Sony Computer Entertainment Japan announced [JP] a set of 6 earphones for PSP users today. The earphones are nothing special technically (100dB/mW sensitivity, 16Ω impedance, 1.2m cable length), but their colors match the PSP’s color variations, plus they feature the PSP logo. → Read More
Audio fans know that Japan-based Final Audio Design isn’t exactly known for its low prices, and the four new earphones the company added to its earphone line-up aren’t exceptions. While the “cheapest” model of the so-called Piano Forte series will cost $940, the most expensive one will be priced at a staggering $2,650. → Read More
It’s kind of hard to get excited about mid-tier earphones these day The Marshall Minors are a bit of an exception thanks primaily to their retrotastic design. There’s the large gold-colored 3.5mm jack and the fabric-covered wire. Then the earbuds borrow their look from knobs generally found on Marshall amps. But you already knew this. The Marshall Minor’s were announced back in… → Read More
Logitec announced their newest product today, something that they are selling as the world’s smallest Bluetooth earphones. Weighing in at a mere 1/3 of an ounce, the LBT-PCHP02 earphones just might qualify for the title. → Read More
Shure announced their latest sound isolating earphones today (don’t call them earbuds), the SE315. The SE315′s are a single driver earphone with a full range of sound, and a detachable cable. → Read More
Fresh off the boat from Sweden are a-JAYS’ new pair of affordable ear buds — the a-JAYS Three. The set is priced at $60, which is somewhat of a tough price point as it’s just above the cheap, impulse-buy mark and high-end ‘phones traditionally start north of $100. But we’re not here to discuse market pricing schemes. Nope, we’re here to find out how these… → Read More
For $13, you can purchase Spot for Earphones, a simple little solution for managing the long cord on your MP3 player’s headphones. It’s certainly a lot more expensive than the perennial Altoids tin earbud case, but it’s a good bit more functional, too. The integrated clip allows you to attach the Spot to any piece of clothing or accessory to keep it handy but out of the way. Roll up the cord for… → Read More
I don’t know what it is about Japan and earphones, but this country does offer some unique ones. Today, it wasn’t some weird little company but Pioneer that announced strange earphones: One is cherry-shaped [JP], the other looks like a piece of a leather belt [JP] for some reason. → Read More
About a year ago, JVC started selling headphones with wooden housing in Japan, claiming the superior sound quality they bring justify the high price ($730). And today the company announced the HA-FX700 [JP], earphones partly made of wood. And we have the same things coming with it again: JVC promising high sound quality and a relatively high price. → Read More
Wow. Announced about a year ago at a price of over $400, the Ultimate Ears TripleFi 10 and TripleFi 10vi “Noise Isolating Earphones” are going for just $99.99 each on Amazon today, down from yesterday’s (and presumably tomorrow’s) price of $328. → Read More
Some Japanese gadget freaks do have a penchant for weird earphones, that’s for sure, meaning these things actually seem to sell. I doubt that otherwise, Tokyo-based accessory maker Greenhouse would have updated the buta (piggy) earphones they gave us in June 2008. It’s not a technical update but the same earphones are available in purple and orange now (see the picture above). → Read More
Tokyo-based Solid Alliance is slowly but surely evolving into a serious competitor for Thanko in the wacky gadget department. So far, the company gave us a USB Ninja knife, a USB Terminator 4 skull and a spectacle-shaped USB stick. And now this: The aptly named “Crazy Earphones” [JP] (that’s their official name). → Read More
EXCITING TIMES, MY FRIENDS! Meritline just dropped a headphone bomb of awesome-tastic proportions with these – WAIT FOR IT – double-sided earbuds! One side is a cruddy, cheap earbud like you’d find included with a cruddy, cheap MP3 player while the other side is a fancy earbud that goes into the deepest depths of your ear for the ultimate in fancy sound, just like all the cool kids from… → Read More
Mid- and high-end headphones are everywhere these days. AKG, previously known for recording and broadcast equipment, just added to the bunch by outing a slew of headphones, including these totally acceptable $119 K 340 in-canal buds. I’ve spent some good listening time with them, and I have to say that they are solid performers once you get over the somewhat awkward design. → Read More
Tokyo-based crap gadget specialist Thanko is usually known for selling USB stuff nobody needs. Their newest hit product doesn’t feature a USB port, but the target group for their Catgirl Earphones [JP] should be quite small, too. Marketed as a gadget for the Cosplay crowd, the earphones are supposed to turn your girlfriend into a cute catgirl. → Read More
We just wanted to pass along a quick note to all three of our female readers. (hi, Mom!) The Roxy-branded JBL headphones are now available in three different flavors: over-the-ear for $59.99, earphones for $39.99, and earbuds for $19.99. All of ‘em are done up in the urban surfer wannabe style. You know you want ‘em. → Read More
Ok, kids, here’s your chance to get a free pair of Radius Atomic Bass earphones. It’ll work with any mobile phone that has a 3.5mm port, but, like everyone else, Radius thinks that iPhone owners are the only ones that listen to music on their mobile. Check out the review for the non-iPhone model of the Atomic Bass if you care to know how they perform. So here’s how you can win. → Read More
Call me a snob for liking my $150+ Ultimate Ears, Shure and Etymotic earphones, but they sound fantastic and fit perfectly. Oh, uh, excuse me while I remove the egg off my face. I’d never heard of Radius until I received a pair of Atomic Bass earphones a couple weeks back. I figured a pair of $40 earphones would sound like a $40 pair, but no, I was wrong.
