<![CDATA[Gizmodo: sennheiser]]> http://tags.gizmodo.com/assets/base/img/thumbs140x140/gizmodo.com.png <![CDATA[Gizmodo: sennheiser]]> http://gizmodo.com/tag/sennheiser http://gizmodo.com/tag/sennheiser <![CDATA[Sequels to the First Decent Headphones I Ever Owned: Sennheiser PX-100 II and PX-200]]> The first decent headphones I owned were Sennheiser's PX-100. I got 'em for $30, and I was blown away, since it was the first time I heard something truly better than $20 shitcans. Now, Sennheiser's got a sequel: PX-100 II.

Oh, and the PX-200 II. Like before, the PX-100 II has an open design and from the looks of it, sounds a little bassier than the PX-200 II, which still has a closed design, but with better sealing than before. The PX-200 II also has a volume control integrated into the longass 1.2-meter cable. And yes, they still fold. Sadly, Sennheiser's holding back on the price, but they hit stores worldwide this month, so we won't have to wait too long to find out the damage.

Sennheiser also dropped a triplet of ginormous Kleer-powered wireless cans, the RS 160, RS 170 and RS 180, for home theater people who have to turn down their speaker system at night.

Great sound doesn't need much space The new PX 100-II and PX 200-II from Sennheiser
Wedemark, 2 September 2009 – Simply reach into your bag, switch on your MP3 player, unfold your headphones and you're ready to listen. With the second generation of the Sennheiser models PX 100 and PX 200 you can enjoy music in excellent quality anywhere and at any time. The two foldable mini headphones with proven Sennheiser acoustics are the ideal companion wherever you go. The new Sennheiser models will be shown for the first time at IFA in Berlin.

For all those who want top-quality sound not only at home but also for their iPhone*, iPod* or MP3 player, audio specialist Sennheiser now has two new mini headphones in its product range. "The PX 100-II and the PX 200-II have powerful transducers with neodymium magnets that ensure a clear and natural sound reproduction and a total harmonic distortion of less than 0.1 percent," said Ivan Kuan, Senior Product Manager Consumer Electronics at Sennheiser, describing the two new headphones. "In recent years, there have been tremendous further developments in the technology – and therefore in the sound quality – of portable players. For that reason, music lovers should choose those headphones that also make this progress audible."

Mini headphones in a class of their own
The PX 100-II is a pair of dynamic mini headphones with an open design and, just like its predecessor model, guarantees natural sound reproduction with a powerful bass. Its frequency response ranges from 15 to 27,000 Hertz. The PX200-II is ideally suited for use in noisy surroundings. Its closed design effectively attenuates external noise, letting you listen to music in peace without being disturbed – and without disturbing others. Improved ear pads additionally guarantee an optimal sealing with the ears. The frequency response of the closed stereo mini headphones extends from 10 to 21,000 Hertz – the perfect sound experience on the go.

With their comfortably padded, supra-aural ear cushions, the PX100-II and PX 200-II can provide music enjoyment for hours on end. A 1.2 metre long, single- sided cable offers generous freedom of movement – even if your player is in your pocket. The PX 200-II also lets you conveniently adjust the volume using the volume control integrated into the cable.

Amazing sound - amazingly compact The PX 100-II and PX 200-II not only offer outstanding acoustic properties, the foldable mini headphones are also amazingly compact. The clever 'fold and flip' design means that you simply close the headband, fold in the ear cups and the headphones are then small enough to pack away into the handy transport pouch.

New steel reinforcements in the headband and sturdy metal joints provide the headphones with the necessary strength and durability even in the toughest everyday use. When they are folded away, you can take them anywhere. After all, great sound doesn't need much space. The PX 100-II and the PX 200-II are available in stores worldwide from September in the colours black and white. The set includes a soft transport pouch.

A trio with state-of-the-art technology: three new wireless headphones from Sennheiser
Wedemark, 2 September 2009 – Conquering the Empire as a Jedi knight without waking the neighbours? Conducting a symphony orchestra in fortissimo with the kids asleep in their beds? No longer a problem with the new wireless headphones from Sennheiser. No matter whether connected to a television set or a hi-fi system, the RS 160, RS 170 and RS 180 guarantee an excellent sound experience. Dynamic sound transducers with powerful neodymium magnets ensure a clear, high-resolution audio playback whilst the Kleer transmission technology promises uncompressed transmission of the audio data. The three new headphones will be shown for the first time at the IFA in Berlin.

