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CES 2012: headphone and speaker roundup
Audio-wares may not be on the forefront of many geek's minds during CES, but that doesn't mean you won't find a bevy of sound-pumping gizmos while traversing across the crowded show floor. From giant AirPlay and iPod dock systems to premium audiophile headphones (and a bevy of dinky iDevice-compatible buds), we've picked out a few of our favorites. Whether you're focused on getting great sound or something packed with technology, jump past the break to visualize it all for yourself.
Sennheiser unveils $1k HD 700 reference headphones, HD 25-based Amperior for mobile audiophiles
Here at CES, Sennheiser's just unveiled its latest duo of headphones set to please audiophiles at home and on the go. First up is the company's HD 700, which at a glance, appears to be a suave hybrid of its esteemed HD 800 and 650 reference cans. If you've lusted after the HD 800, but couldn't stomach the $1,500 price, you'll be happy to know that the HD 700 can be yours for a cool (albeit still wallet-thinning) 1,000 smackers. Notably, these 150-Ohm, open-backed headphones are loaded with 40mm Duofol dynamic drivers, and are capable of an impressive 10Hz to 42kHz frequency response. Next up, its Amperior supra-aural headphones take the already portable HD 25 DJ 'phones, and spices 'em up with an iDevice-compatible inline remote / mic, updated specs and aluminum, closed-back earcups. While there's no word on pricing just yet for the We're told that the Amperior will sell for $350, and it'll hit shelves along with the HD700 this March. HiFi audio lovers will find a detailed rundown of each unit's ear-tingling specs in the press releases after the break.
IRL: Verizon SCH-LC11 LTE hotspot, Sennheiser CXC 700 headphones and the Xperia Arc
Welcome to IRL, an ongoing feature where we talk about the gadgets, apps and toys we're using in real life and take a second look at products that already got the formal review treatment. It's that time of the week, where we take a pause from blitzkrieg hands-on opps and pick apart the gadgets we've been using long-term. This time around, Joe tries Sennheiser's CXC 700 headphones, Mat defends the original Xperia Arc and Darren breaks down the pitfalls of trying to get work done with a temperamental VZW hotspot. Because when it comes to getting a consistent LTE signal across the US, what could possibly go wrong?
Sennheiser RS 220 wireless headphones hands-on (video)
You can buy wired headphones for $600, so why not throw a pricey cordless pair into the mix? That seems to be Sennheiser's approach, which quietly launched the RS 220 wireless headphones at CES Unveiled in New York City tonight. These cord-free cans pipe analog, coaxial or optical sources from a glossy black base station over a 2.4GHz DSSS connection, which seemed to work fairly well even in the crowded event space -- chock full of hundreds, perhaps even thousands of wireless devices. A packed noisy environment isn't the ideal location to conduct audio tests, but given the conditions, the RS 220 performed well -- Aerosmith's Love in an Elevator was clear and crisp, with a reasonable amount of bass. The headphones were quite comfortable as well -- the velvet-like cups formed a fairly secure fit without putting too much pressure on our ears, as you might expect given the sky-high price tag. They're rated for a distance of up to 300 feet, though the connection dropped at just over 50 feet during our test tonight -- you'll likely see a better range outdoors, however. Jump past the break for a video walkthrough and the PR from Sennheiser.%Gallery-138863%
Sennheiser's sophisticated CXC 700 earbuds tout three levels of noise cancellation, TalkThrough functionality
Sennheiser has a thing for trotting out titillating new wares at the annual Consumer Electronics Show, and this year is proving to be no different in that regard. The audio specialist has just introduced one of the most fully-featured headsets we've seen in quite awhile, with the CXC 700 boasting not one, not two, but three levels of noise cancellation. The newfangled NoiseGard /digital technology gives owners a trifecta of noise-cancelling profiles, with each one optimized for something different. In fact, we'll let Senn do the explaining here: "Mode 1 absorbs low-frequency noise in particular (100 to 400 Hertz), such as engine noise from trains, buses or small passenger planes. Mode 2 focuses on cancelling noise in the medium frequency range (400 