Gadgets | Digital Accessories | Digital Reviews | Electronic Gadget » Headphones

Razer Carcharias Gaming Headset

admin — Fri, 01 May 2009 08:19:18 +0000

Professional gamers no longer just look for a powerful gaming system to have a proper gaming experience. More and more of them are looking for comfort now that a lot try to spend hours and hours of pure gaming enjoyment. This comfort extends to the gaming gear that they use, which includes their headsets.

This search for a better gaming experience with comfort in mind is what the Razer Carcharias Gaming Headset is trying to offer gamers. With high quality audio being a big part of the gaming experience, Razer headsets try to match up audio quality right at the level that gaming professionals expect it to be.

Razer then tries to provide professional gamers with a level of comfort not usually seen among current gaming headsets. At least, that is what the Razer Carcharias offers as its main selling point. Equipped with extra soft earpads, headband cushion, size extenders and an adjustable mic, the Razer Carcharias Gaming Headphones tries to add high quality comfort and sound together into a single package. It is available at Razer for US$80.

Related Products

Bookmark and share this post:

Sony intros noise-cancelling Bluetooth headphones

admin — Wed, 29 Apr 2009 06:24:16 +0000

Sony BT101

Sony Europe on Monday announced the upcoming release of two sets of Bluetooth 2.1 headphones with Sony’s cVc echo and noise cancellation software, the DR-BT100CX in-ear earbuds and headband DR-BT101. Both can handle phone calls thanks to a built-in microphone and call answer controls as well. The earbuds use 9mm Neodymium drivers while the latter sport a 30mm speaker made of the same material. Integrated music controls include volume adjustment and track forward and back buttons. Either set is recharged with a USB cable, with life rated at up to 12 hours for the larger BT101s and 8 hours for the BT100CX set. The earbuds ship with three sizes of silicon earbuds for a comfortable fit in user’s ears. The A2DP, AVRCP, HFP and HSP Bluetooth profiles are supported by either product.

Sony has not released ship dates nor pricing information for either new set.

Sony BT100CX

Related Products

Bookmark and share this post:

Jabra unveils SP200 Bluetooth speakerphone

admin — Thu, 02 Apr 2009 19:29:37 +0000

Jabra has unveiled its newest Bluetooth device, the SP200, its latest speakerphone. Building off the Jabra SP700, the SP200 is designed to attach to a car visor and provide hands-free talking. The devices comes with noise reduction and echo cancellation technology, is capable of offering up to 10 hours of talk time, and has a standby time of roughly 23 days. Auto-pairing also makes using multiple devices relatively seamless. The SP200 includes Bluetooth 2.0 support and comes with a universal car charger. The Jabra SP200 is available for purchase and has a suggested retail price of $60.

Related Products

Bookmark and share this post:

Jabra intros dual-microphone HALO Bluetooth headset

admin — Thu, 02 Apr 2009 19:06:44 +0000

Electronics maker Jabra, presenting at the CTIA Wireless show, has unveiled the HALO Bluetooth headset, which provides A2DP stereo support. The minimalist headset also has a 3.5mm audio jack for use with devices without Bluetooth transmitters, and noise cancelation managed through a combination of dual microphones and Jabra’s Noise Blackout technology. Wearers can pair the HALO with up to two Bluetooth devices, and talk or listen to music for up to six hours at a time before having to recharge a built-in battery. The HALO sports touch-sensitive controls, and weighs approximately 3oz. Shipment is due in May at a cost of $130.

Related Products

Bookmark and share this post:

Genius Debuts New Noise-cancellation Headphones

admin — Thu, 02 Apr 2009 18:52:13 +0000

Genius has released a new pair of noise-cancellation headphones, the GHP-04NCs. Inverted signals are used to cancel out background sound. The headphones are additionally equipped with a 40mm bass driver, plus leather earpads, a soft headband sponge, and swiveling earcups. Other features include a 6.3mm dual-plug stereo adapter that works with a variety of airplane audio sources, and a 50-hour run time when using two AAA batteries. A leather carrying pouch is supplied. The GHP-04NCs are currently priced at $50, and available from various retailers and distributors.