"The RS 160, RS 170 and RS 180 headphones represent a perfectly free, wireless sound experience," says Maurice Quarré, Head of Product Management Consumer Electronics at Sennheiser. "All three models offer highly impressive audio quality – with no cables to get in the way. They all use Kleer transmission technology, which operates without compression and therefore without any audio loss." Not only can you move around while watching television but you can also enjoy cable- free music at a radius of up to 100 metres (RS 160 up to 20 metres, RS 170 up to 80 metres and RS 180 up to 100 metres, line of sight).

Cinema-quality performance The new RS models combine cinema- quality sound with movie star looks. "Clear lines and sophisticated, reflective surfaces in black, silver and anthracite make them genuinely desirable design objects," continued Maurice Quarré. The headphones, with their soft padded ear cups and adjustable headbands, are specifically designed for hours of television or music enjoyment and are still comfortable to wear when your movie night eventually draws to a close.

Cinema-quality sound in the living room Tried and tested Sennheiser technology ensures transparent and balanced sound with the new wireless headphones. Dynamic transducers with powerful neodymium magnets and a distortion of only 0.5 percent reproduce even the subtlest musical nuances. The frequency response reaches from 18 to 21.000 Hertz. With a sound pressure level of 106/110decibels the three headphones have outstanding dynamics.

The RS 160 is the entry-level model: the closed headphones impress with their detailed sound and powerful bass reproduction. The volume can be controlled directly on the headphones. The RS 170 is also a closed model and delivers dynamic bass boost and switchable surround sound. The top-of-the-range RS 180 model is targeted at sound purists; the open design ensures a particularly natural listening experience which can be set to individual preferences. The speech intelligibility can be improved through dynamic compression (Automatic Level Control) and the balance can also be individually adjusted.

Plug and Play It‘s just so easy to connect the wireless headphones – whether to a television set, stereo system or DVD-Player. If the transmitter is connected to an audio or video device, it automatically transmits the audio data to the headphones: switch them on, put them on and sit back and enjoy the results. The 2-gigahertz digital radio transmission ensures smooth transmission with a high signal-to-noise ratio of 85 dBA. The Kleer technology even allows the listening pleasure to be shared as up to four headphones can receive radio signals via one transmitter.

The transmitter of the RS 160 has a diameter of only 9.7 centimetres. When connected to an MP3 player or mobile phone it fits easily into a backpack, which means that the headphones can be used for wireless music enjoyment whether you are at home or out and about. The RS 170 and RS 180 transmitters are a little larger as these also serve as a charging cradle.
All three models will be available worldwide from October.

[Sennheiser, Sennheiser via ecoustics]

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<![CDATA[Sennheiser's Fancy HD Cans Hit $100, Ride Spinnaz]]> A lot of Audiophiles, and more often just beat junkies, swear by Senn's headphones. Their product line, though, is a little light in the middle, where most people actually shop. Hence the HD 4x8 series, which graciously starts at $100.

There've been cheaper HD-branded models for years, and they've generally been pretty great. The $100 price point, though, marks sort of a golden zone for headphones and earbuds—it's the most a lot of people are willing to spend, and where the hardware starts to really shine. The HD 428, 438 (pictured above) and 448 sit in this $30 sweet spot, and fall somewhere between portable headphones and giant home stereo alien ear bulbs in terms of size.

The main differences between the headphones are sound signature—the cheaper 428 is bassier, while the 428 and 448 go for a more natural mix—and style—the 428 has a subdued cross pattern, the 448 a subtle brushed aluminum look, and the 438 has, er, hubcaps "reminiscent of the alloy wheels on luxury sports cars," by which Sennheiser presumably means 1984 Honda CRXes. Which is fine! [Sennheiser]

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<![CDATA[Cut-the-Crap iPhone Headset Battlemodo]]> Whether you love or hate your iPhone, you'll get tired of holding that big sticky piece of glass next to your face eventually. Want have a talk while you work or exercise? Need hands-free calling behind the wheel? Do you just have lazy, withered arms? Chances are you need a headset. Though the famed white earbuds are good enough for some, why settle for them just because they just happen to come free, and with an embedded mic? Other companies want a piece of that iPhone action, and have headsets that fit and sound a lot better. "Oh, but fair and wise Gizmodo, which headsets hath you divined for my unworthy purchase?" you might ask. Look no further. Well, no further than after the jump. (And by the way, this review is actually useful for any phone with a 3.5mm mic-and-stereo jack.)