to 3,000 Hertz), which is caused above all by air-conditioning systems in large passenger aircraft or office buildings. Mode 3 has a particularly wide frequency range (100 to 3,000 Hertz), and combines the noise-cancelling effect in the medium and low-frequency ranges. As a result, background noise with different noise components, such as that which occurs at airports, railway stations or underground stations, can be effectively suppressed, although with a slightly lower noise-cancelling performance than in the first two modes." In case that's not enough to convince ya, these offer a frequency response of 20Hz to 21,000Hz, and they'll function just fine (albeit sans noise cancellation) even if your AAA battery keels over. Controls are embedded in the cabling, and users are able to activate the TalkThrough function if they'd prefer to conduct a conversation with someone without actually removing their earphones. Furthermore, changing between the NoiseGard profiles and activation of the TalkThrough function are indicated by both an acoustic and a visual signal. The company will be shipping these with a 4.5-foot long cable, an in-flight adapter, 6.35mm jack plug adapter, a small carrying case and a diaphragm protector, with sales to start later this month for around $320. %Gallery-112244%
Sennheiser expands gaming headset line, brings the top-shelf PC 360 Stateside
Sennheiser is well known in the slightly more budget-conscious wing of the audiophile community for selling great headsets at prices that won't drop your credit rating by more than a few points. Of late the company has been making waves in the gaming community as well by throwing microphones onto those cans, and now four new models are shaking the pool even more. First and biggest is the $299 PC 360, available overseas for a few months but finally hitting the US and building upon the success of the PC 350. It looks to borrow the open design of the company's well regarded HD555 headset, adding a mic on the left that mutes itself when you pivot it up and a volume dial on the right. The $239 PC 333D model offers a similar design but with more isolating closed cups, mixing in pseudo 7.1 Dolby Headphone, while the $169 PC 330 looks much the same minus the faux surround. Finally, and smallest of the bunch, is the $209 PC 163D, which again offers pretends at 7.1 but in a design that might be a little more... flattering for gamers with smallish heads. None is exactly affordable, but all should rock your world, and all are available now. %Gallery-106082%
ASUS Xonar Xense Audio Bundle reviewed, deemed very good (and very pricey)
ASUS has made quite a few admirers with its Xonar high-end sound card line over the years, and it looks like the new Xonar Xense Audio Bundle is another feather in its cap. Essentially a Xonar Xense card with a pair of Sennheiser PC 350 headphones thrown in for good measure, this bad boy features two 1/4-inch jacks (one for headphones, one for a mic), coax S/PDIF output, and 3.1 surround sound. TweakTown is in love with the thing, calling it "a best of both worlds realization that has been the culmination of many months and over a thousand different combinations of equipment" with "real world performance rivaling a thousand dollar hi-fi system." But not so fast! Bit-tech, was a little more reserved, saying that even if the specs and sound quality are "enough to satisfy the keenest hi-fi enthusiast," the headphones aren't particularly impressive -- and certainly not enough to justify spending £275 (that's like $400!) while the Essence STX can be found for half that. But that's not the whole story, not by a long-shot: check out the source links for all the essential details.
Dr. Fritz Sennheiser, audio pioneer, dies at 98
Back in 1945, cryptographer Fritz Sennheiser founded a professional electronics company in an abandoned WWII German laboratory. Today, we've received the sad tidings that Dr. Sennheiser has passed away at the age of 98. Despite his firm's humble origins building voltmeters from spare parts, his continued innovation led to products like the shotgun microphone and supra-aural headphones, and soon propelled Sennheiser to become a respected audio brand. He is remembered by his son Jörg, in whose hands he left the company in 1982, and by users of the many, many headphones that bear his name. You'll find his official biography at the source link; but first, a moment of silence for this pioneer. Considering the volume he's afforded us over the years, we think it's only fair.