Related Products

Bookmark and share this post:

Motorola Intros MOTOROKR S305 Bluetooth Headphones

admin — Thu, 02 Apr 2009 14:33:04 +0000

Motorola has recently introduced its latest set of headphones, the wireless stereo MOTOROKR S305. Like others, they use Bluetooth’s A2DP standard for connecting with compatible devices and receiving a stereo signal with controls. The 30mm (nearly 1.2-inch) drivers in each earpod are relatively large and said to deliver a wider music range, with the outside of one of the pod’s housing the audio track navigation, volume and call controls. The headphones allow users to make phone calls as well, with music that pauses when a call comes in and automatically resumes when it has ended. Motorola says the MOTOROKR S305 is compatible with over 200 Bluetooth phones. The integrated lithium-ion battery’s life is rated at 6.5 hours of talk time, 6 hours of music playback and 100 hours of stand-by time. The set weighs in at 1.8 ounces.

The MOTOROKR S305 headphones will be available at the start of April, though Motorola has not yet announced their price.

Related Products

Bookmark and share this post:

Razer Moray Earbud Headphones for Gamers

admin — Mon, 30 Mar 2009 08:02:44 +0000

For serious gamers, sound quality is a big part of the gaming experience. And with the Razer Moray earbud headphones, this can be maintained. For earbud headphones, sound quality may not usually come at a level that most gamers would look forward to. But with the Razer Moray earbuds, the experience might be a little different.

The Razer Moray earbud headphones was designed specifically for gamers who look for exceptional sound quality whenever they play their favorite games on their portable gaming systems. This pair of bass driven earbuds also provides great stereo sounds in mid to high range clarity.

For better fit and comfort, the Razer Moray also comes with interchangeable earbud sizes that gamers can choose from. This helps reduce distracting ambient noise to give gamers full and clear sound quality whenever they play with their mobile gaming device. The Razer Moray is available at Razerzone for US$40.

Related Products

Bookmark and share this post:

Wrap 920AV: Latest Eyewear From Vusix

admin — Thu, 19 Mar 2009 00:03:12 +0000

Gadget Inspector review the latest Eyewear from Vusix. Vuzix keep on to amplify their personal video wear lineup with the new Wrap 920AV. They’re semi-transparent they act like conventional sunglasses so you are able to wear them as you stumble walk around in the real world.

Vuzix are selling them as “Augmented reality” devices (they’re at least 5 years too soon for that to really work) but since they’re actually pretty comfortable to wear and have a very good picture I can see them being bought as straightforward personal video screens.

The new model that’s not on the website yet is the VR1440. An upgrade to the already popular VR920, it’s display is 800×600 native resolution and will take a PC resolution of up to 1600×1200. Combining 3D display and headtracking it would make a compelling accessory for flight simulator fans.

Related Products

Bookmark and share this post:

Klipsch Reveals New Headphones for New iPod Shuffle

admin — Mon, 16 Mar 2009 08:32:05 +0000

We all know that the new third generation iPod Shuffle was released yesterday and apparently Klipsch has wasted no time developing complementary accessories like this neat breakthrough headphones. These new headphones are integrated with controls on the earphone cord for the new third generation iPod shuffle with Apple’s new VoiceOver feature.

These new headphones will give users the ability to play, pause, adjust volume, switch playlists and hear the name of the song and artist with just the press of a button.

The new third generation iPod shuffle with the VoiceOver feature can speak song titles, artists and playlist names. When you want to know the name of the song or artist playing, simply press a button on the conveniently located headphone controls and iPod shuffle tells you the song and artist name. iPod shuffle can even announce status information, such as battery life.

The Klipsch headphones are expected to be available this summer for $99.99.

Related Products

Bookmark and share this post:

Coosh Headphones

admin — Thu, 12 Mar 2009 15:17:32 +0000

Coosh headphones look like typical ear buds but they have long silicone earpieces that encircle the entire ear in order to ensure a good fit in almost any position. The headphones start at $25 for regular stereo headphones or $30 for headphones that are compatible with the iPhone. There is a built-in button and microphone that control cellphone functions without the need for you to dig into your pocket.

The audio is equal to the Apple headset that comes with every iPod. Coosh headphones are for sale at coosh.com or Amazon.com and in select retail stores. The headphones come in pink, black or white and a carrying case is included. Most important, the silicone earpieces will keep the headphones from spinning around on your head

Related Products

Bookmark and share this post:

Are You Looking For Pretty Bluetooth Headsets?

admin — Wed, 11 Mar 2009 09:15:31 +0000

Bluetooth headsets are not exactly a fashion accessory meant to be worn with a cocktail dress. We tend to like them because they free our hands while keeping us in contact with our friends and family. The concept Bluetooth headset in the picture here was designed by Ilshat Garipove and it’s inspired in the formation of a water drop. It has a single button whose only function is to receive and end calls and that’s about it. The design is made for ladies and we have no idea if it will be ever manufactured. As for us men, we’re not that into fashion, are we?