A few notes on testing and results: As with the earphone Battlemodo, my testing methods were not scientific but practical: The audio test was a sonically diverse playlist of reasonable bitrate MP3s, the isolation test was a ride on a San Francisco city bus followed by white noise on a home stereo, and the mic testing was done by, well, making a few calls.

Each headset gets its own conclusion, including a summary of the circumstances for which the set is best suited. One with fantastic sound might cut off the noises of traffic, making it useless for biking. Another might be great for running, but not pick up nuanced tones of your obsessively ripped lossless audio collection. Apple's own headset serves as a baseline—it doesn't have its own section, but it is referred to where appropriate. At the $70 mark and above, it tends to be outclassed. Because of the varying needs of headset users, there's no one Battlemodo champion, but some are definitely better than others. Here are the results:

Altec Lansing Earclip-S - $40
One of two earclip-style headsets we tested, these earphones don't offer much over the standard headset besides a secure fit. Music playback is as clear as on Apple's buds, but without any of the bass. They're not very attractive and feel cheap and flimsy. The sticky rubber sheathing can sort of grab your hair, if you're bushy around the ears, though it does help the clips stay put. There are two controllers, one on the mic and one down the wire for with volume and mic shutoff. The volume controller is sensitive and gets inadvertently adjusted pretty often, and the call/play button can be hard to find in a hurry. The mic added an annoying static sound to voices.
Conclusion: Recommend for exercise duty, where they would at least stay in place and sound OK. They're water resistant too, but at this price you may not be too paranoid about sweat murdering your headset anyway. They look, feel and sound as cheap as they are.

Shure Music Phone Adapter - $50
Shure's solution to the headset problem is to sell you the earphones and microphone separately. Pairing with the fantastic SE110s will make for a fantastic combo, but the combo will set you back almost $150 total. Good thing you can use this adapter with any earphones. Voice quality is high, even in situations with ambient noise, but extras are not; there is just one button and gator clip.
Conclusion: If you like your current earphones, keep them and buy the Shure. Ideally, your earphones will have a short cable, otherwise you'll have to clip the mic to your shirt and let the excess cable dangle.

Maximo iMetal iP-HS1 - $70
Music is richer and clearer than with Apple's headset, but not by much. These fit like traditional earbuds, and are on the large side in both look and diameter. They're solid, but could be perceived as a little garish on account of the chrome finish. The single, large low-hanging button works well and is the easiest of the lot to quickly press. The very capable mic is positioned and designed intelligently, and is the best we tested.
Conclusion: A solid replacement for lost or broken Apple headsets for people who have big, weird ear holes and don't care about isolation.

Maximo iMetal iP-HS2 Isolators - $70
These are the in-ear version of the iMetal. Sound is slighly bottom-heavy but the rest of the range is well-represented. The tips are comfortable, and provide surprisingly good isolation. Walking doesn't cause any annoying thumping from the cables, which is often a problem for similar in-ears. The single call/play button is identical to that on the other Maximo, as is the superb mic.
Conclusion: The best value and a recommended purchase, provided you want something that shuts you off from the outside world.

V-Moda Vibe Duo - $100
These in-ears are about as bassy as they are stylish. This results in a slightly muddy sound but they're good for casual listening. Isolation is fair, but you hear significant cable rustling when you walk with them. The tip choices are smart and comfortable for a wide range of ear holes. The single control button is on the mic, easy to find. The mic delivers clear, intelligible sound at a moderate volume.
Conclusion: Too expensive for what you get, but look great and are as tough as nails.

