Street by 50
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50 Cent's new sports headphones aren't subtle, and that's OK
Curtis "50 Cent" Jackson was kind enough to give us an early look at his line of sport-friendly headphones on stage back at CES. Today, you get to see them out in the wild. As a refresher, there are on-ear and in-ear models and you can choose wired (Street) or wireless (Sync) varieties depending on how you roll. The on-ears come with a sweat-proof inner chamber and a rubberized coating to keep them looking box-fresh no matter how many laps you put them through, and there's even a sports "towel" (it's more of a cloth) included to mop your brow! The in-ears won't come with such luxuries, but they do come in the same striking blue, pink or yellow color options. The Bluetooth variants all support aptX, which is more than can be said for the other rapper-backed sports buds we saw recently. Prices are $80/$150 for the in-ears (wired/wireless) and $180/230 for the on-ears -- and we got an early look at some.
SMS Audio reveals three sport-friendly Carmelo Anthony signature headphones
Like to soak up some beats while out on the court? Or prefer a sonic boost to your run? Then SMS Audio's new Audio Sport, Carmelo Anthony signature collection is looking squarely at you. There are three models in the line: the Sync Wireless Sport in-ear, and Street Wired Sport in- and on-ear editions. All three come with sweat-proof protection and tangle-free cables (on the wired ones, of course). The Street on-ears even come with an SMS Audio sports towel in the box, and all models come in three color variations (as you see above). If you fancy picking up a set of the wireless Syncs, then it'll cost you $160. The on-ear Streets are $20 more, but if you're more into the in-ear, wired version, you can snag 'em for a much lower $80. All will be ready for your workout sometime in spring.
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.
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.
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.
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.
