Custom Earphone

Take the Most Fashionable Earphone to Enhance Your Own Hearing

2010-08-29T05:20:00.000-07:00

New music connoisseurs, are you tired of employing ear buds that don’t work after a couple of several hours of use or simply that limit that you a single spot? Contemplate buying Hennheiser Wireless earphone, a computer device that means that you can use your own earphones and never having to be in just one place.

These headphones include a 900 MHz wireless transmitter that will relay signs both by way of rooms in addition to as a result of walls along with ceilings.

Not only are you cost-free simply to walk all-around your home even though experiencing and enjoying the same good quality of audio, you can also head outdoors with all these earphone without disruption.

Will you be bothered the TV will wake those all-around you late at night? You should utilize your Sennheiser Wireless Ear buds to view your own favorite indicates in private, without troubling every person else.

Additionally you need not be concerned about avoidable noise using this device: it makes no sound regardless of whether the transmitter shuts down on its own.

You can see minimal interference even though employing most of these headsets, regardless if many giving off devices are in range, including computers. Take pleasure in the comfy, soft ear pads and light-weight design, each wiping out ear strain even right after long use.

You’ll not be concerned if a form of your Sennheiser Wireless Ear buds sooner or later breaks; you should toss the whole earphone. Really feel the freedom to exchange only the thing you need, as opposed to other earphones on the market.

These kinds of headphones are as opposed to any others out there. Knowledge the joys of high-quality sound anyplace in and around your house in the price are able to afford.

The only issue you may have when using the Sennheiser Wireless earphone is you should use them regularly; you may find complications employing them next occasion.

Determined music-lovers really should encounter no complications even though enjoying their new music from the yard, within the garden, or simply anywhere inside the house–all without the headache of wires

Custom In-Ear Monitors

Listen up: hearing aids go high-tech New-generation earpiece is ready. Sonomax develops self-fitting device that is expected to yield revenue by end

2010-08-28T06:48:00.000-07:00

It's been a long battle for Montreal entrepreneurs Nick Laperle and Adam Schwartz, co-founders of Sonomax Technologies Inc., trying to crack the consumer market with their hearing protection devices.

Now, Sonomax has made a breakthrough with the launch of a new-generation self-fitting earpiece, the V4, that can be fitted in four minutes. It is being test-marketed and is attracting international attention.

Though the V4 is aimed primarily at the elusive consumer market, it will also be sold to industrial, military, emergency and medical markets.

It should start yielding licensing and royalty revenue by the end of the year, CEO Laperle said. Sonomax has just licensed Racal Esterline Acoustics, a specialist in military audio equipment, to integrate the V4 technology into its own products.

But Sonomax's ambitions go further. It has invested $735,000 in a five-year research partnership to develop a "bionic ear" with Ecole de technologie superieure (ETS) in Montreal, the engineering school affiliated with Universite du Quebec. The program, costing $4 million to $5 million, is backed by federal and provincial agencies, and ETS.

"That'll be the summum for a world getting hungrier for noise reduction," Laperle said. "The bionic ear, based on our electro-acoustical technology, will combine hearing aid, hearing protection, cellphone and music player for an age when everyone has a smartphone."

About 100 million workers in mining, manufacturing, aerospace and transportation are exposed to hearing loss because of excessive noise, but the problem does not stop there. A new U.S. study shows one in five American adolescents face hearing loss because of heavy use of electronic earbuds for listening to music.

The 12-year-old Sonomax, formerly Sonomax Hearing Healthcare Inc., established its basic hearing protection technology several years ago in the mining and industrial markets, selling earpieces to companies such as Alcan and BHP Billiton.

But efforts to reach the mass consumer market were stymied because a trained technician had to ensure a perfect in-ear fit. This raised costs and met consumer resistance.

Last year, Sonomax was restructured as a product development and licensing company, with an infusion of new capital. It sold its manufacturing assets, cut staff and completed the V4 "Soundcage" self-fitting earpiece.

"The customer can fit the V4 in four minutes," Laperle said. "Consumers will buy the earpiece in a box at a retail store, just like a cellphone. The key is the perfect fit that keeps out all unwanted noise."

The earplug is inserted in the ear and then injected with silicone from a headband to fit the ear canal's exact contour.

The inside earpiece containing the software is then added and the headband discarded.

"You press the headband's magic button to release the silicone," Laperle added. "The earpieces are ideal for earphone and Bluetooth devices."

There is competition out there, but the V4 offers superior value and performance besides simplicity, he said. "We want to set the industry standard for all in-ear products with a device that competes at the premium end of the consumer market."

The V4 helps those who like to listen to music while running or at the gym, and find it annoying when the earbud falls out, one analyst said after trying the earpiece.

Laperle said Sonomax hopes to conclude several manufacturing and distribution deals before the consumer market rollout by year-end.

The ETS partnership, aimed at developing advanced products for the "bionic ear," will let Sonomax outsource costly and time-consuming activities to ETS and its highly qualified research team.

It will be led by Jeremie Voix, an expert in acoustical filtering and digital signal processing. He is a former head of technology at Sonomax and helped to develop its industrial products. Sonomax staffers are already working with ETS researchers.

"People are often embarrassed wearing a hearing aid, but the bionic ear will be like a piece of jewellery, using miniaturization and other high-tech advances," said Laperle, a lawyer by training whose family ran a hearing-aid business.

"The first product will be a smart earphone in 2011. Our goal is an earpiece that gives people perfect control of the sound environment ... my original dream come true."

Custom In-Ear Monitors

iPod Earphone Alternatives for your Workout – Exercise Time

2010-08-25T00:58:00.000-07:00

I don't know аbουt уου bυt whеn I аm working out I hаνе a lot οf trουbƖе keeping mу earphones іn рƖасе. Aѕ I sweat аnԁ bounce around, mу earphones fall out οf mу ear. Thіѕ іѕ ԁеfіnіtеƖу nοt ɡοοԁ οn a treadmill. Especially іf уου аrе οn a serious incline. I аƖѕο hаνе trουbƖе hearing mу audiobooks whеn thе gym іѕ crowded аnԁ thе club radio іѕ blasting. іf уου υѕе уουr iPod οr mp3/music player a lot, іt's worth thе investment tο replace those horrible headphones wіth something a ƖіttƖе more upscale.

Wіth thеѕе issues facing mе, I ԁесіԁеԁ tο look іntο ѕοmе ɡοοԁ earphones. Whаt I learned wаѕ quite educational. I hаԁ a chance tο learn аbουt cancellation аnԁ isolation technology. I learned аbουt thе technology аnԁ two οf thе best isolation earphone manufacturers: Shure аnԁ Etymotic Research. Thе paragraphs thаt follow communicate whаt I learned.

Pro-level sound isolating earphones wеrе developed аѕ tο allow musicians tο hear thеіr οwn music іn loud onstage environments. Sound isolating earphones work bу using soft, supple sleeves tο block background noise, allowing small speakers tο deliver precise sound directly tο thе ear.

Sound isolation allows уου tο hear greater detail аt a lower level thаn іѕ possible wіth mοѕt headphones οr earphones intended fοr portable υѕе. Thе isolation earphones I reviewed hаνе one more redeeming factor: thеу аrе ɡrеаt fοr exercise аnԁ workouts. Thе isolation earphones usually sport both foam аnԁ silicone covers tο secure thе earphones іn уουr ear.

Custom In-Ear Monitors

Voice Recorder Bone

2010-08-24T00:29:00.000-07:00

So you’ve got a voice recorder in your phone you say? So you’ve got one in your MP3 player, yes? Well they’re the worst! When it comes time to integrate, one of the greatest parts of industrial design quite often I must say, there are occasionally concessions that must be made. Designer Dror Goldblum knows this, and in order to save the ever-important voice recorder device from crap-level quality forever, he created this bone!

Goldblum’s voice recorder does the two things every standalone voice recorder should do – record and play sound. It also does the relatively newly important bit, connecting to a computer through USB to transfer the recorded sound files it picked up. It’s got an earphone jack, an optical volume interface, and does a fabulous little flick of the wrist activation sort of deal, exposing and activating the mic as you do so.

Once it’s on, it can stand alone on the table in a sassy little arch while you gaze into the eyes of your professor Dr. Jones.

Designer: Dror Goldblum

Custom In-Ear Monitors

Good Method to Choose Headphones

2010-08-23T05:33:00.000-07:00

As a music lover, daily life is inextricably linked with the headphones, the author sums up some optimization tips for your headphones. Some are easy to do, others need some operations on your headphone, which all depends on you. What attention is, if you modified your earphone, you have lost its maintenance.scale models Govern of the Day

Break-in the headphones: a pair of new headphones often lacks the bass and the voice is harsh and lack of focus, it is because the electro-acoustic characteristics of drive unit without stability. So it is strongly recommended that before you start to listen, burn with the bass music in continuous 24 to 48 hours. First using a relatively low volume listen for a few hours, and then re-use the medium-volume for a few hours, after that use the large-volume for the remaining time. Break-in earphones can improve the mechanical character of suspension system in drive units, and can tighten the coils. For these earphones, this change is tremendous.Top 10 Crafts for New Year’s Eve

The earphone wears the position : This very easy to do, but did you try to adjust your earphone’s optimum position? To many earphones, the sound field and sound balanced is very intensely decided by the earphone driving unit position. 5 Fabulous Tips for LED signal lights Scentific researches discover, the feeling towards depth can be enhanced when the location that the gate of antrum auris opposites to the drive unit moves downwards.

Impedance Optimization: the headphone amplifier output is usually directly connected to the speaker output. In order to avoid damage to the headset and amplifier, in series there is resistors. The resistance is usually between 200 Au and 600 Au. On the other hand, radio and CD machines headphone output are usually driven by chips. They have a much lower output impedance (less than 50 EU). Generally, the impedance of the earphone is highest at low frequency. For most of the earphones, increasing the output of the impedance can make the sound more dim and mix. Therefore, if the sound of your earphones are harsh and sharp, you can consider to amplify the effective output impedance of the jack. The easiest way is to add a converter between earphone and its jack.

Acoustics and mechanical damping : Except the very good design earphone,he majority enclosed earphones have a heavier sound compared to heirs open style earphone to dye. Particularly cheap headphones usually do not have any sound-absorbing damping material, so put a small piece of sponge into the headphone shells where the attenuation of sound waves can be declined very effectively.

Change the wires: have you compare the diameter structure of your earphone wires and those real high quality wires? If you have, were you doubtful of the sound properties of your earphone wires? Headphone cable is generally intended to comfort (weight, mechanical strength, flexibility, not to transmit mechanical noise). Typically, these lines of pure sound quality is very poor. Of course, comfort is the first, if you do not care about comfort, it still has a great returns for change line. These techniques are certainly not complete, and don`t guarantee to surly improve the sound quality. But it is still worthy of trying.

New Stereo Headset Hands-free Earphone with build-in Microphone for Apple iPhone – Compatible with iPod Touch, iPod Classic, iPod Nano 3G 2G 1G, iPod

2010-08-22T04:44:00.000-07:00

Brand New stereo headset for Apple iPhone
Superior sound quality and fashion and stylish design
Perfect match iPhone 3.5mm headphone jacket, also compatible normal 3.5mm audio jacket
Build-in Microphone for handsfree conversions
Answer and send button let user switch between music function and phone function
The 3.5mm Plug of iPhone is different with the normal 3.5mm Audio output Plug, this stereo headset is compatible with iPhone and any device with a standard 3.5mm jacket: include iPod Touch, iPod Classic, iPod Nano and iPod Shuffle and more.

Custom In-Ear Monitors

Don’t Mistake Teknines 9 MM Earphones For Bullets

2010-08-21T05:21:00.000-07:00

The Teknines SIFR 500 18k, the most talked about creation of the MUNITIO, are the first ever earphones of its type that measures only nine millimeters.

Sporting a brilliant new design and concept and featuring some of the best specifications, these earphones have been able to create much sensation and interest among the spectators. Whether you name it as the features packed in these earphones or the gold plated external look, these nine-millimeter earphones surpasses most of its contemporaries in terms of usability. Priced at $250, the SIFR 500 18K earphones are high in demand these days as these are quite limited edition.

If we speak about the external look of these 9mm earphones first, then the must notice factor would be its smooth design enriched and plated with 18k gold. Apart from the golden dazzle, the earphones come with a trendy and soft leatherette case as well. To ensure the originality of the product, it has been authenticated with MUNITIO’s sealed codes too.

Among the number of specifications sported by the Teknines SIFR 500 18k earphones, the must-naming ones from its functions are the copper-alloyed housing, the BassEnhancingChamber for great and crisp sound delivery without any distortions and damage, neodymium magnets attached with the 9mm speaker drivers for access to dynamic range and AccousticSoundFlowSystem for staying light and painless on your ears. There are more additional specifications of the earphones. Every single feature ensures easy handling and world-class delivery of smooth performance.

