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Posts with tag headphones

Headphone-Wearing Pedestrians Causing More Traffic Accidents

by Lee Bains, posted Oct 9th 2008 at 7:06AM



An unnamed insurance company recently stated that one in ten minor accidents are caused by headphone-wearing pedestrians, the Daily Mail reports.

Since headphones and earbuds have become louder and increasingly capable of blocking out external noise (especially those new-fangled in-ear buds), the folks who don them on the streets are frequently unable to hear traffic noise. This can result in a listener stepping into a crosswalk, oblivious to the oncoming truck forced to slam on its brakes. Not surprisingly, collisions are on the rise.

Although we haven't heard any such reports yet, we're confident that sometime soon, some iPod-listening jaywalker is going to be taken to the bank. [From: Daily Mail]

Bone Induction Earphones Channel Sound Into Your Skull

by Evan Shamoon, posted Sep 28th 2008 at 11:26AM



The New York Times' David Pogue has written up a little something special for your ears: A review of some new bone-conduction headphones, which pass sound directly through your skull to your inner ear. The sound bypasses the eardrum and, in the process, leaves your ears in better shape -- particularly relevant in our digital times, where most doctors insist that incessant iPod use is destroying our hearing.

Unfortunately, the conclusion is that these devices don't exactly solve the problem. As it stands, the best option out there is a device called the Audio Bone earphones. Because the 'Bones go on your ears rather than in them, they effectively solve the rudeness problem: You're not shutting yourself off from real-life conversation when wearing them, and Pogue compares it to having a bookshelf stereo system playing in the background -- a really, really tiny one that only you can hear.

But the real problem, as we've confirmed with our own hands-on test with the Audio Bones, is that the sound just isn't up to snuff. Compared to nearly any pair of headphones you've ever tried (even those included with your iPod), the Audio Bones sound incredibly muffled, tinny, and lack any real presence.

Which pretty much defeats the purpose. You may now commence going deaf. [From: NY Times]
Engadget

Skullcandy and Metallica Team Up on Death Magnetic Headphones

by Darren Murph, posted Sep 20th 2008 at 10:12AM


Now isn't this tie-up worthy of all the "awws" you can muster? The poster child for anti-Napster propaganda has teamed up with Skullcandy to deliver a pair of cans to commemorate the band's ninth (and surely most awesome) studio album, 'Death Magnetic.' Two limited edition models will be made available -- the $69.95 Hesh and $49.95 Lowrider -- and those prices include "free" downloads of the aforementioned disc.

The Hesh cans (pictured) possess a fatter, more comfortable headband with 50mm drivers, while the Lowrider includes 40mm drivers and a fold-up headband for portability. No telling how long it'll be before these disappear, but we're hearing this strange rumor that pre-loaded clips of Hetfield play underneath your tunes to subconsciously encourage you to uninstall your BitTorrent client. Not like that's even fathomable or anything. [From: Skullcandy via MusicRadar]
Engadget

Dr. Dre's Headphones Bring the 'Beats' for $350

by Darren Murph, posted Jul 22nd 2008 at 12:42PM


You can't put velvet in these earcups and call 'em nice headphones! As Mr. Chappelle would likely attest, there are no better headphones in which to drop the beat into than Dr. Dre's "highly anticipated" Beats. The master of chronic himself has slapped his all-but-forgotten name onto a set of cans (which we covered a few months ago), and is now ready to introduce 'em to the world.

Starting on July 25th, the crunk-inducing headphones -- which Switched reviewed back in January -- will be available exclusively at Apple and Best Buy (both online and in-store), though the buying experience would likely be way more gangsta if checking out at BeatsByDre.com. Still, for $349.95, we'd recommend looking at more respected names in sound, but if your street cred is sitting at rock bottom, you may have no other choice. Thug life, fool. [Source: Business Wire]

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Top Noise-Canceling Headphones

by Evan Shamoon, posted Jun 4th 2008 at 8:02PMBreaking NewsFeatured Story

As anyone who has used noise-canceling headphones on a plane can doubtlessly confirm, they make the experience of flying a whole lot less unpleasant. While these sound-blockers can't do much to combat the shrieking baby in the seat next to you (or its shrieking parents, for that matter), they all but remove the low roar of the engines, the hum of the fans, and various (and usually) incessant noises coming from the other electronic devices in use around you as you fly the noisy skies. It sounds like magic, but it's actually pretty simple audio science: Basically, microphones in the headphones monitor the sound around you, and create sound waves which essentially cancel out the noise they pick up. On some flights, in business and first class, they now actually hand them out.

Most of us are economy-class-types, though, so we did our research accordingly and came up with a few options for airborne peace of mind. To boot, all of our picks cost less than the two or more months salary required to fly business class.