Related Products

Bookmark and share this post:

Cosonic CD891MV Headphone

admin — Mon, 15 Dec 2008 07:12:49 +0000

Features

Driver Unit: F50mm
Speaker Impedance: 64ohm±15%
Speaker Sensitivity: 105dB±3dB
Speaker Frequency Response: 20-20,000Hz
Maximum Power Input: 100mw
Microphone Operating Voltage: 4.5V
Microphone impedance: 2.2 K
Microphone sensitivity: -58dB±2dB
Microphone Frequency Response: 30-16,000Hz
Cord Length: 2.2 meters

Related Products

Bookmark and share this post:

Cosonic CD-788V Noise Canceling Headphones

admin — Mon, 15 Dec 2008 07:03:01 +0000

Frequency range:20-20,000Hz
Active noise attenuation:100-20,000Hz,>10dB at 300Hz
Maximum Power:500mw
Sensitivity:102 dB
Impedance:32 Ohm
Jack:3.5mm-6.3mm(1/4/¡±)plug + Airplane jack
Battery Power Supply:2×1.5AAA

Related Products

Bookmark and share this post:

Cosonic CD-722MV Headphones

admin — Mon, 15 Dec 2008 07:00:07 +0000

Product Description:

Cosonic CD-722MV Headphones, Speaker size:40mm, Frequency range:20-20, 000Hz, Speaker impedance:32 Ohm±15%, Speaker sensitivity:100dB±3dB, Microphone impedance:2200 Ohm, Microphone sensitivity:-58dB±2dB, Maximum power:100mw, Standard operating voltage:4.5V, Wire length:2.1 metres

Related Products

Bookmark and share this post:

Cosonic CD-711MV

admin — Mon, 15 Dec 2008 06:57:25 +0000

Product Information

Cosonic CD-711MV Headphones, Speaker size:40mm, Frequency range:20-20,000Hz, Speaker impedance:32 Ohm�15%, Speaker sensitivity:100dB�3dB, Microphone impedance:2200 Ohm, Microphone sensitivity:-58dB�2dB, Maximum power:100mw, Standard operating voltage:4.5V, Wire length:2.1 metres

Warranty : 12 month Manufacturer

Suppliers URL : http://en.cosonic.net.cn/ehibition/ehibition_default.asp?pro_id=326

Product Code: CD-711MV

Related Products

Bookmark and share this post:

Cosonic CD-380MV

admin — Mon, 15 Dec 2008 06:50:51 +0000

Maximum power : 100mw
Speaker Sensitivity : 95dB±3dB
Wire Length : 2.1 metres
Frequency range : 20-20,000Hz
Speaker impedance: 32 Ohm±15%
Speaker sensitivity: 95dB±3dB
Microphone impedance : 2200 Ohm
Microphone sensitivity : -58dB±2dB
Standard operating voltage : 4.5V

Related Products

Bookmark and share this post:

Cosonic CD-363MV Neckband Headphones

admin — Mon, 15 Dec 2008 06:43:01 +0000

Cosonic CD-363MV Neckband Headphones, Speaker frequency range:20-20,000Hz, Speaker impedance:32 Ohm 15%, Speaker sensitivity:96dB 3dB, Microphone sensitivity -58dB 2dB, Microphone impedance 2.2 K, Maximum power inpute 30mw, Standard operating voltage:4.5V, Wire length 2 metres.

Box Dimensions: 14cm x 4cm x 22cm
Box Weight: 0.31kg
Warranty: 12-month Manufacturer
Stock: >5

Related Products

Bookmark and share this post:

Cosonic CD-311

admin — Mon, 15 Dec 2008 06:38:31 +0000

Cosonic CD-311 Earphones, Max. Power: 20mw, 15mm Driver Unit, Speaker sensitivity: 83dB+/-3dB, Cord Length: 1.2m, Speaker frequency response: 20-20,000Hz, Speaker Impedance: 32ohm+/-15%

Box Dimensions: 2cm x 11cm x 20.5cm
Box Weight: 0.11kg
Warranty: 12-month Manufacturer
Stock: >5

Related Products

Bookmark and share this post:

Cosonic CD 2117MS Headphone

admin — Mon, 15 Dec 2008 06:35:13 +0000

Product Model: CD-2117MS

Cosonic CD-2117MS Headphone and Mic, 15mm Driver Unit, Speaker sensitivity: 82dB & Microphone: -58dB+/-2dB, Cord Length: 2.2m, Speaker frequency response: 20-20,000Hz, Speaker Impedance: 32ohm+/-15%

Manufacturers Part Number: CD-2117MS

Related Products

Bookmark and share this post:

Bose On-Ear Headphones

admin — Mon, 15 Dec 2008 06:26:05 +0000

Bose has a reputation for its speaker systems, but in recent years we think this has been supplanted by its good work in noise-cancelling headphones. The On-Ear Headphones are the company’s first passive pair of headphones, and come at a significant discount on its siblings. However, this in no way means the set is cheap — as is the Bose way. But are they worth the money?

