Tag Archives: headphone

Sennheiser boasts anti-counterfeit efforts, unveils new authentication technologies

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You know Sennheiser's pissed when it holds a press conference just to talk about its anti-counterfeit efforts. In Guangzhou yesterday, the German audio company brought along two executives to debut its new authentication technologies on its retail packaging: a shiny Tesa PrioSpot authenticity label plus a "fool-proof" online look-up system. For the former, President of Corporate Services Volker Batels claims it's treated as securely as one would with cash money, in the sense that it has many visible and invisible features.

There's also a QR code plus its corresponding label ID printed below the foil, and scanning the former or entering the latter on qr-sennheiser.com returns a virtual copy of the foil label plus a visual description. If what you have matches the label on the screen then hakuna matata. But if the code's been looked up many times already, the website will also give you a warning like in the screenshot after the break -- chances are the label's been duplicated, so potential buyers should always check this before handing the money over.

Marc Vincent, the company's President of Greater China, aims to have this "urgent project" covering most products by the end of this year. "We have been fighting counterfeits for five years with some result, but now we have officially declared war on counterfeiting," Mr. Vincent said in a stern voice. "Manufacturers of counterfeit products are social parasites. They really damage our reputation."

Gallery: Sennheiser boasts anti-counterfeit efforts, unveils new authentication technologies

Continue reading Sennheiser boasts anti-counterfeit efforts, unveils new authentication technologies

Sennheiser boasts anti-counterfeit efforts, unveils new authentication technologies originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 22 Aug 2012 15:09:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Engadget’s back to school guide 2012: portable audio

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Welcome to Engadget's back to school guide! The end of summer vacation isn't nearly as much fun as the weeks that come before, but a chance to update your tech tools likely helps to ease the pain. Today, we're taking our audio with us -- and you can head to the back to school hub to see the rest of the product guides as they're added throughout the month. Be sure to keep checking back -- at the end of the month we'll be giving away a ton of the gear featured in our guides -- and hit up the hub page right here!

DNP Engadget's back to school guide 2012 portable audio

With all of the studying and on-campus traveling you're about to delve into, sometimes adding a bit of music to your step can spice up those mundane times in your daily routine. That's why we've rounded up a selection of portable speakers and headphones that'll not only help you rock out whenever the mood strikes, but also go a step further by letting you take phone calls without skipping a beat. It may not be audiophile-grade gear in the official sense, but it won't matter when you're enjoying good sound just about anywhere your smartphone-connected life takes you.

Continue reading Engadget's back to school guide 2012: portable audio

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Engadget's back to school guide 2012: portable audio originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 20 Aug 2012 12:00:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Ultrasone IQ unveiled as company’s first in-ear headphones, hybrid drivers in tow

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Ultrasone IQ unveiled as company's firstever inear headphones, pack hybrid drivers

Heads up, audiophiles! Here's a little gem we spotted at the Hong Kong High-End Audio Visual Show over the weekend. Dubbed the Ultrasone IQ, these turn out to be the German company's first ever in-ear headphones, and luckily they're more than just ordinary buds. You see, packed within each aluminum alloy capsule is a combo of a traditional dynamic driver and a balanced armature driver, with the former taking care of the bass plus lower-mids, and the latter covering the rest -- specific frequency response to be confirmed at a later date. The technology isn't new, of course, but it's all about the fine-tuning to match the price tag -- we've been told to expect around HK$6,000, which is about US$770. This author was fortunate enough to try the pictured prototype at the event and was left impressed by its definition, but the final product will apparently perform even better when it hits the market in late September. Just to seal the deal for hardcore users, these buds feature MMCX connectors, meaning you can swap the original cables with the bundled headset kit (for iPhone and major Android devices) or other third-party wires.

Launched alongside the IQ were the Signature DJ and two new additions to the Edition 8 line: Romeo and Juliet, which seem like a nice idea for audiophilic couples. Alas, details are light here in terms of prices and availability, but at least Romeo and Juliet will perform identically as the original Edition 8. The new DJ cups, on the other hand, await official specifications. For now, hit the gallery to take a look at all of Ultrasone's new offerings.