Sennheiser RS170 wireless headphones ears-on
We don't generally run around plucking wireless headphones off their stands, but the CES Innovation Award here drew us in for a quick test job. In spite of the almighty din around us, these RS170 headphones delivered terrific noise insulation. They don't feature any sort of active noise cancellation, but just popping the sealed cans atop our noggin was sufficient to neutralize a vast proportion of the mayhem around us. The sound too was impressive -- certainly nothing unexpected given Sennheiser's reputation. What was pleasantly surprising, though, was the $300 asking price and since these are already available we've been able to find them online for as little as $250. For that you also get bass boost and surround sound functions, but from our limited time with the set we'd say you'll be getting some pretty awesome audio straight out of the box. %Gallery-82386%
Engadget German at IFA 2009: early morning roundup
Just in case you haven't heard, we're letting you in on a little secret here: Engadget German is the official blog of IFA 2009, so we figured we'd give you a small taste of what's going down in Deutschland in case you've yet to make it over. Our well-traveled compatriots have already dug up a few gems at the show, with the most notable being the Dension Wi Drive. Put simply, this system enables users with HDD-based entertainment systems in their vehicles to access files and playlists whilst at home. 'Course, it seems as if this would be all the more helpful done in reverse, but hey, you've got to start somewhere. There's also a few new headphones from the good folks at Sennheiser, and a new take on the old range booster from Wi-Ex. Have a look through the read links below, and just in case you're wondering -- yes, you can expect English translations directly on their site for the best IFA has to offer going forward.Read - Dension Wi DriveRead - New Sennheiser headphonesRead - Wi-Ex zBoostRead - Creative Inspire S2Read - New Audio-Technica earbudsRead - Alien-inspired Altec Lansing speakersRead - Hello Kitty YP-U5 audio player
Video: Sennheiser's MX W1 wireless earbuds get showcased
Sennheiser's recently released MX W1 earbuds were hangin' here at CES, and considering that they really are the first true wireless 'buds to utilize Kleer, we figured you may want to take a look. So, do ya? Head on past the break, it's all there.
Sennheiser's new MX W1 earbuds get wireless with Kleer
It's looking like Sennheiser has a trick or two up its sleeve planned for CES this year -- the audio company is about to drop what appears to be the first commercially available pair of standalone wireless earbuds. The MX W1, as the buds are lovingly known, utilize Kleer technology to transmit audio from their dongle (base station?) to your ears. The same technique was used to poorer effect in RCA's S2501 JetStream DAP / earbud combo, which (virtually) lassoed the buds to the less-than-thrilling player. Sennheiser, on the other hand, provides the MX W1's free of a player and ready to be plugged into your unit of choice -- a huge boon for the marketability of this particular product. It should be noted that these appear to be output only, so those looking for a mobile phone solution will have to look elsewhere. Still, for audio enthusiasts fed up with wires, this is likely music to their ears... er, literally.[Via PC Magazine]Update: Looks like we've got a price, and it's $600. Zing. Thanks Arief.
Sennheiser rolls out four new CX earbuds
Not satisfied with simply unveiling a single set of new earbuds today, Sennheiser decided to roll out four new flavors for your ears' enjoyment. Up first is the CX 400 ($99.95), which touts a short cord ideal for arm-worn MP3 players, but does include a three-foot extension cable for other applications. Upping the ante is the CX 500 ($129.95), which enters as the flagship unit in the Classic lineup and arrives in a trio of colors. The CX 55 Street ($79.95) boasts a bit more bass than the other guys, and the CX 95 Style ($139.95) places its emphasis on lookin' good whilst parked in your ear. The whole lot is slated to be available starting this month, and you can take a peek at photos of the rest after the break.
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
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.
