I’ve written a lot of posts regarding audio players and audio docks in this blog. I think it shows that the audio market has strong support from buyers and even with a large number of product offerings the market is still open to the introduction of new products especially those that offer a unique feature. [Read more…]
Bath times with your kids is that weird mixture of fun and misery. It’s so cute to watch your kid playing with his bath, it’s one of those images that you will cherish long after they have left the roost and make lives for themselves. It’s also a great bonding moment between a child and his parent. But picture perfect bath times are, in reality, quite rare. The more common scenario is your kid screaming his head off, or whining about baths, or doing both at the same time – yes, they can whine and cry at once if they want to. [Read more…]
AKG K3003 Headphones
Audiophiles have their particular standards when it comes to what captures their passion most. I have always loved music, and my entire life, there has always been music in the background. (Now, whether the music was imagined in my head or it was actually streaming through speakers of one kind or another is debatable.)
Recently, I have been introduced to audio equipment that upped the level of my listening. I am a far cry from being a hardcore audiophile – I wouldn’t even dare claim that I am one, but I now accept the need to shell out a few more bucks (okay, maybe more than a few bucks) to get really good sound out of headphones, earbuds, or speakers.
Then I saw the AKG K3003 Headphones on Colette. ((Source)) I should have known better than to allow myself to want a pair when I knew that the headphones are being sold by Colette, but hardheaded me, I checked it out anyway.
At first glance, once can’t deny that the headphones do look nice. Having a propensity for things that have a brushed steel finish, I don’t find much that is not to like with the AKG K3003 Headphones. These babies are handmade and were developed using new technology that improves the sound that comes out of them. The headphones are supposed to provide listeners with totally undistracted listening, thanks to “sealing out most ambient sounds”. That sounds like noise canceling earphones to me, yes? The AKG K3003 Headphones also has an in-line mic and volume control, so they can be used with your favorite mobile phone.
I think that the most interesting things about these earphones are the design details, though – brushed stainless housing, steel remote face, steel “Y” connector, rubberized upper cable, and cloth lower cable. And the box. Oh my, what a box!
AKG K3003 Headphones in Case
All those things being considered, I still would say that I want one. That does not mean that I will get one, though. Not now. Not in the future. Not even if I won the lottery and had €1000 ($1187.71) to spare – because that is how much this thing costs!!! Oh, the dollar value is VAT exclusive, by the way, so at the end of the day, you need $1420.50. As much as I want a pair, I think Sennheiser is more than good enough for me.
I love listening to music. In fact, I bring my music player and a couple sets of earphones with me wherever I go. I’m a music aficionado so it’s my personal mission to listen to new music as much as I can. Besides, music relaxes me and gives me a great sonic environment when I’m working outside. The problem though is that there are certain environments where the ambient noise is just too loud that even if I wear in-ear phones, I can still hear the noise intrude into the music I play. It is so annoying and it really breaks my train of thought when I’m working. [Read more…]
We may love portability, but there is no doubt that the sound that we get from our laptop’s teeny weeny speakers are less than desirable. Indeed, a pair of high quality earphones can be considered a necessary expense when one uses a laptop. But what when you do not want something stuck in your ears for hours? Speakers are then necessary, right?
Altec Lansing, one of the most known names in the world of speakers, has recently launched a new ultra-portable set of speakers especially meant for laptop users. Dubbed the Altec Lansing Orbit USB Stereo Speakers (IML247), the gadget is described by the manufacturer as being “engineered for the multimedia user whoan on-the-go audio solution with plug and play simplicity.”
The Altec Lansing Orbit USB Stereo is indeed convenient for when you’re on the road because of its size. As you can see in the image ((Courtesy of Geek.com)), one half of the speaker set is less the size of a CD. Yup – there are two speakers but they can lock together for easy set up or carrying around. As you can also see in the image, the speakers come with stands so that they can be set up on your desk, your hotel bed, or wherever you are. And with the stands, you can set up your speakers to face the direction you want them to with ease. With regard to portability and design, these speakers seem to be top notch.
When it comes to sound quality, though, Geek.com reviewer Jennifer Bergen has some issues. She claims that the bass doesn’t really come out and that there are songs wherein you cannot distinguish the instruments from the voice. More so, performance also deteriorates at high volumes and high notes.
That being said, the Altec Lansing Orbit USB is priced at $49.95. That is not cheap, and one would expect to get good quality for that price. If it weren’t for Bergen’s observations, I would not hesitate to pay $50 for Altec Lansing speakers. The brand, after all, has been churning out excellent quality speakers for years on end.
If you are in the market for new portable speakers, I would suggest considering the Orbit USB, but if you can test one first, you ought to. That’s what I am going to be doing myself.
If you like the sort of speakers Teufel is producing for hi-fi systems and would like something of decent quality for your laptop or desktop PC, with the added bonus of a built-in USB hub, then look no further than the new Concept B 200 USB stereo speaker system.
Rather than having to use the audio output jack from your PC or Mac (if indeed it has one — most do but some don’t) you simply plug the speakers into a spare USB 2.0 socket and away you go.
Whether you’re choosing hi-fi speakers for your home, garden or somewhere else, European quality audio company Teufel has just introduced its rugged Omniton 202 loudspeakers which offer great sound reproduction yet can take the knocks that indoor and outdoor life can throw at them.
Though compact, the speakers feature a 130mm woofer and 25mm cloth dome tweeter, with bass reproduction so good there’s really no need for an additional subwoofer.
Let’s face it, regardless of what the specifications say, the in-built speakers on most laptop and even desktop PCs isn’t great, which is why cute little speakers like these Syren Speaker Minis from MSI might be worth considering.
The connect up via USB so all modern computers should accept them, and they feature LED lights, built-in volume control, mute function and a travel pouch.
Following on from the HD 380 headphones announced last week comes a whole new series of headphones at a range of price points that should mean everyone can own a decent pair of Sennheisers.
The five pairs of headphones in the Series 400 are made up of one open and four closed backs, with prices starting at £39.99 and rising to £84.99.
For those who are serious about their music, such as sound engineers, musicians and producers, a decent pair of extended frequency headphones is a necessary addition.
Sennheiser has pushed out its HD 380 Pro closed back headphones use high-power neodymium iron magnets, offering a wide 8-27,000Hz frequency response, detailed sound reproduction, sound pressure level up to 110dB, and an attenuation of external noise up to 32dB.