Gallery: Ultrasone IQ, Edition 8 Romeo & Juliet and Signature DJ

Ultrasone IQ unveiled as company's first in-ear headphones, hybrid drivers in tow originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 14 Aug 2012 15:59:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Ultrasone IQ unveiled as company’s first in-ear headphones, hybrid drivers in tow

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Ultrasone IQ unveiled as company's firstever inear headphones, pack hybrid drivers

Heads up, audiophiles! Here's a little gem we spotted at the Hong Kong High-End Audio Visual Show over the weekend. Dubbed the Ultrasone IQ, these turn out to be the German company's first ever in-ear headphones, and luckily they're more than just ordinary buds. You see, packed within each aluminum alloy capsule is a combo of a traditional dynamic driver and a balanced armature driver, with the former taking care of the bass plus lower-mids, and the latter covering the rest -- specific frequency response to be confirmed at a later date. The technology isn't new, of course, but it's all about the fine-tuning to match the price tag -- we've been told to expect around HK$6,000, which is about US$770. This author was fortunate enough to try the pictured prototype at the event and was left impressed by its definition, but the final product will apparently perform even better when it hits the market in late September. Just to seal the deal for hardcore users, these buds feature MMCX connectors, meaning you can swap the original cables with the bundled headset kit (for iPhone and major Android devices) or other third-party wires.

Launched alongside the IQ were the Signature DJ and two new additions to the Edition 8 line: Romeo and Juliet, which seem like a nice idea for audiophilic couples. Alas, details are light here in terms of prices and availability, but at least Romeo and Juliet will perform identically as the original Edition 8. The new DJ cups, on the other hand, await official specifications. For now, hit the gallery to take a look at all of Ultrasone's new offerings.

Gallery: Ultrasone IQ, Edition 8 Romeo & Juliet and Signature DJ

Ultrasone IQ unveiled as company's first in-ear headphones, hybrid drivers in tow originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 14 Aug 2012 15:59:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Parrot Zik by Starck review: Is $400 worth it for the fanciest, techiest headphones around?

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Parrot Zik by Starck review: Is $400 worth it for the fanciest, techiest headphones around?

You do know that Parrot makes more than just the AR.Drone, right? It was at CES earlier this year that we first caught a glimpse of -- and subsequently began geeking out about -- the Parrot Zik by Starck. For those unfamiliar, these headphones are jam-packed with enough technologies to make even the geekiest audio lovers smitten. Priced at about $400, they feature Near Field Communication (NFC), Bluetooth connectivity, on-board capacitive touch-control, active noise cancellation, head detection, a jawbone sensor for speech and Parrot's audio-enhancing DSP app for iOS and Android -- not to mention a striking design by the renowned Philippe Starck.

This isn't the first time Parrot and Mr. Starck have worked together, but this does mark their debut in the portable audio market (as opposed to home-based speaker systems). In the case of this review, not one, but two Engadget editors spent some time testing the product. So, do they impress? More importantly, are they worth the $400 asking price? You know the drill: meet us after the break where we'll lay it all out.

Gallery: Parrot Zik by Starck review

Continue reading Parrot Zik by Starck review: Is $400 worth it for the fanciest, techiest headphones around?

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Parrot Zik by Starck review: Is $400 worth it for the fanciest, techiest headphones around? originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 02 Aug 2012 14:00:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Ferrari, Logic3 team on headphones, may be closest we get to an Enzo’s engine note

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Ferrari, Logic 3 team on headphones, may be the closest we get to Enzo sound in our ears

Ferrari likes to brand just about everything. That said, the two new lines of in-ear and over-ear headphones it's introducing with Logic3's help seem like more natural fits for the supercar brand than for other gadgets. The speed-loving elite will inevitably swing towards the Cavallino series' premium materials and universal microphone remote. Us plebeians have to consider the more plastic-laden Scuderia range, which still manages to pack in some Formula 1 styling along with the remote control. Prices are high at $150 to $315 for the Scuderias, or $201 to $352 for high rollers eying the Cavallinos -- but it's hard to dispute that either series is much more likely to turn up at our houses than a hybrid Enzo.