Design
Build quality is very good indeed — the ear cups are incredibly comfortable and the headband is quite rigid, even if this means it’s also hard to adjust easily. The set’s closest rival in this arena — the AKG K 414 P — look and feel plasticky in comparison. But appearances aren’t everything, as one of our other favourites — the Grado SR60 — could have been used by the original Dam Busters.

Though the headset is only a passive model the degree of natural noise reduction is quite good. This is due to the memory foam and rubber seal combination, but it also means it’s a little warm in there.

Features
The Bose phones are designed to be portable and fold up into a tight bundle — if not as compact as the K 414 P. They come with a carry case that will keep them from damage but it does take up a lot of space. Imagine a portable CD case and you’re there.

Though these appear to be sealed headphones, they are actually semi-closed with a small bass port. This means there is some sound leakage as a result. The extra capacity for bass delivery means that the ear cups will actually vibrate with bassy music at high volumes.

The cans come with two different detachable cables — one short and one long — which gives them a little flexibility and a possible upgrade path to a better quality cable.

Performance
According to the manufacturer, these headphones are “designed to deliver high quality, balanced sound and deep, low notes without the need for any artificial enhancement”.

While we criticised the AKG K 414 P headphones for being too bass heavy, we were ill-prepared for the amount of wallop the Bose cans deal out. These are bassy headphones.

We tried the Bose on a number of different portables and a PC, and on all the systems there was a distinct emphasis on bass and reticence in the upper register.

While Creative’s soundcards are generally excellent, on-board AC’97 sound is not — it’s horrible. But the Bose headphones were able to retrieve a usable amount of information and fill-in the missing bass and treble.

However, given the headphones’ lack of sparkle, any music with a larger than life sound — classical, 60’s pop, garage rock — comes out sounding a little flat.

Using a Sony Walkman really brought out the bass on The Flaming Lips’ Do You Realize?? (wait, there’s a bass line?), and also served to making the vocals more intimate. The downside was that there wasn’t any real sense of space, just a centre channel, and immediate left and right.

Overall, we found the On-Ear headphones tames a lot of high frequency information which means while they flatter badly encoded MP3s, they can also sap rock music of much of its excitement. Guitars lose their edge, and cymbals lack bite. Bass on the other hand is deep and effortless and as a result, the Bose would suit smooth R&B or soul listening. Rock fans, on the other hand, should stick with AKG or Sennheiser.

Related Products

Bookmark and share this post:

Bose in-ear Headphones

admin — Mon, 15 Dec 2008 06:09:04 +0000

Many people’s first experience of ‘proper’ noise cancelling headphones will have come courtesy of a pair of Bose cans, supplied to cancel out the hum of aeroplane engines in business class. Bose has been involved in the technology for some years now and seems to have the airline business well and truly sewn up. I’ve also seen its earbuds bundled with some MP3 players: the Samsung T10 for instance has a decent pair of Bose phones included. But strangely it hasn’t yet gone for the biggest growing sector of the headphone market – in-ear headphones – in a particularly big way.

In fact it currently only has one pair of headphones in this sector – the Bose in-ear headphones – and these represent a pretty an odd way of dipping the corporate toe into these highly competitive waters. I say odd because, while virtually every other manufacturer has focused on noise canceling canal phones of late, Bose’s newest headphones are, in fact earbuds. Not in the traditional sense – they do have silicone rubber tips that extend inside your ear canal – but they don’t create an airtight seal. The main body of the silicone rubber tips actually sit outside the ear canal and the result is that, though slightly more effective than a standard pair of iPod-style earbuds, they don’t cut out external noise to any great degree.
This is clearly a pair of headphones designed to turn heads, though. Rather than plain black cables, they’re decked out with rather fetching stripy black-and-white wires. These cables are also thick and feel well up to being trapped in your jacket zip a few times, while the joints at each end are similarly well put together. Other nice touches include a 3.5mm jack skinny enough to fit the iPhone’s headphone port directly, and a decent range of accessories. In the box is a rectangular soft case with enough room to stow headphones plus a small MP3 player, a clothing clip to keep the wires from tugging at your ears, and a lanyard that allows you to hang the phones around your neck when you’re not listening to music.

