DigiFi's new Digital Opera headphones use the high-efficiency, high-quality Kleer wireless tech to get your tunes from your iPod to your ears. We're also digging the neat over-ear design with curly cable, which looks like it'll be good non-tangler, and the fact that up to four people can listen to the same feed, as long as they have the earphones too. They have over 10 hours play time, and have "CD-quality" audio, or so says DigiFi. We're not sure about the "iPod adapter" part though, since it looks a lot like there's just a headphone jack there but no iPod socket, doesn't it? Hey ho. It'll be available worldwide, starting in Korea from now, for about $98. [Aving]
DigiFi Digital Opera Earphones Use Wireless Kleer Tech
7:49 AM on Thu May 1 2008
By Kit Eaton
1,836 views
21 comments











Comments
Look at the bottom of the adapter plug. There looks like there is a compartment for the ipod plug. Maybe you slide a switch that pops the ipod adapter out and hides the audio plug.
Personally, I could care less if it has an iPod adapter. I'm sick of every audio device catering specifically to the iPod. Why can't they just make cool audio gadgets that have normal audio jacks that you can plug ANY MP3 player or other audio device into?? Then I could use this on my laptop, my Zune, my 1987 walkman cassette player, my baby monitor, whatever...
@Carbonfly: Also, it's plugged into the bottom of an iPhone/iPod touch in one of the pictures.
Yeah. No. Not CD Quality. Max sampling frequency is 33kHz, which is NOT CD quality (44.1kHz is what CDs use). That will give a max HF response of 16.5kHz. Not terrible, about FM radio quality, but the digital processing at such a (relatively) low frequency will give all kinds of aliasing and distortion. I'll expect these to sound like poop. "CD-Quality" is one of the most misused and misleading claims of digital consumer audio anything since the MP3 era began. Ok. I'm done. Thanks for reading.
@SgtMac02:
Agreed. It's a highly stupid trend.
:( The plug doesn't look like it'll work for iphones.
@Shikestarr: Thanks for typing! No, seriously! This is why I like to read the comments on stories. Sometimes you learn cool stuff from the other commenters.
@strider_mt2k: Do we have a quorum?
If so, maybe we can just vote it down...
@Shikestarr: Interesting... quote from Kleer's own FAQ "Our technology uses lossless transmission of 16-bit, 44.1KHz-sampled stereo audio to deliver full CD-quality audio". That's CD quality, no? Nyquist sampling means this gives a max sampled signal of 22kHz, right at the upper boundary of human hearing.
@strider_mt2k: Highly stupid maybe, highly money making ? Yes. I look for all that (made for ipod/iphone logo) crap before I buy something, because guess what, if don't work with my iphone I'm not going to get it.
@Shikestarr: Where are you finding the maximum sampling frequency? I am not doubting you, I just don't see it listed.
@ideaman2020: Second!
Dang, that receiver unit connecting the two ear pieces is a lot bigger than my iPod Shuffle. I can do without this "wireless" solution by clipping my Shuffle to my lapel. I'd like to find some premium quality headphones that have a nice short cable though.
Comment on DigiFi Digital Opera Earphones Use Wireless Kleer Tech Actually.... this isnt the newest stuff... Logitech has had this type of deal for a while now... They are called the freepulse Wireless Heaphones, and they've been out since October 6th of 2006. And they look a lot better than those guys. http://www.logitech.com/index.cfm/speakers_audio/headphones/devices/212&cl=us,en
Actually.... this isnt the newest stuff... Logitech has had this type of deal for a while now... They are called the freepulse Wireless Heaphones, and they've been out since October 6th of 2006. And they look a lot better than those guys. [www.logitech.com]
I always find it a bit improbably for any sort of wireless audio transmission to match that from a solid cable. I am sure it is good enough for listening to MP3's but if you listen lossless files like WAV or Apple lossless formats you are not going to get the best possible sound out of these. Not a huge concern/difference unless you happen to be more of an audiophile.
@whootowl: I use the Sony earbuds that come with a short cable and extension. It's perfect for the shuffle and comes in white or black. Works well for me in the gym. I can't use over-the-ear headphones because I wear glasses sometimes.
@berribrand: Sony offers many models. Can you give the model number, please?
@rickster434: He is very right. Freepulse headset is much more attractive!
@rickster434: Logitechs FreePulse does look alot more attractive, but you can only sinc one set of headphones per reciever.
@Shikestarr: thanks for the info, I was getting excited but I trust your impression. Too bad, we really need a really really awesome 'CD qual' wireless earbud system, pref ones that go into the canal, have no wires, last 24 hrs on one charge (or charge themselves off the body heat radiating through our ear canals?? yeah baby, sci fi rulez)
I, for one, welcome our future Borg augmentation process.
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