SOL Republic outs Master Tracks XC over-ear headphones for $250

SOL Republic outs Master Tracks XC over-ear headphones for $250

SOL Republic’s just taken the wraps off of what it’s calling the first “professional-caliber” headphones it’s made: the Master Tracks XC. When it comes to audio chops, the company says it created a new XC Sound Engine design for the cans that grant them acoustic accuracy, reproducing deep bass and a strong, distortion-free mid-range. What’s more, the over-ear headphones have been been “studio tuned” by DJ Calvin Harris, and more than a year’s work has gone into their creation. A rugged six-foot cable with a 5-inch coil and a 1/4-inch adapter accompanies the hardware, as does a cable bearing a microphone and three buttons. If the Master Tracks XC strikes your fancy, you can scoop them up this month for $250.

Filed under:

Comments

B&O Play H3, H6 headphones debut stateside: danish design, premium prices

B&O Play H3, H6 headphones debut stateside aluminumclad danish design, premium prices

It was just last month that Bang & Olufsen unveiled the H3 and H6 headphones under its cheaper-to-enter B&0 Play brand for the EU. Today, B&O introduced these two dapper additions stateside, announcing them at its SoHo NY shop. If you’ll recall, the aluminum-clad H3 in-ears pack 10.3mm drivers aided by mini bass ports, while the H6 over-ears feature 40mm drivers and a healthy heaping of leather-wrapped memory foam padding. Both have an iOS-friendly inline remote and a straight 3.5mm ended cabling. We spent some time with the H6 and we’re surprised at how light it is — which also made for an extremely comfortable first impression when it was placed around this editor’s ears. The sound from the H6’s drivers is crispy and light with a fairly flat voicing that’s free of any noticeable sibilance. A 3.5mm input resides on each of its earcups, which allows for daisy-chaining so you can listen with a buddy. We’re told the H3 intra-aurals should sound similar (we couldn’t get a clean pair to jam in our ears).

Expect to pay $250 for the H3 and $400 for the H6 come July, which is a bit pricier than the likes of B&W’s P3 and P5 headphones. We’ll have to get back to you about whether the prices match the products, but grab a look in the gallery for now.

Filed under: , ,

Comments

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]

Filed under: , ,

Comments

Source: Bose

Sony ships new Extra Bass headphone lineup to the US, delivers that Direct Vibe to your brain

Sony ships new Extra Bass headphone lineup to the US, delivers that Direct Vibe to your brain

If you’d like your Sony headphones to be a little less judgmental, we’ve got good news. The company’s MDR-XB400, MDR-XB600 and MDR-XB800 Extra Bass headphones, along with the MDR-XB60EX in-ears, have arrived in the US for those who want low-end frequencies without the talent show branding. All four carry Sony’s newer Advanced Direct Vibe to emphasize the sub-bass notes of “today’s music styles” (read: electronic and hip-hop) as well as a serrated cord that keeps the cord tangling to a minimum. Working your way up the range mostly improves the frequency range, which starts at an already bass-heavy 5Hz to 22kHz in the XB400 and scales up to a tooth-rattling 3Hz to 28kHz for the XB800; you’ll also see the sensitivity jump from 100dB/mW to 106. Provided you don’t mind tweaking software to occasionally recover some treble, the entire collection is ready to wobble your head at prices that range from $60 for the starter XB400 headphones to $150 for the XB800.

Continue reading Sony ships new Extra Bass headphone lineup to the US, delivers that Direct Vibe to your brain

Filed under: ,

Sony ships new Extra Bass headphone lineup to the US, delivers that Direct Vibe to your brain originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 03 Oct 2012 01:11:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink   |  sourceSony (XB400), (XB600), (XB800), (XB60EX)  | 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