Headphone News

It’s been a while since I last reported on a pair of DIY headphones but I though this design from Adam Zhang was too good to miss.

It’s actually a fairly simple design with the iPod Shuffle attached directly to the headband of a pair of Audio-Technica ATH-F55’s. Despite it’s simplicity, the Shuffle almost looks like it belongs on the headphones.

Apart from the duct tape, of course!

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Just in time for winter, and the Christmas gift season, Lobz have released a pair of ear warmers with built in headphones, the Lobz Audio Ear Warmers.

Incorporating Gore’s excellent Windstopper fabric, these stereo headphones should keep your ears warm no matter what the weather. Buy them now in brown or pink for only $30.

[Found via Gizmodo]

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Just in case last weeks clip-on earbud/earring hybrid wasn’t crazy enough, N.Tech have gone one better by announcing two new bone-conducting headphones.

The NVP100 and NVP200 aren’t the first set of bone conducting headphones I’ve came across but they are the most purple. If you can get over the looks and are actually interested in using these, they work by vibrating the sound straight into your auditory nerve via the skull. Surely that should be enough to put anyone off?

Once again, I doubt these will see the light outside of Korea.

[Found via Engadget]

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No, you haven’t misread the headline, these Bluetooth headphones actually clip onto your earbuds just like earrings. Oh, and if that wasn’t weird enough, they also vibrate.

These aren’t the first vibrating earphones I’ve seen but I have to say, these seem even more pointless than the RWC iTan ITN-VR10 that confused me back in June. According to the manufacturers the clip on design will “prevent possible auditory disease” which is good. Of course, they’ll sound rubbish, which isn’t so good.

At the moment, these earbuds are for the Korean market only - expect them to stay there.

[Found via Engadget]

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It’s been around two days since our last wacky headphone replacement but Japanese company Bird-Electron haven’t disappointed with their peanut shaped speaker, the EZ16-O.

Although this one looks really pointless, it’s actually quite clever. Since it’s made of leather it can either be used as a bookmark or, my favorite, for soothing yourself to sleep. Mind you, I’m not sure I’d be willing to pay the $50 asking price for it.

[Found via Brandish]

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Not exactly a pair of headphones but I thought I would mention the new Oakley THUMP PRO music sunglasses.

I have to admit, the idea of a pair of MP3 playing sunglasses doesn’t really appeal to me, especially given my uncanny ability to sit on any sunglasses brought within a 20 yard radius of my position.

However, if these are your style then they are available with 256MB, 512MB and 1GB capacities for $249, $299 and $349 respectively. Playing MP3’s and WMA’s the Oakley’s offer a measly 6 hours of play time on a single charge.

I assume there’s also some special sunglasses technology involved in these as well but, to be honest, I don’t really care.

[Found via Engadget]

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Just to late for my post on weird headphones comes a set of wooden earphones, the OBO Pro2 EH W112.

I’m not really too sure what advantage earbuds made of wood would have. All I can think about is how painful ear splinters would be.

[Found via Aving.net]

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Here’s a variation on the headphones theme, a teddy bear with built in speakers. DJ Bear has speakers embedded into both of his feet so you can listen to your favorite Christmas songs while cuddling your favorite Christmas present. Bliss.

Available now from Janlynn.com for $39.99.

[Found via Webuser]

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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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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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