Sony India launches new headphones and earphones

Sony India has launched three new products in its audio range, including two new headphones in the MDR-XB range - 450 and 250, and MDR-AS200, a water restart and sweat-proof earphone.



According to Sony, the MDR-XB450 headphone offers extra bass with a frequency response of 5Hz-22000Hz. MDR-XB450 has a 30mm dynamic driver unit that delivers superior quality, powerful sound while keeping the bass level high. It will be available in five colors - black, white, red, blue and yellow, in a metal housing.

MDR-XB450 sports a slim, swivel folding style for easy storage in a bag, briefcase or backpack, as per Sony. It comes with a flat serrated cord for a tangle free experience.

MDR-XB250 headphone also offers rich bass. The headphone comes with a 30mm dynamic driver unit. It will be available in black and white colours.

The MDR-AS200 earphone is targeted at users who listen to music while engaging in sporting activities. It comes with a 13.5mm high sensitivity driver, and is water resistant and sweat proof.

MDR-AS200 sports an adjustable ear loop that fits a wide range of ear sizes. The MDR-AS200 also has a flat serrated cord allowing a tangle free experience. It will be available in orange and blue colours.

Sony MDR-XB450 and MDR-XB250 headphones are priced at Rs 2,190 and Rs 1,490, respectively, while MDR-AS200 is priced at Rs 790.

The new headphones and earphone will be available in all Sony Centers and major electronic stores across India.

Bose Sues Beats Over Noise-Canceling Headphones

Earlier this month Beats was going after headphone counterfeiters in China, but now the company is facing a lawsuit of its own over noise-canceling technology developed and patented by Bose. CNBC broke the news earlier today, and the entire filing is also available to read online.

In the suit Bose claims some of Beats’ headphones use technology it developed over the past 50 years through research and development dating back to 1978. In total, the complaint claims Beats is violating 22 U.S. patents and 14 more applications currently under review. Not all Beats headphones feature noise-cancelling technology, but it’s a key selling point for much of the company’s high-end lineup.

A quick Google or Amazon search will pull up hundreds of different noise canceling headphones, and while it’s possible Bose is going after more than one company Beats feels like an easy target. Not only is the celebrity-backed firm highly successful, but it’s also set to merge with Apple. Once Beats is swallowed up into the Cupertino company it could be a lot harder to pull off a similar lawsuit, though that doesn’t necessarily Bose will succeed now.

Skullcandy Launches Women’s Line Series, Designed Exclusively For Women

Skullcandy has finally launched its Women’s Line Series of headphones and as the name suggests, it has been built from the ground up exclusively for women. The range consists of 3 headphones the Skullcandy Knockout, Bombshell and the Dime each with a different look and the price tags to match.

Clearly these headphones look the part, but Skullcandy has put in a lot of research keeping in mind that Women are indeed different from men when it comes to hearing preferences.

Their acoustic studies point out that women’s hearing is more sensitive than those of men at higher frequencies. Moreover, women can also hear background noise at 10x lower volume than men. Clearly their research shows that it listening to music isn’t a one-size-fits-all philosophy.

At the top of the line in Skullcandy’s Women’s Line headphones come in the form of the Skullcandy Knockout at Rs 6,999. The over the ear headphones clearly look as cool as the designer handbags but indeed look as if they were designed by a fashion designer.

In the middle range, we have the Skullcandy Bombshell which are a pair of in-ear headphones that come with a distinct Skullcandy design and even includes a mic for placing and receiving calls. The heaphones are priced at Rs 3,499

At the lower end of the line up, (we would not call it cheap by any means) is the Dime. Priced at Rs 2,299 the Dime clearly is not priced like one, but indeed means business when it comes to sound clarity.

All of the three headphones from Skullcandy Women’s Line have indeed been designed for different women. They come in three distinct colour combinations which will indeed make you stand out of the crowd. Robin,Smoked Purple,Coral,Floral,Burgundy,Gold are the combinations available while the Dime also comes in White/Geo/Black trim.

Audio-technica ATH-AX3 review: A real surprise package

A corollary of the smartphone boom is the proliferation of headphone makers in the Indian market. With everyone agreeing that most in-the-box smartphone headphones are not really up to the mark, there is an ever increasing market for better headphones, especially those that don’t cost the earth. But not all the new players in the market are good. Some are just playing the price game and I have encountered headsets that were not even worthy of a review. But there are new stars too, among them Audio-technica whose SonicFuel ATH-CKX9iS turned out to be a real surprise package. This time we have got their latest ATH-AX3 over-ear headphones for review. Here is what it sounded like.

Design

The ATH-AX3 is not a stunner, not with its all-plastic body. I did not have a good feeling when I held this headphone, it felt a bit too focussed on getting the pricing right and choosing materials that will help it to. But the plastic is not flimsy and within some time you realise that it is also quite durable. Then the design is also very practical. The ear cup is hinged on three peices so that it can fit any head and also fold flat for travel. It also comes with a flat tangle-free cord. Another tick.

The ear cups have cushioned earpads that are comfortable. But it does get a bit hot inside, especially when you are resorting to music to get the better of Delhi’s sultry July heat.

Performance

If the ear cups of the ATH-AX3 are large that is to house a 40mm driver. And this is the USP of this headphone. That large driver sets this apart from other affordable headphones as an affordable headphone that recreates sound the way it is supposed to be heard.

