It’s not quite right for a last-minute holiday gift since it won’t be out until January, but maybe you can give an IOU: Audio-Technica today introduced the ATH-ANC1, a new model in its lineup of noise-cancelling headphones. The ATH-ANC1  is an on-hear model (as opposed to in-ear) that blocks out 85 percent of outside noise.

What sets this model apart is that it folds up nicely for storage and travel. Many on-ear models are so large that they’re a burden to carry. The package comes with a carrying pouch, and the active noise-cancellation circuitry is located in an external module in order to keep the headphones themselves lightweight. The ATH-ANC1 will work as standard headphones without batteries or when the noise cancellation is turned off. Look for them with a list price of $129.95.

The retro-styled Chopper2 headphones from Aerial7 may look familiar. Anyone who has seen the wonderful (and hugely popular, if my local high street is anything to go by) Panasonic RP HTX7-K1 will instantly recognize the large earpieces, the adjustable steel-wire sliders, the leather-covered pads and headband and the single-exit cable. Even the recommended price is almost the same, at $70 to the Panasonic’s $60.

Apart from the dubious color schemes, the Chopper2 has one important addition: an in-line mic, for use with compatible cellphones (the iPhone and BlackBerry both work, for example). They don’t have the inline remote to control an iPod, as that requires Apple’s magic chip to work, but for yakking on the phone you’re good.

In fact, on paper at least, the Chopper2s compare well to the Panasonics. The driver is 4mm bigger, at 44mm, the sensitivity is 108dB (vs. 99dB) and the impedance is 32 ohms against 40 ohms. The frequency response is a little narrower in range, giving 5-20 KHz vs. 7-22KHz. Without actually listening, it looks like the main decider is going to be the microphone and the garish color schemes of the Chopper2s. That and the fact that the Panasonics have been around for so long now that they can be had for as little as $30 online.

Chopper2 Headphones [Aeriel7. Thanks, Greg!]

RP-HTX7-K1 headphones [Panasonic]

The Astro A40 is the premier chat-ready 5.1 surround sound gaming headset on the market, compatible with Xbox 360, PS3 and PC. But unlike the Turtle Beach X41, it’s wired.

Price

$250 with mixamp needed to combine chatting and surround sound.

Verdict

I still vastly prefer the convenience of Turtle Beach’s wireless X41 headset, but I have to admit, the Astro A40 sounds better.
Playing Borderlands, everything from the growls of skaggs to the cadence of machine gun fire sounded richer and rounder on the A40s than my X41s. Maybe the sounds weren’t always as distinct, but especially when cranking the volume on each headset, I realized the general listenability—the whole package of sound—was more pleasant with Atro’s product, making me long for hearing loss. It’s a difference in mid range that, while not absolutely Earth-shattering, will probably be noticeable to most in a side-by-side test.

Both headsets have extremely similar sound localization. And chatting, on both, is an equal joy.

But there’s one, huge, horrible, despicable Achilles’ heel to the Astro A40s. To connect the headset to an Xbox 360 (or PS3/PC), wires will invade your entire living room because the console needs to plug twice into a mixamp (the big, retro box you see in the lead photo), then the mixamp connects your headphones and controller. That’s confusing, I know. Here’s the full workflow:

Xbox 360 optical out and USB cord => A40 Mixamp => Headphones/Mic and Xbox 360 controller.
Ultimately, not only are you negotiating four wires for this one headset, but you’ll still be tethered close to your console because of one, generally short/inflexible wire: the optical cord from your Xbox to the Mixamp (you can always opt for stereo plugs, but that sort of spoils the fun).

So while I knew the A40s sounded a bit better than my X41s, I couldn’t kick back and enjoy the game in the same way. For one long cord or tight quarters PC gaming, I might opt for the A40s. For four cords sprawled across my living room, I’m sticking with the X41s—especially since they’re $50+ less.

Maybe you’ll feel differently.

Excellent sound


Headphones work with any 3.5mm source, too


Wiring gets obnoxious

When you’ve got the brand cachet of a Bowers & Wilkins, the decision to launch your first-ever headphone will be met head-on with plenty of pre-defined market expectations. But with products spread wide across diverse audio tastes and prices, well, pretty much anything goes. So it’s probably no surprise then to find B&W prostrating itself to the dollar with its P5 Mobile Hi-Fi Headphone. These Made for iPod noise-isolating cans with speech and device control are meant for use far beyond your carefully constructed “critical listening” audio nest at home. You can, however, swap out the iPod cable for the B&W supplied gold-plated cable by popping off the magnetically attached ear pad. Mind you, the P5 does not offer electronic noise cancelation, instead, the listener is isolated through a combination of the P5’s closed-back design and sealed leather ear pads. They also bring the promise of “unfatiguing performance” thanks to B&W developed ultra-linear neodynium magnets and Mylar diaphragms. Naturally, we’ll reserve judgment until these babies ship sometime in January.

Filed under: Portable Audio

Bowers & Wilkins first ever P5 headphones follow the iPod money trail originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 10 Nov 2009 03:19:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Sleek Audio earbuds have always had a certain allure, but for most, the sticker shock alone was enough to turn ’em away. Now, however, the boutique audio shop has punched out its very first set that’s tailor made for the budget-minded, and at $79.99, the SA1 offers an awful lot of value (on paper, anyway). Much like the pricier SA6 and CT6 models, the SA1 also ships with Kleer wireless technology, enabling it to go from wired to wireless and back again. It also boasts a modified VQ Tuning system that allows the user to acoustically alter the sound signature of their music, a siam rosewood body, detachable cable and single / dual-flange ear tips. The real kicker? The $79.99 price point, which is darn near unheard of for something with these kind of specs. It’s up for pre-order right now in the read link, with initial shipments expected to head out in November.

Filed under: Portable Audio, Wearables, Wireless

Sleek Audio’s SA1 earbuds bring Kleer wireless, custom tuning for $80 originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 30 Oct 2009 13:06:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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