Milwaukee – Koss
launched a headphone system that uses Wi-Fi to stream music directly from
personalized Internet channels.
Known as Striva, the
system consists of three parts: the Striva Core, the MyKoss online server and
the Striva CAP.
The Striva Core is
billed as a miniature battery-powered computer. It’s designed to act as a web
server and Wi-Fi receiver, and is built into the two Striva headphones.
To operate, the MyKoss
online server links wirelessly with Striva products and connects them to remote
Internet broadcasting sites, Koss said. It features proprietary software that
scans the Internet for free streams and radio stations, and then links the
Striva headphones to the proper stream based on music channels that the user
has customized. This done using available wireless access points.
The Striva CAP (Content
Access Point) is a matchbook-sized wireless access point that plugs into a
headphone jack and converts music from a smartphone, music player or computer
into a digital TCP/IP stack and transmits it via Wi-Fi directly to the Striva
headphones and monitors, Koss said.
The CAP can be used with
a wireless router or to create a direct local wireless connection if a router
or hot spot isn’t available. It has a battery life of three hours and a Wi-Fi
range of 300 feet.
Two different Striva models
will be available: the Tap in-ear monitors ($500) and the Pro full-sized
headphones ($450). The Tap monitors measure 1.5 inches long and feature
microprocessors in each earpiece that reportedly sync the music, so no wires
are necessary. They also feature capacitive touch controls that let users
adjust volume, change channels or streams, and turn the device on and off.
The Tap monitors have a
battery life of two hours, dropping down to 1.2 hours when used with the CAP.
The over-ear model, the
Striva Pro, features gesture-based controls on the ear cup for the same
functions. Its battery life is listed at 15 hours, dropping down to eight hours
when used with the CAP.
Both models have
frequency ranges of 10Hz to 20kHz and sensitivities of 95dB.
When asked about any
possible sound quality degradation when the music is transmitted via Wi-Fi, a
Koss spokesman told TWICE: “The quality was developed to reflect Koss’ other
products. The Wi-Fi technology allows for better sound and more range. In
testing, it showed stronger sound quality than any Bluetooth device or other
similar wireless offering, and provides three times more room to tune in — up
to 300 square feet.”
The music channels set
up via the MyKoss server can be filtered via genre, artist or decade, and users
can thumbs-up or thumbs-down songs to adjust their preferences.
Both models will be sold
exclusively through Koss.com.