RAmos joins the party with its V100 all-in-one PMP
The handheld conglomerate market must be booming in China, as RAmos is getting in on the action with its very own V100. Similar to all the renditions that came before it, this do-it-all portable renders all sorts of still photos, and plays back MP3, WMA, WAV, OGG, and FLAC on the audio side, while playing nice with MPEG3, XviD, and DivX on the video end. For a dash of retro gaming, it supports NES / SNES emulation, as well as "flash games and animations." Powering this sleek machine is a 200MHz Freescale CPU, which is surrounded by a 2.5-inch 320 x 240 resolution LCD, Philips UDA1380TT audio decoder, built-in microphone, dual headphone jacks, an SD slot, and a potent Li-ion cell that reportedly lasts "up to 10 hours." Additionally, RAmos supposedly tosses in a pair of Sennheiser MX500 earbuds to round out the package, and somehow charges just 700 CNY ($89) for the 512MB version, and 800 CNY ($102) for the 1GB edition.[Via DAPReview]
Second generation iPod shuffle mod: Shuffle Phones
Alexander wasn't too happy that his brand new second generation iPod shuffle shipped with the previous generation iPod earbuds. The fit and fidelity of those 'buds just wasn't cutting it - so he took matters into his own hands and rigged up a pair of Shuffle Phones. "In an effort to correct the earbud shortcoming," he says," I realized I could combine headphones and a shuffle into a cords-free wundermusik contraption." The goal was to combine the portability of the iPod shuffle and high fidelity of full size headphones - while keeping the cords virtually invisible and to a minimum.This isn't the first time the iPod shuffle has been integrated into a pair of headphones. Alexander himself even proposed it for original shuffle. So consider this incarnation Shuffle Phones 2.0. THe process is very easy, of course. Just clip your new iPod shuffle onto your favorite pair of headphones, wrap the cord tightly and neatly around the headband and plug it in. The shorter the cord, the better it looks, but do you best with what you've got. Alexander's Sennheiser HD 212 Pros have an unusually long 10-foot cord, but it still looks pretty cool.As Alexander points out, due to the additional bulk, this rig isn't so great for jogging or exercising, but for studying, strolling or other low-key activities it works out quite well.
Sennheiser's Style, Sport, and Street range of headphones
Sennheiser is set to drop 17 new headphone models (just a sample in that pic above) onto the world's ears next month spread across the new Style, Sport, and Street product lines. A select few of these units like the MX 90 VC (pictured) will flaunt a new twist-to-fit ear securing system which relies upon a small rubber "stopper" you can twist thereby securing the headphone to the outer ear. The Style range of headphones gun for optimum sound quality while remaining stylish and elegant via a "metal look" (and very German) design. The antithesis of the Style range must be the Sport range then, which dishes out a healthy slathering of neon "fresh" green knowing that jockos everywhere secretly long for the color palette of wee little girls. These headphones are designed with max comfort and secure fit in mind and rock regardless of rain, sweat or low temps... making them equally at home for postal delivery. Rounding things out is the Street line-up which conspicuously omits any old-school can designs but are said to be specially designed based on teenager feedback nevertheless. These headphones feature unusual design, secure fit, and practical accessories with plenty of bass for use with both MP3 players and gaming systems. Expect to see all the new skull candy in stores starting next month.[Thanks, Dan F]
Nokia's 3250 WESC Limited Edition Travel Kit drops
Now's the moment you've been waiting for: that Nokia 3250 WESC Limited Edition Travel Kit's now officially available, people. As usual, your limited edition handset won't be featuring anything out of the ordeinary except a retooled paint job, but if you've been thinking of taking the plunge with a Nokia 3250, and as a side note wanted your handset to be one of 500 pieces, and come packaged with travel info on an MMC card, Sennheiser PX 100 phones, an inline remote, Stereo Skateboards wheel, an eyemask, WESC travel guide, passport holder, cellphone strap, pins, and, um, balloon (for trafficing drugs, perhaps?), then this is your phone.[Thanks, Jack]
