LAS VEGAS —
Polk Audio is launching its first two
noise-canceling headphones and the latest iteration of
its I-Sonic one-piece tabletop
audio system as part of a renewed
effort to offer personal
audio products.
The UltraFocus 6000 and
8000 noise-canceling headphones
join the company’s
first six headphones launched
in midyear. The new models
are the brand’s first noisecanceling
headphones.
The in-ear UltraFocus 6000
($149) operate off a single
AA battery and have close to
40 hours of usage, Polk told
TWICE. They also feature a
Push-to-Hear function on the
in-line remote that amplifies
ambient noise, so users don’t
have to remove their headphones during a conversation.
Three different tips are included — single flange,
triple flange and memory foam — and they come with
a flat, tangle-free cable and a right-angle connector.
Availability is scheduled for first quarter.
The 6000 will not operate
as non-noise-canceling headphones
when the battery dies,
Polk said.
The over-ear 8000 headphones
($349) will be available in
the spring and will also have an inline
remote. These add a built-in
mic, three-position iPod/iPhone
controller and Skype adapter.
The I-Sonic Entertainment
System 3 (IES3) desktop/tabletop
system, shipping in the
spring at a suggested $299.95,
features AM/FM tuner, clock
with a snooze/sleep alarm and
timer, integrated Apple-certified
iPod/iPhone dock, and an analog
aux in for connecting other
sources. Like its predecessors, which have been out of production for some time, it features
four-speaker array to deliver stereo imaging
to any listening position around
the device.
The new models adds higher power
amplification, audiophile-grade speakers,
and new DSP processing that enables
the system to play louder and clearer, with
deeper bass and better imaging than its
predecessors, the company said. It delivers
25 percent more amplifier power than
its immediate predecessor, the IES2.
Patented PowerPort bass venting
technology yields deep bass despite
the system’s small chassis, which measures
just more than 14 inches wide,
9 inches deep and less than 5 inches
high, the company said.
A USB port is available for firmware
upgrades.
The previous tabletop system, the
IES2, was priced at a suggested $499
and featured HD Radio with iTunes tagging,
video output and optional Sirius
satellite-radio capability.