In fact the only disappointment here is that the cabling system isn’t modular. Headphones such as Sennheiser’s similarly-priced CX 95s have cables that can be split in two, which means if you have a mobile phone with a modular hands free extension, you can take calls without having to unplug your ears.

The principal benefit to the odd earbud-style design of these headphones is, however, comfort. The silicon tips – of which small, medium and large fittings are supplied with the phones – sit perfectly in your ears. There’s none of that burning, aching sensation that you can get through extended use of tight-fitting canalphones, and they also feel far lighter in your lugs than standard earbuds. Another plus is that there’s less of the cable-rub amplification that you get with completely sealed canal phones.

In theory, an earbud design such as this also allows much more room for drivers too, so it’s easier to achieve top level sound quality for less cash. Keen to test this theory out, I grabbed my current favourite headphones at this price – the aforementioned Sennheiser CX 95s – and settled down for an extended back-to-back listening session. I hooked each pair of headphones up to my Sqeezebox and portable headphone amp to ensure top quality at the source level.

Kicking things off with some laid back jazz – Pat Metheny’s atmostpheric album, Map of the World – and a difference was immediately apparent. The Bose phones didn’t appear to have the punch, detail and clarity of the Sennheisers. With the CX 95s you can hear the ‘deliberate’ hiss on the original recording and all the extra sounds around the edges, such as the buzz of Metheney’s guitar strings as he plucks them. In comparison, the Bose phones are far less involving, floating on top of the music rather than delving down deep into the guts of it.

Don’t get me wrong, they’re not bad at all – quite a pleasant listen, in fact – but they’re just not as involving as the best in class. Moving on, I picked a more challenging piece of classical music, Mozart’s Requiem, as the next test. The complex choral depths of this piece, as well as being one of the most powerful classical pieces you’re ever likely to hear, also have the useful side benefit of stretching audio components to their limits, and in the case of the Bose headphones, it was a stretch too far.

That sense of not being too involved with the music was accentuated here. With the CX 95s, the piece made the hairs on the back of my arms stand up; the Bose phones sounded good, but I didn’t care quite as much. They added a slight muffling veil to the music, which robbed it of power.

This was confirmed by shifting the source material dramatically to heavy metal and Metallica’s classic black album. Again I had few serious complaints – the sound was balanced and reasonably detailed – but plug in the CX 95s and you get a whole new world of bite, attack and aggression; just what you want when listening to metal or heavy rock.

Verdict

There’s no doubt that Bose’s in-ear headphones are a quality product. They’re well-built, come with a respectable selection of accessories, work with the iPhone out of the box, and are an extremely comfortable option for those who just don’t get on with canalphones.

But the sound quality, while balanced and reasonably detailed, isn’t quite up there with the best in class. If you have this much cash to spend on a headphone upgrade, I’d advise choosing a pair of the superlative Sennheiser CX 95s. They’re more involving to listen to, and the noise isolation design means you can enjoy that quality without having to turn the volume up too loud.

Related Products

Bookmark and share this post:

Audio-Technica ATH-WM5 Portable Retractable Headphones

admin — Sat, 29 Nov 2008 08:15:42 +0000

The Audio Technica ATH-WM5 is a portable retractable headphone designed to deliver Audio-Technica’s famous sonic clarity. A change in venue from other Technica portable headphones, the ATH-WM5 features an auto-rewinding cord for tangle-free storage, a closed-back design for isolation from ambient noise, and a specially designed 30 mm driver meant to project crystal clear sound. The ATH-WM5 also trumps many Technica competitors (such as the EC700, EM7 GM, EM9r) by offering a 30 mm Neodymium driver (versus 28 mm) and improved maximum input power of 500 mW (versus 100 mW). In addition, the ATH-WM5 includes a swivel-enabled and foldable housing for compact storage and maximum portability, not to mention a gold-plated mini-plug for exceptional corrosion resistance and superb conductivity. The Audio Technica ATH-WM5 is priced at $79.95.

Features

Driver Diameter: 30 mm
Magnet: Neodymium
Frequency Response: 10 – 23,000 Hz
Maximum Input Power: 500 mW
Sensitivity: 108 dB/mW at 1 kHz
Impedance: 20 ohms
Weight: 87.5 g without cable
Cable: 0.0 – 1.0 m rewinding cable
Connector: 3.5 mm (1/8”) mini stereo, gold-plated

Related Products

Bookmark and share this post:

Audio-Technica ATH-W5000 Dynamic Headphones

admin — Sat, 29 Nov 2008 08:11:09 +0000

ATH-W5000 was released by audio-technica on the 2nd of December 2005. ‘Raffinato’ marks the release of the 9th generation of the W series, and the 4th non-limited production models since ATH-W1000 at the end of 2002.

