This is a bummer for fans of in-ear monitors. Phonak, one of the more respected brands of earphones, has decided to cease operations of the Audéo line of earphones and concentrate on their core business: devices for the hearing impaired. Phonak spokesperson Harris Gilbert stated that Audéo earphones will continue to be available in the US […]
Phonak exits the earphone business Read More
1964 Ears is a small company who make custom in-ear monitors. The in-ear monitor business is very competitive, and you might think that this process would be kept as secret as possible. Well, they obviously want to brag about what they do and how they do it, so who are we to keep a secret? If
Ever wonder how custom earphones are made? Read More
When I first saw the Colorsonik speakers, I was reminded of an old Steve Jobs quote: “They look so good, you’ll want to lick them.” These 60s plastic retro speakers are absolutely beautiful in all of their color versions and are sure to grab attention on any desktop. They’re so unusual that they don’t even look real
The Colorsonik Speakers let you see music in color Read More
Because I am a doddering, forgetful fool, I finally realized that to avoid forgetting any item or its accessory, I need to carry everything with me. And I mean everything. iPhones, iPods, iPad, earphones and headphones (I AM a reviewer, after all) and all the junk that has to go with this stuff. It can
Everki Versa Premium Checkpoint Friendly Laptop Backpack review Read More
Once again, I find myself reviewing a brand of headphone that few people have heard of. And while it’s fun to discover those diamonds in the rough, many times there is a reason for a particular brand’s obscurity. Which brings us to the Oblanc U.F.O. NC2 headphone with a built-in subwoofer. Yes, that’s right –
Oblanc U.F.O. NC2 Headphone review Read More
The portable speaker market is getting more and more crowded … and more interesting as well. Jambox, FoxL, Scosche, JBL, Braven, and a host of others are competing for your wallet and coming up with some twists in design and/or features to grab your attention. Native Union is a company you may not have heard
Native Union has made the Switch. Will you? Read More
2012 became a year for celebrity-endorsed headphones and based on what ON-EARZ is releasing, 2013 will continue that trend. ON-EARZ is a European company known for its trendy design and marketing of headphones and other accessories. They have used the 2013 Consumer Electronics Show to announce their entry into the US market with the “Listen with
ON-EARZ wants you to listen with the legends Read More
This is my third RHA product review, and I’m becoming attuned to what RHA is trying to accomplish. RHA is a Scottish audio company who are making good-sounding and – more importantly – affordable earphones and headphones. It’s common knowledge that just about any earphone or headphone at any price beats the freebies that come
RHA SA950i headphones review Read More
Another month, another Bluetooth speaker. That’s the way it seems, anyway. Actually, new Bluetooth – and Apple AirPlay – speakers are being introduced in greater and greater numbers, way more than one per month! Nyne may not be a household name in audio gadgets, but they soon could be with products like their new NB-200 portable
Nyne NB-200 Bluetooth speaker review Read More
Recently, when I reviewed RHA’s MA350 earphones, I concluded that they were a perfect second pair of earphones that were great for commuting. I considered their $40 price a bargain. However, one major (for some) drawback was a lack of a mic for making and receiving phone calls – especially for any commuting. RHA has
RHA MA450i Noise Isolating Earphones with Remote and Microphone review Read More
With the growing popularity of wireless speakers – both Bluetooth and AirPlay – many speaker companies have begun to release products that are redefining how we listen to music. Suddenly, there are very small speakers that can produce quality audio with decent bass. Until recently, this was almost unheard of. Jambox, Soundmatters, Braven, Scosche, Jabra,
NuForce Cube Speaker review Read More
After offering very good – and very affordable – earphones, NuForce has entered the hugely competitive headphone market with the just released the HP-800, their first over-ear design. Nuforce has targeted the user looking for a monitor-class headphone that pushes accuracy over a certain sound preference. Breathable memory-foam ear cups are covered in soft leatherette,
Wrap your head in these new headphones from NuForce Read More
If you play a guitar, you’ve heard of Marshall amps. It’s hard to miss a rock photo from the 60s and 70s without some guitarist wailing in front of a wall of Marshall amps. Now, you don’t have to be a musician to feel that power. Marshall has introduced the Hanwell – its first consumer
Go ahead, turn it up to 11. It’s a Marshall. Read More
My grandfather was a shortwave radio user and had a 1930s radio set with headphones that I loved playing with it as a kid. There was a definite retro coolness to it that I appreciate as a designer. As an homage to the days of world-band radios, Geneva Lab – a maker of popular high
New Geneva radio takes on the world Read More
Red. Red box. Red controls. Red speaker grill. Silver remote with – red buttons. I guess you have to be a confident company to make a speaker as red as the Geneva Sound System Model S speaker. But I have to tell you, the Model S is drop-dead gorgeous. You can’t not notice it on
Geneva Sound System Model S review Read More
After years of reviewing, I have realized an important fact: Many people either cannot afford many of the headphones/earphones I review, or even if they could, there is no way they’re paying hundreds of dollars for excellent sound. I get that. But today, there so many affordable earphones available that can deliver audio which will
Four DUNU Earphones review Read More
Everyone who is sick of hip-hop branded earphones that rattle the brain with über bass, mentally raise your hand. The people responsible for California Headphones obviously feel that way because they did something about it with the Laredo (which is reviewed here) and Silverado headphones. Both are specially tuned for rock and country music. Their
California Headphones Laredo review Read More
Maybe the JBL SoundFly is appropriately named. With Apple’s AirPlay technology, sound kinda flies from your iDevice to the speaker. There’s no wires, so how else is it going to get there? Now that Apple has nixed the 30-pin dock, it’s a given that AirPlay wireless speakers will only become more popular. New speakers seem
Look up in the air, it’s SoundFly! Read More
A while back, I reviewed Aiaiai’s TMA-1 headphones, which I quite liked because they sounded really good, were very comfortable and were built to take abuse. After all, they were designed to be DJ headphones. But at $200, they were not cheap. Then came the $80 Tracks portable headphones. These were even more comfortable, but didn’t
Aiaiai Capital Headphone review Read More
NuForce sure has been wirelessly ambitious lately. First, they release the Air DAC, which promises to connect your Apple mobile device to four different receivers. Now they’ve entered the wireless speaker arena with the NuForce S3-BT. Rather than use Apple’s AirPlay, S3-BT surprisingly incorporates the newest version of Bluetooth. This new Bluetooth uses the apt-X
May the NuForce be with you Read More