Headphone Intros Make Summer Splash

By Lisa Johnston and John Laposky On Aug 22 2011 - 4:01am

NEW YORK — Updates and upgrades were the name of the game for headphones in August, with a number of manufacturers introducing new products to market.

TWICE has rounded up some of these latest additions.

Audio-Technica introduced the Bijoue jewel-cut headphones, models ATH-CKF303 ($29.95) and ATHFW33 ($39.95).

The in-ear ATH-CKF303 are offered in a range of colors, including Black Diamond, Chocolate Mint, Milky Pink, Pop Pink, Shiny Purple and White Crystal. They’re billed as being “ultra-small” and come with 8.8mm drivers and three ear tip sizes.

The on-ear ATH-FW33 feature glossy jewel-cut ear pieces, thin headbands, cushioned ear pads, a foldable design and 30mm drivers. Their available shades include black, brown, pink, light pink and white.

V-Moda added to its line of Crossfade headphones with the introduction of its M-80 on-ear model ($230 suggested retail). The company said it combined unique materials with noise isolation and ergonomics for the “metal masterpiece,” said to be 53 percent smaller than its over-ear sister, the Crossfade LP.

The M-80, which has 40mm dual-diaphragm drivers, boasts a steel frame with a Steelflex headband, brushedmetal shields, and microfiber suede and memory-foam ear cushions. The ear cushions, like the shields, are replaceable. Two Kevlar-reinforced microphone cables and an exoskeleton carrying case are included.

According to V-Moda, it has put the headphones under its own testing to ensure its ruggedness. The M-80 can reportedly withstand more than 70 6-foot drops on concrete, have its headband bent 10 times flat without breaking, and have its plugs bent more than 1 million times.

A two-year warranty is included, as is the company’s Immortal Life Replacement Program, which promises a 50 percent-off lifetime discount to replace consumerdamaged headphones.

They’re currently available.

iLuv unveiled a new line of headphones, the iEP322 City Lights Collection. These in-ear headphones come in seven colors: silver, black, blue, green, orange, red and pink. Each pair includes three silicone tips, said to prevent ambient noise.

Pia Chon, marketing director at iLuv, said in a statement: “These high-performance earphones are masterfully crafted to deliver sparkling highs and bold midrange tones while bringing out all the power of lower bass, resulting in sound quality never before found in earphones at this price point.”

They’re currently available for $24.99.

iFrogz added a line of headphones, known as iFrogz Audio, and updated its EarPollution line.

The Vertex foldable over-the-ear headphones ($60) feature 40mm drivers, in-line mic and single-button remote. They are designed to be lightweight and foldable and come with the company’s AeroFoam ear cushions. Two colors are offered: black with red, and Iron.

The Frequency headphones ($79.99) also fold flat for use and have 40mm drivers, but have an on-the-ear form factor. They come in three colors: black, green and white. The Transport ear buds ($39.99) have a “turbine-engine design” with an antitangle flat cord and come in three colors, while the TimbrePro ear buds ($49.99) have wooden sound chambers, an in-line mic and just one color option. The TimbrePro also has the anti-tangle flat cord.

To the EarPollution line, iFrogz added the Evolution ear buds ($19.99) and Legion ear buds ($22). The former come with noise-isolating ear tips and 10mm drivers, while the latter feature 9mm neodymium compression drivers and interchangeable ear tips.

The products are currently available.

The company also debuted its first line of power products, known as iFrogz Power.

Sonomax Technologies, a supplier of hearing-enhancement and hearing-protection products, rolled out to retail earlier this month its first CE product, a do-ityourself custom-molded earphones kit.

The company’s Sculpted Eers kit features the proprietary SonoFit fitting system that produces custom-molded earphones in four minutes.

The SonoFit system fits over the head like traditional headphones. The user simply inserts a rubber casing in each ear canal and pulls down a lever on each side of the fitting system which releases medical-grade silicone into the casings, which then expand to mold to the ear canals, forming what the company calls an “acoustic seal.” After allowing four minutes for the silicone to set, the casings are removed from the ears, snapped off the fitting system and attached to the speaker faceplates and cord.

“The human ear canal is even more unique than a fingerprint,” Sonomax president and CEO Nick Laperle told TWICE. “Custom-molded earphones have traditionally been very expensive, you had to be professionally fitted, and it took three to four weeks to receive the fitted product. With Sculpted Eers you’re good to go in four minutes.”

The acoustic seal acts as a passive noisecanceling device and allows a user to listen to music at volume levels 30 percent lower than traditional ear buds with the same fidelity, Laperle said. “Having spent 12 years in the hearing aid business, I know how much of an effect listening to music through ear buds has had on hearing loss. It’s becoming a worldwide epidemic, especially among young people.”

According to a Journal of American Medical Association study published in August 2010, one in five teens has some hearing loss.

The Sculpted Eers kit made its debut at Airport Wireless stores across the country, as well as in J&R Music World and Datavision.

Sonomax is targeting business travelers with its initial rollout and chose to debut in CE specialty stores with trained sales staffs.

RadioShack said it will initially roll Sculpted Eers out to the 550 of its 6,250 stores with expanded headphone and earphone displays that are successfully selling high-end products.

Stand-alone POP displays that demonstrate the fitting process will be available to retailers.

The entry-level kit, the PCS-100, a single-driver model, retails for $199. A dual-driver model, the PCS-200, is $299.

PCS stands for “performance, comfort, safety,” Laperle said.

The company announced a licensing agreement with SkullCandy for the Sonofit technology, and is actively exploring OEM and ODM deals.

Private labeling for certain markets is also part of the company’s commercialization strategy.

A range of future consumer products are planned for the custom earpiece technology including a higher end set of earphones, Bluetooth headset models, and a personal sound amplification product (PSAP) – all of which can be used with the same custom earpiece. Laperle said he hopes to demo some of those products at International CES in January.