Audiofly Readies U.S. Launch; Thinksound Debuts Monitor Series

By Lisa Johnston On Dec 19 2011 - 6:01am

DIAMOND BAR, CALIF. — Audiofly, an Australian headphones manufacturer, is launching in the United States this month and will be coming to International CES to show off its four in-ear models.

Meanwhile, Thinksound introduced the first in-ear headphones in its Monitor series.

Audiofly founder Dave Thompson noted the prevalence of celebritythemed headphones on the market. “Products available today are often about celebrity, extreme sports or minimalist design. With so much emphasis on style or endorsement, I felt the focus on the music was being lost,” he said in a statement.

“I wanted to create highly designed, in-ear headphones that delivered true sound, that accurately conveyed the detail, feeling and meaning the artist envisioned.” The AF78 series is the top of Audiofly’s line, at a $119 suggested retail, and has a balanced armature design and 9mm dynamic drivers.

“The combination is a groundbreaking approach to in-ear headphone design, drawing on the strengths of both driver types to produce an amazing separation across the dynamic range and delivering beautiful detail in the high end and lush well-defined response in the lower and mid frequencies,” the company said.

Other features include five sets of silicon ear tips, a tangle-free braided flat cable with Kevlar reinforcements, and Clear-Talk technology.

The AF56 series ($99.95) has 13mm dynamic drivers and a noise-isolating design that provides up to 23db noise attenuation, according to the company. It also has a tangle-free braided cable, albeit round.

The final two models, the AF33 ($29.95) and AF45 ($59.95) series, are billed as having dynamic drivers for affordable prices. The former has 9mm drivers while the latter has 11mm. They also come in a variety of colors with a round cable.

All of the devices can be purchased with or without a microphone (the price goes up $10), and those with mics have the Clear-Talk technology. Products are scheduled to begin shipping in April 2012.

Thinksound, based in Somersworth, N.H., took the wraps off what it called its first in-ear studio monitor headphones last week. The MS01 ($199 suggested retail) have wooden housings with a gunmetal/Chocolate finish, 8mm drivers, passive noise isolation and a tangle- free cable.

Frequency range is listed at 18Hz to 20kHz.

Thinksound president/CEO Aaron Fournier noted in a statement, “The MS01 is a new direction for Thinksound. We consulted top producers and musicians about the sound they were looking for in an in-ear monitor. The MS01 is the result. It’s the first headphone offered in our new monitor series, and is a step towards a more high-fidelity sound signature.”

A set of Active Lifestyle ear hooks are included, along with four sizes of silicon ear inserts and a carrying pouch.