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If you are an audiophile who absolutely loves all original tracks just the way the recording artist wants you to listen to, then you will definitely fall in love with the Sony Extra Bass range of headphones which were just announced recently. These will come in headband-type and in ear bud versions, where it will merge Sony’s expertise in superior audio engineering, comfort, and style, without sacrificing on performance, delivering an enhanced acoustic design to boot. It is said that the range of sub harmonics is deeper than the more traditional line, making it more than the ideal pair for today’s music.

Andrew Sivori, vice president of the Personal Audio Division at Sony Electronics, said, “Sony’s sound engineers are committed to providing an unprecedented level of audio performance. Our new Extra Bass lineup of headphones delivers solid low frequency response, enhancing the signature of today’s music styles.”

Boasting the newly developed Advanced Direct Vibe Structure, the MDR-XB800, MDR-XB600 and MDR-XB400 headphones will deliver additional bass reproduced with high-fidelity, making it sound appealing to music lovers who are looking for an impressive listening experience.

The MDR-XB800 and MDR-XB600 headphones were specially designed for long-term wearing comfort with soft head cushions, while seamless pressure-relieving ear cushions ensure that your ears remain nice and comfortable after long hours of listening, in addition to having a supportive, wrap-around feel. The presence of an effective acoustic seal paves the way for a high level of sound isolation, which further reinforces the headphones’ powerful sub-bass reproduction.

Boasting grooved serrations on the surface, the cords on the Extra Bass headphones come in an innovative design which does away with friction between cable surfaces and reduces the source of frustrating tangles. Thanks to their special folding design, you can be sure of hassle-free portability wherever you go. Some of the headphones will come with hybrid silicone rubber ear buds in various sizes so that your ears will always be able to enjoy a secure and tailored fit.

The MDR-XB800, MDR-XB600, MDR-XB400 and MDR-XB60EX headphones will arrive in Sony Stores and can also be ordered online, and the MDR-XB800 will cost $149.99; while the MDR-XB600 retails for $99.99; and the MDR-XB400 goes for $59.99 with the MDR-XB60EX retailing for $99.99 a pair.

Press Release
[ Sony Extra Bass headphone series announced copyright by Coolest Gadgets ]

At the end of August, Razer outed a black and green-cloaked version of its BlackShark gaming headset. The original unit first broke from cover just ahead of E3, but on that particular show floor, the aviator-inspired set of cans was sporting the blue and orange hues consistent with its Battlefield 3 branding. Here at TGS, we were able to take a closer look at the version that lacks a game-specific allegiance. The hardware is identical with the lone exception being the new paint scheme. If you’re unfamiliar with the BlackShark, the headset does a stellar job of recalling classic pilot units complete with detachable boom mic for use with your PMP of choice. The $120 peripheral also features quite comfy heavily-padded, leather-esque earcups and the same material wraps the headband with a dash of bright green stitching — all held over from the BF3 model. We weren’t able to test the audio quality on the show floor, so until our review unit arrives, consult the gallery below and the video that just past the break for a closer look.

Continue reading Razer BlackShark gaming headset hands-on (video)

Filed under: Gaming, Peripherals, Portable Audio/Video

Razer BlackShark gaming headset hands-on (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 21 Sep 2012 00:01:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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As we briefly mentioned in our EarPods review, iFixit was able to teardown Apple’s latest generation of earbuds, which are currently shipping with the iPhone 5. While we weren’t quite sure what was going on with their insides, the site has confirmed some of our suspicions and detailed a few other fun facts. As it turns out, the internal layout of each earpiece is essentially that of an average ‘bud with a forward-facing driver. The new top section, with its side-facing audio port, is apparently a good chunk of what affects the sound in unison with those strategically placed vents. The improved bass and low-mid response we noted in our review falls in line with iFixit’s confirmation that the new driver in each Pod is made with a paper speaker cone — in contrast to the plastic used on the older model.

