Hasta La Gadget!

We still haven’t been able to evaluate Creative’s original claim that the Sound Blaster Tactic 3D series can tell up from down, but the company’s already got a third set of virtual surround sound headphones. The Sound Blaster Tactic 3D Omega (whew) adds wireless to what looks like a nearly identical set of cans, and connects to PCs, game consoles, and other home audio components with a base station on the other end. At $200, they’re not cheap, so we hope Creative’s increased the quality of its materials and construction quite a bit — the original sets were fairly flimsy, as we recall. PR after the break.

Continue reading Creative Sound Blaster Tactic 3D Omega headphones have a long name, connect to PC and game consoles wirelessly

Creative Sound Blaster Tactic 3D Omega headphones have a long name, connect to PC and game consoles wirelessly originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 07 Jan 2011 15:01:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Talk about a long wait. Razer’s Chimaera — which first popped onto our radar in prototype form here in Vegas a year ago — is finally shipping to end users. That’s according to staff at the company’s booth today at CES, who seemed quite pleased that they could change their answer when asked about it from eager (read: impatient) customers. The website still hasn’t been updated, but the 5.1 channel surround sound headset ($199.99) should be more widely available to purchase soon. Also, a 2.1 version will be on sale for $129.99, rocking a fairly similar design and charging station. For those needing a refresher, this is a wireless Xbox 360 headset, complete with an equalizer, audio out jacks (on the station) and a flip-down microphone. Have a peek at the gallery below, and feel free to start checking your doorstep at an unhealthy clip.

Razer Chimaera emerges at CES 2011, starts shipping to consumers originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 07 Jan 2011 09:09:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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It’s official. The cans we saw teased earlier in the week have just been made official by Sleek Audio and Curtis Jackson (otherwise known to the world as 50 Cent), with the rapper himself dishing out cash and input to make it happen. We’re told that they were designed by 50 and engineered by Sleek, and are the first headphones ever to offer ‘Wireless Hybrid’ technology with military-grade metals. More specifically, the Sleek by 50 Cent Platinum headphones utilize Kleer lossless wireless technology, with a 60 foot range and a micro-USB rechargeable battery. If you run out of juice, there’s a detachable mic cable that can be jacked in for continued listening. The cans themselves house a pair of 50mm dynamic drivers, a customized internal amplifier and a call-out to Dr. Dre. Just kidding. Maybe. We’re still waiting on a price and release date, but we’d expect ’em to ship soon for just a touch more than HP’s Beats — you know, given the wireless and all.

Continue reading Sleek by 50 Cent Platinum headphones announced, invites Beats to a showdown

Sleek by 50 Cent Platinum headphones announced, invites Beats to a showdown originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 06 Jan 2011 13:00:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Sennheiser has a thing for trotting out titillating new wares at the annual Consumer Electronics Show, and this year is proving to be no different in that regard. The audio specialist has just introduced one of the most fully-featured headsets we’ve seen in quite awhile, with the CXC 700 boasting not one, not two, but three levels of noise cancellation. The newfangled NoiseGard /digital technology gives owners a trifecta of noise-cancelling profiles, with each one optimized for something different. In fact, we’ll let Senn do the explaining here:

“Mode 1 absorbs low-frequency noise in particular (100 to 400 Hertz), such as engine noise from trains, buses or small passenger planes. Mode 2 focuses on cancelling noise in the medium frequency range (400 to 3,000 Hertz), which is caused above all by air-conditioning systems in large passenger aircraft or office buildings. Mode 3 has a particularly wide frequency range (100 to 3,000 Hertz), and combines the noise-cancelling effect in the medium and low-frequency ranges. As a result, background noise with different noise components, such as that which occurs at airports, railway stations or underground stations, can be effectively suppressed, although with a slightly lower noise-cancelling performance than in the first two modes.”

In case that’s not enough to convince ya, these offer a frequency response of 20Hz to 21,000Hz, and they’ll function just fine (albeit sans noise cancellation) even if your AAA battery keels over. Controls are embedded in the cabling, and users are able to activate the TalkThrough function if they’d prefer to conduct a conversation with someone without actually removing their earphones. Furthermore, changing between the NoiseGard profiles and activation of the TalkThrough function are indicated by both an acoustic and a visual signal. The company will be shipping these with a 4.5-foot long cable, an in-flight adapter, 6.35mm jack plug adapter, a small carrying case and a diaphragm protector, with sales to start later this month for around $320.

Continue reading Sennheiser’s sophisticated CXC 700 earbuds tout three levels of noise cancellation, TalkThrough functionality

Sennheiser’s sophisticated CXC 700 earbuds tout three levels of noise cancellation, TalkThrough functionality originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 06 Jan 2011 00:00:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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That said, the rapper’s headphone are, in fact, pretty sweet looking. Ludacris has teamed up with Signeo to offer up five different models, which will be branded “Soul by Ludacris.” The line includes the High Definition Professional SL300 Powered Noise Cancelling headphone, High Definition On-Ear models SL150 and SL100, and the SE99 and SE49 High Definition In-Ear headphones.

All models include “world class” noise cancellation and audio mixing. Also, these things: “professionally voiced sound technology with advanced circuitry and drivers designed by a team of engineers who have developed some of the most notable acoustic breakthroughs in the audio industry.”

The headphones are set to hit the market early this year. We’ll be getting some more information — as well as a chat with the man himself — later in the show.