Hasta La Gadget!

Etymotic specializes in putting inexpensive moving coil drivers inside noise-isolating buds that can, as an optional upgrade, be individually molded via the company’s international “Custom-fit” program. Previous models have been iDevice only, at least in terms of their microphone function and button controls, but the new mc2 should also get along happily with Android, Blackberry, Windows Phone, WebOS and Symbian smartphones and tablets. It’s due for release by the end of the week for $99, which will buy you noise isolation up to a claimed market-beating 42dB, 8mm (0.3-inch) dual-magnet neodymium drivers, an all-important mic and an assortment of ear tips — Custom-fit costs extra, and substantially so. Listen carefully and you might just hear the PR after the break squeaking for your attention.

Continue reading $99 Etymotic mc2 earbuds claim market-beating noise isolation, full platform ambivalence

$99 Etymotic mc2 earbuds claim market-beating noise isolation, full platform ambivalence originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 13 Jun 2011 17:23:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink   |   | Email this | Comments

Continue reading Asius’ ADEL earbud balloon promises to take some pressure off your poor eardrums

Asius’ ADEL earbud balloon promises to take some pressure off your poor eardrums originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 18 May 2011 14:31:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink   |  Gizmag  | Email this | Comments

Behold Final Audio Design’s latest high-end earphones: the Piano Forte X-VII Series. Each of the four models that comprise the series features a large neodymium magnet driver, nestled inside a rigid metal housing made of alloy powder and natural resin, designed to minimize bad vibrations. The driver is a hefty 16 mm in diameter, and boasts roughly three times the surface area of your garden variety earphones, resulting in enhanced low frequency soundscapes. Final Audio Design also added a proprietary pressure ring to each model’s diaphragm (to ward off sound artifacts), as well as special pressure vents (to optimize air pressure around the diaphragm). Internal air pressure, on the other hand, is kept in check thanks to the X-VIII Series’ metallic earpads, which allegedly allow your ear to naturally adjust to any barometric shifts. Each of the four models comes in a unique metallic housing, reportedly capable of delivering different audio blends. But they all share one important characteristic — they’re really expensive. At the high end of the price spectrum are the X-G and X-CC models, which will put you back some ¥220,000 ($2,668). Bargain hunters, meanwhile, will have to settle for the VIII, priced at a slightly less obscene ¥80,000 ($970). Granted, these earphones may very well warrant that kind of cash and scientific hyperbole, though it’s certainly difficult to gauge their value without taking them out for a spin ourselves.

Final Audio Design’s Piano Forte earphones promise concert hall sound at bank-breaking prices originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 20 Apr 2011 14:36:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink Gizmag  |  Final Audio Design  | Email this | Comments

Westone isn’t exactly a household name, even in the earphone universe. But what the company lacks in recognition, it more than makes up for in quality. If you’ll recall, we had a listen to its ES5 custom in-ear monitors earlier in the year, and while they cost a staggering $950, they also managed to melt our brain and thoroughly spoil us in the process. Thankfully, there’s a budget alternative: the Westone 4. Granted, even 50 percent off still lands you right around $449, but many audiophiles would argue that said price is a small one to pay when looking at a quad-driver setup, a three-way crossover network and an insanely robust set of earbud tips. There’s no question that these guys are aimed at the professionals in the crowd, and if you’re interested in seriously stepping up your mobile listening game, you owe it to yourself to peek our full review. It’s after the break, per usual.

Continue reading Westone 4 earphones review

Westone 4 earphones review originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 28 Mar 2011 14:31:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink   |  Westone  | Email this | Comments

Love sleeping with earbuds in? Hate setting your smartphone in its alarm dock before you go to bed? The folks at Thanko have unveiled a little something called EARINALM which may be right up your alley. The premise is pretty straightforward: it’s a set of earbuds that contains an alarm clock, stopwatch, and a calendar. The package includes a USB adapter of charging. Yours now for a mere ¥2,980, or roughly $35. The As Seen On TV infomercials practically write themselves.

Earbud / alarm clock takes the comfort out of sleeping originally appeared on Engadget on Sat, 05 Mar 2011 22:16:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink Akihabara News  |  Thanko  | Email this | Comments