It is because the earphone has support for a frequency level of 12Hz-22kHz and a sensitivity of 98db +/- 3db at 1kHz, you can plug it to your walkman to enjoy scratch-free and smooth sound quality. But users of this earphone who want better sound delivery with better performance can also get the 24k Gold plated 3.5mm stereo plugs. The role of the SiliconeHollowPoints technology paired with the noise isolating specialty too is undeniable that made the earphones stood upon the expectations of the buyers and users. With a support for a maximum input power of 10mW, these will go well and are compatible with most of the Mp3 and PDA devices.

In addition to the features packed in these, it is the 18K gold plate design too that has raised the standard of these earphones to a great level. A great thing to flaunt your style and choice, the SIFR 500 18K Limited Edition earphones can be more likely your status-symbol as well.

Custom In-Ear Monitors

JLJ's executive chairman steps down amid Apple suit

2010-08-21T05:19:00.000-07:00

SINGAPORE : Singapore-listed JLJ Holdings said its Executive Chairman Chua Kim Guan has voluntarily relinquished all executive duties in the company for the time being.

The firm said the move will facilitate the impartial review of all activities relating to a lawsuit brought on by tech giant Apple that may involve the company and its subsidiaries.

This followed the indictment of Paul Devine, a global supply manager from tech giant Apple.

Mr Devine has been charged with receiving bribes from six Asian suppliers in exchange for confidential information about the US company's product roadmap and sales forecast.

The lawsuit also named Andrew Ang, a former assistant general manager of JLJ Holding's unit, Jin Li Mould Manufacturing.

Mr Ang is the brother-in-law of Mr Chua.

The firm said it has embarked on a thorough and objective review of the situation which is being undertaken by an independent legal advisor appointed by the company.

But for now, it expects operations to continue as usual.

Shares of the Singapore firm have fallen 18 percent since the news of the investigation broke and on Thursday it requested a suspension in the trading of its shares.

Other Asian firms named in the lawsuit include a unit of Taiwan's Asustek and South Korean custom earphone and headset maker Cresyn. - CNA/ch

Custom In-Ear Monitors

Turn On (MP3s), Tune In and Ride

2010-08-19T21:17:00.000-07:00

BIKE riders in New York have a secret, a communal understanding about the pleasures of navigating the urban landscape, flowing through traffic and observing the city in a way that pedestrians and drivers can’t. That secret is often expressed in a smile or a nod to another rider while passing on a bridge or stopped at a light, a conspiratorial acknowledgment of a shared moment with strangers in a city that can seem impervious to them.

Now there is a new piece of interactive theater to take advantage of that feeling. Joyride is a group bike ride with a shared route and a common soundtrack. Riders equipped with MP3 players and headphones set off from the same point, pushing “play” simultaneously. They travel individually or in a pack, but each knows what the others are hearing. Gliding through the city on two wheels can already feel like being in a long tracking shot in a very personal movie, especially if you do it while listening to music. Joyride gives that experience an added dimension — an audience of participants.

“I like riding my bike and listening to music, and I thought it would be great to do that with other people,” said Liz Sherman, the theater director who came up with the project. “I thought it would be theatrical without needing to have a narrative or actors.” The sights and scenes of the city — what Ms. Sherman called “the ephemeral of the everyday” — provide the set, and sometimes the drama.

Joyrides have proved a natural match for Summer Streets, the city program that shuts Park Avenue and connecting streets to car traffic, from the Brooklyn Bridge to Central Park, mitigating the potential danger of riding while listening to music. (Legally, riders are supposed to wear only one custom earphone.) Ms. Sherman limits participation to 50 people; most spots for the ride on Saturday, the last day of Summer Streets, are spoken for, but there are cancellations, and she reserves 15 places for people who e-mail her through joyrideo.com with a good argument about why they should be let in. (Hint: mentioning the avant-garde French director Ariane Mnouchkine of Théâtre du Soleil, whose work inspired Ms. Sherman, doesn’t hurt.)

There’s more to Joyride than just a leisurely bike ride, though. There’s a picnic in Central Park, complete with checkerboard tablecloths spread on the grass, bouquets of flowers and a menu of lobster rolls and fresh corn salad, courtesy of Jane Park, a friend of Ms. Sherman who is also a chef. Ms. Sherman said it was integral to her vision to have all the participants meet. “Jane and I talk about it as the second act,” she said. “If everyone just rode and listened and then drifted away, it wouldn’t be right.” (Thanks to sponsorships and donations, Joyride is free.)

And there is the soundtrack, supplied by Duncan Bridgeman, a composer responsible for “1 Giant Leap,” a multimedia project in which artists from around the world build on the same pieces of music. Ms. Sherman and Mr. Bridgeman choreographed the Joyride soundtrack to match the surroundings, “depending on where we were during the ride,” she said, adding that at times “we wanted something that was more expansive or something that was more internal or something that had a great vibe, or something whispered in your ear.” The finale includes a bit of dialogue spoken by the yogi Bhagavan Das that, when timed right, proved powerful to some listeners. (No oms, or spoilers, here.)

Last week’s ride drew an assortment of New Yorkers, a few out-of-towners and a parrot, Raymond. “She hangs on with one foot on my collar, and holds onto my ear if it gets rough,” said Jan Peterson, 55, who nimbly rode with the bird on his shoulder.

David La, 31, who lives on the Upper West Side, did the ride as a tribute to the friend who got him into biking and died this year. “I loved it,” Mr. La said. “You would see some people bobbing their heads or sort of dancing on their bikes, and you knew exactly what beat they were listening to,” like “50 mobile clubs listening to the same D.J.”

Natalie Brill, 25, a nurse who is new to New York, participated after riding the Summer Streets route by herself the week before. “It was a much fuller experience,” she said. “You really connected with people, even though you weren’t talking. And I loved riding with that parrot.”

Ms. Sherman, who did a workshop for Joyride on Governors Island last year, is now hoping to take it to other cities — San Francisco has been discussed, and she dreams of Paris in the fall, for its Nuit Blanche festival. As a performance, she still considers it a work in progress.

But as an experience, most bikers thought Joyride delivered.

“It was probably the best bike ride I’ve ever had,” said Beverly Karabin, 51, a nurse practitioner and regular cyclist — she was decked out in Spandex — visiting from Toledo, Ohio, on her first trip to New York.

Caroline Park, 25, a tattooed Brooklyn bartender and daily rider, said she bike-danced “awkwardly” during the ride. But she gave it even higher praise. “I’m usually really, really aggressive and generally really upset at the world and New York traffic,” she said, “and I didn’t think about that at all.”

Custom In-Ear Monitors

Plug in to keep the noise out

2010-08-18T22:21:00.000-07:00

Noise-isolating custom earphones are something that we just had to try on. And believe us, it only takes a few seconds of listening to these — the very best in class audio-phones — to dump all fears of any discomfort of having a pair of earphones inside your ears. The biggest reason? These custom earphones also jam out external noise to deliver a distinctly better sound.

Creative Aurvana In-Ear 2
Price: Rs 5,999

The Aurvana In-Ear 2s are noise isolation custom earphones and easily fit into your ears, blocking out all background noise. These earbuds impressed us with the sound quality and are most certainly a step-up from budget earphones that come bundled along with phones and MP3 players.

Two sets of differently-sized ear-plugs are included to ensure you get the best fit and, therefore, the best possible noise isolation.

Upgrading from a cheap set of earphones used with a portable MP3 player (that plays an already compressed music file, reducing much of the sound range), you will notice how the extra cash you pay for Creative Aurvana pair pays off. You can really hear every little detail. In fact, even enjoying a favourite piece of music that you may have heard a thousand times before will be a new experience, as the custom earphones underline the subtle reverb, echo and tonal ranges. The overall satisfaction is worth paying the price for.

Klipsch Custom-3
Price: Rs 8,400

Listening with Klipsch Custom-3 in-ear custom earphones is a different experience from listening to speakers or full-size over-the-ear headphones. But the fact that the sound is being funnelled directly into your ears simply brings out small details in music that you didn’t know existed.

Klipsch uses oval silicon ear gels that match the shape of the human ear canal better than round inserts. The result is an extraordinarily snug and comfortable fit and comfortable isolation that improves bass and reduces ambient noise.

Besides enabling you to listen at lower volumes even in loud environments, the bendable, over-the-ear wire clips help in holding the earbuds securely in place. The included accessories are generous — three sets of different-sized ear gels, an airplane adapter, a quarter-inch adapter and a carrying case that can accommodate an iPod.

If you don’t mind paying the price of an iPod to own this pair, then this extremely comfortable design that Klipsch has created should make a compelling package for you.

Etymotic ER-4S
Price: Rs 7,900 (approximately)

The Etymotic ER-4S custom earphones are unlike any other custom headphone you would have ever experienced. These audio-buds fit tightly inside your ear canals. The result – if the ear-tips are properly seated in the canal, creating a tight seal – is a profound bass effect, direct and distortion-less response and phenomenal isolation from environmental noise. Your reaction to the Etymotics will very likely hinge upon how tolerant you are of putting something deep into your ear, with the eardrums being just millimetres away (see pic of the plugs!).

Best used with good-sounding devices like iPods and any music-dedicated phones with a 3.5mm jack, Etymotic ER-4S comes with a 0.25-inch stereo phone adapter plug.

The Etymotic ER-4S will deliver a sound that is more, well, real. They deserve to be included on your short list.

Custom In-Ear Monitors

Survey Says Cell Phone Users Are Serious About Safety

2010-08-18T22:05:00.000-07:00

A study by the Consumer Electronics Association (CEA) finds that most drivers who use cell phones consider safety their top priority in the car. Twenty-two percent of drivers with cell phones never use their phones while driving, while others only use them with devices like a built-in speakerphone, wireless Bluetooth headset, or a wired custom earphone or headset.

According to CEA, the typical American spends about 2 1/3 hours per day in a vehicle, amounting to roughly 16.5 hours per week.

The organization says in-car technology has contributed to significant improvements in safety and comfort in the car, while helping to reduce distractions.

Computer Fair digital craze in full swing

2010-08-18T21:56:00.000-07:00

Electronic buffs in Hong Kong came out in force to grab bargains on the opening day of the Computer Fair at Sham Shui Po.

With stalls offering up to 90 percent discounts to the first 360 buyers, a queue of more than 300 was in place outside the four participating malls at 8.30am yesterday - three hours before the fair opened. About 80 had been in line since 6.30am.

With more than 600 booths, the eight-day event is expected to attract 600,000 visitors - about 10 percent more than the January fair.

Among the bargains were Philips speakers at prices slashed from HK$299 to HK$29 each - which were snapped up within 10 minutes.

Other sought-after bargains were Philips custom headphones for HK$1, Kingston 4G memory sticks (HK$29) and BenQ 19" LED monitors (HK$599).

Tsang Yick-chui, 48, snagged two BenQ monitors. He and his family of three had set off from Sheung Shui around 8am.

"The prices are too attractive, although the monitor we have at home is still in good order," said Tsang, who just missed getting his hands on a Gigabyte notebook at HK$700 off.

Eighteen-year-old Kwong was thrilled to have bought a Philips custom earphone kit for HK$1, after being the 140th person in the queue before 8am.

Capital Computer Centre salesman Lau Tak- cheung said each customer spent an average of HK$2,000 in his shop, with its HK$1,899 notebooks proving very popular with students.

Primary school teacher Law Yuen-wan, 28, said she was looking to spend up to HK$800 on branded custom earphones for her boyfriend. However, she personally prefers to spend on education.

The annual computer carnival is hosted by the Hong Kong Computer Association.

It comes two days ahead of the Computer and Communication Festival, staged by the Chamber of Hong Kong Computer Industry.

Association vice chairman Lui Kin-chong said too many computer festivals will harm the interests of smaller merchants.

"Earphone" Merusak Pendengaran

2010-08-18T00:03:00.000-07:00

Bila Anda termasuk orang yang hobi mendengarkan musik lewat earphone, maka sebaiknya perhatikan volume pemutar musik Anda. Pasalnya, suara bising dari pemutar musik secara berangsur-angsur akan menurunkan kualitas pendengaran Anda.

Hal tersebut secara nyata terbukti pada para remaja di Amerika Serikat. Survei terbaru menunjukkan, 1 dari 5 remaja di sana mengalami gangguan pendengaran. Kebiasaan mendengarkan musik dari pemutar digital dengan volume keras dituding menjadi penyebabnya.

Penelitian yang dilakukan para ahli dari Harvard itu menunjukkan prevalensi gangguan pendengaran meningkat dari 15 persen pada tahun 1988-1994 menjadi 19,5 persen pada survei tahun 2005-2006.

Mayoritas gangguan pendengaran termasuk "ringan", yaitu ketidakmampuan mendengar suara pada desibel 16-24 atau suara setara bisikan atau gemerisik daun. Namun, gangguan pendengaran ini secara berangsur bisa memburuk.

"Gangguan pendengaran ringan ini masih memungkinkan mereka untuk mendengar suara vokal dengan jelas. Namun, mungkin ada sebagaian suara konsonan yang kurang begitu jelas, misalnya huruf-huruf T, K, dan S," kata dr Gary Curhan, salah satu peneliti.

Walaupun para peneliti tidak secara khusus menuding iPod sebagai biang keladi, peningkatan jumlah penderita gangguan pendengaran pada frekuensi tinggi terus meningkat. Penelitian terbaru di Australia juga menunjukkan hasil yang tak jauh beda.