As the site notes, those driver diaphragms should be less likely to blow-out, and the basket behind ’em have also been updated with a cleaner fit and finish. Aside from that, you’ll be pleased to know that the inline remote appears to have an improved seal for protection from the elements, and it’ll hold up better to cable snags. As you might imagine, the $29 headphones have been deemed as disposable rather than repairable. Don’t take our word for it however — you can read the teardown for yourself at the source link below.

Filed under: Portable Audio/Video, Wearables

Apple’s EarPods get the iFixit teardown treatment, found to basically be earbuds originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 19 Sep 2012 07:45:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Apple‘s new EarPods certainly look like they’ll offer an improvement over the older earbuds, but just how much of an improvement is there? That’s what the folks at iFixit are determined to find out, putting the EarPods in the spotlight as the subject of its latest teardown. Using an exacto knife, a metal spudger, and an iFixit-branded guitar pick, the iFixit gang pried and pulled apart the redesigned EarPods to see if they really can boast significant improvements over Earbuds of the past.

Almost right off the bat, iFixit expresses doubt that the EarPods’ single-driver setup can offer quality to match other headphones that cost hundreds of dollars for just $29, like Apple claims. After running through the aesthetic changes Apple has made with this latest iteration, the iFixit crew gets to work pulling them apart, starting with the redesigned remote. On the inside, the remote isn’t too terribly different from the one found on the old earbuds – it still sports three buttons and a microphone – but iFixit points out that the sealing on this new remote is much better than the sealing on the old one, meaning that you don’t have to worry about water making your remote non-functional as often.

After the remote has been removed, it’s time to dig into the actual EarPods. Since they can’t be pulled apart, iFixit had to get in there with an exacto knife, something the team doesn’t suggest regular consumers do. Once inside, we’re greeted by a diaphragm, a voice coil, a magnet, and a cabinet, which make up the speakers. iFixit found that the diaphragm consists of “a paper cone and a polymer surround,” which is a first for Apple; normally, the diaphragm is all plastic. Despite the fact that these EarPods look quite different from the regular old earbuds on the outside, on the inside, they look pretty similar.

The image you see above is a shot comparing the new EarPods (bottom) to the first generation earbuds (middle) and the previous generation earbuds for iPhone (top), with iFixit stating that the biggest differences are the EarPods’ new design and the new paper cone. iFixit says that these do make some significant durability improvements over past versions, pointing once again to the better-protected remote and saying that the paper cones mean that you’re less likely to blow out your drivers. However, it’s important to keep in mind that repairing these guys is essentially out of the question, considering that they’re hard to get into and cheap enough that you’ll just want to buy a new pair if yours ever break.

iFixit’s full teardown is very fascinating, so if you have a few minutes, be sure to read through the whole thing. What do you think of Apple’s new EarPods?

Apple’s new EarPods get teardown treatment from iFixit is written by Eric Abent & originally posted on SlashGear.
© 2005 – 2012, SlashGear. All right reserved.

There’s nothing more annoying that going for a run or on errands and constantly having to pop  your earphones back into your ears because they fall out. It just gets ridiculous sometimes. Luckily, there are plenty of companies working hard so that this won’t happen to you ever again. These Marshall earphones are one of the latest batch of buds to solve this problem.

The Marshall Minor Pitch Black earphones have a feature called EarClick, that secures the earbud into your ear so that it won’t pop out anymore. A set of four interchangeable earpads ensure they’ll fit no matter what size or shape your ears are. They earphones come with a tangle-free cord, a mic and a remote, so that you can still talk while listening to tunes on your phone.

Of course, they’re designed to provide high quality sound, in keeping with the legacy of the Marshall brand. Frequency response is rated at 20 – 20kHz, with a sensitivity of 115 ± 3dB AT 1kHz 1mW. The Minor Pitch Black is available now, and retails for $65(USD).

[via Gadget Flow]