My eyes usually glaze over when I come across yet another iPod/iPhone speaker dock, but there’s just something about the iF500 from Edifier that managed to pique my curiosity, and I think it might have something to do with the massive bulbous speaker clearly designed to mock subtlety. The iF500 supports various models of the iPod and iPhone via a built-in dock, but an aux input also allows you to connect anything featuring an audio output like cellphones or other MP3 players that clearly aren’t worth mentioning by name.
A “5 driver speaker system incorporates unique vibration and resonance control technolories coupled with low frequency porting and mid-range tuned cavities for smoother cleaner audio” and it also comes with the company’s patented EIDC or ‘Electrical Intelligent Distortion Control’ system if inane acronyms are an important feature for you. But if looks or sound quality aren’t enough to convince you to drop $249 on the iF500, keep in mind it also comes with a digital FM tuner!
It’s been possible for a while now to set up your sound card to output fake 5.1 channel surround sound to your headphones. Theoretically, since you only use two ears, you should be able to do some fancy soundwave stuff and replicate 6 channel (or 5.1 or whatever) sound using only 2 channels of audio. I’ve tried a couple ways of doing this with software, and so far, it’s sucked.
These headphones from Zalman (the Zalman ZM-RS6F M, to be specific) are also able to produce 6 channel sound. But, they do it using 6 separate drivers, which means that (I can only assume) it sounds a heck of a lot better than the fake stuff. You’ll need a sound card able to output discrete front, center, and rear channels, so it’s not like you can just jack these right into your iPod or something.
I can’t tell whether the drivers are that great, but you probably shouldn’t expect to be blown away by the sound quality. For movies or computer games, though, it might be a cool effect. The Zalman 6 channel ZM-RS6whateveritis headphones are $57 from Brando.
Flat-panel speakers are nothing new, but a new version of the tech could one day replace boomy public address systems with hidden speakers that produce easier-to-hear audio in large spaces. Under development at the University of Warwick, FFL (“flat flexible loudspeaker”) speakers are actually a thin laminate made of layers of conducting and insulating material that resonate when electricity is passed through them — the crisper, clearer audio is a result of the entire surface creating sound in phase at once, which allows it to produce highly directional audio. Since they’re so thin and flexible, FFL speakers can be hidden nearly anywhere — behind signage, in the ceiling, or even painted and hung directly on the wall. Of course, this’ll all come to nothing if the sound quality isn’t up to snuff, but we’ll find out more when the first commercial FFL product goes on sale later this year.
In the vast, treacherous world of me-too iPod sound systems, Helms’ SoundBuddy II K999B Mini 2.1 Digital Audio System does a commendable job of standing out. What it doesn’t do so well, however, is sound good. Unfortunately for it, the music side of things is pretty darn important when it comes to deciding on an audio setup. iLounge recently got ahold of this here unit, and while the styling was definitely unique and highly lauded, some of the design aspects — including the actual docking apparatus and the speaker location — were understandably questioned. Furthermore, critics found the sound quality to be borderline laughable given the steep $140 price of entry, leading to a conclusion that the hands-on images in the read link are probably as close as you (or your wallet) should ever get to this one. Source
iriver’s E50 PMP has had a bit of a roundabout launch since it first appeared on the scene back in December, but it looks like it’s now finally available in at least a few parts of the world, and the folks at Le Journal du Geek have promptly gotten their hands on one and done the full unboxing and review honors. As was pretty clear from the early shots, this one’s a sleek little device and, while it doesn’t exactly pack a whole slew of features, it looks to perform all the basic tasks with welcome simplicity. On the downside, the 1.8-inch screen apparently leaves a bit to be desired, especially when playing videos and, while the included earphones are a tad better than the usual fare, the sound quality from the player itself is apparently just average. Hit up the link below for the full blow-by-blow account, including a bonus unboxing / demo video.
Oh jealousy, you are a vile beast. While the Korean market has had access to the spicy P3 touchscreen PMP for months now, long enough for Samsung to release a complete revision of the firmware, we’re still stuck waiting for the ambiguous “first half of this year.” The impatient can always import, exactly what Pocketables has done, giving its gray-market gadget the full review treatment. Its design is found to be similar yet much more attractive than the earlier P2, size comparable to Cowan’s S9, 480 x 272 touchscreen brilliant, and the UI snappy and intuitive. Negatives? Sound quality was found to be good, but not great out of the box (able to be fixed with a suite of tuning options) and the lack of video output is a slight handicap. Overall, the P3 sounds like the perfect competition for the S9 and just the PMP for our envious hearts — if only it came in green. Source
Ultrasone has never been one to pop out low-end cans, but its latest model is decidedly luxurious. The Edition 8 headphones employ the company’s S-Logic Plus technology for an “impartial acoustic feeling that allows the listener even more of a spacious tonal perception.” These were created with the “audio connoisseur” in mind, with the interior ear cups covered in fine Ethiopian sheepskin (something that Sir Dave Chappelle would argue does not help sound quality) and the outer ear cups doused in Ruthenium. Each set is individually stamped and arrives in a leather case for storage, but you’ll be asked to hand over a whopping $1,499 before you indulge. The full release is after the break.
A $130 Bluetooth headset with an extendable boom. There you have it. That’s the Zivio Boom right there.
No, really.
Perhaps this is a little underwhelming considering Joby, the company that makes the Zivio Boom also makes the truly innovative Gorrilapod. Next to that, the Zivio Boom is a bit of a letdown.
Still, to be fair, it does have a couple interesting features. Alleged 10h talk time for one. Or the fact that it comes with a set of interchangeable earpieces and an optional ear loop for a custom fit. I also remember the lady mentioning something about the casing made out of stainless steel and them being the only company that does that, but at that point I was too busy trying to snag a free sample to really pay attention. I do remember her saying that the extendable boom had the advantage of being able to isolate your voice really well. I don’t doubt that for a second; the thing practically sits in your mouth. At least… her mouth.
If you’re in the market for a Bluetooth headset, and you don’t mind looking like you’re about to eat a tiny metal straw that comes out your ear, the Zivio Boom is perfect for you.
Full press release after the jump.
SAN FRANCISCO, CA 鈥?August 11, 2008 鈥?Joby, Inc., a leading developer of innovative consumer electronics accessories, launches the Zivio Boom鈩? a stylish, high performance wireless headset. The Zivio features a revolutionary extendable microphone designed for superior sound quality. It is the perfect accessory for today’s multi-tasking “lifeaholics”, allowing them to maximize their always-on, every-moment-must-be-utilized lives. The Zivio Boom is available exclusively at myzivio.com.
Featuring a sleek design, the Zivio comes with a set of interchangeable earpieces and an optional ear loop for a custom fit. Much more than a pretty face, the Zivio also impresses the inner geek with Bluetooth庐 2.1, and has a whopping 10 hours of talk time. Joby is also a member of 1% for the Planet, so users can talk, drive, and drink a latte, all while saving the world. Talk about multi-tasking.
“The Zivio Boom was borne out of my frustration with all of the available headsets on the market. I needed a headset that would enable me to hear and be heard in noisy environments, fit my ear securely and comfortably, have a long battery life, and actually look good. The Zivio team set out to design that very headset,” said JoeBen Bevirt, founder of Joby. “After extensive development, we are thrilled to launch a headset created for the lifeaholic in each of us.”
To purchase your Zivio or for more information please visit the official website at myzivio.com.
Jaybird’s just unleashed their products for 2009, with updates for their athlete-targeted A2DP Bluetooth Stereo Claws. The new ones (which look exactly the same as their previous models) feature apt-X audio compression, giving these puppies a high sound quality the company says will “rivaling wired” ones, plus new tips for sound isolation and a modified design to fit a wider range of ears. The company’s also rolling out new metal-cased Tiger Eyes earbuds and over ear Acoustic Dens. We don’t have any word on pricing for this stuff, but we’ll get an up-close gander at them at CES and they should be available in April… when our Go-Go’s-infused work outs should get a little more high def. Check out the other two products after the break.
On paper, Cowon’s S9 is distinct from what most would consider its rivals. It packs a curvaceous design, nary a single front panel button, an AMOLED display and a codec support list chock full of formats that audiophiles admire. Clearly, Cowon is aiming to appeal to portable media enthusiasts who are also sticklers for sound quality, with the core functionality consisting of only the basics that one would expect on a PMP. The sector it’s diving into already has a pretty strong list of alternatives on the market, which probably means that you’re wondering if it really does (or doesn’t) stack up. Follow us past the break as we take a closer look at what the S9 brings (and doesn’t bring) to the table.
Design
For anyone who has been following this device since it first broke cover in August, you’ll understand that Cowon is unashamedly attempting to catch eyes with the S9. The press shots are sexy, the packaging is sexy and the marketing is just downright seductive. Upon placing this piece in our hands for the first time, we were struck with an almost unhealthy mix of emotions. On one hand, the incredibly lightweight chassis was a real joy to hold; on the other, we were left feeling somewhat deceived. You see, the press shots we’ve been force fed all feature what appears to be metal chrome sides and a display with practically no bezel. In reality, the sides are merely graphite-colored slabs of plastic and the display most definitely does not actually extend out to the very edge of the front face. Sure, you could say we were getting our hopes up for nothing, but upon conversing with others who’ve had a chance to hold this thing, we found that we weren’t at all alone in feeling this way.
After using it for a few days, our fears were confirmed: the unit did indeed feel more “cheap” than “solid.” This no doubt has to do with the thin, plasticky materials that dominate the sides and rear, and while it’s certainly not a deal breaker, we expected a device of this nature to simply feel more durable and sturdy in the hand. All those knocks aside, there was plenty to love about the design, too. For starters, the lack of buttons on the front is a stunning approach, and the carefully placed hardware toggles / buttons on the top and bottom are more than sufficient. You’ll find switches for play / pause, volume, next / previous track and power / lock, while the USB connector holds down the final slot on the bottom. Speaking of, we were definitely turned off by the proprietary USB connector; in other words, you can forget syncing / charging the S9 without the special cable that comes bundled in. We know, the iPod has a proprietary connector as well, and in our perfect world, it too would be a straight-up USB / mini-USB socket.
The bottom-mounted 3.5-millimeter headphone jack is satisfactorily located, though the inbuilt microphone — which is situated on the bottom rear, right where your hand covers during normal operation — could stand to be placed elsewhere. As you can tell, “mixed bag” really is the best way to describe our take on the design. It’s attractive though not sexy, and while nothing in terms of functionality is hindered by the build, we still feel the price is a touch high for the decidedly just-above-average construction. Gallery: Cowon S9 PMP unboxing
Display
We have to assume that the 3.3-inch AMOLED display is one of the S9’s biggest selling points, and for good reason. The 480 x 272 resolution screen is positively gorgeous to look at, displaying rich, vivid colors on everything lucky enough to tickle its pixels. Video looked superb, images were almost unbelievably sharp and bright, and the overall user interface was quite a joy to gaze at. Couple that with the fact that it’s a capacitive touchscreen and you can understand why we’re pretty much head over heels on the panel. Other PMP makers should definitely give AMOLED a look; it sucks down less juice, it’s brighter and sharper in every circumstance and it makes users (or us, at least) actually want to watch videos on it.
Interface
Here’s where we resume the whole “mixed bag” theme. At first glance, the S9’s user interface looks delightful. The icons grab your attention, everything seems clearly labeled and you’re never more than a click away from your stash of audiovisual content. Navigating within the top-level menus is rarely confusing, and there are a fair amount of customization options to keep most everyone happy.
The one issue we continually ran into was, paradoxically, a direct result of something we’ve already praised in this writeup. The lack of a “home” or “back” button on the front panel means that moving back within the menu system requires screen presses, and that means pressing a ridiculously small “M” button rather than just mashing a dedicated hardware control to escape whatever mess you’re in. Additionally, some of the icons deep within menus weren’t what we would call “incredibly intuitive,” though anyone with a hint of patience will quickly grow used to the environment. We also can’t leave this section without stating that selecting songs / videos was kind of… odd. Rather than simply hitting a song and watching it spin up, you either have to hold that selection for a moment or double click it. We guess this could be spun as a feature (no more fat fingers accidentally queuing up a track), but our generally accurate digits found it to be a hassle. As always, YMMV.
All in all, the UI is sufficient enough, though it’s nothing to write home about. Any media player interface that’s even mildly confusing could probably use some work, and while just about any system is tolerable over time, we fully expect a PMP’s operating system to be mostly understandable from top to bottom right out of the box. After all, this isn’t SUSE Linux Enterprise we’re talking about here. On the upside, the ability to tweak the EQ while on the Now Playing screen was much appreciated, and the decent reaction to our thumb flicks (to change tracks) was also right in line with expectations. There was, however, an annoying amount of lag when waiting for the screen orientation to flip upon the twisting of the device to another angle. Gallery: Cowon S9 PMP hands-on / UI walkthrough Audio / Video performance
We didn’t run this thing through any sort of super sophisticated audio analyzer, but we did give it a listen alongside PMPs from Apple and Sony. The quick and dirty of all this is that the sound quality from Cowon’s S9 is stellar. Lows are punchy and decisive, mids are smooth and highs are distinct without being piercing. We listened to a variety of genres, and across the board we found ourselves thoroughly pleased with the unit’s audio capabilities. Cowon knows that you’re considering this player for its wide ranging codec support and the outfit’s heralded audio quality, and it’s evident that company engineers put some serious time into making sure the S9 performed the core task — playing back audio — marvelously. If you’re into audio above all else (with “all else” being applications, internet access, etc.), you can’t go wrong with the S9. Oh, and the integrated support for Bluetooth headsets / BT streaming is downright splendid.
Over on the video side, clips were expectedly phenomenal. With such fantastic audio capabilities, the only question left was around image quality. And with an AMOLED screen, this question pretty much answers itself. We’ve yet to find a player this small that we would rather watch an extended video on; sure, video-centric players such as the A3 easily trump this with their higher resolutions and larger screen sizes, but you’ll have a difficult time finding something this minuscule that makes watching video so enjoyable.
Wrap up
By now, you’ve probably already decided if this thing is for you. For those into extravagant extras and a perfectly polished UI, you simply will not find what you’re after in the S9. For those who view pristine audio quality and delightful video playback as paramount, you’re probably willing to overlook the ho hum UI and design flaws in order to possess a pocketable player that won’t disappoint your discerning ears and eyes. For anyone still on the fence, it really boils down to your needs and desires. Are you willing to deal with an interface that’s troublesome to navigate at times if it means the best possible audio quality when the track finally begins to play? Would you take lightweight over solid? Will you be satisfied with your PMP if it does little else outside of playing back joints and jams?
The S9 has a lot of things going for it — the 2 day battery life, gorgeous AMOLED screen, impeccable audio quality and featherlight design (just to name a few) — but at $199.99 and $239.99 for the 8GB and 16GB versions, respectively, we simply expected more. If these fall by $70 or so in the short term, they’ll certainly become quite the bargain, but considering that these are apt to be used in noisy subway stations and on windy bike trails (compared to say, in a dead quiet recording studio), we’re not entirely sure the small bump in overall sound quality is enough to warrant a purchase over more fully-featured rivals. Is Cowon’s S9 worth a look if you’re in the market? Unquestionably so. But unless its unique characteristics are exactly what you’re after, we’d hold off until the price slips or the interface gets a makeover.
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