At the same time, audio-technica also released a matching dedicated headphone amplifier, AT-HA5000. This is an interesting approach taken by audio-technica as similar treatment was only previously applied to limited production models, namely W2002/HA2002 and L3000/DHA3000.

The followings are specifications taken from audio-technica’s official W5000 webpage:

Type: Dynamic, Closed, Circumaural
Housing Material: Shima-kokutan
Driver Diameter: 53mm
Driver Coil Wire: OFC8N
Frequency Response: 5 – 45,000Hz
Weight: 340g (minus cable)
Impedance: 40 ohms

Sensitivity: 102 dB/mW

Build Quality

Raffinato’s housing is built with Shima-kokutan (ebony wood), instead of the previously used Hokkaido’s Asadazakura (with exception to W10VTG) Ebony wood is said to be heavier and denser than the cherry wood. It is safe to assume the change in acoustic properties would have a direct effect on the sound.

The W5000’s housings have a shallower, thinner, more rounded ‘saucer’ shape where as its predecessors’ bowl or half spherical shapes. The smaller profile of the housing keeps the headphone to be relatively lightweight (340g) despite heavier material.

W5000’s has similar Double Air Dampening System (D.A.D.S) built inside the housings: a feature was firstly used in ATH-W2002, and is subsequently present in W1000 and L3000.

Around the edge where the housing join on to the frame, it is shaped so there is hollowing exist between: an R10-easque feature. (Please refer to the photo below) It is said the design on Sony’s MDR-R10 were to minimise vibration to transmit between the housing and the frame, and I believe it is similar purpose audio-technica wants to achieve.

Finish of the housing is smooth with no apparent coloured paint applied to the main body; the natural dark brown/black wood grain is clearly visible with contrasting white logo, brand name, model number and name on each side. The styling is a departure from the red/gold/multicolour or natural/black combinations in the past.

The drivers used in the previously non-limited production W models were not specially mentioned on their respective website like their limited production relatives. However, audio-technica highlighted that Raffinato has ‘W5000 specific driver’ on its product page. (Diameter (? 53mm) and OFC8N voice coil)

When this review is written, there are three pairs of W5000 reported to have ‘rattling’ driver defect when 20 Hz test tone is played. Similar defect was also noted in the previous generation, ATH-L3000; although no clear cause of the phenomenon was identified for W5000.

[Frame & Pads]

Several features of the frame of W5000 are adapted from the current Air series, and abandoned traditional designs W series:

The wings support system is no longer only tilt on one axis (like the past W series have been), but like the Air and Art series: the patented 3D wings support system are used which tilts forward/backwards as well as sideways to provide comfort and stability.

The two support beams, which previously had plastic tubing for cover, become exposed flat tampered metal similar to the recent Air series (AD1000/2000). However some users reported of AD1000/2000 have excessive clamping force from the beams, audio-technica seems to have addressed the issue with Raffinato; appropriate pressure which could be overly loose fitting for some with smaller head.

The joint where the frame joins on to the housing is in a ‘T’ shape, rather than the past ‘Z’ shape (see photos below). The joint allows less rotation of the ear cup than the past W models.

W5000’s cabling design has taken a more unconventional step: It is the very first in the non-limit production W series to have dual cable entries to the housing. The cable is made of 6N-OFC+Hi-OFC, the same for W1000.

And instead of the traditional silk or cloth wrapping; Raffinato uses elastomer wrapping, a change that makes the cable easier to manage but more microphonic than the traditional materials.

The cable terminates in a 1/4” metal jack, which appears to be more rounded than L3000 and now a standard feature of the Air series. audio-technica seems to have abandoned old design using matching coloured wood to cover the jack, as it has done for the past W series.

W5000 comes with a chocolate coloured plastic flight case with model number/brand nameplate and logo on the lock. Red colour silking lines the inside with padding to protect the fragile wood for storage and transport. A small drawstring bag is included for cable management.

Sound Characteristics

[Burn-in & Set up]

After acquiring all of my wood headphones via the used market, W5000 is the first pair of ATH-W that I have owned since new. Prior to writing this review, I attempted to burn-in the Raffinato with a week worth of continuous music playing. To me, the sound does change through the period, and stabilises after exceeds 100+ hour mark.

The review is based on listening to the following set-up, with music mainly in Jazz, R&B, Classical and Mandarin Pop/folk genre.