"Dalam jangka panjang, kebiasaan mendengarkan musik dari player dengan volume keras memang bisa mengganggu pendengaran, tapi bukan berarti anak-anak tidak boleh menggunakan MP3 player," kata Curhan.

MEElectronics Supports The Troops with M9 In-Ear Headphone Donation

2010-08-17T00:39:00.000-07:00

In support of overseas US troops, MEElectronics, manufacture of custom earphones with high-quality sound at affordable prices, is donating one M9 custom earphone for every special edition commemorative M9 purchased.
August 16, 2010 - Walnut, Calif. — In support of overseas US troops, MEElectronics, manufacture of custom earphones with high-quality sound at affordable prices, is donating one M9 earphone for every special edition commemorative M9 purchased.

MEElectronics would like to recognize the American Service Members for their sacrifices and hardships endured in serving our country. The special edition commemorative M9 ($24.99 shipped within the US) is available in limited quantities at www.meelec.com. MEE is partnering with Operation Gratitude for distribution of the donated M9s, which will be distributed at the end of October. Operation Gratitude has delivered almost 560,000 care packages to date.

In an effort to determine the best affordable custom earphone and accessories for service men and women overseas, MEElectronics polled several people that served overseas. The consensus was the M9 would be great because of its award-winning sound, extreme durability and accessories, which include a clamshell case, extra ear tips, and wire organizer - perfect for conditions overseas. Many service members use iPods and other MP3 players regularly and upgraded custom headphones are always welcome and useful. The included clamshell case and wire organizer are great for keeping custom earphones protected. The M9 also comes standard with 5 sets of ear tips vs. 3 or fewer with most other custom earphones, so even if an ear tip is lost, the M9 is still usable.

About Operation Gratitude
Tens of thousands of American Service Members are deployed in hostile and remote regions of the world, including the Middle East, Afghanistan, and on ships throughout international waters. The physical conditions they must endure are difficult and they may be separated from loved ones for long periods of time.

Operation Gratitude seeks to lift morale and put smiles on faces by sending care packages addressed to individual Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen and Marines deployed overseas. Operation Gratitude care packages contain food, hygiene products, entertainment items and personal letters of appreciation, all wrapped with good wishes of love and support.

Through Collection Drives, Letter Writing Campaigns and Donations of funds for shipping expenses, Operation Gratitude provides civilians anywhere in America a way to express their respect and appreciation to the men and women of the U.S. Military in an active, hands-on manner.

Operation Gratitude is a 501(c)(3) non-profit, volunteer-based corporation, funded entirely by private donations. For safety and security, the assembling of all packages occurs at the Army National Guard Armory in Van Nuys, California.

About MEElectronics
MEElectronics was born from a passion for music and desire to bring exceptional sound and value to the mass audio market. Starting with portable media players, the lineup quickly grew to include earphones designed to provide the best sound at the price and later expanding to include value priced accessories. MEE has made a name for itself in audio enthusiasts communities, with reviewers, and in the hearts and minds of consumers due to the sound quality usually only found in custom earphones that cost many times more. While sound quality is paramount for MEE earphones, durability and style are also designed in as well as best in class accessories.

Those who know MEElectronics know serving the customer is extremely important to us, as we provide fast, friendly service. Customers are MEElectronics’ biggest asset and feedback is greatly appreciated; we welcome comments and questions. You can help MEE grow and continue to offer value products by recommending us to others and posting online reviews that share your MEE story of value, sound quality, and customer service.

For more information, contact Joe Daileda at joe@meelec.com or visit our website at www.meelec.com.

About MEElectronics:
Manufacturers of in-ear headphones with exceptional sound quality at reasonable prices and accessories offering exceptional value.

Company Contact Information
MEElectronics
Joe Daileda
20746 Carrey Rd
91789
Phone : 909-958-1008

Ultimate Ears Loud Enough 3.5 mm iPhone Earphones for Children

2010-08-13T00:59:00.000-07:00

The Ultimate Ears Loud Enough earphones have a great design meant specifically for children who like to listen to music. A great feature of the earphones which makes listening to music better is the noise-isolation. This feature stops the unnecessary noise out of the ears and allows the child to listen unadulterated and uninterrupted music. The level to which it stops unnecessary noise is -26dB. It also allows excellent quality of music for the child with crisp high and mid tones. The earphone is equipped with built in volume control that controls the up to 40% of the volume.

They are light in weight and have been designed ergonomically. There are 3 ear cushions made from Silicone and sized differently for all kinds of ear sizes. The set also consists of two foam ear cushions from Comply. It also has a hard case to protect it from jerks and moisture if the child needs to travel at any point of time. It can be used with mp3 players, laptops and iPods as it is equipped with 3.5 mm standard jack which allows the connection between the two devices.

The ear phones can be used for children from the age of 6 to the age of 13. The sound level protection is built in. It also works well with the DVD systems installed in the car. It is compatible with the portable games too! The ear phones are safe and comfortable for use by children.

Audio Precision Takes the Headache Out of Earphone Testing

2010-08-11T22:43:00.000-07:00

Audio Precision, the recognized standard in audio test and measurement, has today produced a software utility that automates testing of headphones and earphones used with portable audio players. The utility, which runs exclusively on Audio Precision's APx Series analyzers, automates the measurements required by British Standard / European Norm 50332 Parts 1 and 2.

The accompanying new AP Technote "Measuring the Sound Pressure Level of Portable Audio Player Headphones with APx Audio Analyzers" describes in detail how to use the utility to conduct the tests specified in the standard.

According to Audio Precision distributor Man Li of AP Technology in China, the new utility and its accompanying Technote will save manufacturers hundreds of hours of development time and "reduce the possibility of costly mistakes in their testing programs."

The standard requires a special Program Simulation Noise test signal and a test fixture known as a Head and Torso Simulator (HATS). Sound pressure levels measured in the ear simulators of the HATS must be corrected to free field response and then A-weighted and averaged.

"The calculations needed to derive the results required by the standard are too complex for the typical user to do manually," says Joe Begin, head of AP's Technical Support. "And the Program Simulation Noise signal would also be a challenge for customers. We used Matlab(TM) to create the signal in the digital domain. The utility bundles that in and takes care of all the necessary calculations."

The automated software utility was written for users of APx Series audio analyzers. APx is a next-generation platform with several models including the high performance APx525, the multichannel APx585 and the low cost APx515 optimized for production test. All APx models use the same software and feature one-click automation, award-winning UI, and automated reporting. Each APx analyzer comes with an ISO:17025 Accredited Calibration and three year warranty, so results are trusted everywhere.

The Technote can be downloaded at no charge from AP's website http://ap.com/download/technotes.

For this Technote, AP used a KEMAR Manikin Type 45BA Head and Torso Simulator provided courtesy of G.R.A.S. Sound and Vibration.

About BS EN 50332

The British Standard / European Norm (BS EN) 50332 standard is intended to protect users of portable audio devices from exposure to excessive sound levels, and has been adopted by the 31 European CENELEC (European Committee for Electrotechnical Standardization) member countries.

About Audio Precision

Audio Precision is the recognized standard in audio test and measurement, with a broad portfolio of high performance audio analyzers designed to provide the right instrument for any audio test, including super low distortion, ultra high bandwidth, multichannel, HDMI or fast production test. Since 1984, AP has offered high performance audio analyzer instruments and applications to help engineers worldwide design and manufacture all types of consumer, professional and industrial audio products.

Source: Audio Precision

RADIUS EARPHONES ATOMIC BASS 2 & ATOMIC BASS 2 MIC

2010-08-11T22:39:00.000-07:00

Radius Earphones announces Atomic Bass 2 and Atomic Bass 2 Mic upgrade to original Atomic Bass models that beat out earphones 30x the price in low-end performance tests.

Radius Earphones is thrilled to announce the arrival of Atomic Bass 2 and Atomic Bass 2 Mic earphones, the long awaited upgrade to the critically acclaimed and commercially successful Atomic Bass model of earphones. Secure enough for sports and travel, comfortable enough for computing or just relaxing at home, Radius has taken the Atomic Bass multi-purpose earphones, and made the product even better in almost every way. Already compared favorably against earphones 2x, 4x, even 30x the price, the original Atomic Bass (priced at $39.99) beat out similar products priced at $100 from by Bose, Skull Candy and V-Mode in major publications. Just imagine how good the improved model performs.

Atomic Bass 2 retain the Capsule Technology that gave the original Atomic Bass enough low-end to beat out even the $1150 Ultimate Ears in tests by PC Mag. Atomic Bass 2 improves on the overall sound, giving a more natural balance to the mids and highs while retaining the bottom frequencies. They do this without additional amplification by utilizing an elongated angled earpiece, which gives the bass frequencies enough distance to fully form. The shape also gives the Atomic Bass earphones a fantastic fit from a variety of angles. Combined with three sizes of high-grade silicone ear pads and Atomic Bass 2 gives maximum sound and comfort to any ear size and shape.

Already a huge hit in the earphones market, the improvements in Atomic Bass 2 and Atomic Bass 2 Mic are in the details. Whether it's the new anti-tangle wire casing, Y-adjustment and carrying case, or the strengthened cable connections, upgraded telephone talk button (on the Atomic Bass 2 Mic) and cool gunmetal color, Atomic Bass 2 and Atomic Bass 2 Mic reinvent themselves while losing none of the features that scored fantastic reviews to begin with.

Radius may have reset the bar on pricing and performance in earphones, but Atomic Bass 2 and Atomic Bass 2 Mic go even further. Both models are priced at only $39.99 MSPR (that's $10 cheaper than the original Atomic Bass Mic, priced at $49.99). And for more added value, both models now come with a carrying case to keep your cables untangled. All this without compromising the quality that competes with much more expensive brands.

"Our company philosophy has been about finding solutions," explains Radius founder Ben Sedaghat. "Atomic Bass 2 solves the problem of how to get the best sound and quality in an earphone priced well below comparable headphones."

And how do Radius headphones manage to score so well in tests while remaining so affordable? By paying attention to the thing most other earphones companies ignore—the fit. "Great sounding earphones are worthless if they are uncomfortable and don't fit right," Sedaghat insists. "Our products are designed to fit right, so that you get maximum sound, and can utilize them for a long period of time without any problems, frustration, pain or fatigue. Problem solved.

PRAISE FOR THE ORIGINAL ATOMIC BASS EARPHONES:

The Atomic Bass set overpowers even the Ultimate Ears UE 11 Pro (a $1,150 set) in the low-end department. PCMag

A worthwhile upgrade from the stock set that comes with the iPhone; they're comfortable, stylish, and offer great sound for the money. CNET

I figured a pair of $40 earphones would sound like a $40 pair, but no, I was wrong. Crunchgear

JAYS t-JAYS One review

2010-08-11T22:24:00.000-07:00

The JAYS t-JAYS One earphones are small and light buds that employ silicone rubber sleeves to form a seal in your ear canals. This seal is responsible for creating a deep bass response that can not only be heard, but also felt.

Because the JAYS t-JAYS One earphones sit tightly in your ear canals, they also do a reasonable job of blocking out external sound, which makes them a nice option for anyone who travels on public transport. They don't block everything out to the point where you are oblivious to your surroundings — for example you still might be able to hear people talking on the bus if they are sitting near you, but it will be muffled.

The seal between the earphones and your ear canals mean that you can hear a lot more detail in your music when you're outdoors. Furthermore, because the JAYS t-JAYS One earphones have a low impedance of 16 ohms, you don't have to run your MP3 player at a high volume to be able to actually hear your music. We compared the t-JAYS One earphones to a pair of discontinued Sennheiser MX 90 earbuds that we are used to listening to on a daily basis.

These earphones have an impedance of 64 ohms and the comparison turned out to be an unfair one. At the same volume level, the JAYS t-JAYS One earphones were over twice as loud. There wasn't noticeable distortion at full volume, but in saying that, you won't want to listen to these earphones at full blast unless you've got a deaf wish. (Although the high volume does come in handy when listening to albums that have been mastered with a low volume level to begin with, such as many early '90s hip-hop albums.)

Sounds are created by the JAYS t-JAYS One 10mm speakers that have conventional cone-based diaphragms and voice coils and, despite being tiny, they produce a big sound because the attached sleeves direct the sound deep into your canals — they don't work properly without the sleeves (and they won't sit in your ear without the sleeves anyway).

When playing an assortment of music (but mostly bass-heavy hip-hop tracks - JAYS makes a point to say these headphones are good for bass lovers), we found the low frequency response of the JAYS t-JAYS One to be deep and clear. We were able to hear subtle basslines that are usually drowned out on a normal pair of earphones such as the aforementioned MX 90s, and foreground beats were pounded with ease into our headspace. The best part is, the low frequencies didn't make a mess of the mid-range vocal tones and higher frequencies. This paved the way for a most enjoyable and enlightening music listening experience.

Recently purchased albums that we'd only heard through our older headphones sounded so much more vibrant, and we were able to pick up on subtleties that we'd previously missed out on when listening in a public space full of external noise. We didn't even have to resort to customised EQ levels to make the music sound fuller — it just did. We tested the JAYS t-JAYS One earphones with a Creative Zen and an iPod classic and both MP3 players sounded a lot better than we've ever heard them to date — it definitely pays to get a great set of headphones for your portable player.

But while the sound quality of the JAYS t-JAYS One earphones is excellent, there are a couple of things to be weary of. Firstly, you must choose the correct size sleeve to attach to your earphones; if you pick one that is slightly too big for your ears, when you put the earphones in they will be tight. While they might feel fine to begin with, your ears will end up feeling sore after you take them out. If you choose a sleeve that's too small, then the bass response might be diminished; you need to experiment with the sleeves that are provided — they range in size from extra, extra small (XXS) to large (L). We used the extra small size in our tests after finding the mid-sized sleeves to be too tight in our ears.

Another thing to watch out for is the packaging. It may look fancy, but it can be a danger to the earphones' 60cm cord, especially if you repack them. The way the earphones are packed, you have to slide them out of their case. If the cord gets between the two pieces of the case as you are sliding it, there is a realistic chance you could damage the cord (as we almost did in our tests). Luckily, the cord is tough but not stiff, and it has a rubber texture.

The JAYS t-JAYS One earphones occasionally became a tangled mess in our pocket or bag, but not as bad as other headphones we've used. The 3.5mm plug is gold plated and sticks straight out of a headphone jack, rather that being right-angled. This can be inconvenient with some players (such as the Zen) and you might be tempted to fold the cord at a right-angle yourself, which could fray the cord over time.

Because the JAYS t-JAYS One in essence plug into your ears, vibrations travelling up the earphone cord can be annoying. For example, if you use them while you're on the go and the earphone cords start hitting the zipper on your jacket, that sound of the impact will be audible in your ears during soft moments in your music.

Overall though, it's the sound quality that matters most and we think you can't go wrong with the JAYS t-JAYS One; they produce amazing sound and, as long as you select the correct sleeve, they will sit comfortably in your ears and make your music sound louder, clearer and fuller than typical earphones. We heartily recommend them.

Specifications

Driver: 10mm Dynamic Speaker; Isolation: JAYS Sound Isolating Sleeves; Sensitivity: 96 dB SPL @ 1 kHz; Impedance: 16 Ohm @ 1 kHz; Frequency Response: 18Hz - 20 000 Hz; Cord: L 0.60 m (~24 inch) + 0.70 m (~35 inch) extension cord, W 2/1.5 mm (0.079/0.059 inch); Weight: 8 grams (0.28 oz); Plug: Straight, Gold-Plated Stereo Mini-Plug 3.5 mm (1.8 in)

JAYS t-JAYS One

Verdict

The JAYS t-JAYS One earphones are loud, produce excellent clarity and bass, and, best of all, they are very small. Even though they are designed to plug in to your ear, they are very comfortable. However, you have to make sure you use the correct rubber sleeve size. The bottom line is, these earphones should be at the top of your shopping list if you value excellent audio quality and portability.

Nintendo DS Urban Style Travel & Accessory Pack (Khaki)

2010-08-11T22:21:00.000-07:00

High-end carry bag with cross-over shoulder strap, secure metal buckles, and metal zipper
1 DS¿Lite compartment with attachment strap and removable protective cushion (to play without removing the console from the bag) plus removable separation for multiple uses (other portable console, digital camera¿)
Case for MP3 player or mobile phone
Stereo ¿behind the neck¿ earphones for DS¿Lite
USB cable recharging system

The Thrustmaster T-Pack travel and accessory pack for Boys. The coolest outdoor ¿street¿-style pack! ¿Parachute material¿ street-style carry bag set. High-end carry bag with cross-over shoulder strap, secure metal buckles, and metal zipper. Includes: 1 DS¿Lite compartment with attachment strap and removable protective cushion (to play without removing the console from the bag) plus removable separation for multiple uses (other portable console, digital camera¿) 4 game pockets 1 stylus pocket 1 adjustable cross-over shoulder strap 2 accessory compartments with removable separation for storing the USB recharging system and earphones or other items Case for MP3 player or mobile phone Belt attachment option Shoulder strap attachment option Khaki Boy replacement stylus Stereo ¿behind the neck¿ earphones for DS¿Lite 10mm driver ¿ 16 ohm ¿ standard minijack USB cable recharging system: Charge from a PC or Mac Charge from a PS2/PS3/Wii/Xbox360 console MP3 player attachment system Removable clip on earphone cord ¿Thrustmaster Elite Member¿ tag

Endura Burner Lite jersey

2010-08-11T22:13:00.000-07:00

Endura prove that less is more, more, more. We ﬂinched at the surgically white overtones of this jersey at ﬁrst (happily for us it’s available in black as well), but reservations about its looks weren’t matched by its performance – the light, airy fabric rides like a dream.

It’s designed to go over body armour, so when you wear it without there’s plenty of room to spare through the torso. Even so, the cut of the shoulder keeps it sitting squarely without slopping around.

The zipped side pocket has an earphone port, as does the neck and that attention to detail is matched elsewhere by a taped, label-free neck, ﬂat-locked seams, stretchy underarm mesh inserts and a lens wipe at the hem. We predict this will be a hot weather downhill hit.

Frbiz Issues 2010 China Earphone Consumer Research Report

2010-08-10T22:31:00.000-07:00

(MMD Newswire) August 10, 2010 -- Recently, Frbiz issues Chinese earphone consumer habits survey, the survey showed that with the increasing popularity of mobile life, the use of earphone for headset user demand become more and more comprehensive, the sound quality is still the main reason for user to choose earphone.

Traditional earphone still occupies the main position. Account for the proportion of 50.81% of user survey said they would choose to use earphone during the journey; shopping ranked second, accounting for survey of 29.49% percent; in the survey, only 2.6 % of respondents indicated that they would use earphone in outdoor recreation.

In survey, travel and shopping, this type of mobile process still the first choice for consumer to uses the earphone.

It is worth mentioned that the earphone users, there are 56.81% of the users that use of headphones when listening to music has 30 minutes or 60 minutes; 18.00% of the users choose 30 minutes below; only 12.65% of users choose 60 minutes or 120 minutes; only 12.53% of the users choose 120 minutes above, which indicating that the user's earphone usage time is relatively short.

Listening to music in shortening time factor for the research question, the user selection appear two-way, 55.59% of user attention back to music on headphones expressive requirements; there are only 29.31% of users expressed comfort degree requirements for earphone, only 15.08% of users are blamed diminished interest in music.

This issue of conflicting with the above choice just indicates that the current earphone users are at the exploration of their own needs and ambivalent phase. User for earphone's wearing comfortable degree requirement is not mature and perfect, but 29.31% of users favor and support, just indicates this aspect of development space. This is the only way for the future development of earphone manufacturers, but also be a necessary condition for success in market competition.

About Frbiz.com
Frbiz.com is a promising e-commerce company and a leading vertical search engine company in China. Frbiz.com offers a variety of high quality products such as china cup and saucer , fender china , retractable earphone , and many more.

For more information, please contact:
www.frbiz.com

Tel: +86-10-65569770
Email: my@frbiz.com

Audio Precision Takes the Headache Out of Earphone Testing

2010-08-10T07:49:00.000-07:00

BEAVERTON, Ore., Aug. 9 /PRNewswire/ -- Audio Precision, the recognized standard in audio test and measurement, has today produced a software utility that automates testing of headphones and earphones used with portable audio players. The utility, which runs exclusively on Audio Precision's APx Series analyzers, automates the measurements required by British Standard / European Norm 50332 Parts 1 and 2.

The accompanying new AP Technote "Measuring the Sound Pressure Level of Portable Audio Player Headphones with APx Audio Analyzers" describes in detail how to use the utility to conduct the tests specified in the standard.

"The calculations needed to derive the results required by the standard are too complex for the typical user to do manually," says Joe Begin, head of AP's Technical Support. "And the Program Simulation Noise signal would also be a challenge for customers. We used Matlab™ to create the signal in the digital domain. The utility bundles that in and takes care of all the necessary calculations."

The automated software utility was written for users of APx Series audio analyzers. APx is a next-generation platform with several models including the high performance APx525, the multichannel APx585 and the low cost APx515 optimized for production test. All APx models use the same software and feature one-click automation, award-winning UI, and automated reporting. Each APx analyzer comes with an ISO:17025 Accredited Calibration and three year warranty, so results are trusted everywhere.

The Technote can be downloaded at no charge from AP's website http://ap.com/download/technotes.

For this Technote, AP used a KEMAR Manikin Type 45BA Head and Torso Simulator provided courtesy of G.R.A.S. Sound and Vibration.

About BS EN 50332

About Audio Precision

JAYS t-JAYS One earphones

2010-08-10T07:44:00.000-07:00

The t-JAYS One earphones are small and light buds that employ silicone rubber sleeves to form a seal in your ear canals. This seal is responsible for creating a deep bass response that can not only be heard, but also felt.

Because the earphones sit tightly in your ear canals, they also do a reasonable job of blocking out external sound, which makes them a nice option for anyone who travels on public transport. They don't block everything out to the point where you are oblivious to your surroundings — for example you still might be able to hear people talking on the bus if they are sitting near you, but it will be muffled.

The seal between the earphones and your ear canals mean that you can hear a lot more detail in your music when you're outdoors. Furthermore, because the t-JAYS One earphones have a low impedance of 16 ohms, you don't have to run your MP3 player at a high volume to be able to actually hear your music. We compared the t-JAYS One earphones to a pair of discontinued Sennheiser MX 90 earbuds that we are used to listening to on a daily basis. These earphones have an impedance of 64 ohms and the comparison turned out to be an unfair one. At the same volume level, the t-JAYS One earphones were over twice as loud. There wasn't noticeable distortion at full volume, but in saying that, you won't want to listen to these earphones at full blast unless you've got a deaf wish. (Although the high volume does come in handy when listening to albums that have been mastered with a low volume level to begin with, such as many early '90s hip-hop albums.)

Sounds are created by 10mm speakers that have conventional cone-based diaphragms and voice coils and, despite being tiny, they produce a big sound because the attached sleeves direct the sound deep into your canals — they don't work properly without the sleeves (and they won't sit in your ear without the sleeves anyway). When playing an assortment of music (but mostly bass-heavy hip-hop tracks -- JAYS makes a point to say these headphones are good for bass lovers), we found the low frequency response of the t-JAYS One to be deep and clear. We were able to hear subtle basslines that are usually drowned out on a normal pair of earphones such as the aforementioned MX 90s, and foreground beats were pounded with ease into our headspace. The best part is, the low frequencies didn't make a mess of the mid-range vocal tones and higher frequencies. This paved the way for a most enjoyable and enlightening music listening experience.

Recently purchased albums that we'd only heard through our older headphones sounded so much more vibrant, and we were able to pick up on subtleties that we'd previously missed out on when listening in a public space full of external noise. We didn't even have to resort to customised EQ levels to make the music sound fuller — it just did. We tested the t-JAYS One earphones with a Creative Zen and an iPod Classic and both MP3 players sounded a lot better than we've ever heard them to date — it definitely pays to get a great set of headphones for your portable player.

But while the sound quality of the t-JAYS One earphones is excellent, there are a couple of things to be weary of. Firstly, you must choose the correct size sleeve to attach to your earphones; if you pick one that is slightly too big for your ears, when you put the earphones in they will be tight. While they might feel fine to begin with, your ears will end up feeling sore after you take them out. If you choose a sleeve that's too small, then the bass response might be diminished; you need to experiment with the sleeves that are provided — they range in size from extra, extra small (XXS) to large (L). We used the extra small size in our tests after finding the mid-sized sleeves to be too tight in our ears.

The earphones occasionally became a tangled mess in our pocket or bag, but not as bad as other headphones we've used. The 3.5mm plug is gold plated and sticks straight out of a headphone jack, rather that being right-angled. This can be inconvenient with some players (such as the Zen) and you might be tempted to fold the cord at a right-angle yourself, which could fray the cord over time.

Because the t-JAYS One essentially plug into your ears, vibrations travelling up the earphone cord can be annoying. For example, if you use them while you're on the go and the earphone cords start hitting the zipper on your jacket, that sound of the impact will be audible in your ears during soft moments in your music.

Overall though, it's the sound quality that matters most and we think you can't go wrong with the t-JAYS One; they produce amazing sound and, as long as you select the correct sleeve, they will sit comfortably in your ears and make your music sound louder, clearer and fuller than typical earphones. We heartily recommend them.

Etymotic mc3

2010-08-10T07:38:00.000-07:00

In an industry that has recently learned how to reproduce booming bass at budget prices, Etymotic Research can be seen as a guardian of the old school, audiophile ideal: flat-response earphones. Until recently, though, Etymotic earphones could not be described as low cost. Enter the Etytomic mc3, a (nearly) flat response earphone pair that, at $99 (direct), is as well-made as it is affordable. Fans of deep bass or those looking for the ideal gym earphones can stop reading now—the mc3 is for the audiophile on a budget. Minor issues including cable thump are made up for with excellent audio performance, a versatile array of in-ear fitting options, and built-in iPhone controls. (If you don't need the phone controls, the mc5 is otherwise identical but costs $20 less.)

Design
Like many Etymotic earphones, the mc3 is fairly nondescript. Its narrow, rounded earpieces come in a metallic red, blue, green, or, like our test pair, black. The 48-inch cable is thin and Kevlar-reinforced. The earpieces are fit with flange eartips—an option that has never really worked for me. The good news is that the mc3 comes with not only three different types of ear flange (in various sizes and materials), but also two foam-earplug-style options. All of this comes packaged inside the familiar Etymotic black zip-up carrying pouch. Also, the filters on the mc3's earpieces are replaceable—if earwax build-up becomes a problem. Replacement filters and a changing tool are available on Etymotic's Web site, and the mc3 comes with a two-year warranty. As far as fit, the eartips felt secure when I was sitting listening to music, but movement compromised the in-ear stability occasionally.

View Slideshow See all (4) slides

I have a minor issue with the mc3's integration of the iPhone controls on the earphone cable. The buttons function perfectly, as does the mic—it's easy to answer a call, hang up, or adjust playback—but the placement on the cable is awkward. The controls sit on the right ear's cable, in a blind spot along the side of your face. This is the ideal spot for microphone placement, but you can't see the controls while you're wearing the earphones. You'll eventually become accustomed to the controls, but dropping the control panel a few inches on the cable would make button memorization unnecessary. All of the controls work with the new iPhone 4 ($199.99, ).

Specifications

Type: In-Canal
Sealing: Sealed
Noise-canceling: Passive
Frequency Range: 20Hz-15kHz
Impedance: 16 ohms
Maximum Output: 120 dB SPL

It's also worth noting that, for an extra $100, you can get custom earmolds that will fit not only the mc3, but also most of the models in Etymotic's earphone line-up. More information is available on the company's Web site.

Audio Performance
Our HEAD Acoustics frequency response tests show us what is apparent upon first listen: the mc3 strives for accuracy, not extreme bass or a highly sculpted sound. And yet, the mc3 offers a bit more low-end response than Etymotic's flat-response standard, the ER-4S ($299 direct, ). The difference in response is subtle, and the boost in bass is not anything like the difference you'll see when comparing these earphones to, say, the Ultimate Ears Metrofi 220 ($79.99 direct, ), which features a lot more low end. Also impressive is the mc3's performance on our linear frequency response tests, which measures the left and right drivers to see how well they match. The ER-4S is our standard for this test, and the mc3 does nearly as well, with the left and right ears rarely deviating from each other by more than 2dB.

My personal experience with the mc3, after finding the right eartips, was refreshing. As much as I take occasional guilty pleasure in earphones with enhanced bass response, hearing a pair that colors the sound so little is a joy. The fact that this level of sonic accuracy can be had for $80 (or $100 with iPhone controls) is a feat. On orchestral pieces, like Jonny Greenwood's There Will Be Blood film score, the strings are crisp, but never too bright, and the low frequencies are dutifully represented, but never overwhelming. To some, the idea of flat response may sound boring, but the concept is simple: you hear things in a transparent way. The less the sound is colored, the closer you are to what the mix engineer at the recording studio hears. Flat, but not without sonic power, the mc3 did not even approach distortion at maximum volume on The Knife's extremely bass-heavy, "Silent Shout." This feat isn't accomplished by merely ignoring the bass frequencies, everything is there, just not exaggerated or boosted.

Though I do find the placement of the iPhone controls an annoyance, and cable thump prevents this pair from being a versatile, gym-friendly option, the mc3—along with its less-expensive sibling, the mc5—is an amazing value. At $100, it's a budget pair that doesn't sound cheap.

Etymotic hf3 headphones review

2010-08-10T07:30:00.000-07:00

So you've bought your iPhone or iPod and now you need a set of earphones to help you enjoy the music or people's voices a little clearer. In steps the Etymotic hf3 headphones from Etymotic promising to not only make everything sound rosy, but also to give you help in controlling your Apple device when it's still in your pocket.

For those that have been paying attention, you'll realise that the 3 in hf3 stands for the third iteration of the headphones and that means a couple of years experience knowing how to make these headphones work well. We will make no bones about it, we like the Etymotic/ACS hf2 custom fit headphones a lot, so much so that until the hf3's, they were the headphones that this reviewer used on a day-to-day basis.

Aside from two in-ear headphone drivers you get four noise-isolating ear tips to fit your ears to make the most comfortable fit you can. If that isn't enough you'll also get a voucher in the box to pay towards a custom made ear fitting from ACS that is well worth the extra £70.

The custom fit involves you getting a blue goo squirted in your ears and then ACS making a mould of them for you to then be able to wear. If you haven't seen the process, check out this video from last year when we were fitted for the hf2.

But the hf3 aren't just about listening to music, which we will come to in a minute, but about talking as well. As such, the hf3 headset features a three-button control pod with a close-proximity in-line microphone that lets iPhone users pause music and answer a telephone call. iPod, iPhone and iPad users can also adjust volume and skip through music tracks whilst on the go.

In our tests people we called could hear us clearly even in busy restaurants, although most claimed we were very quiet. This quiet problem was easily fixed by turning up the volume on the phone (in our test case an iPhone 3GS) and while that improved the noise levels so the person on the other end could hear us it meant that they became very loud in our ear - such is the quality of the headphones.

The only way to get a comfortable medium between the two was for us to either talk up a bit, to accept that we were to be deafened by them, or to rather stupidly hold the mic up to our face like you see so many people doing, which is a bit of a pain.

The controls are a lot easier to manage and don't come with any problems allowing you to perform basic navigation around your iPod's functions.

In terms of sound quality you get a sound that is rounded, well balanced, although slightly lighter on bass. If you've read our interview with Harmon Kardon's Floyd Toole, you'll know that being light on bass isn't necessarily a bad thing, with a more natural sound being created. Of course you can, and we did, bump the bass up via your device's equaliser setting, and the headphones are cope well enough.

National City robber caught on camera

2010-08-10T07:27:00.000-07:00

NATIONAL CITY — The FBI has released photographs of a man they say tried to hold up a National City credit union on July 16.

The robber, shown wearing a loose-fitting white shirt and jeans, walked away without getting any cash from Point Loma Credit Union on Highland Avenue near 30th Street.

FBI officials said the robber walked into the credit union about 9:30 a.m. and gave a teller a demand note written on a full sheet of lined paper, specifying the amount of money he wanted. He made a gesture to indicate he was armed.

The teller told him there wasn’t enough cash in the drawer and offered to get it from the vault. The robber ordered the teller to get the money and not call police.

After walking away, the teller alerted a supervisor. The robber tried to go behind the teller counter, but when he couldn’t, he left.

The man is believed to be about 40 years old, 5 feet 10 inches tall, 165 pounds, with short brown hair and a white bud-style earphone in his right ear. He wore a long-sleeved shirt buttoned up over a white undershirt, jeans, white tennis shoes and a dark blue baseball cap with a white “SD” insignia and white edging around the bill.

The FBI is asking anyone with information call them at (858) 565-1255 or leave an anonymous tip with Crime Stoppers at (888) 580-8477.

Pauline Repard: (619) 293-1865; pauline.repard@uniontrib.com

Scosche Earphones Review

2010-08-05T05:54:00.000-07:00

Scosche Earphones Review
SoHood.com Reviewed by: Mario Diaz
Features: 8/10
Performance: 8/10
Price Value: 10/10
Packaging: 10/10
Overall Rating: 8/10

Features: Scosche earphones

Control play, pause, adjust volume, skip tracks and much more all from the tapLINE control surface.

Adjust volume by pressing the + and – buttons
Control music and video playback; including play/pause and next/previous by pressing the center button
Integrated microphone for handsfree conversations, voice command and recording voice memos on supported iPod and iPhone models
Navigate playlists and activate the VoiceOver feature on the iPod shuffle 3rd generation
S/M/L single and dual flanged silicone inserts provide unparalleled noise isolation and comfort
Includes travel pouch

Compatibility
iPhone 4, iPad, iPhone 3GS, iPod nano (Gen 5), iPod shuffle (Gen 3), iPod touch (Gen 2), iPod nano (Gen 4), iPod classic (120 GB) and Mac computers purchased after Oct 2008

Performance: The Scosche model IDR655m Earphones are perfectly designed to fit comfortably in your ears. The first things that I noticed were actually the design. Its thin cord features a tapLINE control where you can adjust the volume up or down. Also it you can have handsfree conversations, which is great for whenever you don’t want to plug anything in your ears.

I loved that it came with some accessories the ear silicone comfortable earpieces and a nice looking genuine sheep skin travel pouch which caught my eye as soon as I popped open the box for these cool earphones. From what I’ve gathered from other websites they have mixed reviews about these earphones. But I’m telling you this now, for the most part if the product works as far as the sounds are concerned, then you’re going to have a good experience and especially with these earphones.

I personally don’t go crazy on how much a earphone cost to an extend because if you pay for a something cheap then you’ll most likely get something poor as far as quality but sometimes that’s not true, you’ll might buy an earpiece/headphone that might turn out to be a diamond.

Take for instances the brand BeatsbyDre, they’re good studio headphones but personally I prefer the Ultrasone brand, which I’ve tested out a pair of professional studio headphones at one of my friend’s studio, (by the way he’s a well-known music producer but he’ll remain nameless.) But really it’s all about marketing the product. So basically, what I’m saying is the Scosche earphones works well and it delivers crisp and clear sounds, and it doesn’t have to be a big brand name with a celebrity or artist to validity the product.

Anyways, I highly recommend these earpieces especially since it’s on sale ! :) Take advance and get yourself one now.

Price Value: The price for these Scosche at retail go for $99 dollars, but it’s available at Amazon.com for $45.72 with free shipping. If you like to buy other earphones from Scosche, you may visit the official Website: www.Scosche.com.

Packaging: In comes in a nice small box. It includes silicone earpieces for ear comfort and a nice looking genuine sheep skin travel pouch.

Pros: Great in size for traveling. The product works in every aspect from the sound quality to its features.

Cons: None that I encountered.

Technology in today's classrooms

2010-08-05T05:50:00.000-07:00

Question: What is the most useful piece of technology that a Montreal student can take to school this fall? Answer: A memory stick, a.k.a. a USB key, Flash drive, or "thumb drive."

We're talking here about a piece of technology, the size of a package of stick chewing gum, that plugs into a computer's USB port and allows students to save their school work for accessing later on, at home.

"The memory stick is useful for students in both elementary and secondary school," said Maureen Baron, pedagogical consultant with the English Montreal School Board (EMSB).

"Younger students can get by with smaller memory sticks that only hold 1-2GB (one or two gigabytes) of data.

"But students in the upper years can use up to 8GBs worth, because they are often saving PowerPoint projects that include multimedia components such as video and/or audio clips."

Memory sticks are extremely affordable. For instance, a 4GB memory stick encased in environmentally-friendly bamboo costs $21.90 at Staples (Bureau en Gros, in Montreal). An 8GB version costs $38.90.

The second most useful purchase is a low-cost audio headset with boom microphone (a. k.a. gaming headsets). These are used by students who listen to instructional programs, to produce at-school music projects without disturbing other classmates, and to talk over the Internet using Skype or other voice-over-IP telephone programs.

"It makes good sense for kids to have their own headsets for health reasons," Baron explained.

"Head lice can be transmitted when students share headsets.

Certain digital tools can benefit students and are, therefore, accepted for school use. You might want to consider, during your back-to-school shopping trip, acquiring a memory stick such as the one above, from Staples, encased in environmentally-friendly bamboo, or a small recorder like the Olympus VN-7000 digital voice recorder (at right), or a laptop like the new Lenovo IdeaPad Y560d (far right).

When they have their own -which they don't share -this risk is substantially reduced."

For the budget-minded: the Rocketfish Gaming Headset -which comes with a plug-in cable, one earphone and a microphone -sells for $17.99 at Best Buy and for $19.99 at Future Shop.

So where do other items such as desktop/laptop computers, Internet access, smart phones, iPhones/iPads, digital cameras and camcorders, and other pieces of technology fit in? Although Baron admits many of them have their place in Montreal classrooms, "the cost of such devices for students restrain the EMSB from requiring them as part of the students' purchased school supplies."

This said, she does recommend that students have access to the Internet and a computer, even if it is an older used desktop model.

"For those who have budgetary issues, Internet-connected computers can be accessed through public libraries and during non-class hours at most schools." Meanwhile, iPods and other musical players may be allowed in class, based on teacher discretion, but cellphones and texting devices are not welcome during classes.

For parents who are able to provide their children with digital technology extras, a sturdy laptop can be a wise purchase.

This is a good time to shop for them, as manufacturers and vendors alike cut prices to drive sales.

A case in point: the entry-level Toshiba Satellite C650 laptop -which comes with an Intel Pentium processor T4500 (2.3GHz, 1MB L2 Cache), Windows 7 Home Edition, a 15.6-inch screen, 4GB memory, 320GB hard disk drive, a multi-format DVD player and Wi-Fi -is list-priced at $629, "but with the back-to-school price wars, you should start seeing its price hitting $499," said Toshiba product manager Mini Saluja.

For those needing more features, the new Lenovo IdeaPad Y560d comes with powerful Intel Core i3/i5 processors and even the ability to play 3-D movies (3-D glasses included).

Note: Before you buy a laptop, shop around for price and capability. Smaller netbooks are cheaper, but do not offer the same degree of capability and "room for growth" that a laptop does.

Many older students record their classes, for the sake of better note-taking and review. A small digital audio recorder, like the Olympus VN-7000 digital voice recorder, can capture more than 1,200 hours of audio for just $49.99 or less.

"About the size of a pocket comb, these devices can be connected to a computer so the audio files can easily be attached to an email or used in other applications," said Sally Clemens Smith, Olympus product specialist.

Many entry-level printers cost slightly more than the cost of buying their replacement ink/laser cartridges. Parents on a budget (and who isn't?) should compare models based on how many pages each printer will produce before replacement cartridges are needed, and how much the cartridges cost.

Some models can have their cartridges refilled at a lower cost than buying a new one.

Cellphones are fast becoming a must-have for students -at least as far as the kids are concerned. (Schools don't necessarily share this sentiment.)

When buying cellphones, it is important to determine how much they will cost to operate each month. Flat-rate or prepaid plans are a good way to keep text-crazy kids from running up huge bills. Consider the price before letting your child be dazzled by features!

MP3 players such as iPods are also big with students -and prone to being lost or stolen. When in doubt, you might want to buy a low-cost brand-name MP3 player first, just to ensure that investment in a top-of-the-line iPod isn't wasted within a week.

The rule of thumb for surviving the back-to-school technology buying frenzy?

"When in doubt, wait until you can talk to your children's teachers about what is and what is not allowed at school," Baron said.

LUXA2 is Ready to Sparkle the IFA 2010 with new releases!

2010-08-04T06:11:00.000-07:00

IFA - The leading trade show for consumer electronics and home appliances is about to take place from 3 to 8 September 2010. LUXA2, the leading Apple accessory manufacturer, welcomes you to visit the IFA iZone Hall 15.1/ Stand 227 for the latest LUXA2 products ranging from iPhone4 Car mount, iPhone4 and iPad accessories. Don’t miss this opportunity to check the latest LUXA2 products and the future trends.
By September, the Apple iPhone4 and iPad tends to flood the smart phone and e-book market. LUXA2 is ready for iPhone 4! We’ll be showcasing a series of iPhone4 like the latest H5 Car Mount holder which a lot of people inquiry for; various selection of the iPhone4 cases like ultra-thin case and candy case, screen protector etc.
For iPad users, a whole line of new selection will be released by then as well. The new iPad portable holder, H6, which is foldable and bundled with carrying bag; the iPad leather folio case, leather document case, leather stand case and iPad screen protectors will be displayed for personal touch experience.

Two sleek and stylish headphones, F1-Extra Bass Headphone and F2- In-ear Earphone with magnetism will be exhibited at the same time.

Below please find the location of IFA iZone Hall 15.1/ Stand 227.

For detailed information, please log on to our official website.www.luxa2.com

For high resolution company logo or product images, please kindly contact with sales@luxa2.com

About LUXA2

LUXA2, a Division of Thermaltake, was created in 2009, with characteristics of simplicity, luxury, and unique lifestyle. The core design theory of LUXA2 starts from simple shapes blending with luxury elements, which create the unique lifestyle for different segments within the society such as Creative Pro, Mobile Blogger, Leisure Seeker, Hip Newbie, Entertainment Junkie, and Apple's Mac Lovers.

LUXA2 represent an emerging trend of "individuality" in the world. Not only do people need function, but they also need aesthetic appeal. This is what LUXA2 has achieved. Exquisite craftsmanship with aesthetic and elegant design style is a promise and commitment from LUXA2. Thus, the Simplicity, Luxury and Lifestyle of LUXA2 creates a Uniquely You.

Samsung Launches the World's Slimmest HD 3D LED TV

2010-08-04T06:06:00.000-07:00

Samsung Electronics today launched the world’s slimmest Full HD 3D LED TV- Series 9000 in the Indian market.

The Samsung 9000 has a 7.98 mm form with a built-in tuner and a touch remote control with display ‘Touch Control'. Its stainless-steel bezel and back cover have a built in tuner, speakers being embedded in the stand, translucent neck, and an auto-sliding touchpad. The 9000 series also comes equipped with four HDMI ports, including a USB port to play various multi-media files directly from the flash drive or USB HDD.

The 9000 series comes with a touch-screen remote control with three-inch, color display, an earphone jack and Twin View, which lets you watch TV or Blu-ray DVD titles simultaneously. Other than this Twin View option, the remote has a ‘one click play’ feature which means if you play the DVD connected to the TV, the TV turns on automatically. The remote includes AllShare and a QWERTY keyboard, and at 2.4 Ghz, its integrated Wi-Fi and infrared technology controls the TV, STB and AV devices with on-screen buttons.

The 9000 series TV comes with built-in 3D processors’ auto-conversion technology that has the ability to automatically convert 2D content into 3D. When not watching programming in 3D, content plays in HD.

Shure announces full-size headphones for iPhone

2010-08-03T01:27:00.000-07:00

Anyone who has done their due diligence when researching ultraportable earphones has come across a fair amount made by Shure. The company has been churning out quality sound-isolating sets for more than 10 years. However, the team of audio enthusiasts showed little interest in catering to those who prefer not to stick 'buds into their ears until recently.

On Wednesday, Shure introduced its very first full-size headphone designed with the iPhone and iPod in mind. The SRH240m+ expands upon the professional quality SRH240 headphones with a three button remote control and mic. The closed-back, circumaural design reduces outside noise, while the 40mm neodymium drivers aim to provide booming lows and crystal clear highs. The SRH240m+ is priced at $79.99 and comes with a two-year limited warranty. For now, their availability is limited, but you can find the headphones in Apple stores or at the eponymous Web site.

In-ear pleasure

2010-08-02T00:49:00.000-07:00

Since 2008, I have been using my Panasonic In-Earphones religiously. It has literally been everywhere I’ve gone since then. But after two years of constant use, it is definitely showing its age. I didn’t want to replace it, but it was time to at least have a second pair.

The said Panasonic In-Earphones have spoiled me with great sound even when using high quality lossy MP3s. Highs, Mids, and Lows were distinct, not to mention that the lows were pretty bass-y especially coming from small earphone drivers. What I wanted for my second pair was as close to the same quality in-earphones without breaking the bank. This means I wasn’t going for the PhP4,000 to PhP13,000 earphones.

For the longest time, I have been eyeing the Philips SHE-9700 in-earphones. For less than PhP2,000, I was getting a pair of in-earphones that exceeded my favorite, long-in-the-tooth, earphones, at least on paper. Having a frequency range of 6 – 23,000Hz (from the normal 20 – 22,000Hz), Impedance of 16 Ohm, and Sensitivity of 103 dB, I was expecting a lot. Did they impress? In a word, Yes. In more than one word, the quality is as pristine as my Panasonic, if not a bit better. On the other hand, the bass is decent. The bass is clean and clear but there is not enough power behind it. I’m not looking for bass that will shake my brain out my nose, but still want power especially when listening to bass-heavy music.

In terms of form-factor, the earphone wire is only 0.6 meters with a 0.6 meter extension wire.

The in-ear buds are not symmetric which means you have to wrap the longer right ear bud wire on your nape. Speaking of the earbuds, because of how the earbuds are shaped, they are very comfortable on the ears, so much so, although you know you are wearing these in-earphones, you may forget that they are actually being worn. Philips has done great work with the shape of the SHE-9700.

Would I recommend the SHE-9700? Well, for the most part yes, especially for the price. For those that want more bass in their in-eaphones, Philip does offer a similar in-earphone that emphasizes bass, the SHE-9550.

Etymotic mc3 earphone and headset review

2010-08-02T00:31:00.000-07:00

We review the Etymotic mc3 earphone and headset to see if it combines the manufacturer’s honed headphone technology with communication capabilities

Published on Jul 13, 2010

With phones increasingly being used as a substitute for MP3 players and the mobile population looking to make communication as easy as possible, take up of all-in-one solutions could be set to boom.

Enter the mc3 earphone and headset from Etymotic Research, combining some of the manufacturer's honed headphone technology with a simple headset function.

Sound quality, provided by the ACCU Chamber Acoustic Control technology, is crystal clear and this is where the accessory comes into its own.

Bass clarity is also excellent – something that lesser headphones often lack. It is no surprise that this is where the mc3 product shines – Etymotic has been working on headphones for over 25 years. The company name itself means "true to the ear".

Outside noise, meanwhile, is just about kept to a minimum, but still creeps through if loud enough, even with the different ear bud options. Anyone angered by tube noises or passing cars disturbing their listening will not be totally placated by opting for this product.

Nevertheless, taking and receiving calls is functional enough. Having tested out the mc3 with friends and family, the sound quality is sufficient and the microphone seems adequate too, but there is nothing astounding here.

Then again, the simplicity of the headset function hints that this is not the selling point of the Etymotic offering.

As for other aspects of the headphones and headset, the cable is seriously long. For those of us who are vertically challenged this is somewhat unnecessary, even annoying at points. Of course, on the other hand, the length helps avoid any sudden disconnection.

Users get a choice of rubber ear buds, one of which is a standard bulb shape. But the best option is a three-tiered cone-like bud, which ingeniously gets round any issues with ear size and provides a decent amount of comfort. After a while, you forget they are even there.

However, this does not distract from the main problem with the mc3 headset - it lacks uniqueness.

In the headset department it simply does what any others in the market can do. Even for those who are just after some top headphones without breaking the bank, there are others in the same price range that offer similar quality.

So, if you are looking for something revolutionary or a headset with a raft of impressive features, look elsewhere. If you're happy with simple calling functions and want top audio clarity, then the mc3 option is ideal.

Blackbox C18-RB Active Noise Cancelling Earphones: Sound quality vs comfort

2010-08-01T05:15:00.000-07:00

In these times of ever-improving sound and visual quality, the market is being flooded with gadgets to provide the best listening experience.

The latest to hit the shelves is the Blackbox C18-RB Active Noise Cancelling Earphones.

Enabled with world-leading ANR technology, the C18-RB earphones 'provide an ability to enjoy high fidelity sound from your music player without the disturbing influence of loud background noise'.

Cumbersome: The Blackbox C18-RB Active Noise Cancelling Earphones

According to the accompanying manual, Phitek Active Noise Rejection technology processes the ambient noise signal measured at your ear to generate an 'anti-noise' response.

Then it gets complicated: this anti-noise signal, which is almost an inverted replica of the noise itself, is then reintroduced back into the sound field in combination with your music. In effect, purifying your sound with the addition of white noise and feeding it back into the music you're listening to.

This should result in the two signals combining giving the almost complete cancellation of noise 'leaving your music to be enjoyed with improved fidelity and comfort'.

On the point of comfort, however, I beg to differ.

The inline controller, a small box attached half way along the wire between the jack and the earphones, uses a AAA battery which makes it feel heavy. Consequently, the ear attachments feel like they may be pulled out through the weight despite a neck lanyard designed to take some of the strain.

Furthermore, if you happen to be walking along a street and decide to listen to your MP3 player, it's not the easiest accessory to assemble. You find you have to hold the inline controller in your hand otherwise the neck lanyard can pop out of one of the plastic connectors near the earphone.

The 'ergonomically moulded' ear pieces themselves are cumbersome, sometimes requiring substantial manipulation to fit them comfortably in the ear.

So comfort may be a stretch - but what about sound quality?

There's no doubt that the sound is more robust and it certainly eradicates outside noise better than, say, Sony's earbuds. However, one or two tracks did distort when at full volume. Or perhaps that particular Chemical Brothers composition was of questionable quality...

The inline controller has two switches, one to turn it on and one to adjust volume - very handy when you don't want to have to dig around in your bag for your MP3 for this function.

With 50 hours use from a single battery you can get a fair amount of listening time under your belt - that is if you remember to switch the inline controller off when you're done. Forget this function and you'll be left very disappointed the next time you decide to tune in on your way home from the office because the C18s simply won't work without it.

That said, a green LED indicator shows when the device is on and it flashes when the battery is getting low.

The C18-RBs come with a velvet carry couch, spare earbuds, two airline jacks - a 6.5mm for your home stereo system and a double 3.5mm - a neck lanyard and a AAA battery.

Overall, the C18-RB earphones do what they say on the box: they actively reduce background noise.

So if you can get used to the fiddly assembly and weight of the inline controller, they're a good buy.

MEElectronics Expands Earphone Lineup to Meet Customer Requirements

2010-08-01T05:09:00.000-07:00

July 29, 2010 - Walnut, Calif. — MEElectronics, manufacture of high value earphones focused on sound quality, is releasing a new and improved M11 called the M11+, as well as adding a phone/iPod compatible version of the popular M6, the M6P.

