Gizmo Hunter

JVC expands Bi-METAL headphone series featuring brass and steel sound technology WAYNE, NJ, March 27, 2008 – JVC today announced the addition of a new high-end model to its line of Bi-METAL in-ear canal headphones. The new JVC HA-SX500 achieves high quality sound by employing JVC’s original Bi-METAL structure and a new large 16mm neodymium driver unit, offering greater power handling and sensitivity.

JVC’s Bi-METAL structure is designed to enhance performance across the frequency range by housing the drive unit in a steel base wrapped in a high-specific-gravity brass ring to eliminate vibration and energy loss. The HA-SX500 also offers a vast reduction in friction noise. The headphones feature flexible rubber joints, reducing friction noise while increasing comfort, and use OFC (oxygen-free copper) to minimize transmission loss in the 0.8 meter friction noise reduction cord.

The lightweight HA-SX500 headphones are designed to provide a comfortable and secure fit while delivering superior isolation from external sounds and minimizing sound leakage. The ergonomic silicon rubber earpieces come in three sizes to provide snug, customized sizing, supported by a cushioned metallic foldable headband for a secure fit and hours of comfort. A number of convenient accessories complete the package, such as a 0.7m extension cord and a handy carrying case. In addition, the HA-SX500 offers a plug that is compatible with Apple’s iPhone.

The JVC HA-SX500 super-slim headphones will be available in April for $79.95.

Sennheiser’s MX W1 wireless earphones are truly exciting because they provide a glimpse at what I hope is the future of wireless audio: Kleer technology. For the first time, Kleer’s wireless audio technology has been implemented in a quality product. (RCA was the first to use Kleer in its S2501 Jet Stream MP3 player last year, but it was a poorly conceived product with such lousy earbuds that there was no way to tell whether the technology behind it was any good.) The verdict: Kleer sounds fantastic with the MX W1. I’m convinced that true audiophiles won’t be able to tell the difference between these and wired earphones. Sure, at $600, they’re much too expensive—and that’s part of what keeps us from giving them a higher rating—but here’s hoping that more manufacturers follow suit and that Kleer takes off.

Read full review : http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,2817,2282771,00.asp