In fact, the audio quality was so good that my first plastic coated opinion of the ATH-AX3 vanished with the first Don William song that I listened to. That bass baritone shone through as if I was listening on one of them room filling bank breaking music systems. But then it worked as well with the Elvis Presley version of Fools Rush In and a Carnatic number by Bombay Jayashree. Yes, the ATH-AX3 surely knows its music. with a frequency response of 10 – 24,000 Hz and an impedance of 55 ohms, this one surely does not sound like a cheap headphone.

Verdict

There have been very few on-ear or over-ear headphones in this price range that have impressed me since the JBL Tempo a couple of years back. If you are looking for a pair of headphones to replace the once that came in the box of your new smartphone, then ATH-AX3 is a good option. This one is for serious music lovers.

Rs 3,199

Logitech UE9000: Not for classical music

When one talks about premium headphones, Logitech isn't the first name that comes to mind, That said, the UE9000impressed us with its build quality and premium finish. These are full-size, noise cancelling, closed-type of headphones and sport a metal headband. And yes, it can also be used to make calls and supports Bluetooth.

The UE9000 comes in its own hard shell case, along with anApple-compatible removable cable, a 6.3-mm adapter, USB charging cable and a buffing cloth for all the metal! While not foldable, the ear caps on the UE9000 can be rotated at right angles to snugly fit into the case.

The cable plugs into the right ear cup, on which are mounted the volume and play/pause buttons, conveniently at the back. Logitech has also crammed the microUSB port and the Bluetooth/noise-cancelling switch and indicator LEDs on this ear cup. The left ear cup features just a "talk through" button, in case you want to temporarily switch off noise cancellation and hear ambient sound such as, say, airport announcements.

The sound was warm with a slight tilt towards bass. While the bass is smooth, the transition from bass to mids is somewhat sketchy. The mid range, while not as bright as bass, seemed just right to reproduce natural vocals. The smooth transition from mid to treble ensures vocals and strings stay in sync. But there seemed a bit of added emphasis on mid-treble, something connoisseurs of classical music may find jarring.

The UE9000's noise cancellation mode switches on automatically with Bluetooth, using which pairing with an iPad was a dream. We also paired it with an Android headset to make calls in particularly noisy environments. If you can live with the fact that everyone around you think you are a weirdo talking to myself, the UE9000 makes satisfactory calls.

Wear your colours on your ears

 

Ronaldinho once said "Football is about joy. It's about dribbling. I favour every idea that makes the game beautiful. Every good idea has to last." 

The Brazil and former FC Barcelona player has given us moments of pure footballing genius - moments that made the beautiful game even better. Players, managers, teams and fans over the world have always done their part in football. As fans, we support our favourite club and team through thick and thin. We celebrate every goal and rue every miss. This season you can do your part by donning the colours of your favourite team. No, for a change, we are not talking about official kits or jerseys or flags. This season wear the colours on your ears. Skullcandy's World Cup and club series ofheadphones will make sure you stay close to the game and at the same time enjoy some crisp and clear music.

Hesh 2 FC

These over-the-ear headphones are a step ahead of the original Hesh series. With new acoustic advancements, the Hesh 2 focuses on supreme sound - a composition of acoustics, design and condition. The Hesh 2 is comfortable on the ears. Its soft leather ear pillows do not feel too big, so wearing them for long hours won't be a hassle. The headband comes with a metal structure and can be modified to fit your size. Developed with attacking bass, natural vocals and precision highs as its main acoustic elements, the Hesh 2 delivers a lovely sound experience. It comes with a detachable cable that prevents the "tangled cable" problem. The Mic 1 and Remote on the Hesh 2 make communication easy. Compatible with most smartphones, they can be connected to your PC or laptop as well. You can take phone calls, listen to music or even try them with your favourite game. Designed in the colours of different football clubs, the headphones sport the club emblem on both the ear cups. The football club series includes headphones from clubs such as FC Barcelona (Spain), Chelsea FC (England), AC Milan (Italy) and Olympique de Marseille (France). Price: Rs 5,699

Ink'D 2 (World Cup series)

The Skullcandy Ink'D 2 belongs to the in-ear category. Small, yet incredibly powerful in terms of the sound quality, the Ink'D 2 is appropriate for those who move around a lot. The over-the-ear headphones, though comfortable, can feel a bit clunky when you are travelling. The Ink'D 2, on the other hand, can be used when you are relaxing at home or taking a jog. The ear buds fit in easily. The design has been crafted beautifully, with the national team emblems on one side and the Skullcandy logo on the other. The cable on the Ink'D 2 has a flattened design, unlike the usual wired look. The flattened cable not only gives the design a new look but is also durable. Once again, the colours used give these earphones an attractive look. For example, the ones with the German national team design have black, white, yellow and red as the dominant colours. The acoustic performance in the Ink'D 2 is incredible. The sound quality does get a bit loud when you reach maximum volume, but it does not get distorted. The microphone on the earphones makes sure your phone calls don't sound muffled.

The World Cup series of the Ink'D 2 comes in the colours of England, France and Germany. They start at Rs 1,549

So this season, you can do your part by wearing the colours of your favourite team and support them "loud and clear".