M11+/M11P+ Earphones – Reengineered Sound Retaining Style and Comfort:
The M11+/M11P+ (MSRP: $64.99/$69.99), MEElectronics newest earphone, retain the popular form factor and style of the M11 but have a redesigned driver, improved housing tuning, and changes in the manufacturing process that result in incredible sound for the price while retaining the comfort the original M11. The M11+ is great for all ear sizes and with a price point-leading 10 ear tip choices, offers unparalleled comfort.

“We are using the same M11 housing because of the high comfort levels and attractive design our customers rave about, but changed the internals to improve the sound,” says Joe Daileda, MEE’s V.P. of Sales and Marketing. “We believe the new M11+ now offers the best of both worlds: comfort for all ears, tiny to large, the style that people love, and a more balanced sound with better bass/treble extension, and smoothly presented details that makes the M11+ listenable for hours without fatigue or discomfort.”

Daileda notes that while standard ear tips will work for the majority of people with the M11+, the additional provided ear tips increase comfort and sound quality for a wider audience as everyone’s ears are shaped differently. “Our customers have told us they like choices and many have smaller ears, so we wanted to give them options,” he says. But we also included an extra-large set for people on the other end of the spectrum. Our goal was to appeal to the largest audience and bring exceptional value not only with sound quality, but with accessories also.

Key M11+ features include:
• Acoustically advanced MEElectronics M11+ series earphones deliver balanced, detailed sound with great bass and treble extension and expansive sound.
• Small housing size works well with tiny through large ear sizes.
• 10 sets of ear tips allow customers more options to find the best sound and comfort for their ears.
• In-ear design with noise isolation allowing lower, safer playback volumes even in noisy environments.
• Designer cable that is stylish, tangle resistant, and has low microphonics (cable noise from friction)
• M11+ P version has an inline microphone and remote works with the iPhone, iPod, iPad, recent Blackberry models, and select Smartphones with standard 3.5mm jacks.
• Plays music from iPod, iPhone, most blackberry phones, MP3 players, portable media players, CD players, DVD players, desktop computers, laptops, and netbook computers
The M11+/M11P+ will be available in black, silver, and red at the end of July.

M6P Earphone – Added Functionality to the M6:
The M6P ($54.99 MSRP), the latest addition to the popular M6 series earphone, adds a microphone and remote for use with iPhones, iPods, iPads, recent Blackberry modes, and select Smartphones with a standard 3.5mm jack. Runners, gym users, and other physically active people enjoy the over-the-ear design of the M6 series as it stays put during even the most strenuous activities, and can now change tracks on iPhones and iPods or take calls during their activities from the inline mic/remote. The M6 series is also ideal for everyday use due to its comfort and stylish looks that really grab people’s attention.

“Our customers have asked for a P version of the M6 to easily control their iPods while exercising, and we are happy to oblige,” Daileda explains “In addition, the many M6 fans that appreciate the great sound quality for movies and music on their iPhone or Blackberry can now answer their calls without having to remove their earphone.”

Key M6P features include:
• Acoustically advanced MEElectronics M6 series earphones deliver clear, accurate sound from any portable music or video player.
• Over-the-ear design with stainless steel memory wire that holds the cable securely around your ear for maximum comfort and stability even during workouts and activities.
• In-ear design with noise isolation allowing lower, safer playback volumes even in noisy environments.
• Designer cable that is stylish, tangle resistant, and has low microphonics (cable noise from friction)
• Inline microphone and remote work with the iPhone, iPod, iPad, and blackberry
• Plays music from iPod, iPhone, most blackberry phones, MP3 players, portable media players, CD players, DVD players, desktop computers, laptops, and netbook computers
“Due to demand, there will be a special pre-order for the MEE M6P, with a limited number shipping before the official release” Daileda says. “We want our customers that have been asking for the M6P to have the minimal wait time.” The pre-order special will be available at www.meelec.com and select online retailers.

“With the M11+ and M6 series earphones, music fans can replace their stock ear buds and hear their music like never before, with added detail and space at very low cost,” Daileda says. “The M11+ offers an unparalleled combination of comfort and sound quality, while the M6P represents an exceptional value usually only seen at two to four times the price.”

* Microphone and remote are supported by iPhone, iPod nano 4G, iPod classic, iPod touch 2G and all recent Blackberry models with a standard 3.5mm jack. Select other Smartphones with a standard 3.5mm jack are compatible, such as the Nexus One. The remote works with the iPod shuffle 3G. Audio is supported by all iPod models and most portable media players. Subject to change.

About MEElectronics
MEElectronics was born from a passion for music and desire to bring exceptional sound and value to the mass audio market. Starting with portable media players, the lineup quickly grew to include earphones designed to provide the best sound at the price and later expanding to include value priced accessories. MEE has made a name for itself in audio enthusiasts communities, with reviewers, and in the hearts and minds of consumers due to the sound quality usually only found in earphones that cost many times more. While sound quality is paramount for MEE earphones, durability and style are also designed in as well as best in class accessories.

Those who know MEElectronics know customer service is extremely important, as we provide fast, friendly service. Customers are MEElectronics biggest asset and feedback is greatly appreciated; you are encouraged to send us comments and questions. You can help MEE grow and continue to offer value products by recommending us to people you know and posting online reviews that share your story of value, sound quality, and/or customer service.

For more information, contact Joe Daileda at joe@meelec.com or visit our website at www.meelec.com.

Shirt Turns iPad Into T-Shirt Accessory

2010-08-01T05:04:00.000-07:00

The Syte Shirt is a black "heavyweight" cotton shirt that features a transparent pocket up front, sized to fit an iPad. Two holes provide easy access to the tablet's earphone and dock ports without removing it from the zippered pouch, while the transparent "vinyl" screen still allows interaction with the touch-screen.
Zoom
Syte's makers are touting the shirt as a "platform for wearable computing", limited only by "the imaginations of its users". The official PR paints different scenarios for the product, with pizza delivery boys, salesmen, promotional models and even teachers using the Syte and the iPad to great effect. The idea is that the Syte can turn the iPad into a dynamic presentation tool you wear on your shirt, with customers or your audience free to tap on it for more information on your message.
Small to Extra Large Syte Shirts retail for $50, while the XXL size goes for $55. It recently made an appearance at the San Diego Comic-Con, and is available from Jay Company Comics (unfortunately the product doesn't seem to be available from Jay's website).

Blackbox i10 earphones available for iPod and iPhone devices

2010-08-01T04:34:00.000-07:00

Background disturbances can prove to be really irksome when listening to songs on music players. Blackbox’s i10 earphones for Apple iPod and iPhone 3G/3GS/4 devices are crafted to minimize those annoying background sounds and let users enjoy their favorite tracks in peace.

A 1.3m cable connects the earphones to the iPod 30 pin dock. It is powered by the same battery that runs the iPod.It integrates Active Noise Rejection and Passive Sound Isolation technologies that reduce backdrop noise by noticeable amounts.

Neil Truckell, UK Brand Manager of Blackbox, cited, “This product presents something truly unique for Apple and music enthusiasts here in the UK. Through its Active Noise Rejection technology, the i10s are the first earphones to operate without the need for external batteries and provide the ultimate upgrade path for iPod/iPhone users, keen to dramatically improve sound quality and comfort.”

“Its competitive price point makes it an amazing addition to your device so you can simply enjoy music on the go. This is just one of the upcoming innovations from the Blackbox family,” continued Truckell.

Built into a diaphragm measuring about 9mm, this dynamic gadget flaunts a Neodymium magnet. Additionally, music lovers are offered multi-stage equalization capabilities with these earphones. Weighing about 25g, the i10’s in-line controller dimensions amount to about 12mm x 54mm x 8mm.

The i10 earphone is available through Blackbox’s official website for $129 (approx. Rs. 6,050). The earphone is also being sold through the Amazon and Play online portals.

Empire Brands outs Chill, Reverb, Tour headphone series

2010-08-01T02:11:00.000-07:00

Empire Brands on Wednesday revealed three new earphone collections for its Wicked Audio brand. The Chill, Reverb and Tour all feature graffiti-inspired designs. They are made of plastic and sport comfortable ear cushions. The cords are nearly four feet long and the 3.5mm plugs are gold-plated for superior sound signal transfer and to prevent corrosion.

The Chill earbuds can be had in gold, white or black, priced at $15. The Reverbs, styled after city streets, have better bass performance, and cost $30. The Tour line can be had in one of three two-tone designs. They cost $20. All are now shipping and available at electronics shops.

Simply the Best Earphone Packaging Ever

2010-07-30T01:09:00.000-07:00

Here's some packaging that really works: Panasonic RP HJE130 series. So they decided to play up the product's music-friendly qualities, by packaging it as an eighth note. Such creativity no doubt deserves as much visibility as possible, which explains the clear transparent box cover.

We'd love to see more gadgets in packaging that truly reflects their purpose, but how do you do that with more solid products like laptops or smartphones? Feel free to hit the comments with your suggestions.

MEElectronics Expands Earphone Lineup to Meet Customer Requirements

2010-07-30T01:04:00.000-07:00

MEElectronics, manufacture of high value earphones focused on sound quality, is releasing a new and improved M11/M11P called the M11+/M11P+, as well as adding a phone/iPod compatible version of the popular M6, the M6P.

July 29, 2010 - Walnut, Calif. — MEElectronics, manufacture of high value earphones focused on sound quality, is releasing a new and improved M11 called the M11+, as well as adding a phone/iPod compatible version of the popular M6, the M6P.

M11+/M11P+ Earphones – Reengineered Sound Retaining Style and Comfort:
The M11+/M11P+ (MSRP: $64.99/$69.99), MEElectronics newest earphone, retain the popular form factor and style of the M11 but have a redesigned driver, improved housing tuning, and changes in the manufacturing process that result in incredible sound for the price while retaining the comfort the original M11. The M11+ is great for all ear sizes and with a price point-leading 10 ear tip choices, offers unparalleled comfort.

“We are using the same M11 housing because of the high comfort levels and attractive design our customers rave about, but changed the internals to improve the sound,” says Joe Daileda, MEE’s V.P. of Sales and Marketing. “We believe the new M11+ now offers the best of both worlds: comfort for all ears, tiny to large, the style that people love, and a more balanced sound with better bass/treble extension, and smoothly presented details that makes the M11+ listenable for hours without fatigue or discomfort.”

Daileda notes that while standard ear tips will work for the majority of people with the M11+, the additional provided ear tips increase comfort and sound quality for a wider audience as everyone’s ears are shaped differently. “Our customers have told us they like choices and many have smaller ears, so we wanted to give them options,” he says. But we also included an extra-large set for people on the other end of the spectrum. Our goal was to appeal to the largest audience and bring exceptional value not only with sound quality, but with accessories also.

Key M11+ features include:
• Acoustically advanced MEElectronics M11+ series earphones deliver balanced, detailed sound with great bass and treble extension and expansive sound.
• Small housing size works well with tiny through large ear sizes.
• 10 sets of ear tips allow customers more options to find the best sound and comfort for their ears.
• In-ear design with noise isolation allowing lower, safer playback volumes even in noisy environments.
• Designer cable that is stylish, tangle resistant, and has low microphonics (cable noise from friction)
• M11+ P version has an inline microphone and remote works with the iPhone, iPod, iPad, recent Blackberry models, and select Smartphones with standard 3.5mm jacks.
• Plays music from iPod, iPhone, most blackberry phones, MP3 players, portable media players, CD players, DVD players, desktop computers, laptops, and netbook computers
The M11+/M11P+ will be available in black, silver, and red at the end of July.

M6P Earphone – Added Functionality to the M6:
The M6P ($54.99 MSRP), the latest addition to the popular M6 series earphone, adds a microphone and remote for use with iPhones, iPods, iPads, recent Blackberry modes, and select Smartphones with a standard 3.5mm jack. Runners, gym users, and other physically active people enjoy the over-the-ear design of the M6 series as it stays put during even the most strenuous activities, and can now change tracks on iPhones and iPods or take calls during their activities from the inline mic/remote. The M6 series is also ideal for everyday use due to its comfort and stylish looks that really grab people’s attention.

“Our customers have asked for a P version of the M6 to easily control their iPods while exercising, and we are happy to oblige,” Daileda explains “In addition, the many M6 fans that appreciate the great sound quality for movies and music on their iPhone or Blackberry can now answer their calls without having to remove their earphone.”

Key M6P features include:
• Acoustically advanced MEElectronics M6 series earphones deliver clear, accurate sound from any portable music or video player.
• Over-the-ear design with stainless steel memory wire that holds the cable securely around your ear for maximum comfort and stability even during workouts and activities.
• In-ear design with noise isolation allowing lower, safer playback volumes even in noisy environments.
• Designer cable that is stylish, tangle resistant, and has low microphonics (cable noise from friction)
• Inline microphone and remote work with the iPhone, iPod, iPad, and blackberry
• Plays music from iPod, iPhone, most blackberry phones, MP3 players, portable media players, CD players, DVD players, desktop computers, laptops, and netbook computers
“Due to demand, there will be a special pre-order for the MEE M6P, with a limited number shipping before the official release” Daileda says. “We want our customers that have been asking for the M6P to have the minimal wait time.” The pre-order special will be available at www.meelec.com and select online retailers.