Sennheiser MM50-ip - $100
Sound is comparable to iMetal isolators in terms of balance and quality, but they handle high volumes and bassier songs a bit better. Senn gives us plenty of tip choices, most of which are cushy and easy on the ear holes, but with a low to fair amount of isolation. There is some degree of cable noise when walking, but it's not too intrusive. The mic has a flush call button that can be hard to feel, but luckily sits directly opposite an easy-to-fumble-for indention at the mic's grille. Mic quality is above average, but not very loud. Unequal cable length after the split drives some people nuts, but works fine.
Conclusion: If they were a few dollars cheaper they would be much, much more appealing. Without a significant performance advantage, they lose out to the cheaper Maximo iMetals.

AirDrives Interactive Headset - $100
Taking a totally different approach than just about anyone else, the AirDrives are earclips with drivers that sort of float above your ears. The logic is that they won't interfere with ambient noises and permit all-day listening without fear of ear damage. Achieving a proper fit (or hover, I guess) was difficult on my freakish baby ears, but once you bend them correctly they don't budge. The listening sensation is akin to being in a room with the stereo on, so it's easy to hear what is going on around you. Voices sound fine, but music is robbed of any low to lower-mid frequencies, which I expect would be a dealbreaker for many.
Conclusion: Good for work or exercise where awareness of your surroundings is key, but that's it. Sound is just too poor to recommend for music lovers.

Etymotics hf2 - $180
Excellent, balanced sound, featuring the same audio hardware as the hf5's that won their category in our earphone Battlemodo. These won't win over beat junkies, but are truly in a different class than anything else reviewed here in terms of sound quality—and price. Putting these guys in usually means getting a deep, full seal against your ear canals, which can be offputting to some people, but rewarding to others. Isolation is very strong, and cable rustling is minimal. The mic setup is a one-button affair, but that button is easy to find.
Conclusion: Only buy these if you're an audiophile who, for some reason, doesn't already have a pair of decent earphones. Otherwise, just grab the Shures.

We tried to cover the bases here, but this list of headsets is by no means comprehensive—if you want to add anything from your personal experience, please share it in the comments. Special thanks goes to Clay Hane for testing assistance.

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<![CDATA[Ultimate Cut-The-Crap In-Ear Headphone Battlemodo]]> Why do music lovers put up with cheap stock earbuds? You've spent hundreds of dollars on an MP3 player then effectively nullify your investment with headphones that suck the soul out of the music that you love. Choosing a higher-end set of earphones is almost impossible, since there are way too many, and they are deliberately marketed to blur the distinctions from best to worst. I tried out $2,000 worth of in-ear earphones—16 pairs made it to my final evaluation—and since I like you, I will share the results of my hours of ear penetration.

First, some ground rules on the scope and purpose of my testing:

The headphones tested are all what you'd consider "upgrades" rather than "replacements" for the crap headphones that came with your MP3 player. While I capped pricing at $200, my "cheapest" pair started at around $40. The three tiers are under $100, $100-$150, and $150-$200.

The most practical measure of sound quality is to just sit and listen. I focused on in-ear headphones because they are built not just to jam a driver right next to your ear, but to block outside noise. It's simple: less ambient noise = better experience.

In the spirit of cutting out the vaguely scientific marketing jargon, my tests were unscientific, but consistent across the board and based on real-world situations. The methodology was simple: a current-gen iPod, a sonically diverse playlist of music and, for isolation testing, a seat on the 14 bus in San Francisco, then some time next to a white noise machine.

With so much of the earphone inside of your ear, rustling of the cable can cause some serious noise. If the cable isn't properly buffered from the earphone, the deep, annoying shuffling can interfere your music when you try to walk or turn your head. That's why I made note of "cable noise"—this isn't to suggest there was some kind of buzz or white noise from the cable itself.

Here are the results of my testing:

Under $100
The Winner: Ultimate Ears metro.fi 2 Along with providing great sound and a decent fit, this set appeals to your normal side. The earbuds are as pleasing to the eye as they are to the ear, with a tasteful matte finish and an almost flush fit. In other words, you don't feel as ridiculous as you might with the Shure ear-garrotes or some of the other Ultimate Ears' protruding Frankenstein monster plugs. They don't sit too deep, so if you're apprehensive about the ear-rapey aspect of other offerings, you'll be comfortable with these. The sound, though emphasizing the low end, is clear and competitive with much more expensive units.