BOSE QUIETCOMFORT 2

You see these headphones everywhere – open up any in-flight magazine and you're guaranteed an ad. But Bose does its sound quality thing well. These cans do a great job canceling ambient noises, and music sounds extremely warm and full of bass. Movie dialogue was consistently crisp and clear, and overall sound is very consistent. Unfortunately, there's one major flaw: Unlike the other models featured here, the QuietComfort 2s don't let you listen to music without the noise-canceling tech turned on. When your batteries die, well, so do your headphones. Which is kind of a bummer...especially on planes, where they don't sell replacements. Price: $299.99

Hands-On With Monster's New Dr. Dre Beats Headphones

by Joshua Fruhlinger, posted Jan 24th 2008 at 5:26PM

Dr. Dre Beats
When we first reported about the upcoming launch of Dr. Dre's Beats high-end headphones, we expected a mix of both parties' aptitude for doing things big and right. We got a chance to take the new skullpods for a test run last night, and our expectations were spot-on.

Sound Quality
Without getting too technical, we can confidently say that the Beats handled all the frequencies thrown at them without flapping on the bass or screeching on the treble. They have a definitive "warmth" to them that may make hardcore audiophiles scream such things as "accuracy" and "flat response," but, frankly, these headphones are designed to sound good on subways and streets. We convinced the Monsters to let us try out some of our own old '70s and '80s music just to see how the Beats handled that -- we weren't disappointed, although they behaved a lot more evenly with modern hip-hop and R&B. All in all, DJs and club-goers will absolutely love the sound quality.

Design & Comfort
These things scream class. With a shiny exterior and high-end ear cups, the Beats are seriously comfortable. While we only had them on for about 10 minutes, we experienced none of the ear fatigue or "hot ears" that other, less well-designed head cans exhibit. They come in a nice, sturdy case and fold up with an assuring "click." The Beats aren't small, though, so don't expect to just throw them in a pocket like you can in-ear headphones. What's more, big headphones like these are questionable as gym accessories.

iPhone Compatibility
Instead of including a call/send/end button and microphone right on the Beasts' cables, Monster has you using a cable adapter that makes things a little annoying, with several wires hanging from your ears and multiple connections to maintain. Performance on calls was also questionable, as we experienced radio interference from the phone's antenna. Hopefully Monster will take the time to add some shielding if they really want to call the Beats iPhone-compatible.

So Are They Worth It?
At $399, these aren't the headphones for just anyone. They are, however, perfect for street-smart, style-conscious, serious hip hop and club music listeners with a little extra cash and a penchant for high-end, high-impact sound. They sound every bit as good and loud as Dr. Dre promised they would, and they look great.

As mentioned, hardcore audiophiles may be disappointed in their hip-hop-friendly bass warmth. Overall, these are a solid entry into the crowded, but long-in-the-tooth high-end headphone set. It's nice to finally see some innovation in a genre of headphones that hasn't seen anything new and exciting in quite some time.

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Best Headphones for the Gym

by Evan Shamoon, posted Nov 30th 2007 at 10:15PM

It's the holiday season and we're all eating a bit more. Unfortunately, going to the gym is such a drag that the only way to make time pass (and exercise more bearable) is to blast some tunes while we work out. Unfortunately, many of the headphones we like to wear on the street (because they're stylish), at home (because they're audiophile-quality), or while we travel (because they block out airplane cabin noise) just don't cut it on the treadmill. Headphones have a tendency to fall off our heads while we jog, for example, or just hurt out ears. But have no fear: We put five highly-touted, gym-friendly headphones to the test by taking them with us on some recent workouts. Here's what we found.



H2O Sport Headphones

The only over-the-ear pair of headphones we tested, the H2O Sport is a pretty good option for budget-conscious athletes: For 30 bucks, these things actually provide decent bass response and get plenty loud. The neckwrap helps keep the headphones in place while you get your sweat on, and the coiled cord conveniently retracts to three feet (six feet when extended). That said, the plastic construction is a bit chintzy, and the cord feels like it might rip if you tug it too hard. The phones are a bit bulky and feel like they may give out after a year or so, but until then, they'll definitely get the job done whle you work out.

Audio-Technica QuietPoint Active Noise-Canceling Headphone

by Terrence O'Brien, posted Nov 30th 2007 at 1:20PM

Holiday Gift Guide: Audio-Technica QuietPoint Active Noise-Canceling Headphone

Audio-Technica is known for making audiophile-approved products at reasonable prices. Now, noise-canceling headphones can run high, price-wise (like, $300), but Audio-Technica's ATH-ANC7 Noise Canceling Headphones can be had for as little as $120 . And the good news is your frequent-flier audio-buff, uncle (or whomever) will really appreciate the sound these babies can make (and the sound they can hide while, say, in a noisy airplane cabin).


These bad boys are even surprisingly compact, for over-the-ear cans. The cable detaches and the 'phones fold flat for easy storage in the included carrying case. Meanwhile, a=a single AAA battery will keep the active noise cancellation technology running for 40 hours.

Sensors detect and remove 85 percent background noise such as engine drones on a plane, background chatter at the office, or even the sound of hyper ctive children in your living room. You can even ditch the cable and use them to cancel out sound without plugging them into an iPod or portable DVD player.

From Audio-Technica



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