“With the M11+ and M6 series earphones, music fans can replace their stock ear buds and hear their music like never before, with added detail and space at very low cost,” Daileda says. “The M11+ offers an unparalleled combination of comfort and sound quality, while the M6P represents an exceptional value usually only seen at two to four times the price.”

* Microphone and remote are supported by iPhone, iPod nano 4G, iPod classic, iPod touch 2G and all recent Blackberry models with a standard 3.5mm jack. Select other Smartphones with a standard 3.5mm jack are compatible, such as the Nexus One. The remote works with the iPod shuffle 3G. Audio is supported by all iPod models and most portable media players. Subject to change.

About MEElectronics
MEElectronics was born from a passion for music and desire to bring exceptional sound and value to the mass audio market. Starting with portable media players, the lineup quickly grew to include earphones designed to provide the best sound at the price and later expanding to include value priced accessories. MEE has made a name for itself in audio enthusiasts communities, with reviewers, and in the hearts and minds of consumers due to the sound quality usually only found in earphones that cost many times more. While sound quality is paramount for MEE earphones, durability and style are also designed in as well as best in class accessories.

Those who know MEElectronics know customer service is extremely important, as we provide fast, friendly service. Customers are MEElectronics biggest asset and feedback is greatly appreciated; you are encouraged to send us comments and questions. You can help MEE grow and continue to offer value products by recommending us to people you know and posting online reviews that share your story of value, sound quality, and/or customer service.

For more information, contact Joe Daileda at joe@meelec.com or visit our website at www.meelec.com.

finally! A Unique Melody US Dealer

2010-07-29T08:54:00.000-07:00

Stephen Guo from www.custom-iem.com informed me that now they are the US dealer for Unique Melody Products.

As we all know, Unique Melody makes superb IEMs as well as remolds. My first experience with their product was the 4-driver Unique Melody Mage, where was really impressed with the performance of the IEM. Last time I heard, the Mage can be upgraded to an 8 driver model, but of course the Unique Melody website doesn’t list it (It still doesn’t list the Mage in the product range).

Anyway, most of the latest product aren’t even listed on Unique Melody’s Chinese website, so that causes a lot of problems for us, English speaking people. Not anymore, with Stephen being the UM representative.

Hop on to the website and check out their latest products!

Unique Melody Price List

UM Customs:

UM Marvel – 2 drivers: $449
UM Aero – 3 drivers: $519
UM Mage – 4 drivers: $629
UM Miracle – 6 drivers: $929

Re-shelling & Upgrades (cable not included):

Re-shell only: $159
Re-shell & Upgrade from 2 drivers to 3 drivers: $279
Re-shell & Upgrade from 3 drivers to 4 drivers: $279
Re-shell & Upgrade from 3 drivers to 6 drivers: $469
Re-shell & Upgrade from 3 drivers to 8 drivers: $749
Re-shell & Upgrade from 4 driver custom to 6 drivers: $349
Re-shell & Upgrade from 4 driver custom to 8 drivers: $479
Re-shell & Upgrade from 6 driver custom to 8 drivers: $449

Cables:

50’ Cable: $59
64’ Cable: $69

As we are promoting the UM Miracle, any buyers before Sep 30 will get an extra cable($59) for free!

All products, prices and details are available on http://www.custom-iem.com
Any questions regarding our products and services, feel free to contact stephenguo@live.com

Shahid Kapoor scared of papa Pankaj Kapoor

2010-07-29T08:53:00.000-07:00

Spicezee Bureau

Mumbai: Bollywood’s chocolate boy Shahid Kapoor was recently admonished by Pankaj Kapoor, as the actor was disrupting the peace of their neighbourhood by playing music too loud – that too of ‘Mausam’.

It is believed that Shahid is addicted to the songs of ‘Mausam’ and loves playing them even in his outdoor schedules.

But the actor, who is currently shooting for dad Pankaj Kapoor’s ‘Mausam’ in Edinburgh had a hard time with his father, who scolded him for playing the songs of ‘Mausam’ on high volume. Sources reveal that Pankaj Kapoor didn’t want the songs of his debut directorial venture to leak out so early.

Well, like every good son, Shahid readily complied with his father’s wishes and grooved on the songs of ‘Mausam’ on his earphone.

Logitech Ultimate Ears 700

2010-07-29T08:49:00.000-07:00

Watching people sitting on a bus, as we often do, there are two main types of headphone wearers: people who have the default white headphones, and people who opt for something that asserts a bit of their personality but also provides better sound — usually over-ear cans from the likes of Skullcandy or Sennheiser. If you believe you belong to a third group that values sound quality over anything else then prick your ears.

Ultimate Ears was created by drummer Alex Van Halen who needed a pair of custom in-ear monitors. After crafting professional gear for several years, the company began making consumer headphones in 2002, and was then snapped up by Logitech in 2008.

The headphones sit somewhere near the top of the consumer headphones, which culminate in the Ultimate Ears TripleFi 10 at AU$529. The headphones feature two custom-tuned speakers per ear and yet are quite small and light at only 11.6 grams per earphone. The finish is metallic, though unlike the Monster Jamz it’s plastic and not actual metal, but they feel hard-wearing. The headphones ship with four different-sized ear tips including (our favourite) the expanding Comply Foam.

The 700s have a frequency response of 10Hz – 16.5kHz which doesn’t sound all that impressive when CD goes all the way up to 20kHz. But if this matters to you be comforted by the fact that most modern music arguably cuts off about 12kHz anyway. Plus, we don’t think many of the headphones that claim to go 20-20,000 are quite telling the truth anyway.

Forget what you know about boomy, tizzy in-ear headphones of the past: these are incredibly refined animals. We liked the sound of the Monster Jamz, and the Ultimate Ears are even better. There is a more sophisticated touch to music and they’re more comfortable to listen to for long periods. While the rubber tips will give you a more “upfront” sound this is at the expense of both bass response and noise isolation. With the Comply tips in, the sound levels are reduced by up to 26dB, or a third in general terms, and the bass returns.

And when we say bass, we mean bass with detail. By that we don’t mean explosive sound but bass notes with definition — for example, you can actually hear the sound of a pick on a bass string where before there was only mush.

The rest of the spectrum is well-served too, and while it may not have the most expansive sound stage in the world the mid-range is detailed and the treble is sweet. The ‘phones have an even-handed response, which suits all types of music, but rock music and dance still retain their energy.

If you’re looking for out-and-out excitement then you can save a bit of money and get the Monster Jamz instead, which are amazing value for money. But if you want a set of headphones that won’t grate on your nerves after one or two songs and are also great on the train or plane then the Ultimate Ears are perfect. Shop around, though, as we've seen them online for about AU$170, which makes them very competitive with the Jamz.

Grado Prestige Series 325is headphones

2010-07-28T00:56:00.000-07:00

Grado is a company we have come to admire for a couple of reasons. First, they make pretty darn good products, and secondly, rather than plaster their name over all kinds of products they don’t make, they stay true to their core mission. And that’s pretty much it.

A few months ago, we reviewed Grado’s entry into the earphone market, the GR8 Grado GR8 earphones | iPhone World. And we thought that if these earphones are that good, we could only wonder what their headphones must sound like. After all, that’s what they are famous for (along with phono cartridges).

We didn’t have to wonder very long. We recently received a the 325is model headphones and over the last couple of months have given these a serious listen. When we say serious, we mean serious… as in, sit down and pay attention. Because you can’t just plug the 325is into your iPod/iPhone and hit the road. They are not portable … at all.

The Grado 325is headphones are for sitting in a comfortable chair and listening to your favorite music. In fact, when we first used them, our memories were brought back to a time when listening to a new album meant something. You would carefully place the record on the turntable and then you would sit and listen intently either alone or with friends. You would take in everything the artist had to offer from the first track to the end. There was no “shuffle mode” or fast forward to the next track. You were listening to an artist’s work the way that artist intended it to be listened to. If nothing else, that’s the main joy of these Grados: they forced us to sit and pay attention.

When we said they were not portable, one look shows why. The Grado 325 phones are big, (somewhat) heavy and the cord is THICK. They are an open air design. That means that you will still hear sounds around you and people near you can hear what you are listening to. There are good and bad points with this kind of design. The bad is that there is little privacy since the sound leaks out, and if you are in a noisy environment, outside noises can be distracting. But if all is quiet and you are alone, then the brilliance of the open design becomes apparent. Wearing these headphones is like listening to very expensive speakers in front of you.

Let’s explain: If headphones cover your ears completely, then the music is aimed directly into your head. Its known as closed-back. Music is extremely personal and intimate with this design, much like in a recording studio. Earphones will give you that same feeling. With the open air Grados, the music sounds more spacious and “live”, hence, the speakers-in-a-large-room sound. To say whether either design is better is unfair to both approaches. We sometimes prefer the more intimate closed sound to the airy Grados, and sometimes we prefer the Grados. Its a preference that changes with the music and mood we are in.

So how exactly do the Grado 325is phones sound? If you are a fan of live music, older recordings, jazz or classical, you’re gonna love these. If you are a hip-hop fan, well, look elsewhere. The bass on these phones is accurate,, not overpowering. That’s a plus in our book. The sound can best be described as “warm”. The is no clinical coldness to the music. That must be the “Grado sound” others like to talk about.

The retro styling of the Grados caused us to want to feed them some music from another time. The “O Holy Night” medley from “We Wish You a Merry Christmas” by the Ray Conniff Singers (I kid you not) sparkles with distinct harmonies Most of the female voices are in the right speaker with male vocals coming from the left. Gotta love that 60s stereo separation. Listening to Frank Sinatra from the “September of My Years” album with the 325is phones is like hearing him for the first time. We get chills hearing his phrasing and musicality as we have seldom heard before. You can just place yourself in a smoky nightclub with Frank singing 20 feet away.

Speaking of retro, “The Way You Look Tonight” reworked by Bryan Ferry on his “As Time Goes By” album, is showcased by Ferry’s smoking-damaged voice sung on old analog microphones. The Grados bring out all the nuances of his performance in startling detail.

The Association’s “Windy” features harmonies that we hadn’t noticed before with other speakers. They sound much more distinct and complex with the 325is phones. However some of the shimmering of the tamborine comes off a bit harsh.

A glittering guitar highlights Chris Isaak’s “Wicked Game” while in the background, some very subtle acoustic guitar playing lays the groundwork. There is detail in this acoustic sound missing from lesser headphones. Chris’s whiny, pleading vocal completes the mood.

The comfort of the Grado 325is phones is open to debate. We let others try them out and the comfort factor was of mixed opinion. Some loved the retro feel as well as look, while others (usually younger) didn’t care for the heavy foam ear pad feel. They made one listener’s ears sweat. While we agree that the pads can get a bit warm, we had no problem with comfort or sweat. While not the lightest phones we’ve tried, they hold to the head nicely without being too heavy or squeezing.

One important note: If you are considering the 325is phones for your iPod or iPhone, they come with a ¼ inch plug. You will need to purchase a ¼ inch to 3.5mm ( mini plug) adaptor cable (Grado makes one). We think that the price of the 325is phones should include a mini plug or adapter out of the box. And speaking of box, Grado does not spend a lot in their packaging. The thin box seemed cheap compared to what was inside. But don’t be fooled, The Grado 325is earphones are some serious phones. While they certainly are not cheap, they are far from the most expensive phones available and sound much better that their price would suggest. We dare say you can’t find better sounding phones at up to double the price.

So if you are moved to try the 325is phones, sit back, relax and let these retro wonders return you to a time when music really meant something.

Blackbox C18-RB Active Noise Cancelling Earphones: Sound quality vs comfort

2010-07-28T00:41:00.000-07:00

In these times of ever-improving sound and visual quality, the market is being flooded with gadgets to provide the best listening experience.

The latest to hit the shelves is the Blackbox C18-RB Active Noise Cancelling Earphones.

Enabled with world-leading ANR technology, the C18-RB earphones 'provide an ability to enjoy high fidelity sound from your music player without the disturbing influence of loud background noise'.

Cumbersome: The Blackbox C18-RB Active Noise Cancelling Earphones

According to the accompanying manual, Phitek Active Noise Rejection technology processes the ambient noise signal measured at your ear to generate an 'anti-noise' response.

This should result in the two signals combining giving the almost complete cancellation of noise 'leaving your music to be enjoyed with improved fidelity and comfort'.

On the point of comfort, however, I beg to differ.

The 'ergonomically moulded' ear pieces themselves are cumbersome, sometimes requiring substantial manipulation to fit them comfortably in the ear.

So comfort may be a stretch - but what about sound quality?

The inline controller has two switches, one to turn it on and one to adjust volume - very handy when you don't want to have to dig around in your bag for your MP3 for this function.

That said, a green LED indicator shows when the device is on and it flashes when the battery is getting low.

The C18-RBs come with a velvet carry couch, spare earbuds, two airline jacks - a 6.5mm for your home stereo system and a double 3.5mm - a neck lanyard and a AAA battery.

Overall, the C18-RB earphones do what they say on the box: they actively reduce background noise.

So if you can get used to the fiddly assembly and weight of the inline controller, they're a good buy.