The Losers: This is a tricky price point, as some stock earbuds (Apple, Sony) are actually pretty good. Slapping a rubber cuff on a half-baked product doesn't justify a price of $50+. In the case of Apple's in-ears and the CX300s, you aren't really experiencing a different class of audio than with stock buds, though there is a marked improvement. The CX500s put on a good show for bass junkies, but that's about it. Creative has a nice product with a great price, but it just can't measure up to the metro.fi on the performance front.

$100-$150
The Winner: Shure SE110 This price point offers the highest price to performance ratio, and the SE110 is the best of the lot. If you can get over the deep penetration and the over-ear looping, you'll find that the SE110s are comfortable, block out plenty of ambient noise and most importantly produce stunning, immersive sound. The tones are wisely balanced, and quality is at the level that you'll be noticing new things about songs that you've heard dozens of times. Decent discounts are available at various online retailers, as is the case with most of this category.

The Losers: Manufacturers know that this is a sweet spot for consumers, so the market is crowded with good options. The hardware starts to look a little more "professional," or more accurately, "weird." Etymotics, always fans of producing earphones that are really good on paper, fails with the ER6 not because of quality issues, but because the buds are awkward and overwhelm with the high and middle tones. The company's new earphone tips, however, are amazing (more on this below, in the more expensive category). Ultimate Ears loses their luster at this level. Creative is yet again a nice runner-up; the Zen Aurvanas are very capable, but couldn't supplant the crystal-clear SE110s.

$150-$200
The Winner: Etymotics hf5 Ostensibly designed with portable music players in mind, the hf5s solve the balance problems of the er6 models and much, much more. They're cool looking (with the right tips, they look like sci-fi laser pistols), have little to no cable movement noise and reproduce sound in a way that is both perfectly clear and highly enjoyable. Everything about these gives the impression of quality, from the brushed aluminum finish to the way that music suddenly sounds distinctly layered in a way that it didn't before, and that it doesn't on many similarly priced units. One caveat, though: the hf5s (and the er6s, for that matter) must be used with the new foam rubber tips, called "Mushrooms." They're a little phallic and sort of a sickly gray, but they are leaps and bounds better than Etymotics' trademark flanged tips. The tighter seal that these offer to most people is conducive to better listening, and the isolation properties are superb. You can't hear anything else with these guys in. Every manufacturer should have something like this. According to the Etymotics people, by the time the hf5s ship these will be standard issue. Good.

The Losers: To sum up the category: Expensive without enough added benefit. Spending $100 will get you a phenomenal listening experience, so it's hard to justify spending more. The $200 cap was intended to filter out the luxury market/audiophile products that tend to show up at about that price, but hints of both are apparent here. The Shure SE210s are a wonderful pair of earphones, but the large premium over the SE110s is a dealbreaker, as side-by-side comparisons expose only the slightest variation in sound quality. The Klipsch Custom-2s are more of a luxury item than the others, with woven cable housing and a case that is ready for you iPod as well. Harman Kardon is just batting out of their league here, and Ultimate Ears doesn't improve on their cheaper models, even introducing some pretty terrible cable noise.

If you're looking to get the most out of your MP3 player, you'll have to spend some money. But as it turns out, the general rule is that once you pass about $100, your audio improvements will become smaller and more expensive. After reviewing all of these earphones, one simple fact is very clear: If I were in the market for a new set of earphones, I would buy the SE110s.

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<![CDATA[Dealzmodo: Trade In Old Crusty Headphones, Get $$$ for New Sennheisers]]> Are your headphones "broken, crusty or damaged" or just plain suck? Swap 'em for a pair of new Sennheisers. They'll take your old set in pretty much any condition, and will give you $5 toward earbuds, $10 for classic, $15 for in-ear and 25 bucks for noise-canceling headphones in exchange. You've just gotta mail in the linked form before Aug. 31. It's not a bad deal, I really liked their PX-100s for the price, and that was without an extra 10 bucks off. [Sennheiser (PDF) via Gearlog]

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<![CDATA[Wireless Surround-Sound Headphone Battlemodo]]> Problem: you want to watch a movie or play a game in glorious surround sound. But someone in your house is sleeping, studying or just annoyed that you are playing BioShock for the third time to get all the achievements. The solution: wireless surround-sound headphones. We tested the three of the most popular models to ensure that you won't buy the wrong one, become sad then throw your life away with booze and drugs.

