Bose intros AE2w Bluetooth headphones, competitively priced at $250

Bose intros Ae2w Bluetooth headphones,

Although Bose has been using Bluetooth in its Aviation headsets, SoundLink portable speakers and earpieces for cellphones, wireless headphones have been lacking from the company’s roster. That’s changing today, with the company email-blasting US customers about its just-released AE2w Bluetooth headphones. Think of these as a pair of AE2 (roughly $150) over-ear cans with an A2DP-enabled Bluetooth dongle tacked on. This protrusion (which is removeable) provides access to a multi-function button, volume controls, power switch and micro-USB port for charging. Battery life is seven hours, with 200-hours of standby, which is about the norm for this type of kit. The Bluetooth unit enables actively-equalized audio, but can be swapped for a 3.5mm cable (included) — this is ideal for long trips away from power. If you’re interested, the AE2w are available in the US directly from Bose today for $250 — pinning it as a competitor to cans like the apt-X-enabled Klipsch Image One Bluetooth. Our EU-based readers will also be pleased to know that sites like Tom’s Hardware Guide (Italian) have them pegged to arrive May 14th for 250 euros.

[Thanks, Motty]

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V-Moda’s M-100 headphones get priced at $300, will ship ‘in time for the holidays’

It wasn’t long ago when we got an early look an listen to a near-final version of V-Moda’s audiophile-tuned M-100 lifestyle headphones — and now, after months of crowd-sourcing feedback, the company is finally green-lighting mass production. You may recall that pricing and availability hadn’t been set, but now the company has confirmed that the fashionable metal-clad cans will be ready by the holidays, priced at a cool $300. As a refresher, that dollar amount snags you the foldable mil-spec 810G-rated headphones themselves, a hard-shell case, a duo of 3.5mm cables (one with a single button remote / mic, and another with an auxiliary output), corks for both cable inputs on the earcups and a quarter-inch adapter. You’ll have a choice in color between white with gray, black with red (pictured) and matte black with an orange cable, while adding in an extra 10 bucks also lets you add-on a second set of customizable back-plate ‘shields’ and its Fader earplugs. If you’re eager to ensure you’ll have your own pair once the M-100 headphones are ready to ship, they’ll be up for pre-order by day’s end at the source link below. You’ll find more details in the press release after the break — and don’t forget to peruse our detailed ears-on and interview with owner Val Kolton from last week while you make up your mind.

Continue reading V-Moda’s M-100 headphones get priced at $300, will ship ‘in time for the holidays’

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V-Moda’s M-100 headphones get priced at $300, will ship ‘in time for the holidays’ originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 17 Oct 2012 00:30:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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V-Moda’s M-100 audiophile headphones get ready for mass production, we go ears-on

VModa's M100 audiophile headphones get ready for mass production, we go ears on

V-Moda’s been seriously edging for the audiophile crowd lately — namely with its Crossfade M-80 on-ear headphones, the VAMP headphone amp for the iPhone 4/4S, and a soon-to-be disclosed followup dubbed as Vamp Versa. That brings us to its soon-to-be released M-100 headphones, which haven’t really been a secret since their inception, making them a special set. Unlike many companies who strive for secrecy in regards to upcoming products, V-Moda’s taken a drastically different approach with its latest cans, with owner Val Kolton stating that they’re effectively the first crowd-sourced set of headphones.

Many headphone lovers out there likely know that Kolton’s been heavily in contact with the Head-Fi community, hoping to craft the best sounding, looking and fitting ear-gear possible. As he puts it, “the easter egg and inside joke is that the [M-100 headphones] can actually stand up. It is the first headphone that we know of that ‘stands above the rest’ and all others fall down/crawl. It also can stand on top of a few other new brand’s models almost like Cirque De Soleil.” It may be hard to tell based on the fashion-focused looks, but the company is adamant that its audio gear goes through more stringent research and testing than some of the biggest names out there, and that it’ll show in the end products. Most notably, its TrueHertz testing where, for the M-100, “six points from 5hZ to 12kHz are measured to be within [its] obsessive quality control levels.” According to Kolton, most companies only check at 1Khz, and allow for much wider variances. He followed up stating that “like fine wine, a headphone is only as good as its fit (taste buds) and its driver variances (grapes/cork). To us, all brands advertising ‘HD’ sound [aren’t being forthright] unless they believe or even know these key components are “‘fugazi.'”

For perspective, the M-100 is essentially the third iteration of the Crossfade LP over-ear headphones. Aside from a few tweaks to the design, it’s packing an audiophile-focused tuning (rather than DJ) that’s based on blending the voicings of its M-80 on-ears and the LP2 over-ears. It wouldn’t be unfair to say the company is aiming for a flat, yet fun sound — all in a package that’s fit to take to the streets like its earlier offerings. Those familiar may know that just under 150 of the first 200 production-quality models are currently floating around as early stock and test units for a final bit of real-world feedback before mass-production begins — and this editor’s been lucky enough to get his mitts on a set for some initial impressions. So, is the product shaping up to match all the hype? Click on past the break our take.

Continue reading V-Moda’s M-100 audiophile headphones get ready for mass production, we go ears-on

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V-Moda’s M-100 audiophile headphones get ready for mass production, we go ears-on originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 11 Oct 2012 15:00:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Logitech UE 9000 Wireless Headphones hit the FCC: Bluetooth in a full-size package

Logitech's Ultimate Ears 9000 Wireless Headphones hit the FCC, pack Bluetooth in an

We’ve seen Logitech extend the reach of its Ultimate Ears brand once before with the UE Air Speaker, and now it appears that full-size headphones are soon to be on the list. As revealed by a recent FCC filing, the division — best known for its pro-quality IEMs — is working on a set of Bluetooth headphones dubbed as the UE 9000. There isn’t much in the way of details or photos, however, a diagram detailing the location of the unit’s FCC label reveals what looks like a full-size headphone — new territory for UE for sure. We’ll let you know when we hear any official word about the cans, but for now, feel free to scope the existing competition while reading about how much radiation these puppies might inject into your noggin.

Logitech UE 9000 Wireless Headphones hit the FCC: Bluetooth in a full-size package originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 17 Jul 2012 19:47:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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