Headphone News

Pioneer are the latest to challenge Bose’s noise cancellation crown with the announcement of the SP-MJ7NS headphones.

These headphones claim to cancel around 80% of ambient noise and have a frequency range of 20Hz to 20kHz. They are powered using two AAA batteries which Pioneer claim will give about 20 hours of noise cancellation.

Apart from that, the stats seem fairly normal but of course everything will come down to the actual noise cancellation performance.

[Found via Gizmodo]

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The Bose Quiet Comfort range have sat unchallenged at the top of the noise canceling headphones pile for some time now but I had high hopes of a challenger when Sennheiser announced their PXC 300 noise canceling headphones. Unfortunately, according to Pocket-Lint’s review, they don’t quite match up.

Giving the headphones a disappointing 5 out of 10, Pocket-Lint were impressed with the noise-canceling and sound quality of these headphones but felt the design let them down.

In choosing a smaller form-factor than the Bose ‘phones, Sennheiser elected to place the necessary batteries in a tube on the cables. Unfortunately, Pocket-Lint found this awkward and just plain annoying. Also, they found the 2 meter cable just got in the way, perhaps Sennheiser could’ve included a selection of detachable cables?

Overall, it’s disappointing for company with a record like Sennheiser to make such basic mistakes. Hopefully they can get it right next time.

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There are a lot of weird and wacky headphones available right now. Here are some of the strangest I’ve seen over the last few months:

RWC iTan ITN-VR10 - These headphones look pretty much like a normal pair of headphones but with one extra feature - they vibrate. With a flick of the switch, your headphones will shake in time with the bass in the music.

No, I can’t figure out why you would want that either.

WIN23 Solar Powered Headphones - That’s right, solar powered. They’re also amazingly ugly.

Result.

Elecom Ear Drops earphones - These earphones have little plastic “crystals” attached so you can convince random passers by that you’ve got bling.

I’m not buying it and I’m guessing no one else is either…

Slipstreamz cycling headphones - These earphones don’t even go in your ears so you can hear the traffic while cycling. I have to assume that does mean you can’t hear the music, but that’s not really important, is it?

At least they keep your ears warm…

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JVC have added to their noise-canceling headphones range with the announcement of the HP-NC80 headphones. Initially to be released in Japan only, these headphones claim to reduce external noise by up to 75% and offer two noise reduction modes, wide and low.

As is usual for noise-reducing ‘phones these require battery power, in this case AAA batteries should give 50 hours of noise-free playback (assuming these actually work, they don’t always).

There’s no real details on pricing as yet, but expect to pay less than $100 when they are released.

[Found via Gearlog]

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Here’s something a bit more unusual, a set of headband headphones. The Swapsets headphones allow you to interchange headphones and headsets which connect to a patterned headband - which of course, you can interchange.

Obviously, this is aimed more at girls and is probably more about looks than sound quality but I’m sure they’ll appeal to some people.

They’re available now priced at $34 for the earphones and around $25 for the headband.

[Found via Gearlog]

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GotFrag have reviewed the Everglide s-500 Gaming Headphones and, apart from a few problems, they seem great for gaming.

The $100 s-500 are circumaural headphones designed to encompass your entire ear while gaming. They also come with a microphone which connects to the cable for the inevitable in-game trashing talking. Luckily, GotFrag found these headphones very comfortable, a must for long-term game playing.

GotFrag were also impressed by the overall sound quality of these headphones, but unfortunately the bass was disappointing. In-gaming they found the bass flat.

“AWP shots sounded uninspired when compared to the Icemat Siberia headphones that I was using beforehand. Grenade explosions lacked that depth in tone that I had grown accustomed to on the Siberias.”

Overall, GotFrag seem impressed by these earphones but in giving them 8.1 out of 10, find them lacking when compared to some cheaper alternatives.

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I-O Data have joined the Bluetooth headphone revolution by releasing their wiREVO line, initially featuring two different types of headphones.

Firstly the WRH-S30B (and it’s white cousin, the WRH-S30W, pictured) are over-the-ear headphones for a more sporty use. I-O Data have managed to make these phones smaller than most Bluetooth headsets by incorporating the Bluetooth technology in a small in-cable box. Both of these headphones are available for $99 and can be used with most Bluetooth MP3 players and mobile phones.

Secondly, I-O Data have released a set of Bluetooth earbuds, the WRH-H20B (WRH-H20W for the white version). Again, the Bluetooth technology is incorporated in the cable, this time in a pendant designed to be worn around the neck. Luckily it’s not too ugly but does still look a bit Star Treky. These earphones are available for $110.

Both models feature 24-bit stereo sound, an in-built microphone and are Bluetooth 2.0 compatible.

[Found via Engadget]

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CNET have got a great list of 4 earbuds that are available for under $100. For me, $100 is pretty much the maximum price most people will stretch to for a pair of earbuds so the article is really interesting.

First up is the bass heavy V-Moda Bass Freq headphones. Living up to their name, these headphones can output 122dB at 20Hz - enough to make any head explode. These have been rated at 8 out of 10 by CNET and at $50 represent a great buy.

Next up is the $100 Etymotic ER-6 Isolator. These were also awarded an 8 out of 10 by CNET and you get excellent sound and noise-isolation for your extra money.

Thirdly they have the Ultimate Ears Super.fi 3 Studio which although not quite as highly rated as the V-Moda and Etymotic ‘phones they do offer good sound quality for your $100.

Finally, CNET recommend the Shure E2c. Again costing $100 these are the lowest rated headphones in the round-up but were still awarded a very good 7.5 out of 10. Although the sound is excellent, the fit of these unusally shaped earphones seem to lose them marks.

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CNET have posted a review of the recently released Razer Barracuda HP-1 Gaming Headphones and if gaming’s your thing, CNET reckon you’ll struggle to find better.

These headphones are specially designed to interface with Razer’s soon to be released AC-1 sound card but will work with any other sound card using a supplied adapter.

The reviewer was impressed by the comfort of these ‘phones - particularly important in gaming where an intense game of Doom 3 could last hours.

Also impressive was the gaming sound quality, offering excellent bass. Unfortunately, the non-gaming performance appears to let these headphones down with music being particularly poor.

Although CNET still gave these headphones a good 7.1 out of 10, it really looks like they’re at their best for playing games but a pretty poor choice for those looking for an all-round performer.

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Sick of being mugged for your iPod? Well fear no more for a young inventor has created a set of invisible headphones for your favorite music device.

Well, nearly.

What you’ll actually get is a small, wireless, bone-conducting speaker that you place under your hat. Making the system practically invisible to would-be thieves. Apart from the hat.

I await the forthcoming trend of hat-related muggings…

[Found via 24Dash.com]

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