Sony DS6000
Price: $300 retail, $230 street
Impressions: You'll notice the solid build quality immediately. Featuring soft cups that fit around your ears, the headphones turn on automatically when placed on your head. Testing out Superman Returns, we were impressed by bright trumpets and deep, powerful planets whizzing by our head during the opening credits alone. When Superman returns to the Kent farm, we felt and then heard the subtle roar of an asteroid approaching from behind our ears—while dishes clanked in the foreground and water gurgled in the middle of our ears. We were able to appreciate the crisp, distinct sound design in a way we never had before.

Acoustic Research AWD510
Price: $250 retail, $200 street
Impressions: We were disappointed that while the earcups appear oversized, they didn't wrap around our ears all the way. So even when the sound localization—our made-up term for how far or close the sounds felt from our ears—may have actually been slightly superior to the Sony model, we wondered why Acoustic Research didn't seal the deal and disconnect us completely from our wives/kids/lives by covering 100% of the ear. On the sound front, the AWD510 had a tinniness that was a real turn-off. It might have been a product of compression: on the other end, the headphones never once roared, and often left us craving more.

Sennheiser RS 130
Price: $170 retail, $110 street
Impressions: See the two headphones above these? They have two things in common. 1. True surround sound capabilities. 2. They run on 2.4ghz radio signals. These Sennheisers are a cheaper alternative, instead supporting SRS (fake 3D sound with only two speakers) and IR (infrared) data streaming. So how big are these compromises?

Actually, the SRS works pretty well. You won't get those a-ha! moments like, say, when Superman flies by the screen and you'd swear his cape is in your face, but there's a lot to say about really good stereo-esque sound attached to your head. It's the IR that's a deal breaker. From the second we put the headphones on our ears, we heard a hiss that never left and occasionally got worse. And it's a shame, because otherwise the headphones sound pretty good, though mid- to low-range speech left a bit to be desired.

Pioneer SE-DHP800

PIOSEDIR800C.jpegPrice:$475 retail, $275 street
Impressions: (We didn't like our picture). There's no doubt, this pair of Pioneer headphones emphasizes clarity. The moment that stuck out most for us was during the space credits, a shattered meteor whizzed by our heads and we could distinguish more pieces, eyes closed, than on any other model. If the Acoustic Research model features good localization, the Pioneers sound even better. The catch? They cheat you out of the low ranges almost completely. And the effect is like eating reduced fat cheese: it seems alright in the first bite, but you're missing a whole dimension of fulfillment. Ultimately, they feel like a headphone experience.

Oh, and these bad boys are infrared as well, but we didn't encounter problems like we did with the Sennheisers (we could only make the sound fail by placing our hands in front of both our ears). As we've found with previous experience, avoid cheap IR headphones...they will probably just disappoint you.


VERDICT
: We favor the Sony DS6000, especially since they're cheaper than Pioneer's offerings. From their easy dock charging to their very solid (and best-rounded) listening experience, we wouldn't mind turning off the speakers if it meant we were turning these on.* The Pioneers come in a close second, but felt like surround sound without a subwoofer: technically impressive, but at the end of the day, coming up a bit short on our id factor.

*But buyer beware, the Sony system's powerful radio transmission has occasionally interfered with both our Wi-Fi connection and, surprisingly enough, the clarity of our wireless Xbox LIVE headsets. We still recommend the product, but it's something to keep in mind if you have a small space and heavy Wi-Fi dependence. The Pioneer model should cause no such interferences.

Also of note, Panasonic has an interesting competitive model we were not able to acquire at the time of this testing.