I don’t particular think the drivers… → Read More
A prominent sound engineer once told me that Etymotic was one of three headphone manufacturers in existence today that actually produces high fidelity in-ear ‘phones worth buying. That’s a pretty bold statement, but an accurate one.
Of all the Etymotic earphones that I’ve tried, I’ve never had issue with the tree tips since they provide more than adequate noise-isolation, but custom tips… → Read More
Surfer girls take notice: the Roxy-branded headphones that are coming out shortly are made by JBL and should sound great. Generally, when a fashion brand launches random electronics, they are of the low quality, but Roxy seems to have bucked that trend thankfully. No word on pricing or what exactly the line will include just yet. → Read More
Tokyo-based online gadget store Thanko (they have an English site) is now selling the Sport MP3, a combination of neckband earphones and an MP3 player [JP]. And this time it’s nothing weird. Thanko just says the Sport MP3 is the perfect solution for people wanting to listen to music and do sports at the same time. → Read More
Sony Japan today announced the DR-BT100CXP [JP], a headset that can not only be used for listening to music but is also good for cell phones via the microphone. Bluetooth 2.1+EDR is supported. → Read More
New earphones. Yay. Just what the world needs. The Platinum Series The ‘higher-end’ line that includes cell phone control. The i-Series has an in-line mic and a multi-function button for phone and music control. The ev-Series drops the mic but retains the volume and playback control. The e-Series is just the earphones. $59.99, $59.99, & $49.99, respectively. The Style Series… → Read More
Can you believe that Apple announced its near-audiophile grade in-ear headphones way back on September 9th, 2008 and they are just now shipping to customers? Crazy. A refresher is probably appropriate since they were announced nearly three months ago. → Read More
Hitachi Maxell today unveiled noise-canceling iPod-only earphones [JP] that are powered through the player and therefore don’t require extra batteries. They weigh 22 grams and are 95cm long. All that users need to do is to plug the HP-NC20.IPs to the dock connector, having to take into account the battery life will be reduced by up to a whopping 66%. In addition, users are forced to control… → Read More
It’s clear that bone conduction headphones aren’t quite there yet in terms of sound quality, so we’ll just have to cope with in-ear or over the ear headphones and today Etymotic announced a new set of hi-fi in-ears. The hf5 earphones have the same award winning technology as the hf2, but ditch the lame microphone. Tuned for a full dynamic range of sound coupled with the noise-isolating tips… → Read More
Japan released a number of super-cute gadgets and electronic devices in the last days. Here are the top five. Top 5: Fragrance case for earphones Marubeni Infotech has announced the “Fragrance Case for Earphone” [JP], a small box made of aluminum tailor-made for the “Y” part of any given earphone. The box is filled with scented cotton that emits a nice smell while the… → Read More
Tokyo-based Green House, a “Thanko light” of sorts and the company that introduced pig-shaped earphones back in June, today presented the so-called “Angel and Devil” earphones [JP]. The earphones, which feature a frequency response of 20Hz -20,000Hz and an impedance of 16Ω, come in five different colors for the devil part: red, pink, purple, magenta and of course black… → Read More
The latest in earphone design, as seen in the Pioneer SE-CLX50? What the company calls Flex Nozzle, which allows the ‘phones to be moved about in several directions. Makes them more comfortable to wear, apparently. The earphones will be available in the three colors you see right up there when they’re released in November for around $73. That seems an awful lot of money for, shall we… → Read More
Currently, the lowest priced Shure earphones here in the States are the SE110 at a modest $119, but that might change. Shure is releasing the E2c plugs over in Japan for 8000 yen, working out to be an even more modest $75 USD. I’m not a Shure aficionado but I do understand retail price points, and having a Shure-branded unit to compete with high-end Sony and JVC models does have a nice… → Read More
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