Continue reading Ferrari, Logic3 team on headphones, may be closest we get to an Enzo's engine note

Ferrari, Logic3 team on headphones, may be closest we get to an Enzo's engine note originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 18 Jul 2012 23:46:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Klipsch gets vibrant, intros S4i Rugged in-ear headphones

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Klipsch gets vibrant, intros S4i Rugged inear headphones

The last we saw some colorful headphones from Klipsch was when it introduced the purple Lou Reed X10i in-ears last holiday season. Just in time for the summer, the headphone maker is unleashing a rugged version of its S4i earbuds -- and in four vibrant finishes, no less (red, yellow, orange and blue). Although this water-resistant S4i variant seems practically identical to the S5i Rugged in-ears, we're told that internally they pack the same 8.5mm dual magnet drivers as their namesake. Naturally, the in-ears feature an iDevice-compatible inline remote / mic, but you'll merely get a basic case in place of the flashlight-equipped version reserved for the S5i. The S4i Ruggeds are set to go sale before the month's out, and best of all they're just priced at just $99. Hit up the press release after the break for more info in the meantime.

Continue reading Klipsch gets vibrant, intros S4i Rugged in-ear headphones

Klipsch gets vibrant, intros S4i Rugged in-ear headphones originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 12 Jul 2012 06:22:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Parrot Zik launching in August for $399, free app included for iOS and Android

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Parrot Zik launching globally in July with iOS app, Android to follow in August

Remember those cool-looking Parrot Zik wireless headphones we saw back at CES? Well, now we have a date and a price for you Philippe Starck fans out there. Announced at the Hong Kong launch event earlier today, these NFC-enabled, active noise cancelling Bluetooth cans will be available globally in August, with the US getting a price tag of $399 before tax (and for those who care, you'll be able to nab one in Hong Kong for HK$3,399 or US$440). During our brief ears-on, we certainly enjoyed the Zik's great audio quality, noise isolation and the intuitiveness of its swipe gesture input. While the battery is swappable, note that this expensive package only comes with one cell (accessible under the magnetic cover on the left can) that typically lasts for around five hours, so road warriors will need to chip in about $30 for a spare one. Alternatively, product manager Theodore Sean (whom we had the pleasure to interview at CES) pointed out a unique and handy feature that sort of bypasses this problem: you can still use the Zik as a pair of passive headphones using the included 3.5mm audio cable, but without any battery juice left, you obviously won't be able to enjoy the noise cancellation function (on a plane, for instance) or even make phone calls.

Gallery: Parrot Zik launching globally in July with iOS app, Android to follow in August

Continue reading Parrot Zik launching in August for $399, free app included for iOS and Android

Parrot Zik launching in August for $399, free app included for iOS and Android originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 05 Jul 2012 08:29:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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AiAiAi Capital headphones bring the beats, take abuse on the streets (video)

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AiAiAi Capital headphones bring the beats, take abuse on the streets video

Denmark's AiAiAi has developed a reputation for targeting its headphones at specific listeners. This time, it's aiming at someone we know all too well: the urban dweller who goes through replacement headphones like so much meat through a grinder. The Capital over-ears' bolstered fiberglass shell is designed to be rain- and snow-resistant, not to mention take the casual knocks that might beat up other headphone pairs. The foldable set likewise gives us every excuse to keep it on our heads, both through a light and reputedly comfortable brace as well as an in-line mic and remote to take that iPhone call through the Capital's 40mm drivers. At $125, the pair isn't the lowest-cost entry into the headphone world, but if it spares us from having to dive for cover when the weather turns foul, it could well be a bargain. You can get a sense of AiAiAi's impetus for yourself in a video after the break.

Continue reading AiAiAi Capital headphones bring the beats, take abuse on the streets (video)

AiAiAi Capital headphones bring the beats, take abuse on the streets (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 02 Jul 2012 13:36:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Sinch Stows Your Earbud Wires Neatly

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I go through a couple of pairs of earbuds every month because of the careless way I handle them, letting them get all tangled, and sometimes damaging the wiring inside. I’m not, in any way, proud of that, although I figured it was worth mentioning since I think I’ve found the solution to my earphone woes: the Sinch.

SinchIt’s basically a neat-looking magnetic strip that has a teeny hole where you’re supposed to insert your earphone’s plug. Keep sliding until Sinch is above the metal part of the plug, then plug your earphones onto your iPhone or iPod Touch and you’re all set.

To keep your earphones, just wrap them around your device and over the Sinch, then fold the latter over to keep them in place.

Sinch1

When you’re ready to use them again, just pull on the earbuds, and you’re good to go. I’m hopeful that with one of these in place, the chances of damaging my cords will go down dramatically. The Sinch is available online for $15.99(USD).

[via Dvice]