a-biker sort. Toyota has worked internal noise-canceling into its new Crown hybrid, with microphones to pick up engine and road noise, and then speakers to blast out antiphase versions of those noises at head height. Toyota claims it can cut noise by around 5 to 8dB.[Via TRFJ]
SoundSense unveils sophisticated Noise Cancellation System for audio purists
For home theater owners that love audio as much as (if not more than) video, unwanted noise is a real downer. Thankfully, the sound engineers at SoundSense completely agree, and now the company known for its acoustic dampening solutions is delivering a Noise Cancellation System that reportedly eliminates all that excess noise when you fire up your speakers and amplifiers. Put simply, the process simply utilizes a small microphone and speaker; the "noise-canceling speaker emits sound with opposite qualities of the noise source, thus eliminating distracting sounds." We've no idea how costly said solution will be, nor if it will be easy for novices to use, but don't hesitate to give SoundSense a call and see what it'll take to zap the interference lingering in your HT.
Ears-on with Sony's MDR-NC500D noise cancelling headphones
We had to check out the potentially miraculous sound of digital noise cancelling in the Sony MDR-NC500D's -- what can we say? They cancel noise. Our finely honed audiophile ears could hear the U2 over the din of the show floor pretty darn well. Was it $400 worth of well? Depends on your annual salary.%Gallery-13343%
Radius' noise-canceling earbuds for your iPod nano
Got a third-generation iPod nano? Looking for a new set of earbuds, preferably with noise-canceling abilities? If so, look no further than Radius' new set, which plug right into the dock in order to extract all the juice they need to block out extraneous clamor. The radStrap canalphones are expected to ship in black, green and silver, and feature a neck strap, on / off switch for the noise-cancellation, an aluminum housing and frequency response of 20Hz to 20kHz. Check 'em out next month for ¥8,980 ($82), but don't get your hopes up for a bonafide US release.
BlueAnt launches voice isolating Z9 Bluetooth headset
It sure took long enough, but at long last BlueAnt is finally releasing its Z9 Bluetooth headset. The final version weighs in at 0.35-ounces, measures 1.5-inches in length, boasts a glossy, translucent finish, and most importantly, touts a two-level approach to noise cancellation. The firm's patented Voice Isolation technology "separates the voice signal from all background noise" in order to nix surrounding wind and ambient chatter from conversations, and can be utilized in Standard or Max modes depending on how raucous things are around you. Notably, the headset also sports dual microphones, supports on-the-fly device switching, lasts through 5.5-hours of yapping, and even offers upgradeable firmware via USB. So, for those who have managed to hold off till now, the Z9 can finally wrap itself around your ear for $99.95.
Sennheiser PXC 450 review roundup
We first saw Sennheiser's noice-cancelling PXC 450 cans at CES, and while the company missed its March ship date by a couple months, it looks like it was worth the wait -- the first reviews are pretty positive, apart from the price. PC Mag says the sound quality "blows away" its Bose Quiet Comfort rivals, although the low-end is a little exaggerated for audiophile tastes. The Talk Through mic worked as advertised, and even the styling won praise -- rare for a pair of big cans. CNET felt the same way, raving about the crisp high end, excellent noise reduction, and passive operation capability. Overall, it seems like Sennheiser has a winner on its hands -- if it would just do something about that fat $450 price tag.Read - PC Mag reviewRead - CNET reviewRead - Pocket-lint review
Sound ID's SM100 Bluetooth headset tunes you into nature
We've got Bluetooth headsets that cancel noise, amplify voices, and make you look good not entirely cockamamie, but Sound ID's latest iteration actually gives you one less reason to ever take it off. The minuscule earpiece sports compatibility with handsfree Bluetooth profiles, around eight hours of talk time and 72 hours of standby, auditory and visual low battery warnings, dual omni-directional silicon microphones, and a trio of modes to fit your situation. It also touts a NoiseNavigation feature that magnifies and cancels appropriate sounds automatically, and just in case you get tired of only hearing face-to-face conversations out of one ear, the "Environmental Mode" actually brings in ambient noise in order to make you forget about the critter hanging off your eyeglass holder. Notably, the $129.99 SM100 even features a One2One mode that enables "Bluetooth communication between two modules" without the use of a cellphone, which should definitely appease the anti-social social crowd.[Via Slashphone]
Sennheiser debuts PXC 450 high-end noise cancelling headphones
Audiophile headphone and audio component company Sennheiser announced their new PXC 450 noise cancelling headphones at a little consumer electronics show you might have heard about. Its active noise reduction reportedly allows you to distinguish between the sound of someone speaking to you and the sound of an aircraft, enabling you to have a conversation without actually removing the headphones (although they don't address the social awkwardness of actually putting this into practice, wherein your new best friend in 17F starts shouting at you to be heard over your cans). The closed ear cup comes with plenty of padding and can be collapsed for more convenient storage. Convenience and audiophilia don't come cheap, though -- expect to part with $500 to offend people on planes with these come March.
Aliph's Bluetooth Jawbone headset sports military-grade noise cancellation
We've seen our fair share of Bluetooth headsets (with and without DSP), and we hold a soft spot in our heart for the hardcore, rugged devices out there that can withstand next to anything, but Aliph's Jawbone earpiece blends the best of both worlds into one fashionable piece of kit. While the firm already has a wired version on the market, this Bluetooth-enabled set rocks a silver or red color scheme, dual microphones, lightweight design, and a noise cancelling sensor that is literally military-grade. Crafted after conducting research for DARPA, the goal was "to create a mobile phone headset capable of erasing background noise," even in less-than-amicable (or safe) situations. Although there's no pricing or availability information just yet, the unit has already made its way on the Award Honorees list for CES 2007, and if you want to see this bad boy in action, be sure to continue on after the jump for a YouTube demonstration.[Via BlueTomorrow]