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<![CDATA[Sennheiser VMX100 Bluetooth Headset Has VoiceMax Voice Distinguishing Technology]]> Sennheiser's latest Bluetooth headset, the VMX 100, has on-board technology that distinguishes the human voice from background noise in order to provide a clearer outgoing sound during conversations. We're unsure how well the headset will distinguish background noise when the background noise is actually human conversation, but at least it'll have five hours talk time and 100 hours standby. The thing looks absolutely gigantic with the Borg attachment fitting over the ear, but we suppose that's where the voice distinguishing technology lives. [CNET]

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<![CDATA[Sennheiser BW900 Bluetooth Headset Finally Available]]> We thought the BW900 Bluetooth headset from headphone company Sennheiser was available last year, but apparently it took another year for it to actually make it to maker. Reader Jonathan got one and unboxed it.

Jon says the unit has a 100 meter range (it's Class 1, Class 2 is only 10 meter) that can connect to multiple devices simultaneously. This means your desktop phone, your cellphone, and your PC can be toggled between. Lots of ports, and has "24 hour operation".

Sure, it's almost $300, but if you need a heavy duty Bluetooth headset this seems like the way to go.

Sennheiser Communications BW900 Unboxing [Schalliol]

Thanks Jonathan!

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<![CDATA[Dealzmodo: Sennheiser RS100 Wireless Headphones, $44]]> Buy.com has these 900 MHz wireless headphones for half-off. The list price is $90, and after $46 of instant savings it brings them down to $44 out the door. The large wireless transmitter prevents any kind of portable iPod usage, but they could still be great around the house.

Product Page [Via Dealhack]

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<![CDATA[Sennheiser Launches Style Line Headphones]]> sennheiser.jpgSennheiser no longer wants the iPod generation to settle for shoddy, horribly constructed headphones, so it's coming out with the Style Line, a line of headphones designed to, you guessed it, introduce "style" and decent sound to the usually underwhelming world of iPod-cenric headphones. There will initially be three members of the Style Line family, the MX 90 VC Style, the OMX 90 VC Style and the LX 90 Style. Just as with the rest of Sennheiser's headphones, users can expect above average sound quality and fairly sturdy construction.

The MX 90 VC Style are the Cadillac of the bunch, with a price of about $69.95. Its biggest "golly gee" feature is twist to fit, which allows users to adjust the shape so it easily—and comfortably!—fits inside the ear.

Next down the line is the OMX 90 VC Style, around $89.95. Aluminum bows allow easy height adjustment. Plus, there's a built-in volume control on the cable.

Finally, for the penny pinchers out, there's the LX 90 Style, $79.95. It comes with a self-configuring headband that makes for easy adjustment around your big egghead. Will these in-ear 'phones give some of the fancier boys a run for their money? Sennheiser certainly hopes so.

Product Page (Be warned: flash-heavy) [Sennheiser via Tech Digest]

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<![CDATA[Sennheiser Drops 5 'Street' Headphones]]>

Sennheiser is dropping five new headphones for the world to enjoy. Sennheiser is known for making top notch headphones, so hopefully these will live up to their usual name.

The MX55V Street earbuds retails for $40 and has Sennheiser's Twist-to-Fit design for maximum comfort. They include the Basswind System and a in-line volume control. The MX 51 retails for $30 and is a traditional, or classic earbud. They have rubber earpads for comfort and average sound—nothing too spectacular. The MXL 51 retails for $35 is identical to the MX 51s but the earbuds are integrated into a lanyard—hence the L. The OMX 50 Street retails for $35 and are similar to the previous models mentioned, but they have a behind-the-ear loop form-factor. Lastly is the OMX 52 Street. These are $40 over-the-ear headphones that are super light and supply excellent sound with Sennheiser's top notch technology, including the Basswind System.

Affordable Sennheiser smaller headphones and earbuds? I'll admit it, I am a little excited.

Sennheiser 'Twist-To-Fit' Headphones [BIOS]

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<![CDATA[Sennheiser PC155 USB PC Skype Headset Hands-On]]> PC users who were envious of the M145 Mac Skype headset can stop fretting, since the PC155 Skype-certified headset is even nicer than its brother.

The connectivity options are pretty much the same as on the M145. There's a headphone jack and a speaker jack which connect directly to the USB adapter. The setup is surprisingly as simple on Windows as it was on OS X—plugging in the USB port is all it takes for Windows XP to recognize and set up the headset. Changing your Skype to use this as Input/Output takes only a few clicks in the configuration.

The audio quality for both in and out are pretty good, and music had enough if not too much bass. We were calling some credit card agencies with it to cancel some credit cards and they had no problem understanding us. The easy on/off mic switch on the cable itself provides an easy way to mute the mic in case you have to talk to someone on your end without the other party hearing.

The ear cups are comfortable, but they don't go around the entire ear (if you have large ears) like Sennheiser HD-580s do, which means your ears may get fatigued after using it a while. It's definitely comfortable enough for extended periods of gaming.

Product Page [Skype]

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<![CDATA[Sennheiser CX 300 Headphones]]>

Sennheiser usually makes pretty decent headphones, but then again, you'd expect high quality from a company that shares an address with a certain David Hasselhoff. The CX 300 is a pair of in-ear headphones, which have been popularized by iPod accessory makers. It comes with three different sized covers for the headphone; hopefully, one of them fit your ears properly.

Sennheiser also claims that the CX 300 does a fine job of blocking out unwanted sounds. They're available now for $79.95 in both black and white.

Product Page [Sennheiser via Ubergizmo]

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<![CDATA[Sennheiser M145 USB Mac Skype Headset Hands-On]]> The microphone on my Powerbook G4 is decent, but it's not quite good enough when we're trying to hold a Skypecast. Solution? The Sennheiser M 145 USB Skype Approved headset.

The headset consists of what you see above connected to two 3.5mm plugs, one for the mic input and one for the headphone output. It also comes with an adapter which attaches to those two plugs and gives turns it into a USB connection. Your choice whether you want to go USB or 3.5mm—say if you're running out of USB ports on your MacBook.

But wait, there's more!

How it feels: pretty good for a wraparound headset. The only complaint I have is the wraparound isn't adjustable, but it fits even my pumpkin sized melon, so only obscenely large and freakishly small heads will have a problem. The boom mic is also adjustable, so it'll never feel like it's in the way.

How it sounds: pretty good for a headset. There's not a whole lot of bass, but that's only noticible if you're listening to music or talking to James Earl Jones—and he's more of a Windows Live Messenger guy. The sound from talking to another Skype user and to the Skype headset were clear going in and out. It's much better than using the internal mic and only a little better than the Creative Live! Cam Voice.

Overall, the M145 is a pretty good headset if you're a Mac user and like Skype or any other online chat program. Installation was nonexistent. I plugged it in and the system immediately recognized the Sennheiser device as both input and output.

You can pick one up for around $100 online, or a few bucks less if you know where to look.

Product Page [Skype]

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<![CDATA[Sennheiser BW900 Finally Available?]]> Sennheiser took its time getting into the Bluetooth headset market, but finally after three years in the making it releases the BW900, a noise-canceling model that the company says can work up to 300 feet away from a desktop telephone. That number goes down to a more-normal 30 feet when you're using it with a cellphone.

The unique noise cancellation in the BW900 is called "adaptive intelligence," which adjusts to ambient noise levels and can even remember your preferred settings and implement them when things get noisy again. Originally scheduled to be available in January of this year for $330, it's said to be finally available in the UK now.

Sennheiser announces BW900 Bluetooth headset [TechDigest]

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<![CDATA[Sennheiser Introduces Sport Headphones]]> Readers who use their iPods in the gym know just how poorly the stock headphones fit. Sennheiser's new "Sport" line of headphones are aimed at you and your fit buddies at the gym. With features like magnetic earpieces that clip around the neck, 3 sizes of earbuds that twist for better fit, extension cables, you'll never miss a beat of Journey's Don't Stop Believin'. Not only that, they're temperature and sweat proof. Hold on to the feelin'.

Sennheiser sporty headphones [Tech Digest]

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<![CDATA[Sennheiser: Approved By Skype]]>
Skype has certified the Sennheiser PC series headsets. You know, just in case you didn't already know that Sennheiser makes top-notch headsets, and you needed to hear it from a company that provides VOIP that sounds like someone speaking inside a tin can piled under eighteen heavy rugs. Okay, Skype isn't all that bad... The VOIP provider also certified IceMat's $79 Siberia Multi headsets, and announced that its products will be sold at Radio Shack as well as online. Given Vonage's handset news yesterday, Skype had to do something.

Product Page

Options and pricing for more VoIP accessories [Amazon]

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