We have plenty to serve our needs here in Sydney in terms of Hi-Fi stores, but there has never really been anywhere to try out some of the top headphone models as most hi-fi dealers think of headphones as ‘just an accessory’.
But that has now all changed! Wicked Digital has just opened up a new [...]
OK you have your iPod or iPhone like every other person on the planet, but because you love your sound, you want to use a better headphone with your player and simply can not do it because the head amp inside your player simply does not like ‘difficult’ headphones, right?
Well the answer is simple! The new NuForce ICON Mobile is a product you simply have to have if you care about sound quality. This nifty little device will connect to your iPod or iPhone (or any other portable music player for that matter) and take the feed from the players headphone output and boost it for driving headphones with higher impedance, thus providing better sound!
The bonus is that this clever little box does double duty for your computer too! Connect it via USB to your Mac or PC and get better sound from that device too. At only $159, how can you say no?
Audio-Technica ATH-ANC7b Noise Cancelling Headphone
Audio-Technica has updated the extremely popular ATH-ANC7 Noise Cancelling Headphone, with a creatively named Audio-Technica ATH-ANC7b. The changes they have made are small and mostly cosmetic, clearly working on the theory that if it isn’t broke don’t fix it.
From what we have learned so far, the sound quality is only slightly ‘different’ to the original, and the noise cancelling ability which was excellent on the original is also ‘about the same’.
All of which leaves us with the most obvious change, the cosmetics. The silver ring which appeared on the originals has been enlarged somewhat, and I think it makes the headphone look a lot classier than the older model it replaces. We will have more news after they land here in Australia in mid July.
Active noise cancelling is based on the principle of phase inversion, where sound waves are cancelled out by their own 180° phase inversion. However, complete signal cancellation is not desirable.
Noise Cancelling Heaphones contain a built-in microphone and the sound picked up by the microphones includes both ambient noise and sounds that should continue to be audible. Most noise pollution occurs at lower frequencies, therefore the important middle and upper frequencies - which include those occurring in human speech - are filtered out of the signal.
Electronic circuitry then processes the remaining ambient noise, phase inverting it by 180° and mixing this phase-inverted noise with the original ambient noise. The unwanted noise is thus significantly reduced, but the important speech-related frequencies are not affected by the compensation circuitry, and are reproduced with increased clarity.
Westone held off the release of the Westone 3 for about a year, because they wanted to get the product right, an unusual move for any company, but it shows their dedication to making a quality product.
So was it worth the wait? You betcha! The Westone 3 uses balanced armature drivers and a three-way crossover network to provide what is now the very best sound from an in ear headphone, period!
The 3’s ergonomic fit provides unmatched comfort, outstanding sound isolation, and accurate reproduction that will satisfy the most demanding audiophile or music fan regardless of musical preferences.
The Westone 3 ships with an inline volume control, ¼” adapter, travel case, and ten different types of eartips to customise the fit to the anatomy of just about anyone’s ears.
If you are looking for the very best in in-ear headphones, then your search is over, the Westone 3 is the pinnacle of the breed!
Audio-Technica’s range just keeps on expanding, and this time it is the top end of the ‘Art’ series which has two new models: The ATH-A1000X and ATH-A2000X, both aimed squarely at the Audiophile.
Both models feature a 53mm driver and have extended frequency response as low as 5Hz and extending as high as 45kHz on the ATH-A2000X. As with all Art Series headphones, they also feature the extremely comfortable 3D wing support instead of the usual over the head band that inferior headphones have.
Buy Now and Save on ATH-A1000X
Buy Now and Save on ATH-A2000X
Klipsch label these new earphones as ‘Studio reference in-ear monitors’ which leads one to think of these as being highly accurate in terms of tonal balance and extension.
The new Klipsch Custom-3 earphones utilise dark gray patent-pending Contour Ear Gels that are anatomically designed to accurately fit inside the human ear canal. These soft, oval silicon tips reduce ear fatigue as well as provide an amazing seal for excellent noise isolation and bass response.
“The Klipsch Custom 3 in-ear headphones offer rich sound with dramatic bass, rugged construction, tangle-resistant cables, multiple ear tips, and effective noise isolation. If you’re looking for a stylish pair of in-ear headphones that don’t lack for low end and can withstand daily abuse, the Klipsch Custom 3s are an expensive treat.”
- CNet Review - Read Full Review
“The Custom-3s are going head to head with Shure’s SE420s in terms of both price and specification, and the sound produced from both sets is mighty impressive. If you favour high end clarity in your music, you’re probably better off going for the Shures. But if you’re looking for a rich, full and powerful sound, across a broad range of musical styles, the Klipsch Custom-3s will suit you down to the ground.”
- Trusted Reviews - Read Full Review
V-MODA, the music lifestyle brand that owes its allure to the fusion of fashion and function, introduces its passion for music and style to the world with their innovative line of “modaphones”. The pinnacle experience of music is interwoven with supreme style in these premium fashion-phones that sound as amazing as they look.
Designed to mimic the warm, sweet sound of hi-fi stereo speakers costing thousands of dollars apiece, the frequency curve remains amazingly straight with no bass roll-off, and as such delivers a smooth and detailed bass response.
The Etymotic hf2, a high-fidelity hands-free headset that is compatible with the Apple iPhone and other mobile phones, is now in Australia. This looks set to be an audiophile bargain for those in the know as it offers the response accuracy of Etymotic’s ER-4 earphones which cost considerably more, plus the highest noise isolation of all competing headsets.
The 3.5mm stereo plug ensures the Etymotic hf2 is compatible with just about any music player on the market, which only broadens it’s appeal. With an RRP of only $429, it is set to be the benchmark of iPhone headsets!
“Testing on New York’s subway system has revealed that the hf2 blocks out the vast majority of background noise, giving your music a chance to shine and protecting your hearing by letting you listen to music at a lower volume while still having it sound good.”
- Wired Magazine
“Etymotic rapidly came back with its own, superior alternative: hf2 blends the awesome ER-4P earphones with a slightly better-than-Apple-quality microphone and a similar remote control button. The new model is fully iPhone- and iPod-compatible, looks great, and sells at a very reasonable price given the sound quality of the ER-4Ps, which were long considered our reference standard for iPod in-canal phones.”
- iPod Lounge - Best of Show Award
The Sennheiser MM50 iP is a Stereo Headset for the Apple iPhone which allows the iPhone user to have excellent communication capability with a superb mobile music experience. Based on the successful launch and the popularity of the iPhone in Europe and the US, Sennheiser now introduce a headset tailor made for the iPhone.
Thanks to Sennheiser’s expertise as a global leader in electro acoustics, the headset reproduces outstanding, professional quality stereo acoustics to ensure you gain maximum pleasure from your iPhone and iPod. In reality they appear to be using the incredibly popular Sennheiser CX 300 as the base for this product, so at only $20 extra for the microphone and headset functionality, it is a real bargain!
Most wireless headphones available today rely on Bluetooth, which is built for transferring high-speed data, not high-quality audio. The Sennheiser MX W1 Headphones use a wireless transmitter that plugs directly into an MP3 player’s headphone jack to beam uncompressed sound to stunning little earbuds.
The carrying case doubles as a charger, and is able to store enough power to replenish the headphones and transmitter three times without plugging in. Build quality is extremely high, packaging is amazing and also near impossible to open but that is another story. If you want audiophile grade wireless stereo headphones, this is the only game in town, at a price….