Meridian 506.16 > Ack! dAck! 1.2e > audio-technica AT-HA2002 > audio-technica ATH-W5000 ‘Raffinato’

[Characteristics]

W5000 inherits audio-technica’s house colouration: with slight emphasis on upper midrange, which in turn produces the sparkling female vocal W series is known of. However, the midrange lacks the more natural and the warmer tonality that dominates some of the ATH-Ws. Midrange is also placed further back, and deeper into the overall image and creates a gives a mild but noticeable hollowing sound.

The treble carry appropriate amount of extension and energy, no sibilance is heard during the review process. On poorly recorded material, treble becomes slightly etched and loses the smoothness.

Raffinato delivers deep, controlled and articulated bass. Although it lacks the impact and slam that is well known of in its direct predecessor, L3000; its bass resonance and presence remain satisfactory. Given the low end of frequency a more organic texture.

[Presentation]

I was struck very initially by the clarity and resolution, which W5000 possesses. With further listening sessions, I feel this presentation is contributed by a few factors:

Speed is the most apparent and outstanding feature of W5000. audio-technica’s W series were infamous for its slow attack and long decays with discrepancies between each models, but not for Raffinato. W5000 possesses the PRaT that is previously unheard of in the W series, although not to the level of quickness in the likes of Sony’s MDR-SA5000 and Qualia 010.

Raffinato has fair instrument separation creates a sense of airiness and forms a coherent image. This feature combining with a improved soundstage, that is significantly more ‘expensive’ than most of the W series (excluding L3000) gives the W5000 the incredible clarity and lightness without being overloaded with details.

My first few sessions with the W5000 led me to believe it suffers some mild midrange smearing when the music passage becomes busy. However as the review went on, this phenomenon seems to have disappeared. Intriguingly, the instrument texture was vividly palpable at one stage during the first 100 hours, but somehow managed to resolve into a finer and softer variety gradually over time.

[Overall]

Having auditioned the entire line of ATH-W series; to me, Raffinato inherits the analytic line of sound within the family. Rather than imposing euphonic characteristics and add warmth to the sound, it reproduces the music with more fidelity and has a better reflection to the front end and the source.

Comparing W5000 with its predecessors, I would place it with the likes of W1000, W2002, W10LTD and W11R, as all of them share similar characteristics in their overall signature.

Conclusion
ATH-W extrudes elegance with its sound, aesthetics and packaging. To me, having owned and auditioned the entire line of audio-technica W, it represents a new concept product by audio-technica and maybe an early indication of what is to come in 2006 as audio-technica gears up for the release of their 45th anniversary statement product.

Related Products

Bookmark and share this post:

Audio-Technica ATH-T44 Dynamic Stereo Headphones

admin — Sat, 29 Nov 2008 07:53:34 +0000

Audio-Technica ATH-T44 closed-back dynamic stereo headphones give you superior sound and comfort. Their secure ear-fitting design results in excellent isolation, and sophisticated driver technology produces remarkable acoustic performance with an extended frequency response and full, rich balanced bass. Feature proprietary 40mm drivers with neodymium magnet systems and Copper Clad Aluminum Wire (CCAW) voice coils for superior sound reproduction. Self-adjusting lightweight headband, generously padded ear cushions, and rotating earpieces allow for comfortable, versatile listening. 18Hz-23kHz frequency response.

Audio-Technica ATH-T44 Dynamic Stereo Headphones Specifications:

Type: closed-back dynamic
Driver diameter: 40mm
Frequency response: 18Hz-23kHz
Maximum input power: 500mW at 1kHz
Sensitivity: 108dB
Impedance: 40 ohms
Weight: 6.7 oz (190g) without cable
Cable: 9.8″ (3.0m)
Connector: 1/8″ (3.5 mm) stereo mini plug, snap on 1/4″ (6.3 mm) adapter

Audio-Technica ATH-T44 Dynamic Stereo Headphones Features:

Self-adjusting lightweight headband for long-wearing listening comfort
Circumaural design ensures superior isolation
Rotating earpieces for easy one-ear monitoring
Gold-plated 1/8″ (3.5mm) stereo connector and 1/4″ (6.3mm) adapter
Rich bass response with extended high end

High-quality sound, style, and comfort can be yours-put it in the cart!

Related Products

Bookmark and share this post:

Audio-Technica ATH-T22 Dynamic Stereo Headphones

admin — Sat, 29 Nov 2008 07:50:25 +0000

Audio-Technica ATH-T22 closed-back dynamic stereo headphones give you superior sound and comfort. ATH-T22 headphones have a secure ear-fitting design for excellent isolation, and sophisticated driver technology for clear sound. Features include proprietary 40mm drivers; maximized power handling capability; and clean, linear low end response. Self adjusting lightweight headband, generously padded ear cushions, and rotating earpieces allow for comfortable, versatile listening. 20Hz-22kHz frequency response.

