Apparel designer and (former) tattoo artist Ed Hardy is the latest celebrity from the fashion world to enter the tech arena by outing a new line of headphones and ear buds. Okay, slapping a name and graphics on a headset probably isn’t that tech-y, but it’s still something you’d use with a smartphone, music player or tablet, so there you go. The new line includes two pairs of over-ear headphones and three sets of in-ear buds.
Klipsch has announced their first pair of earphones specifically designed to work with Android devices. Called the Image S4A, the earphones are compatible with devices running Android 2.1 or later, and features an in-line remote for controlling music and calls, but is made unique by the free companion Control App.
If you love your music (or whatever it is you kids call it these days), you like it clean, and you rock out on a mobile device, then you’re going to love this. Pioneer has just released the SE-NC31C-k, a pair of earbuds that comes with active noise cancellation. That three-word feature sets this apart, since ANC is usually found on over-ear headphones, and it’s what makes these in-ears all the more awesome. These are easier to pack, easier to wear, and generally look less douche-y when you’re out and about. The set’s active noise cancellation feature is listed to eliminate up to 90% of all external noise with the flick of a switch (it’s like having a noise vacuum in your ear), so you don’t have to turn up the volume when you’re outside and trying to drown out traffic noise. The result? Less noise, and you get to hear more of your music without having to raise the volume to ear-busting levels.
Earphones are unhealthy for your hearing? Of course. Like sugar if you put too much in your coffee and standing too close to your buddy who insists on smoking pot in a small, airtight room. Like everything else, too much is bad for you. Especially when you’re playing it louder than usual so you can hear it over the background din of traffic during rush hour. Which is what usually happens when you insist on using a pair of crappy earphones. Bottom line is, if you care about your hearing, then a good pair of in-ears would be the way to go because it blocks out most background noise so you don’t have to raise the volume as much. But if you really care about your hearing, then dB Logic heard you. They just came out with the EP-100, which won’t just regulate volume to normal sound pressure levels, it does so via their SPL2 (Sound Pressure Level Limiting) technology that “manipulates sound waves and selectively lowers the volume while still keeping the shape of the sound wave curve.” That means it limits excessive, ear-damaging high-pressure sound waves, but does it in a way that won’t warp or distort your favorite tracks.
It’s a couple of weeks before amp-maker Marshall’s due to unveil their first pair of headphones (which will apparently be named the “Major”), but it looks like they’re going to be debuting another pair for the November 15 launch date. According to a new teaser, they’ll also be unveiling a pair of earphones called the Minor. Images haven’t been released, but according to the Marshall Headphones newsletter, the Minor’s going to be styled after a number of iconic rocker odds and ends. Specifically, the Fender Telecaster guitar’s plug, and the knobs found on Marshall’s own amps.
