SMS Audio outs an on-ear option for its Street by 50 headphones, ships October 7th for $180

SMS Audio outs more Street by 50 headphones, shipping October 7th with a $180 price tag

If you’re a fan of emcee-endorsed headphones, you’re in luck. SMS Audio — the folks behind the SYNC by 50 line — has just announced another portable audio option that gets the recommendation of Mr. Jackson himself. The Street by 50 moniker now sports a wired, on-ear option to go alongside its current over-ear and in-hear offerings. These cans house 40mm pro-tuned drivers, folding hinges and memory foam cushioning while sporting Shadow Black and Ghost White color schemes. Anxious to snag some? Well, you can pre-order a set now, but they’ll start shipping on October 7th — if you’re willing to shell out the requisite $179.99, of course. As for us, we’re patiently waiting on the Keenan Cahill model.

Continue reading SMS Audio outs an on-ear option for its Street by 50 headphones, ships October 7th for $180

Filed under:

SMS Audio outs an on-ear option for its Street by 50 headphones, ships October 7th for $180 originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 02 Oct 2012 09:00:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink   |   | Email this | Comments

SteelSeries Flux and Flux In-Ear Pro headsets ears-on (video)

SteelSeries Flux and Flux InEar Pro headsets handson

“This is the best sounding in-ear product below $250,” SteelSeries’ Chief Marketing Officer, Kim Rom, told us between songs. “I’ll go on record saying that.” Rom was talking about the firm’s new Flux In-Ear Pro headset, and had similar words for the brand’s foldable on-ear Flux cans. The earbuds and their full sized companions are part of the company’s “freedom to play” campaign, and it has the utmost confidence in them. Rom even told us the foldable Flux headset lasted 90 minutes in the firm’s “soccer test,” a SteelSeries tradition that plays out exactly like it sounds: international football with consumer electronics. Our hands-on was decidedly less rough.

Continue reading SteelSeries Flux and Flux In-Ear Pro headsets ears-on (video)

Filed under: ,

SteelSeries Flux and Flux In-Ear Pro headsets ears-on (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 06 Sep 2012 23:02:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink   |   | Email this | Comments

Logitech unveils lineup of UE headphones for in, on and around your ears (hands-on)

Logitech unveils lineup of UE headphones for in, on, and around your ears

Logitech acquired Ultimate Ears awhile back to take advantage of its experience with professional audio, and now it’s leveraged some of that institutional knowledge to create a UE line of headphones aimed at consumers. First up, there’s the $100 UE 4000 on-ear model that comes in three colors: black, blue and magenta, plus a detachable cord with an in-line mic and audio controls compatible with iOS devices. The UE 6000 model takes things up a notch with an over-ear design that folds up for easy storage on the go, has an in-line remote, plus it adds active noise cancellation technology for $200. Then there’s the UE 9000 Bluetooth wireless cans that also have ANC and a full suite of on-ear controls for iPhone or iPad, which can be had for $400. Lastly, there’s the $400 UE 900 in-ear headphones sporting a quad-armature design and two sets braided cables — one with in-line controls, and one without. All of the UE models start shipping in the US today, and will be available in Europe next month. We got to try on and try out all of Logitech’s new gear for a brief listening session awhile back, so join us after the break for our impressions.

Continue reading Logitech unveils lineup of UE headphones for in, on and around your ears (hands-on)

Filed under:

Logitech unveils lineup of UE headphones for in, on and around your ears (hands-on) originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 29 Aug 2012 15:36:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink   |  sourceLogitech  | Email this | Comments

Klipsch revamps Image One series headphones, intros first Bluetooth variant (update: ears-on)

Klipsch revamps Image One series headphones, intros first Bluetooth variant update earson

As if updating and expanding its in-ear headphone lineup wasn’t enough, Klipsch has gone ahead and unveiled its revamped Image One on-ear set here at Irving Plaza in NYC. As we’re told, the new Image One is acoustically similar to its predecessor, but now it has a more stylish and robust design that should hold up better over time. Notably, the headphones only have a single cable leading into the left earcup (rather than splitting into both cups like the original), and it’s also of the flat variety to prevent tangling. The earcups can still fold flat, but now they can fold into the headband as well, making a smaller footprint for storage in a stuffed bag. In terms of comfort, the leather earpads are now a totally flat to provide an improved seal and better comfort. Beyond that, an Apple-certified inline remote / mic will help you control your music and calls on the go. An airliner converter, a 1/4-inch adapter and soft-shell carrying case are naturally included, and best of all, pricing still remains set at 150 bones.

Rather than just tweaking the original, however, Klipsch has decided to finally enter the wireless headphone game by offering a $250 Bluetooth-equipped variant for those who hate cords. This version looks nearly identical, with the subtle tweak of having the playback and volume controls positioned as buttons on the outside of the right earcup. The Image One Bluetooth also sports a built-in rechargeable battery, yet the set only gains 10 grams of weight (180 grams total) on top of its wired sibling — should the battery die, a detachable cable allows for passive functionality. What’s more, audiophiles will pleased to know that aptX and A2DP are both baked-in for high-quality lossless audio streaming. If your ears are already tingling with excitement, the new Image One and Image One Bluetooth are set to hit shelves by the end of the month. We’re already putting both sets of cans through their paces here at the event, so check back soon as we’ll be updating this post with our initial impressions.

Update: You’ll find images of the headphones below and our brief ears-on after the break.

Continue reading Klipsch revamps Image One series headphones, intros first Bluetooth variant (update: ears-on)

Filed under:

Klipsch revamps Image One series headphones, intros first Bluetooth variant (update: ears-on) originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 09 Aug 2012 17:01:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink   |   | Email this | Comments

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.

Permalink   |  sourceFCC  | Email this | Comments