Audio-Technica ATH-T22 Dynamic Stereo Headphones Specifications:

Type: closed-back dynamic
Driver diameter: 40mm
Frequency response: 20Hz-22kHz
Maximum input power: 500mW at 1kHz
Sensitivity: 100dB
Impedance: 32 ohms
Weight: 6.0 oz (170g) without cable
Cable: 9.8′ (3.0m)
Connector: 1/8″ (3.5 mm) stereo mini plug, snap on 1/4″ (6.3 mm) adapter

Audio-Technica ATH-T22 Dynamic Stereo Headphones Features:

Self-adjusting lightweight headband for long-wearing listening comfort
Circumaural design ensures superior isolation
Rotating earpieces for easy one-ear monitoring
Gold-plated 1/8″ (3.5mm) stereo connector and 1/4″ (6.3mm) adapter
Maximized power handling capability
Clean, linear low end response

High-quality sound, style, and comfort can be yours-put them in the cart!

Related Products

Bookmark and share this post:

Audio-Technica ath-SQ5 Square Headphone

admin — Sat, 29 Nov 2008 07:47:27 +0000

Audio-Technica’s ATH-SQ5 is the all new winter 2007 ultra comfortable portable and stylish headphones. Piano painted rectangular headphone cups mimic that of airport electronic ear muffs. A look that will surely turn headphones. SQ5 features a large driver unit of 42mm with CCAW voice coil for a wide playback range and produces powerful bass. ATH-SQ5 adopts the high quality OFC material for the cord. Each ear piece can turn 90 degrees horizontal and 180 degrees vertical. The airtightness type is design for outdoor purposes. With a 0.5m cord, it is suitable for any audio player with a headphone output. Comes with a 1 meter extension cord. Audio-Technica’s ATH-SQ5 is available in 3 different colors. Straight from Japan.

Specifications
Type: Dynamic type
Driver Unit: phi 42mm and CCAW voice coil
Impedance: 40 ohms
Output overpressure value: 102.5dB/mW
Largest input: 800mW
Playback frequency zone: 10 – 25,000Hz
Mass: 170g
Cord/code: Elastomer / OFC / 0.5m with 1m extension cord
Plug: phi 3.5 gold-plating stereo mini- plug

Related Products

Bookmark and share this post:

Audio-Technica ATH-PRO700 SV Import Series Professional Monitor Headphones

admin — Sat, 29 Nov 2008 07:41:08 +0000

The circumaural isolation of the ATH-PRO700 SV headphones achieves remarkable isolation from ambient noise, making them perfect for immersive listening in loud environments. With 53mm diameter drivers, neodymium magnets, and 3,500mW of power handling, these headphones deliver outstanding sound reproduction. Plus they fold up compactly to pack neatly away in the provided pouch. A coiled cable at the left earpiece terminates to a mini plug with included 1/4″ adapter.

Audio-Technica ATH-PRO700 SV Import Series Professional Monitor Headphones Specifications:

TYPE: Dynamic
DRIVER DIAMETER: 53 mm
MAGNET: Neodymium
FREQUENCY RESPONSE: 5 — 33,000 Hz
MAXIMUM INPUT POWER: 100 mW
Sensitivity: 105 dB/mW at 1 kHz
IMPEDANCE: 29 ohms
Weight: 33 g (including cable and connector)
CABLE: 1.2 , (Coiled)/Max. 3.0 m (OFC)
CONNECTOR: 1/8″ (3.5 mm) mini stereo
ACCESSORIES INCLUDED: Carrying pouch, detachable 1/4″ (6.3 mm) adapter

Audio-Technica ATH-PRO700 SV Import Series Professional Monitor Headphones Features:

Monitoring headphones for DJ and studio use
Rotating earpieces for easy one-ear monitoring
Clear, well-defined trebles; rich bass response
Excellent isolation, perfect for loud environments
3,500 mW of power handling, high SPL capability
53 mm diameter drivers, neodymium magnets
OFC (oxygen-free copper) wire cables, convenient one-side entry
Compact, easy to store in provided pouch
Designed for long-listening comfort
1/8″ (3.5 mm) stereo connector with 1/4″ (6.3 mm) adapter

Click or call today to order these great-sounding, comfortable headphones.

Related Products

Bookmark and share this post: